Big surf headed for north, west

Winter surf is still hitting Hawaii’s north and west shores.

A wintertime low-pressure system to the northwest may bring warning-level surf Friday, National Weather Service lead forecaster Victor DeJesus said Wednesday.

A high-surf advisory is in effect today for all north- and west-facing shores.

A northwesterly swell is coming down the Hawaiian island chain and will hit Kauai first, then Oahu, then Maui.

Surf is expected to reach the 20-foot range this afternoon, and could near warning levels of up to 25 feet on Friday, DeJesus said.

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s low temperature of 59 degrees at the Lihue Airport broke a record low temperature set in 1956 of 60 degrees for the date. It was the third low-temperature record to fall in the past couple of days.

Public’s help sought to find missing man

Hawaii County police renewed an appeal Wednesday for the public’s help in finding a 51-year-old Japanese tourist who has been missing for seven weeks.

Hiromichi Yoshino was last seen in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Feb. 13 at about 9 a.m. His rental car, a burgundy Kia four-door sedan, was found unlocked at the end of Route 130 at the lava viewing area.

The car is believed to have been there since Feb. 14, police said. Yoshino was staying at a bed-and-breakfast in Volcano Village.

Police ask anyone with information on this case to contact Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2378 or wcarter@co.hawaii.hi.us, or call the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Sewage spill forces crew to close lane

A blockage in a sewer line caused about 5,000 gallons of sewage to spill Wednesday from a manhole on the shoulder of Kuhio Highway, between Hanamaulu and Maalo Road, Kauai County said.

The material was cleaned up and affected areas were disinfected with granulated chlorine. There was no sign that sewage reached any bodies of water, the county said.

During the cleanup, the right southbound lane of Kuhio Highway was closed for about three hours. All lanes were opened about 12:45 p.m.