Flossie was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm hours after sideswiping Hawaii's Big Island, turning its seas into roiling giant surf.

Schools and businesses across Hawaii's Big Island remained shut down as Hurricane Flossie turned the seas into roiling giant surf, though the storm was losing strength.

SOUTH POINT, Hawaii _ Next stop, Antarctica, I muttered, as my little rental car swayed along the lonely, narrow road.