KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
With ominous skies and a rising tide at Kapoho, Barbara Keala did a Tahitian dance yesterday to ward off harm from Hurricane Jimena. Calling to the surf, she implored, "Come if you must but don't hurt us." Neighbor Tracy Santana, who lives across the street, cast an anxious glance out at the 6- to 8-foot surf.
Hurricane brings
rain to parts
of Big IslandJimena maintains a course that
should take it safely south of HawaiiRed Cross offers assistance
The Big Island was expected to be spared the full brunt of a weakening Hurricane Jimena today, but dangerous tropical storm conditions were likely to pummel the island's southern region, forecasters said.
As of late last night, rain began to fall and the surf rose in southern and eastern areas of the island as Jimena, packing sustained 85-mph winds and higher gusts, approached from the southwest. The storm's eye was expected to pass just south of the island's southern tip this morning.
"Rainfall looks like the biggest issue with 4 to 6 inches, and some areas may get up to 12 inches locally," said Alan Olson, deputy director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, last night. The heaviest rainfall and strongest winds were expected in the southern parts of the island, including Puna and Kau districts.
The other Hawaiian islands will likely be spared from major effects of the storm. But Maui may get some moderate showers and slightly stronger tradewinds, Olson said. And Oahu and Kauai may see similar effects later today. Oahu and Kauai surfers will probably see an increase in surf today or tomorrow on south shores.
Big island residents were stepping up their hurricane preparedness earlier in the day yesterday but generally seemed to be staying calm, shop owners and others reported.
NOAA
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite photo shows the progress of the storm as of 8:30 p.m.
Hurricane Jimena moved west last night at 17 mph and was expected to skirt the Big Island as close as 50 miles off South Point at 5 a.m. today and taper off by 10 a.m. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning for the Big Island until this morning.
Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the center, but the Big Island was expected to feel sustained gale-force winds of 40 to 50 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph, since tropical-storm winds extend out about 115 miles from the eye.
Winds were expected to pick up late last night. The eye of the hurricane was 185 miles south of the Big Island as of 8 p.m. and was expected to weaken over the next 24 hours.
The Big Island's southern coast may see surf up to 12 feet this morning, which could affect beach homes, and power outages due to falling trees could also affect the area, officials said.
Yesterday, Hawaii County Civil Defense closed all beaches on the southeast side, evacuating campers.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
A bodyboarder, above, was among about 30 people enjoying the Big Isle surf yesterday at a spot called Bowls at Pohoiki.
"Surf is the first impact," said Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, who has put his county Civil Defense hat back on for Jimena. Kim, who served from 1976 to 2000 as Hawaii County Civil Defense director before retiring, has taken the lead on this emergency. County Civil Defense Administrator Troy Kindred has only been on the job since June, and said he welcomes the help.
"Any time he's on board, it sends a good message," Kindred said in a telephone interview.
Kim's familiar voice was heard on the radio yesterday as he gave Civil Defense public service announcements, as did Kindred.
Civil Defense closed South Point Road at Kamoa Road in Kau and Pohoiki Road at Highway 137 in Puna as well as other low-lying areas subject to high surf on Highway 137.
Beachfront residents were put on the alert yesterday in the Puna and Kau districts, with the areas of caution between Kumakahi Point and South Point.
No harbors were closed, and boats normally moored in the bay were allowed to seek shelter at the state harbor at Kawaihae and the Honokohau Boat Harbor on the Kona side of the island.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Shoppers picked up supplies yesterday at the Prince Kuhio Mall in Hilo. Martha Rodillas, above, said she bought the last case of water at Safeway and Longs, as well as batteries, flashlights and lighter fluid.
Kim said there was concern about several subdivisions in the southern area. "We do have some homes that would possibly be endangered if the surf materializes," Kim said.
"All homes built prior to 1990 are not up to code as far as hurricane wind resistance status," he said, adding that most of the area homes were built before 1990.
"Those homes will be greatly endangered," he said. Some have been destroyed by past hurricanes, he added. "A lot of the people have learned from the tragedies on Oahu and Kauai and have retrofitted some of their homes."
Roy Toguchi, owner of Naalehu Coffee Shop, said he will get nervous as Jimena gets closer.
"We're in the direct path of this," Toguchi said in a telephone interview. "We're only 19 miles from South Point."
Big Isle residents seemed to step up their hurricane preparedness yesterday, shop owners said.
