CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Heavy rains around Oahu closed roads, swelled streams and caused minor flooding and rockslides yesterday. Police briefly closed Kamehameha Highway near Waikane Valley because of high water on the road, backing up traffic.
4 teens survive
wild ride in
floodwatersHeavy rains trigger rockslides
and close Honolulu roadways
The heavy rains that hit Oahu yesterday -- closing roads, causing minor flooding and rockslides, and swelling streams -- were expected to subside today.
The concentrated rainfall spurred two separate incidents of residents being swept into fast-moving waters.
A 17-year-old boy suffered cuts and bruises after he fell into the concrete-lined Moanalua Stream and was carried for more than a mile downstream, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Kenison Tejada.
The boy was playing basketball with friends near the stream at about 6 p.m. when he slipped into the water, Tejada said.
Three teenagers were swept more than 200 yards downstream when they attempted to cross a fast-moving Waipahu canal yesterday afternoon. The boys were able to make their way out of the water safely.
More than 7 inches of rain fell at the Waihee Pump, and more than 5 inches at the Wilson Tunnel, during the 24-hour period that ended at 8:45 p.m. yesterday.
During the same period, a rainfall record set in 1996 of 0.25 inches at Honolulu International Airport was exceeded when 0.3 inches fell at the site, National Weather Service forecaster Jonathan Hoag said.
Firefighters also responded to more than 50 homes yesterday where residents reported minor flooding. The heavy rains stalled traffic on a busy holiday shopping weekend and kept emergency crews busy with numerous auto accidents around the island.
The rains caused a number of minor rockslides, police said. One occurred near Castle Junction when a portion of the hillside and a small tree fell behind the barrier. Other small slides that did no damage were reported near 1936 Kuapapa Place in Kalihi, on Pali Highway and near Kipapa Gulch in Mililani.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning until midnight last night for Oahu, including Waimalu, Halawa, Aiea, Aliamanu, Fort Shafter, Haleiwa, Hauula, Kaaawa, Kahaluu, Punaluu and Kaneohe.
The Weather Service also issued a flash flood watch for Kauai in effect until 8:40 a.m. today.
Weather radar showed heavy showers and thunderstorms over the Koolau Mountains yesterday, with rain moving into Central Oahu and drifting over western Honolulu.
Police closed Kamehameha Highway to all traffic between Dole Plantation and Whitmore Avenue at 8:14 last night because of flooded roadways.
Kamehameha Highway near Waikane Valley was also closed briefly yesterday afternoon because of high water on the road. Police reopened one lane of the highway within 30 minutes, and officers were contraflowing traffic last night.
Police said Tantalus Drive in the 3500 block was closed in both directions for about two hours yesterday after a 25-foot tree fell, presumably because of rain and wind.
Kauai officials reported heavy rains yesterday but no road closures or rain-related emergencies.
Hoag said yesterday's episode of heavy showers and thunderstorms on Oahu was a result of unstable air in the atmosphere. He said light showers were expected for the island today.
