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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 27, 2009

Isles get pummeled by more rain, wind


By Caryn Kunz
Advertiser Staff Writer

Inclement weather hit parts of the state during yesterday's Thanksgiving holiday, with heavy rainfall on Kaua'i and Maui and strong winds on O'ahu.

A flood advisory was issued late last night for Maui, where a thunderstorm on the northeast coast near Häna was dumping rain at the rate of 3 to 4 inches per hour as it moved southwest across the island.

On O'ahu, there were wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph last night, with scattered power outages reported in the areas of Nu'uanu, Tantalus, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Mäpunapuna, Moanalua and Salt Lake.

Conditions statewide were expected to improve today.

More than 6 inches of rain fell on parts of Kaua'i early yesterday morning, resulting in a flash flood warning but no major damage.

For the 24-hour period that ended at 5 p.m. yesterday, preliminary rainfall totals compiled by the National Weather Service showed more than 6 inches of rain in areas of Kaua'i that included Waihina, Hanalei River, Mount Wai'ale'ale, Kapahi and Wailua. 'Opaeka'a Stream, Wailua and the Líhue Var. Stations each recorded more than 4 inches.

NWS forecaster Vladimir Ryshko said most of the rain fell between 2 and 6 a.m.

"The rain rates were quite high at that time," he said.

The rain resulted in hazardous roads in some areas, Kaua'i County officials said in a news release.

Haua'ala Road in Keapana was closed because of flooding, and in Kaläheo, a 500-pound boulder fell on Waewae Road, making it impassable.

Heavy ponding was reported on the Kapa'a bypass road, Kuamo'o Road in Wailua Homesteads by the S-turns and at the junction of Weliweli and Ala Kinoiki roads in Koloa.

Hanalei Bridge was also closed for part of the day because of high runoff.

The morning's rain came on the heels of a storm Nov. 14 when exceptionally heavy rainfall caused overflowing rivers, landslides and major flooding in local taro fields.

During that storm, the Hanalei River area received more than 15 inches of rain in 12 hours.

Kaua'i North Shore resident Scott Mijares could hardly believe his eyes nearly two weeks ago when that downpour sent the Hanalei River flooding far beyond its banks and looking "like the Amazon."

Mijares said that he wasn't aware of any damage this time around.

"Not like the last time," he said.

Mijares said yesterday's rains, which lasted until about midday, didn't interfere with Thanksgiving.

"We lit the fireplace, watched TV and cooked breakfast. My son was supposed to go to work but couldn't, so it worked out nicely for us," he said.

Parts of O'ahu also received heavy rain in the 24 hours that ended at 5 p.m. yesterday, with more than 6 inches recorded in both Upper Nu'uanu and Lyon Arboretum in Mänoa.

According to the weather service, conditions across the state should improve today and into the weekend.

But more rain is possible by Monday, the weather service said.