By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
A bulldozer removes debris washed onto Kamehameha Highway
in Hauula this morning.
Conditions this morning in Punaluu, particularly in the area of Sacred Falls, were bad as road crews used bulldozers along Kamehameha Highway to clear the roadway. Traffic was slow with only one of two lanes along the highway open in many areas.
George Harris, a Kaaawa resident, said the situation seems to be getting worse every year.
"This is pretty bad," he said. "It keeps eating the road and pretty soon they're going to need more space to rebuild it. The roads are sinking by my house."
High tide, at about 4 a.m., added to the problem. Northbound traffic slowed at Kualoa Ranch, where debris was scattered over the makai side of the road.
Hauula resident Bill Holbron said it's the worst he's seen. "From Sacred Falls to Mount Zion Church (Punaluu), it's like part of the ocean is on the road," he said.
On the Big Island meanwhile, high surf washed a house onto Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo and an undetermined number of people were evacuated yesterday, police said. The Fire Department said it evacuated 23 people from the King's Landing shoreline encampment of homeless at the end of Kalanianaole.
Police said 12 were removed by county helicopter because the street was impassable due to large rocks on the road.
Another 16 people remained in solidly built homes, but were told they would be cut off during the night by surf washing over the access road. A shoreline home occupied by Craig Kanahele was washed 60 feet inland.
No injuries were reported.
Evacuation centers were set up in Clem Akina park on the north side of Hilo and at the Hilo civic auditorium. Evacuees were taken to the sites in buses.
The National Weather Service said both Kahului and Hilo harbors will continue to be under threat of severe surges through today.