HONOLULU -- On Oahu, lifeguards on the North Shore rescued eight people by early Monday afternoon and they said they warned hundreds of other people about the strong surf.

The first major North Shore swell of the year was there with crashing waves, the smell of salt spray and the pounding through the sand.

The sets were coming in consistently at 6- to 8-feet high with occasional 10 feet and bigger. Lifeguards it was a good warm up for the really huge surf that is sure to hit later in the season. They had to make several rescues. One snorkeler at shark's cove didn't realize how big the surf could get.

"When the sets came he was in real trouble -- waved for help -- and one of our patrolling lifeguards jumped in and stabilized him and the Jet Ski came from Waimea and picked him up," Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden said.

For the most part it was enjoyed by surfers and body boarders, who flocked to the lineup at Pipeline.

Children played in the onshore backwash, while parents and lifeguards kept a close watch.

Warning signs were posted all along the North Shore. Beachgoers can expect the big waves to last for a while.

"The swell should peak about midday according to the readings off No. 1 buoy and should last about two more days," Van Der Leeden said.

So, the winter season is underway and surfers could not be happier.