Homeless residents on a Waianae beach were left out in the cold, debris from a collapsed house washed into a stream, and storm runoff closed part of Kailua Beach during a wet and windy day on Oahu yesterday.

Some rain is also expected today and tonight, although the system that brought the wet and windy weather is expected to move away from the islands.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Waianae District Park last night for 76 people living at Keaau Beach Park.

“;Their tents were destroyed by wind and rain,”; said Jennifer Walter, a Hawaii Red Cross spokeswoman.

A manhole overflowed in Kailua, spilling 4,125 gallons of sewage on Keolu Drive. Two other spills happened in Nuuanu, including a 2,340-gallon spill on Luakini Street that went into Nuuanu Stream.

The city also opened up the mouth of Kaelepulu Stream at Kailua Beach. Signs were posted advising people to stay out of the water.

On the other side of the Pali, a rain-swollen Kalihi Stream swept away parts of a makeshift structure on Gulick Avenue that used to house dozens of people.

Deborah Ward, Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman, said a state enforcement division officer checked the stream and structure yesterday.

Wet Weather Doesn't Stop Outdoor Goers

 

Oahu's rain did not downpour residents from going out and about.

 

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The city closed the illegal pipe, wood and tarp makeshift structure last month after parts of it collapsed.

“;I'm sure it can clog up the bridge (underpass),”; he said Matthew Colis, who lives nearby. “;It can plug up the thing and cause a major flood.”;

The weather is also blamed for power outages, minor traffic accidents and the postponement of the Makahiki Maoli Festival at Kapiolani Park, which was rescheduled from yesterday to today.

“;It's a really beautiful way of receiving the blessings of the Makahiki,”; said organizer Kauhane Lee of the weather. “;It's actually a real beautiful sign of the change in time and season.”;

City crews removed a tree about 4 inches in diameter and about 11 boulder-size rocks that fell along Farrington Highway near Makua Cave shortly after 7 a.m.

Hawaiian Electric Co. also reported power outages across Oahu. The largest occurred at 4:30 a.m. when about 2,100 customers in Makaha were left in the dark after a tree knocked down a power line near Waianae Regional Park. Another 1,200 customers in Waialua and Haleiwa lost power for about 90 minutes at about 5:30 p.m.

Other customers lost electricity in pocket outages in Kahala, Kaneohe, Pupukea and Nuuanu.

There was a bright side to the rain, however. The National Weather Service says it should relieve some of the drought conditions on Oahu and Kauai.

“;For the most part it hasn't been coming down real hard, so it's been allowed to soak into the soil,”; said Tom Birchard, lead forecaster of the Honolulu National Weather Service. “;For farmers ... it's actually a very beneficial event.”;