"There was a lot of hype behind it but for people who don’t know much about forecasting and degrees for certain spots, this was really W and you have to look at the islands that block spots like Jaws," Maui's Billy Kemper said. "Molokai is going to shadow the shit out of it. So I was really surprised to see how big Jaws was on Wednesday evening." Photo: Bidu

James, rushing while the long-period energy wrapped into Jaws on Wednesday evening. Photo: Mike Neal

Looking at Waimea from this angle, you can see why crazies like Mark Healey go left out there. Photo: Jeremiah Klein

Kai Lenny pulled into a mammoth barrel on his SUP, traveled for a while and barely missed the exit. Still, his respect level at Jaws increased yet again. Photo: Fred Pompermayer

With the westerly component, Jaws' left produced sizeable opportunities for goofyfooters like Danilo Couto here. Photo: Tracy Leboe

"We were sitting on the couch at John John's [pictured] house and saw a wave at Outer Log Cabins," Kemper said. "It was the best big wave I've ever seen in my life -- a 30-footer that spit. We put our suits on immediately and went out there and paddled into some bombs." Photo: John Bilderback

Once the Eddie was officially called off, everyone began to wonder how the 20-second-plus energy would translate at the Bay. It was slow at times, but once enough swell filtered through the Outer Reefs, there were bombs to be had. (For more from this day, check out Surfline's Rapid Fire coverage of the swell.) Photo: Jeremiah Klein

Trevor Carlson negotiates his way through the bowl at Jaws on Wednesday. Photo: Mike Neal / Video: Bruno Lemos

Because of mounting anticipation, Waimea was littered with camera lenses from one side of the bay to the other. Finding a unique angle that still shows the size of the wave is always a challenge for photographers. Photo: Spencer Suitt

Billy Kemper, Thursday morning at Jaws. "I waited to hear from Albee on Wednesday night to see how Jaws was," Kemper said of his Oahu-to-Maui sprint. "Jaws is my backyard and I don’t want to miss good waves out there. So I packed my stuff after surfing Outer Logs and got on the last flight over that evening." Photo: Bidu

"Surfing Outer Logs sparked a new fire for me," Kemper said. "I’ve never surfed there but I’ve always seen the stuff Wassel and Bradshaw did out there. I'm now convinced that it’s one of the best big waves in the world." Photo: John Bilderback

Make no mistake, behind that wall of water hides upwards of 50 frothers on 10-foot surfboards. So to get one alone at Waimea is pretty much a gift from above. Pedro Ribeiro, gifted. Photo: Jeremiah Klein

Considering the size of waves Garrett McNamara has been riding recently at Nazare, 12- to 15-foot Waimea is like a walk in the park. No wonder GMAC was trying to pack tubes at the Bay's bowl during his two sessions out there. Photo: Pete Hodgson/A-Frame

“Backed by strong high pressure over Siberia, multiple areas of low pressure merged over the Northwest Pacific into one large superstorm,” Surfline’s Jon Warren said. “Satellite-confirmed wind speeds reaching 40-55kts-plus and seas upwards to 40-45ft. That atmospheric energy transformed into a long-period swell of 20ft-plus that slammed into the Hawaiian Islands on Wednesday the 21st. With the center of the storm tracking roughly between 40-45°N latitude, there was a huge swath of gale-force-or-stronger wind that extended southward to roughly 27°N, aimed right at the Islands.”

Lucas Chumbinho, perfectly positioned to ride Jaws' left as deep as possible. Photo: Bidu / Video: Bruno Lemos

"We checked everywhere that morning [on the North Shore] and it was kind of a slow start so we decided to go out to the Outer Reef," Landon McNamara said. "Within the first 30 minutes, the bomb of the day came and landed right on our heads." Photo: Keoki

“There was a closeout set at Waimea Bay and some Outer Reefs lived up to the hype… and others didn’t,” XXL stalwart Grant "Twiggy" Baker said. “With the extreme W angle, you had to make sure you were surfing in the right places. But after the past three weeks of amazing waves in Hawaii, this was the cherry on top.” Photo: Hank

The North Shore lifeguards have had a busy few days lately. A two-man team on a jetski patrolled Waimea the entire day looking after the surfers' safety, while land-based crews ensured the shorebreak wouldn't swallow any unsuspecting tourists. Photo: Jeremiah Klein

"Albee [Layer]’s approach to Jaws is insane and so inspiring," Kemper said. "He definitely put on a show and if the event would’ve ran, he would’ve been on that podium." (For more of Layer's antics at Jaws on Wednesday and Thursday, click here.) Sequence: Fred Pompermayer

Waimea may not be the biggest "big wave" these days, but there's something to be said about hucking yourself airborne over the bowl on a 10-foot surfboard. Pedro Ribeiro drops in late on the outside of unknown green board charger. Photo: Pete Hodgson/A-Frame

And here's the Jaws version of an airdrop, exemplified by hellman Francisco Porcella. Photo: Mike Neal

While the morning hours were somewhat slow and inconsistent, when the sets eventually showed up the light offshore winds made for near flawless conditions... even a mile out to sea at Oahu's Outer Reef. Photo: Hank

During a swell of this size, the easiest way to check multiple Outer Reefs is most definitely not by car and binoculars. Jetski teams scoured the outer waters from V-Land to Haleiwa before deciding which spot was receiving the westerly energy the best. (Click the video to see LOLA's version of the storm sweeping through towards the Islands.) Photo: Jeremiah Klein

"It was a bit slow but there were some beautiful waves when they came," said Rusty Long [deep], sharing with Wakita. "Nothing too big, but enough for a great Waimea experience." Photo: gOnzo

Throughout most of Wednesday afternoon, blustery winds drew tow-in teams and windsurfers into Jaws' lineup. But once the paddle crew made their way out, guys like Tanner Hendrickson here tried their damnedest to stomp a few massive drops in the head-wind. Photo: Tracy Leboe / Video: Bruno Lemos

"When I paddled out the conditions were flawless but there were almost no waves coming through," Keala Kennelly said of her Oahu Outer Reef choice. "After over an hour of waiting I almost gave up and went to go surf Waimea but then it started pulsing and Wassel, Healey and a few of the boys showed up so I knew I was in the right place. I got like four or five waves. Although it got a little bumpy with the onshore wind, it was still a super-fun session." Photo: Hank

"Paige [Alms] told me two days prior that she was going to get a Peahi barrel on her new board," Maui photog Tracy Kraft-Leboe reported. Sure enough, Alms achieved her goal... prompting us to ask: "What will she do next out there?" Photo: Fred Pompermayer / Video: Elliot Leboe

"It was a cool session with a lot of my big-wave heros," Landon McNamara said. "I was inspired and stoked and tried to go on anything that came. I actually thought it was going to be a lot bigger. But that’s how it always seems to be nowadays.” Photo: Keoki

Wakita appeared to have somewhat of a sixth sense at Waimea on Wednesday. He'd sit out the back and then start paddling feverishly at the first sign of a set...eventually placing himself in perfect position to pick off bomb after bomb. Photo: Shane Grace

Here's the reason people check waves with jetskis nowadays on the North Shore. Photo: Keoki

The old saying "age before beauty" may or may not apply here. That's Mike Ho deepest, joined by Jeremy Flores, Kalani Chapman and a few others at Waimea. Photo: Pete Frieden

From this angle, Waimea appears about as inverted as it's going to get. Notice the lumps forming in the distance, as plenty of sets threatened to close out the Bay -- something that only happens during very special swells. Photo: Jeremiah Klein