Largest Swell in Five Years - West Hawaii Jan 6th, 2010

Every year the west coast of the Big Island receives a few swells with wave heights in the 8 to 12ft range, but waves over 15ft are rare and only happen once every few years.

The western coastlines are not adapted to dealing with large surf like the north coasts are, so the beaches are unable to disperse the tremendous wave energy.Tsunami-like surges from the waves can cause the water level in bays and coves to rise more than 4ft in a matter of seconds. My footage from Hapuna Beach shows how quickly the water can rise. These surges of water often catch people, who moments before were relaxing on dry sand, completely off guard.

My camera was severely damaged by the blowing sea salt. It was only able to film for very brief and unpredictable periods of time every hour or so. As a result, I was not able to film many of the largest waves. Even so, I think you this film gives a good idea of how the conditions were that day. Keep in mind the waves look MUCH smaller on video then they did in real life.

*Also, I had to use my Mom's camera after my camera became unusable (her camera was also destroyed from the salt exposure, so I had two non-working camera's when the waves were at their biggest). It's probably clear which scenes were filmed with her camera because the quality is incredibly poor. Also, this movie is the first one I have ever made using iMovie. As a result, the title sequences and clip transitions are a little awkward - but what the hay.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• surf
• swell
• waves
• hawaii
• big
• island
• kohala
• huge
• massive
• el
• nino

[beyoncetyratina]

Lol, I was so pissed off at my mom that day. It was a Saturday and she's waking me up at 6 in the morning. Once she said Tsunami, I was wide awake and I was freaking out like crazy. I wanted to get to the mountains quickly, but we stayed in Kalihi... I thought they said the Tsunami was only 3 ft high?

[StormChaserMax]

@beyoncetyratina What made you think this was footage of the tsunami?

My footage of the tsunami is called "Tsunami in Hilo Bay."

[moomoowoofwoof8]

your a fucking sad cunt there not even that big your a dumb fuckerr there only like 9ft

[StormChaserMax]

@moomoowoofwoof8 No man!

I think it's difficult to get the proportions right in this video. At 1:46 you see a rock about midway between the left edge and the center of the frame. It's the largest rock that you can see in the white water and it's shaped kinda like a big ol' whale jumping out of the ocean. Anyways, that rock is chest high when I stand there on a calm day.

And like my info says, my camera broke - so I wasn't able to film the largest sets at Hapuna, which had 15-18ft faces.

[traboys]

Stupid dumb american tourists

[StormChaserMax]

@traboys I was born and raised a mile away from where all this footage was taken...

[Xeidasx]

get the hell back there and film the tsunami!!! make sure you go and touch it

[MyPaddyp]

Please maybe 8 foot wave!! I've seen bigger on east coast,

[braddahman42]

Haha I'm in da video

[traboys]

@mc13612 well if you want to call ireland a third world country!

[Ameffe100]

i sense a faggot......American

[boarder808]

Hey dumbass, you can't surf that and they are maybe 10 ft, but more like 8... Fucking tourists

[MrDonster2009]

well boyz you can certainly can tell when someone doesnt surf cant we?

[WeaDaSwell]

i would be charging.... yeah right haha

[mc13612]

@traboys Where are you from traboys? some piss stench 3rd world country? do i sense a little american envy?

[katiiiemariiie]

@traboys lol hawaii is in america....... so..

[SoulstarKepana]

Biggest swell in 5 years???!?!?!?!? Biggest compared to what? Your wave experience? This video blows... Not even close to big swell.... jeeez go back mainland...