High surf closes Hilo beach parks, Bayfront Highway amid debris on road

Large breaking waves from a long-period north-northeast swell reached 12 to 18 feet overnight Feb 23–24 and forced Hawaiʻi County to close multiple shoreline parks and shut sections of Hilo’s Bayfront Highway after logs and marine debris washed onto the roadway. Hawaiʻi Police Department advised motorists to avoid Bayfront Highway between Waiānuenue Avenue and Pauahi Street while County of Hawaiʻi Parks & Recreation ordered park closures from Bayfront to Richardson Ocean Park.

County of Hawaiʻi Parks & Recreation Department issued a public notice explaining the closures: "Due to impact of high surf and debris along northeast facing shores of Hawaiʻi Island, County of Hawaiʻi Parks & Recreation Department reports Kolekole Beach Park in North Hilo District and all the beach parks in Hilo, from Bayfront to Richardson Ocean Park will remain closed today," the statement said.

Video recorded in Hilo Tuesday morning Feb 24 and posted by Big Island Video News showed water collecting in the parking lot at Onekahakaha Beach Park in Keaukaha, while Hawaii News Now reported large waves had flooded the parking lot at Coconut Island. BigIslandNow’s midnight Feb 24 update first reported the overnight surf spike and the initial Bayfront Highway closure "until further notice."

Police gave an early estimate of the duration during the closure, noting: "Police said the closure impacts Bayfront Highway near Waianuenue Avenue and Pauahi Street and is expected to last for the next five hours." Hawaiʻi Police Department also advised drivers to use alternate routes and avoid the shoreline until conditions improved.

Agency updates tracked the event through Feb 25. BigIslandNow reported Bayfront Highway was closed Monday night and remained restricted through Feb 24, then noted the road had reopened by 8:47 a.m. on Feb 25; that same Feb 25 morning update said Kolekole Beach Park had reopened while Hilo beach parks from Bayfront to Richardson Ocean Park remained closed. National Weather Service guidance shifted during the event: warnings in effect early on were later canceled and replaced by expanded advisories.

Forecast numbers and advisory windows changed as the swell evolved. BigIslandNow recorded a 4 p.m. Feb 24 update saying NWS canceled high surf warnings and expanded advisories to include west-facing shores with advisories in place until 6 a.m. Wednesday. A subsequent 4:05 p.m. Feb 25 update extended the high surf advisory until 6 a.m. Thursday and forecast surf of 8 to 12 feet that evening, dropping to 7 to 10 feet overnight. Forecasters told local outlets they expected the swell to gradually decline late that afternoon through Friday, with a downward trend expected Friday through the weekend as the swell eases and trade winds diminish.

Public-safety messages remained direct: BigIslandNow ran the reminder, "Remember: When in doubt, don’t go out." Officials and police continued to urge residents and motorists to steer clear of exposed shorelines and the Bayfront corridor until advisories are lifted and crews clear debris from roadways and parking areas.