Hawaii

Hawaii’s 35-foot waves could close roads

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2025

Hawaii’s 35-foot waves could close roads

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are warning that dangerous surf along Hawaii’s north- and west-facing shores will be strong enough to potentially cause road closures near the affected shores.

Why It Matters

Hawaii is a popular destination, and the NWS Honolulu office is warning tourists and residents alike to stay away from the shoreline along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and the north-facing shores of Maui. Surf as high as 35 feet is likely to surge and sweep across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, impacting coastal properties and even infrastructure and roadways.

A stock photo of large, breaking waves. Hawaii surf is expected to reach up to 35 feet on January 17 at some shores.

joshuaraineyphotography/Getty

What To Know

A high surf warning was issued early Friday morning and will remain in place until Saturday morning.

The strong waves are caused by a large northwest swell that is expected to peak Friday afternoon and evening. In addition to the high surf, the swell will cause “powerful longshore and rip currents” at most beaches.

Harbor entrances could be impacted by large breaking waves and strong currents, the high-surf warning said, and channels also could be impacted, leading to challenging boat handling.

Surf will be highest for north-facing shores at 25 to 25 feet. West-facing shores are expecting surf of 18 to 22 feet.

The swell is originating from the northwest Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Japan. Swells are normal for the Aloha State this time of year, but the typical surf size is 18 feet, making the ongoing surf higher than normal.

A small craft advisory is also in place, warning boaters that sea conditions could be hazardous to small craft.

What People Are Saying

NWS meteorologist Derek Wroe told Newsweek: “There are some areas that are more vulnerable than others. Certain areas that the beach is a bit lower. If there’s a road that’s close to it, sometimes waves will surge, run up the beach and push onto the road. It’s not very unusual for us to get surf of this size in January.”

NWS Honolulu, in a high-surf warning: “Stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts. Be prepared for road closures. Postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides.”

What Happens Next

The high-surf warning is expected to expire by 6 a.m. local time Saturday morning.

In addition to the high surf, rain showers are expected on Friday as a cold front pushes down the island chain, according to the NWS Honolulu forecast. Another cold front is expected by the middle of next week, increasing the chance of rain and thunderstorms.

Wroe said there are no significant swells on the horizon that could prompt a high surf warning in the coming week.

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Hawaii

Doctor’s wife testifies he beat her with rock, tried to force her toward cliff edge during hike

Published

5 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Doctor’s wife testifies he beat her with rock, tried to force her toward cliff edge during hike

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A Hawaii doctor’s wife testified Tuesday that he beat her with a rock and tried to push her over a cliff during a birthday hike, telling jurors she feared she would die.

”He’s trying to kill me,” Arielle Konig testified she screamed during the alleged attack, according to ABC News.

Konig testified against her husband, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, who is accused of attempting to kill her during the March 24, 2025, incident on Oahu’s Pali Puka Trail.

He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder.

SURGEON IN OHIO DENTIST DOUBLE MURDER ALLEGEDLY USED FAKE ADDRESSES TO DODGE LAWSUITS: ‘HE JUST DISAPPEARED’

A split image shows the Pali Puka hiking trail on Oahu, Hawaii, and Gerhardt Konig, who is accused of attacking his wife during a hike. (iStock; Honolulu Police Department)

Arielle Konig told jurors the couple had traveled from Maui to celebrate her birthday and work on their marriage after what she described as “flirty” messages with a colleague.

She said the hike turned violent when her husband suddenly grabbed her by the arms and began forcing her toward the cliff’s edge.

”I’m so f—ing sick of this s—,” Arielle Konig testified he said as he pushed her, per the outlet.

Arielle Konig testified she threw herself to the ground and held onto nearby vegetation as her husband tried to move her closer to the edge.

She said she then saw him holding a syringe and moving to use it.

”Hold still,” he allegedly told her, she testified, adding that she knocked it away.

She told jurors her husband then picked up a rock and began repeatedly striking her in the head.

”I just started screaming, because in my mind, he’s trying to knock me unconscious, to be able to drag me over the edge,” she told jurors.

Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig appears before a judge via video during an arraignment hearing in April 2025 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

She said she continued yelling for help, telling the court she believed she was fighting for her life.

Two hikers eventually came upon the scene and called 911.

