Waiʻānapanapa State Park Closed Due to Dangerous High Surf

Haili land formation at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks has closed Waiʻānapanapa State Park on Maui due to dangerous high surf from the approaching tropical storm Guillermo.

Department officials are urging the public to stay clear of the blow hole, black sand beach and coastline areas.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park is located off of the Hāna Highway in East Maui between Nāhiku and Hāna Town.

At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, Guillermo was located about 245 miles ENE of Hilo, and 305 miles E of Kahului, Maui.

The system had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving WNW at 12 mph.

A high surf warning is currently in effect for the East facing shores of Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.  Surf along affected shores is expected to be in the 10 to 15 foot range.

The National Weather Service says affected shoreline areas can expect ocean water to occasionally sweep across portions of beaches, very strong breaking waves and strong long shore rip-currents.

As of 11 a.m., the updated CPHC forecast track for Guillermo takes the system 160 miles NNE of the Big Island late tonight, 130 miles NNE of Maui on Thursday, and 100 miles N of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi Thursday night and Friday.