As of 11 a.m. Saturday morning, the National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center tracked Tropical Storm Darby just south of Hawaii Island with sustained winds at 40 mph, moving westward at 22 mph. Darby’s “probable path” keeps it south of the islands.

What You Need To Know

Though Darby continues to weaken, large swells and high surf are predicted for the south-facing shores of all islands with some locally heavy rain for windward areas of Hawaii Island and Maui according to NWS.

As of early Saturday morning, a notification from Ocean Safety Division stated the “combined elevated, rough trade wind swell and swells generated by Tropical Storm Darby will produce advisory level surf for east-facing shores of the Big Island through Saturday night as the storm weakens and passes south of the islands.” Expect very strong breaking waves and strong longshore and rip currents.

There is also a wind advisory until 6 p.m. Saturday for portions of Maui County and Hawaii Island.

On Friday, a Kauai County release went out with a warning from the NWS about a high surf warning for all south-facing shores on Kauai and Niihau in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Monday. Surf is forecast to build to 14 to 18 feet on Saturday, then rise to 18 to 24 feet in the evening through Sunday night. Ocean Safety Bureau officials advise the public to not swim or snorkel on south- and west-facing shores due to dangerous ocean conditions.

Also on Friday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources advised the public that several state beach parks along south-facing shores would be closed on Saturday “and possibly Sunday based on impact and assessment.”

On Oahu, they include the tidepools in Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on the Makapuu Point Lighthouse trail and the Keawaula section of Kaena Point State Park, which may be subject to closure.

Maui’s Makena State Park remains open Saturday and based on monitoring and discussion with Maui County Ocean Safety officers, may close on Sunday.

Hapuna State Recreation Area, Kua Bay and Kekaha Kai on Hawaii Island remain closed Saturday and possibly Sunday.

For updated weather information, visit the National Weather Service website. Information on ocean and beach conditions for all islands is available at the Hawaii Beach Safety website.

Sarah Yamanaka is a digital journalist for Spectrum News Hawaii. Read more of her stories here.