At the Naalehu Ace Hardware, people were buying batteries, flashlights and ply-board in preparation for the hurricane, but there was no mad rush to buy supplies, the store manager said.
"It doesn't look like too much of a panic yet," said Jeffer Obenchain, supervisor at the KTA Puainako store in Hilo. "Lots of people buying the usual essentials: water, batteries, flashlights. It's pretty busy today."
He said some were buying items for Labor Day barbecues, but many were picking up extras to prepare for the storm.
When only a few customers seemed to be preparing for the hurricane Saturday, "I was kind of concerned," said Cheri Oshiro, a supervisor at the KTA Super Stores' Kamuela-Waimea Center supermarket. But yesterday, customers were "definitely stocking up," she said.
Customers have been buying water, batteries, butane, burners, charcoal, canned goods, candles and "a lot of dog food," Oshiro said.
At the customer service counter, the store provided a hurricane supply checklist and set up a radio to hear Civil Defense updates.
Residents in Naalehu said that some people were preoccupied with a hula festival.
"Nobody seems to be worried at all -- not in this area," said Sterling Holeso, manager at the Naalehu Fruit Stand, a convenience store and pizza bakery. "Everybody thinks we're just going to get a lot of rain."
As of yesterday evening, the state Department of Transportation planned to keep Kona and Hilo airports open as long as possible to bring in any diverted flights, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
If the hurricane causes any damage to the Big island, the department will send out assessment teams after the storm passes to determine where repairs are needed.
One major concern would be getting debris off runways so planes can land safely, Ishikawa said.
Aloha Airlines canceled the last flights into and out of Hilo last night and reaccommodated passengers on earlier flights. As of last night, the airline had not canceled flights for today.
Ishikawa said passengers should contact airlines to see if flights have been postponed or canceled.
Aloha had added flights, and Hawaiian Airlines has a full schedule because of the Labor Day weekend, a peak travel holiday.
"We are in a wait-and-see mode," said Keoni Wagner, of Hawaiian Airlines. "We'll be making those kinds of decisions very early tomorrow."
Wagner was not aware of any cancellations by passengers.
The Naniloa Hotel in Hilo said it had no cancellations due to the hurricane.
The Rev. Al Miles and his wife, Kathy, from Hawaii Kai, knew about the hurricane but did not want to cancel their stay at a luxury bed and breakfast in Waimea.
"If we have to stay here a little longer and we can't get back to work, we will stay here a little longer and suffer through it," said Miles, who was scheduled on a return flight to Oahu this afternoon.
He said the weather was windy but sunny yesterday afternoon in Waimea, and they had toured the Hamakua Coast over the weekend.
"We got plenty of water, food, flashlights," he said. "We're hunkered down, and we'll wait it out if we have to."
Hurricane Jimena, meanwhile, has forced the Navy to postpone today's planned departure of a seven-vessel Expeditionary Strike Group-1 until tomorrow.
Five of the ships are from San Diego and arrived here Friday with 5,000 sailors and Marines. The ships were supposed to leave this morning for an eight-month deployment. They will be joined by two warships from Pearl Harbor, the cruiser USS Port Royal and the nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville.
Star-Bulletin reporter Gregg Kakesako contributed to this report.
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Red Cross offers
emergency assistance
and hurricane tips
The Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross has activated more than 1,500 volunteers and staff to provide emergency services that may include mass care, family assistance and disaster health and mental health services, among others.
There are 25 shelters prepared on the Big Island as the need arises, and teams are ready to assess hurricane-related damage to homes.
The Red Cross urges individuals and families to take preventive measures:
>> Listen to media hurricane updates.
>> Secure a battery-operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
>> Check emergency supplies, including food, water and clothing.
>> Fuel vehicles.
>> Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools, anchoring objects that cannot be brought inside.
>> Secure buildings by closing and boarding up windows.
>> Remove outside antennas.
>> Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest setting. Only open when absolutely necessary and close quickly.
For more information, visit www.redcross.org/disaster/safety.
Where to get assistance and the
The following Web sites offer Hurricane Jimena updates and/or information on hurricane preparedness:
latest information on the WebNational Weather Service -- Pacific Region Headquarters: www.prh.noaa.gov
University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology: lumahai.soest.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/uhmetintro.cgi
Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center Joint Typhoon Warning Center: www.npmoc.navy.mil/jtwc.html
National Hurricane Center: www.nws.noaa.gov/pr/hnl/cphc/pages/cphc.shtml
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/disaster/safety
Big Island Civil Defense: 935-0031