”There’s a man trying to kill her,” a caller said, according to audio previously played in court.

Arielle Konig testified that her husband stopped when the hikers appeared, allowing her to crawl to safety before he fled the area.

Gerhardt Konig then fled the scene on foot, sparking a manhunt before police arrested him later that evening, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

HUSBAND CHARGED IN PREGNANT PHYSICAL THERAPIST WIFE’S MURDER AFTER GIVING POLICE A DIFFERENT STORY

She testified her husband struck her as many as 10 times with the rock and said she did not lose consciousness.

She was later hospitalized with severe scalp lacerations and showed jurors scarring on her head.

Defense attorneys pushed back on that account during cross-examination, with defense attorney Thomas Otake questioning Arielle Konig about what both sides described as an “emotional affair,” suggesting the incident stemmed from a confrontation between the couple, according to ABC News.

Gerhardt Konig is charged with attempted second-degree murder after he allegedly tried to kill his wife while hiking in Hawaii. (Gerhardt Konig/Facebook)

Otake argued the encounter was an ”unplanned, unanticipated scuffle,” not an attempted murder, and suggested Arielle Konig hit him with the rock first during an argument over what both sides described as an “emotional affair,” according to ABC News.

Arielle Konig disputed that characterization during her testimony.

”I would call it an attack versus a scuffle,” she told jurors, according to ABC News.

Arielle Konig moved to end the marriage in May 2025, filing for divorce and seeking sole custody of the couple’s two young children.

Her husband has remained in custody since his arrest, and a judge last month rejected his bid to have the indictment thrown out.

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Konig has been suspended from his work as an independent contractor at Maui Memorial Medical Center, according to a Maui Health representative.

Fox News’ Julia Bonavita and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.

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Hawaii

Hawaii launches emergency relief program for farmers, businesses | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

17 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii launches emergency relief program for farmers, businesses | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

JAMM AQUINO / MARCH 20

Sandy Ath Tab, co-owner of Koolau Range Farms, stands in floodwater outside their farmland on Friday, March 20, in Waialua. Ath Tab and her husband were trying to assess damage and find their farm cat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity today opened up applications for an emergency farm relief program for those impacted by the recent Kona low storms.

Farmers, ranchers, and businesses statewide that experienced losses and damage from the storm can apply for a one-time grant of $1,500 to address immediate needs. They must, however, provide a General Excise Tax license to qualify.

The state has authorized a total of $500,000 for the program from DAB-restricted funds.

“While the full impacts from the Kona Low 1 and Kona Low 2 storms are still being assessed, we know our agricultural producers have been severely impacted by these events,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, in a news release. “The Emergency Farmer Relief funding aims to support our agriculture industry with grant money to start recovering from the disaster or providing brief financial stability during this time.”

Gov. Josh Green said in a statement that Hawaii’s farmers are a crucial lifeline for the state’s food security and sustainability efforts.

“As we work to increase our islands’ independence from offshore food imports, we must support the farmers and ranchers who supply healthy and nutritious produce and meats for our local people through grocery stores, schools and restaurants,” said Green in the statement. “This emergency funding for our agriculture communities emphasizes their essential role in our state’s food security and our commitment to aid in their recovery.”

Applicants who complete and submit applications by Friday will be prioritized for funding, the release said. Awards will be announced next week.

The application is available online on DAB’s website at dab.hawaii.gov/emergencyfarmerrelief/.

Applicants with limited internet access can call the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency for help with the applications at 808-586-0034.

Questions? Email dab.efr@hawaii.gov.

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Hawaii

New downpours in Hawaii lead to more flooding on Oahu Island

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

New downpours in Hawaii lead to more flooding on Oahu Island

TWICE reflect on a decade as a group: ‘There’s so much more we can do’ | AP interview

Speaking backstage at the Kia Forum during a stop on their ‘THIS IS FOR’ World Tour, TWICE sit down with Associated Press entertainment journalist Liam McEwan to reflect on a decade together — and the journey still unfolding. Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu open up about their anniversary release, “TEN: The Story Goes On,” featuring solo tracks from every member for the first time. The group also speaks about their evolving definitions of success, how comebacks come together through group chats and meetings, balancing solo ambitions and subunits, and pushing forward creatively without repeating themselves. They also discuss contributing “Takedown” to the Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters.”

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