LIHU‘E — Wind-swept rains deluged Kaua‘i on Saturday, flooding homes, forcing evacuations, cutting power and closing down some parts of the island. County and state crews worked throughout the day to restore electricity and reopen roads and bridges while residents
LIHU‘E — Wind-swept rains deluged Kaua‘i on Saturday, flooding homes, forcing evacuations, cutting power and closing down some parts of the island.
County and state crews worked throughout the day to restore electricity and reopen roads and bridges while residents banded together to help those in need.
Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana of the Hanalei Watershed Hui said there were “white out” conditions on the North Shore and likely “historic” amounts of precipitation.
Seventeen residents and farm workers were evacuated from Hanalei Valley over the course of 3.5 hours due to flooding or the threat of flooding, a county news release says.
Fire officials noted that Bino Fitzgerald, the owner of Hanalei Poi, stopped at the Hanalei fire station and offered the use of his 13-foot inflatable boat and his pilot services for the evacuation.
Fitzgerald was joined by Hanalei firefighter Kellen Ponce and the two of them shuttled the evacuees from Hanalei Valley to the Hanalei Bridge between 11:45 a.m. and 3:25 p.m., and awaiting firefighters from the Hanalei station brought them to the station. From there, the evacuees were picked up by friends and family.
Meanwhile, the crew of Truck 1, who had to remain in Hanalei town due to the closure of the Hanalei Bridge, spent the day responding to medical calls and other calls.
More than 17 inches of rain fell over the 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Hanalei River gage, according to the National Weather Service. Thirteen inches fell in Kapahi, 11.30 at Opaeka‘a Stream, 11.38 in Wailua and 7.34 in Lihu‘e over the same period.
Meanwhile, the Westside and South Shore stayed relatively dry, ranging from 0.25 inches in Po‘ipu to 2.91 inches in Kalaheo over the same 24-hour period.
State Rep. Mina Morita, who lives a couple miles from Hanalei Bridge, said this was the worst she has seen it since the mid-90s.
The USGS rain gage for that area reportedly malfunctioned around noon. USGS officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.
The Kalihiwai Bridge was closed for hours before it was reopened around 5 p.m., according to a county officials. The Hanalei Bridge was closed at 9:05 a.m. and remained closed at press time.
The Red Cross manned an emergency shelter at Kilauea Neighborhood Center, 2460 Keneke St., for residents who were evacuated from their homes. The center was closed at around 6:30 p.m. after being used as a shelter for 2.5 hours. Two people sought shelter there, a county news release says.
A dead cow that washed up on Lydgate Beach around 11:30 a.m. was removed by Public Works personnel, according to a county news release.
State Department of Transportation Highways Division personnel cleared Kuhio Highway after a landslide around 9 a.m. near Lumaha‘i.
On the Eastside, Kuamo‘o Road was reopened around 2 p.m. after a brief closure due to heavy debris and flooding.
Several roads were closed in the Kawaihau District around 1:30 p.m., including Haua‘ala Road in Keapana, Kawaihau Road near Kahuna Bridge, Opaeka‘a Road in the vicinity of Pu‘upilo Road, Opaeka‘a Bridge and Kuhio Highway in the vicinity of Kalihiwai Bridge.
The Kaua‘i Emergency Operations Center was partially activated Saturday morning. This involves Civil Defense, Hawai‘i Air National Guard, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department and Public Works, according to a county news release.
