Big Waves in Hawaii Partly Attributed to Rising Sea Levels

Waves on Hawaii's south shores crashed into homes and businesses and upended weddings over the weekend.

The large waves came from a combination of a strong south swell and high tides associated with climate change.

Tables and chairs were thrown at guests at a wedding in Kailua-Kona on Saturday.

The waves were filmed by an author who grew up in Hawaii.

She said that it came over the wall and destroyed all the tables and chairs.

She said it happened about five minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start.

She said it wasn't a life threatening situation. What are we going to do? Where are we going to place the tables?

After the newlyweds exchanged vows, she said they cleaned up the mess.

She said the ceremony was beautiful and had all the sea spray. The ocean was crazy. It was good for the pictures.

A number of factors came together to create the huge waves, according to the National Weather Service.

He said that waves over 12 or 15 feet are very rare. It's the largest it's been in a long time.

The winter season in the South Pacific produces the swell.

He said that the winter storm was strong and focused on places like Samoa and Hawaii.

There was no significant impact on the surf from the remnants of Hurricane Darby.

The warming planet is playing a role in this event.

Sea level rises are the most direct impact that we can make with climate change. He said that adding just a small amount of water raises the sea level. Whenever we have a large storm event, those impacts will be worse.

A high surf advisory would be triggered by most large summer swells that are no bigger than 10 feet.

The waves were 20 feet plus even. It is getting on the level of historic.

Professional surfers often compete on Hawaii's north shores, where the waves are larger. The north and south shores get the majority of the swell.

There were a lot of lifeguards and rescue crews over the weekend.

On the island of Oahu, they conducted at least 1,960 rescues.

The surfer had a laceration to the back of his head and was in the hospital.

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