Rains thrash South
Kohala, upland Maui
Just as officials around the state took stock of damage caused by severe storms over the weekend, a new burst of rain yesterday pounded the normally arid South Kohala coast of the Big Island.
"It's raining cats and dogs, rhinos and elephants," said Fairmont Orchid Hawaii resort spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane.
The coastal area normally gets eight inches of rain a year, Ferracane said. With full occupancy at the Fairmont and no place to go outdoors, the fitness center was packed with people, she said.
No damage was done at the resort, but two miles away the Queen Kaahumanu Highway was closed by the downpour, a Waimea policewoman said. Akoni Pule Highway to North Kohala was also closed, and only one lane of Kawaihae Road was open, due to flooding there, Civil Defense said.
The National Weather Service put out a no-nonsense warning for radio broadcast, urging motorists not to cross flooded roads. "Turn around. Do not drown," it said.
No injuries were reported, said mayoral aide Wendell Hatada.
Some areas of the Big Island had not recovered from the storm that started Friday. The Hawaii Electric Light Co. was still trying to restore power to parts of the Puna, Hamakua and North and South Kona districts, said spokesman Jay Ignacio.
"That's quite enough for right now," he said with a weary voice.
Heavy rains and winds continued to lash upland areas of Maui, too. The Kula Forest Reserve remained closed for that reason, as well as Iao Valley State Monument due to debris on the road, the Department of Land & Natural Resources said.
Ahupuaa o Kahana and Malaekahana on Oahu and Kekaha Kai on the Big island also remained closed, the department said.
People statewide were also picking up the pieces of their lives. Seventy volunteers and employees of the Hawaii Red Cross fanned out over the weekend, sometimes responding to calls for help, sometimes checking general areas were rain and winds were bad, said spokeswoman Cassandra Ely.
One of the worst was in the mauka Hoopuloa area of South Kona where three homes were destroyed, Ely said.
On Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, Red Cross personnel contacted 43 families, of whom 13 needed assistance, she said.
They especially needed hot food on Oahu. The Red Cross provided 68 meals there, Ely said.
None of the county Civil Defense agencies had been able to compile estimates of the dollar value of the damage.
