LIHUE — Iselle made history Thursday evening when she swirled into the Big Island, becoming the first hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands in 22 years. Her remnants are expected to reach Kauai today, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and strong
LIHUE — Iselle made history Thursday evening when she swirled into the Big Island, becoming the first hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands in 22 years.
Her remnants are expected to reach Kauai today, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds. The National Weather Service has upgraded Kauai and Niihau from a tropical storm watch to a warning.
Marsha and Michael Barth of Philadelphia said when they heard the storm could arrive as early as Thursday, they called the airline in hopes of getting out of Hawaii early.
”They wouldn’t let us,” Marsha said. “They had no other flights available.”
The couple was forced to cross their fingers and stick with their 10:20 p.m. flight Thursday.
”Just in time,” she said.
During a press conference Thursday, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and other officials stressed that the state was ready to go.
”You can rely on the fact that we are organized, that we’re prepared, that this is not practice,” he said. “This is for real.”
Unfortunately, the state was not able to have a sit-down discussion with Iselle or approaching Julio, Abercrombie joked.
”A change of a degree or two in any direction can change what it is we have to deal with,” he said. “That’s why it’s very, very important that everybody stay tuned, everybody stay alert, everybody recognize that the information that we’re sending out is information that you can rely on.”
Residents are being encouraged to shelter in place if at all possible. However, if the need arises, the county has designated potential emergency shelters. They would include Hanalei Elementary School (in case of flash flooding only), Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Kapaa High School, Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center, Kauai Humane Society (pets only), Kalaheo Elementary School and Waimea High School.
Based on the latest forecast Thursday, the National Weather Service was calling for winds around 40 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph, starting today on Kauai. A high surf and high tide combination will bring the potential for coastal flooding around low lying areas. Heavy rainfall of around 4 to 7 inches is expected with isolated rainfall totals of 10 inches.
Mike Cantin, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said during Thursday’s press conference that the storm had weakened slightly overnight, but was still expected to pack a punch.
Rainfall could reach as high as 12 inches in certain areas and cause severe flash flooding, according to Cantin. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all of the Hawaiian Islands.
”These heavy rains could lead to life-threatening flash floods,” NWS wrote.
The approaching storm has all but quieted the island, canceling numerous events from now through Monday.
All public schools and Kauai Community College are closed today. All county beach parks are closed until further notice. Courts are closed. Banks are closed. The island’s four HI-5 bottle redemption centers are shut down. The Port of Nawiliwili will be closed to commercial water operations starting at 4 a.m. today, while land operations at the facility will remain open.
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources has closed local campgrounds, as well as the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park and the Kalalau Trail. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is expected to remain closed through Monday.
County offices and services are expected to remain open until noon today, according to a release. And the Kauai Bus will operate its normal schedule until noon as well, unless conditions worsen.
To avoid the path of the storm, Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Pride of America” departed Nawiliwili Thursday evening, a day ahead of schedule, to spend the day at sea.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. issued an emergency declaration Thursday.
