HONOLULU (KHON2) — Baldwin Beach Park and Hookipa Beach Park were closed today due to safety concerns from a high surf advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
The county decided to close the parks after the forecast called for hazardous conditions from a large north-northwest swell.
The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning on Tuesday, predicting waves of 30 to 40 feet, possibly rising to 40 to 50 feet along north-facing shores.
The warning also cited risks such as ocean surges sweeping across beaches and potentially flooding coastal roads.
As a precaution, the public is urged to stay away from affected shorelines.
Both parks will remain closed with gates locked, while the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation and Maui Emergency Management Agency monitor conditions over the coming days.
For updates, the public can visit Maui’s official emergency website at www.mauicounty.gov/mema or follow the county’s social media pages.
For the latest weather forecasts, visit www.weather.gov/hfo/.