Rain closes
schools, roads

Rescue crews airlift 6 people
and 2 dogs trapped by
rising floods in Waialua

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By Nelson Daraniciang and Rod Thompson
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com
rthompson@starbulletin.com

Heavy rains and flooding led to several rescues, school closings and road closures on Oahu and the Big Island today as a weather system that may linger for several days hovered over the islands.

The Honolulu Fire Department Air One Helicopter airlifted six people who were stranded by flood waters at a farm in Waialua this morning and assisted two others who were trapped in their vehicle near Waiawa Stream in Pearl City.

Waialua Elementary School was evacuated and Haleiwa Elementary School was closed as a precaution.

Parents of children who attend Haleiwa Elementary were asked to pick their kids up at the school. Parents of children who attend Waialua Elementary were asked to pick their kids up at Waialua High School gymnasium.

Honolulu police and fire officials evacuated teachers and students from Waialua Elementary to the high school's gymnasium, which is serving as a temporary shelter.

Four men, a woman, a teenage boy and their two dogs were airlifted from a farm at 66-295 Kaukonahua Rd. about 6:45 a.m., said Capt. Richard Soo, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.

Earlier, Air One was sent to 749 Lehua Ave. to assist two men who were trapped in their vehicle by fast-rising flood water. They reported the water had risen to their windshield. By the time HFD rescue personnel arrived, the water had subsided and the men were able to walk away from the vehicle.

At 6:30 a.m., police closed Kamehameha Highway between Kamananui Road in Wahiawa to Weed Junction in Waialua because of flooding.

The rain was caused by an upper-level trough over Oahu combined with a lot of moisture in the atmosphere, said Jeff Fornier, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. The weather service recorded heavy rains over Oahu overnight.

By morning the rains had diminished quite a bit, Fornier said.

The Wahi Pump in Kahaluu recorded 4.54 inches of rain in the 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. Wilson Tunnel recorded 4.23 inches and Wheeler Army Airfield recorded 3.39 inches.

The heavy rains had moved south of Oahu but could return, Fornier said.

The weather service has a flood watch for Oahu and Kauai until 6:40 p.m. Kauai reported only light rain but was included in the flood watch because of its proximity to Oahu, he said.

On the Big Island, three schools in the Kau district south of Hilo were closed this morning due to flooding on the Hawaii Belt Highway, county Civil Defense said. The affected schools were Naalehu and Pahala elementary schools and Kau High School.

No damage was reported on the island.

In Hilo, Kamehameha Avenue and Kawailani Street experienced temporary flooding but were not closed, Civil Defense said.

The National Weather Service said 1.26 inches of rain fell in Hilo from midnight to daybreak on top of 4.23 inches in the preceding 24 hours.

The service expects the rain to last through Wednesday.