High-surf warning in effect to Tuesday eve
Surf on the North Shore was expected to peak at 20 to 25 feet today after building rapidly overnight.
The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning Sunday for the north shores of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Niihau and the west shores of Kauai and Niihau. Forecasters say the swell is "dangerous" and warn beachgoers to stay away from the shore break. The high surf will also create rip currents. The warning is in effect from 6 a.m. today through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a high-pressure system north of the islands is expected to bring 15 to 25 mph winds with gusts of 35 mph over the next few days. Winds will be stronger on the summits of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala, where a wind advisory is in effect. Winds on the mountains are predicted to be 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of 50 mph. Windy weather could make driving dangerous on the mountains.
The system might bring light showers on Thursday.
Grant will aid UH-West Oahu’s outreach
The University of Hawaii at West Oahu has been awarded a $40,000 grant to provide college access programs to Hawaii high school students.
The money comes from the College Access Challenge Grant Program and the Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education. UH-West Oahu will use the funds to provide college preparatory activities and enhance outreach to eligible high school students throughout the state. The outreach includes a college fair on Feb. 18 at Pearl Country Club.
200-acre blaze is third in 2 days
Firefighters were battling a 200-acre brush fire in Kaunakakai on Sunday, the third on Molokai in two days.
The fire was reported just after 1 p.m. in an area off Hoomalu Drive. The fire was considered 60 percent contained as of 4 p.m., according to Maui fire officials.
On Saturday firefighters were called to a pair of brush fires in Hoolehua.
The first started at 11:22 a.m. on Kalai Highway, near Maunaloa Avenue. The fire consumed a 1,600-square-foot area before being extinguished at 11:45 a.m.
The second fire was reported at 3:10 p.m. on Keonelele Avenue and Lanui Street, west of the airport. The fire, which spread out over 9,000 square feet, was extinguished at 4:25 p.m.
The causes are still under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Safety division gets rescue gear
The Ocean Safety Division of the Hawaii County Fire Department received $10,000 worth of equipment Saturday from the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation.
The gear included four rescue boards, two automated external defibrillators, four binoculars and eight megaphones, West Hawaii Today reported.
Foundation official Laura Mallery-Sayre also announced that the organization is working to raise $35,000 to fund emergency medical technician training for lifeguards.
The foundation was created by Mallery-Sayre and her husband, Frank Sayre, in 1997 after their 25-year-old son, Daniel, died in a hiking accident at Kapaloa Falls. Because the department didn’t have ropes long enough to rappel some 500 feet and other required equipment, 10 hours passed before rescue personnel were able to recover Daniel Sayre’s body.
