High Surf Attracts Locals to Kahului Harbor

A bodyboarder enjoys the surf in Kahului Harbor Saturday brought on by a swell that hit the north shore over the weekend. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

A high-surf warning drew about 30 local surfers, bodyboarders, standup paddlers, and kayakers to Kahului Harbor Saturday afternoon.

In fact, there were also several whale sightings in surf  just outside the harbor mouth toward Naska.

The surf at Kahului Harbor was about head high, between 4 to 6 feet.

The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning for the north shores of Maui at the start of the weekend through 6 p.m. The forecast called for surf of 12 to 18 feet, peaking at up to 35 feet on Saturday.

Men and women, surfers, standup-paddle boarders, bodyboarders, and kayakers all shared the waves inside Kahului Harbor Saturday afternoon. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Moderate trades are expected to continue this week with clouds and showers favoring windward and mauka areas, according to the Hawaii Area Synopsis of the NWS. Brief passing showers will reach leeward areas at times. Best chances of rain remain over windward Maui and the Big Island through Tuesday. Drier conditions will develop for all areas Wednesday through Friday morning. Another cold front system will approach the islands late Friday into the weekend.

A male surfer goes backside on a wave Saturday afternoon in Kahului Harbor. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Standup paddler Noah Kamalei Yap takes off on a wave in Kahului Harbor Saturday, March 8. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

A female surfer enjoys a ride in Kahului Harbor Saturday afternoon. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

A surfer enjoys a ride in Kahului Harbor Saturday afternoon. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.