Kona Water Spout Dec. 20 2009

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Kona Water Spout Dec. 20 2009

by Joe Trent
(Kailua Kona )

I spotted this monster water spout just off Kaiwi Point at 10:10 AM.

Earlier I had been sitting on the lanai reading the paper and was watching the thunder storm get closer by the minute until I had to come inside the house due to the side ways rain. This all happened in about 30 minutes.

A cloud straight out front of our house maybe 3 or 4 miles was trying to form a water spout at about 9:45AM so I grabbed my camera so I could be ready to snap a photo which is why I had the camera handy when the monster water spout appeared.

It was kinda a fluke though. I walked out on the lanai after the storm had passed to see if the neighbors trash can had blown away and immediately noticed the water spout. I grabbed the camera and took 2 good photos and then ran for the video camera.

By the time I came back the funnel had dissipated but there was still a huge disturbance on the surface of the ocean where the water spout had been. AMAZING!

Youtube views over 1,000 by second day online.

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Kona Water Spout Dec. 20 2009

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Dec 22, 2009

Water spout
by: Cee

Looks like our Oklahoma tornados.

Dec 22, 2009

Powerful!
by: huntfore

I was at the Kona Costco when the waterspout hit. It knocked the shed off of the worker's door, it blew ladders off of trucks...it was loud, scary, and fast! It was the most powerful thing I have ever experienced.

Dec 21, 2009

Water spout
by: Caren

Wow! That's all I can say... WOW! Awesome photo!

Dec 21, 2009

waterspout
by: greg h

nice pics joe. i love twisters and that was quite a good one. merry x-mas to you and your family.

Dec 21, 2009

Thank You For Posting - From Florida
by: Stephen Sponsler

Thanks for posting this. I saw your remarks in Facebook which lead me to your web site, which is very nice, BTW. I've seen MANY waterspouts here too...will go back to facebook and send you one via the 'comments'. If we don't chat again soon, have a great holiday.

Dec 21, 2009

thanks for the clip
by: barbara powrie

i was there collecting shells on the lava rocks when i was smacked in the back with a wave.

a couple warned me about the dangers of hanging out too close to those waves. the mentioned that the seventh wave can take you by surprise.

i heeded their advice.

Dec 20, 2009

Do Waterspouts Come Ashore?
by: Roxanne

Thanks for the photo! Another friend reported dime-sized hail at her place. A church friend told me that a waterspout ripped up the old Kona Post Office years ago. It used to be where Quinn's is, as far as I can figure. The letters blew all over, and they relocated the Post Office to the current spot up Palani Rd.

Dec 20, 2009

Can I get a witness?
by: Laura

Yeah, that was pretty crazy, huh? I was on my way to work, comin' down Ali'i Dr. Then later, when I tried to explain to folks that this was no ordinary little waterspout, I wished I had taken a photo. Thanks for having a camara handy and thanks for the proof.

Dec 20, 2009

In the midwest we call that a tornado!!
by: Jo Ann West

Do those things ever come ashore?
Tornadoes that size can wipe out a whole town here. Scary, but I?d still rather be there than here with our 18 inches of snow on the ground ? with more coming.
All I want for Christmas is that yacht!!

***************************************************
One did come ashore back in the 80's? and did a lot of damage according to some old timers I know. Anyone who was here at the time and wants to elaborate on that feel free to. J.T.

Dec 20, 2009

mini-spout
by: PaulH

Hi, Joe -
This reminds me of a mini-spout which appeared
at Waikiki ca. 1965, off Hilton Hawaiian Village.
It was smaller than what appeared in your video,
but closer to shore, as I recall. I was staying
at the Tradewinds back then, several floors above
ground level. Like yours, this lasted a while,
then disappeared as though nothing happened.
I don't recall running for a camera, but instead
for a phone to tell my visiting parents to check
it out from their room at HHV, if possible
(it wasn't). -ph

Dec 20, 2009

Meduse - Not Pride of Aloha
by: Joe

The Meduse was parked over there this morning to the person who asked if it was the Pride of Aloha.

See above video...

Dec 20, 2009

WOW!
by: Terry

That is a great shot! It this something that happens often? My wife & I are 99 days and counting before we move the Kailua-Kona.

***********************
No thank goodness. J.T.

Dec 20, 2009

water spout
by: Anonymous

Great shot, Joe!
I was in the water swimming with 2 friends off the pier! We saw the spout and then had thunder and lightening before we made it back to shore for the full brunt of the storm! Wild stuff ,and with no more than a few branches down, lots of fun!
cheers,
Leila

Dec 20, 2009

wow!!!!
by: hannah

Boy Joe, you and your great photos and information are making me more and more excited about our trip in June. Thanks so much for sharing. What would Kona do without Joe. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Dec 20, 2009

The Cruise Ship?
by: Anonymous

Is that the POA? I wonder if any of the cruisers got pics or if the staff had to clean up messes from people who crapped pants when they saw it headed at them?

Dec 20, 2009

Super!
by: Joy

Thank you for sharing with us. Great shot! Merry Christmas

Dec 20, 2009

Wow
by: Anonymous

Wow, great photo Joe Trent.

Dec 20, 2009

2006 Water Spout
by: Joe

Someone emailed me privately and asked if I ever seen this before. I forgot that I posted a photo of the last water spout in 2006 here: 2006 water spout photo

As in the words of Crocodile Dundy, "That's not a water spout, this is a water spout". In reference from the 2006 water spout and today's monster.

Dec 20, 2009

Wow
by: Judi W

Great photo! We were at Costco when it hit and the power went off for about ten minutes. We drove home through downed trees and huge messes everywhere.

Dec 20, 2009

Notice the splash
by: Joe

Is the height of the Royal Kona Resort! At least 5 story's.

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Kona Water Spout Dec. 20 2009

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Kona Water Spout Dec. 20 2009