A tour helicopter crashed at an airport on Hawaii’s island of Kauai, killing four people, including the pilot, and critically injuring three.

Strong winds in the north-west Pacific Ocean sent towering waves crashing along Hawaii’s coast, prompting officials to close beaches amid fears that some waves could reach as high as 50 feet.

THE water was clear and there was no indication of danger when a 13-year-old surfing star went out on the waves with her best friend and her friend’s father.