A giant tidal swell has decimated a beachside community in Hawaii after 20-ft high waves pummelled homes, businesses and even a wedding on Monday.
A clean up operation has begun in Keahou, Hawaii after huge waves battered a housing complex - causing water to rush through the development and into a nearby car park.
In a terrifying clip of the freak weather event, the water is seen smashing against and pouring over the roof of a two-storey building.
Elsewhere on the island, a couple's nuptials were interrupted when the waves came crashing over a wall just five minutes before their ceremony began.
Groom Dillon Murphy told local media he was relieved they didn't lose their food or wedding cake to the rushing torrent, but in a clip of their service their catering tables and chairs can be seen being swept away by the water.
Author Sara Ackerman, who attended the wedding, shared a clip of the waves wreaking havoc on the bride and groom's special day.
“It just was huge,” she told The Guardian. “I was filming it and then it just came over the wall and just completely annihilated all the tables and chairs.”
She added: “It wasn’t like a life-threatening situation by any means whatsoever.
“It was just like, ‘Oh my gosh ... what are we going to do? Where are we going to put the tables?”’
One positive was that the wild ocean was "great for the photos", Ms Ackerman added.
Isabella Sloane, whose front room was flooded by the waves, said the swell battered the area for at least five hours before it calmed down.
She told Hawaii News Now: “My condo was hit the first time and flooded everything.
"Condos down the way from mine were completely wiped out and damaged really badly. Thankfully, everyone is safe.”
Another local, Melanie Llanes, said the car park turned into a "river" as the water flowed through it.
“At one point, the waves were so big, everyone in the pool is kind of cheering and applauding they thought it was really cool and it was at first,” she said.
"And then it got a little scary towards the end.”
Honolulu-based meteorologist Chris Brenchley said the "rare" waves were the largest seen in decades.
“Waves over 12 or 15ft (3.66 or 4.57m), those become extremely big and really rare to have,” he said. “It’s the largest it’s been in several decades.”
He said the swell originated in the South Pacific and travelled north to Hawaii.
“They had a particularly strong winter storm where the winds were focused directly towards places like Samoa and then further on to the north into Hawaii,” he said.
Honolulu's Ocean Safety service confirmed they rescued 1,554 people from just one part of the island.
Lt. James Cooper, of Honolulu Safety, said they have been communicating with the community to provide details on "where the dangerous spots are".
