Some paddlers got to see them up close during the Na Wahine O Ke Kai canoe race from Molokai to Oahu.
The massive waves caused trouble for some canoes stuck in the white wash.
Firefighters were called in to help.
Oficials say ten canoes got swamped as they were trying to get out of Hale O Lono Harbor before the start of the race.
One was damaged and had to be towed back to shore, the rest went on to start the race.
One of the paddlers had to be taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
Although the swells aren’t as big as expected, lifeguards still saw double-overhead wave conditions.
They’re warning inexperienced water-goers and especially tourists to beware.
"This is Hawaii, this is the Super Bowl of surfing. This is the North Shore – this is not Kansas," says Jim Howe of the City’s Ocean Safety Division.
Howe also says we’ve moved from a La Nina to El Nino weather pattern, which means we’ll have bigger surf, rougher conditions, and storms will come closer to the shore this year compared to last year.
For the teams that went on to finish the Na Wahine O Ke Kai race, Team Bradley of Maui captured the crown.
They finished at a time of 6 hours, 47 seconds. This was the seventh time in eight years that Team Bradley took the top spot in the competition.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
