Surf's up: Huge waves hit Hawaii

Two surfers ride a 50-foot wave at Waimea Bay on the north shore of Oahu in Haleiwa, Hawaii Photograph: Hugh Gentry/guardian.co.uk

Water Safety Officers patrol the beach on their all-terrain vehicle at Waimea Bay Photograph: Hugh Gentry/guardian.co.uk

Surfers paddle out during pre-contest surf Photograph: Kent Nishimura/guardian.co.uk

Six surfers drop into a wave during pre-contest surfing Photograph: Kent Nishimura/guardian.co.uk

Carlos Burle, left, of Brazil, Jamie O'Brien, centre, of Hawaii, and Kala Alexander, right, of Hawaii drop down the face of a wave in the first heat of the The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau surf Photograph: Eugene Tanner/guardian.co.uk

Makuakai Rothman, Sunny Garcia, and Ibon Amatrian ride a wave during the first round Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Professional surfer Mark Healy wipes out on a 40-foot plus wave Photograph: Hugh Gentry/guardian.co.uk

A large crowd lines up along Kamehameha Highway looking into Waimea Bay Photograph: Kent Nishimura/guardian.co.uk

Professional surfer Peter Mel drops into a 35-foot wave during the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surf contest on the North Shore of Oahu Photograph: Hugh Gentry/guardian.co.uk

Kelly Slater surfs in the second heat Photograph: Michael Goulding/guardian.co.uk

Surfer Kelly Slater pumps his fist after surviving the white water of this wave in the second heat Photograph: Michael Goulding/guardian.co.uk