stupid surf question

[csgray]

My in laws are visiting and I don't want to drive to the other side to find the beaches closed due to high surf. Is there a central place to find out which beaches are closed or at risk of being closed. They are in their 70s, but do want to get in the water somewhere with a sandy bottom.
Mahalo,

Carol

[Nalu]

My gut tells me from past experiences that all the beaches Kona side will be rough and dangerous. maybe Kahaluu might be an option, but not my favorite idea of a swimming beach. If you live on this side I would stick with Richardson's until the swell passes.

[Rob Tucker]

The Warm Pond on the Red Road.

[Radiopeg]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Tucker

The Warm Pond on the Red Road.

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Is that the place like a swimming pool that has warm water coming into from land side and high tide from the other? Can't remember the park name, but it was definitely a park. Or is this someplace different? We are doing a flying visit next week and always like the sissified swimming places, as I am not a strong swimmer.

Life goes on, with you or without you.

[missydog1]

Yes and no. This site will tell you the forecast at the lifeguarded beaches.
http://oceansafety.ancl.hawaii.edu/v/1.0/index.asp?i=hawaii&shid=14
The rest you have to know from experience.

Having lived on the west side, in Kohala, I can tell you that all the Kohala beaches are affected by a true High Surf Warning of a WNW swell such as is due Sunday--Monday -- except for Anaeho'omalu, which is typically going to stay open. It has the most reef protection, and you won't see 15-30 foot waves there.

The little bays at Mauna Lani beach club and Spencer are generally calm little coves, but when the northwest swell hits, it comes right at them.

The Hilton will also be open. I have heard that the lagoon there is public access OK, as a legal battle was fought over that.

Kikaua Point should be fine. It has a rock barrier like Onekahakaha.

Kahalu'u is not immune to high surf. I've seen it closed, and it's on the hazardous list right now, as are Magic Sands, Spencer, and Hapuna.

The beach at the King Kam hotel/ Kailua pier, might be all right.

This is an excellent ocean safety page:
http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/hazards1.html

Ahalanui and Richardson's are both listed as hazardous right now (on the site).

Peg, Ahalanui is the warm pond that is a park. I'm sure that's the one you remember.
The problem with sissified is not enough water exchange to clean the water.

[kimo wires]

There's no such thing as a stupid surf question.

For a nice drive and swim I'd reccomend Pohoiki or Isaac Hale beach park.

The boat ramp is always full of swimmers. (It's also geothermally heated there)
Be really careful on the ramp itself. Algae grows on the concrete ramp and it gets very slippery. Lots of people have been injured there.

Best to just jump off the end of the, recently upgraded, sidewalk /boat launch area, and jump into the deep water... If you try to walk in via the ramp you will probably slip and bus' Yo' Okole...
Translation: " bust your ass"

side note:
Oh did I forget... This is a military engineered place and you're not "supposed to swim there" (for the quick to snap pollitically correct people who are apt to respond to this post)...


Be careful going into the warm pond.
outgoing high tide is best.
Don't go in there with any open cut.
Bacteria levels are elevated in the entraped water between low and high tides.

Oh did you say in their 70's.. maybe better stick to Richardson's or 4 mile pond in Keaukaha.

[Carey]

At the Volcano talk today, Vince with the CD was talking about the high surf warnings he was going to issue for this weekend on the Kona side... so probably best to go early Sat. if at all....and even then, it could be kickin'

On the East Side
Good sand bottom, shallow, fairly nice older platform step ladder entry, some what protected & some fun fishy (and other sea critter) friends: Carlsmith Beach Park (east end of 4-Mile), a little past Seaside Rest.

Leleiwi has a nice little bay area that has a circular sandy area & some critters, not as nice an entry

A more swimming pool like experience with a sandy bottom and fairly protected: Onekahakaha

[missydog1]

I used to like Onekahakaha, but the last time I went the water was dirty, didn't feel good ... and I got a rash the next day.

I think there is more water exchange and fewer bodies in the winter.
However, it is the water of choice for the babes in diapers, especially near the shore.

Carol, I'm not clear if you DO want to drive to the other side, as long as you can find a beach that isn't closed, or if you are looking for any solution, east or west. Clarify?

About that site I linked, it's the position of the Hawai'i Ocean Safety folks that people should only swim at life-guarded beaches. Obviously that is not practiced on the island, and there aren't nearly enough lifeguarded beaches to where I feel like it's an option.

But that's why the site only lists certain beaches as hazardous or recommended.
I wish there were a site that would be a go-to for all beach closures.

[Aki]

We were at the Mauna Lani beach all day today. Despite the sign that stated "high surf warning" we found the water to be very calm. In fact, near 3:30 or so an elderly man that was only able to walk slowly toward the water on crutches got in, was strapped to a board by what looked like his personal care worker, and was enjoying the ocean. Can't say it will be completely different tomorrow, but the sign warning about the conditions and the water experienced were two different stories. Snorkelers were in the water all day, most over age 50.

[csgray]

Kathy,
In a perfect world we would love a long day trip to the other side with swimming and beach time in addition to some sightseeing at a few of my favorite historic sites. But it looks like we may settle for a little day trip around Puna. I have a 3 day weekend so this would have been a good time to go to the other side, but I think we will save that for another weekend, they are here for a month. My mother in law is a pretty solid swimmer and beach person, but we need gentler water for my father in law to get in.

It looks like all the Northish facing beaches are booming, I bet the surfers are happy!

Carol