In August 2007, Hurricane Flossie, packing winds of 115 mph, bore down on the southern part of the state, prompting officials to close Big Island schools and state and country offices. But Flossie veered south of the Big Island, lost speed and did not cause major damage.

Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, head of the state Civil Defense, said Flossie's case had dangers similar to the ones facing residents from Kauai to Maui with yesterday's expected storm and high winds.

Lee and city and schools officials defended decisions to close many government agencies and schools yesterday.

The closures gave thousands of government workers a paid day off, and a four-day weekend when combined with Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

At a news conference, Lee said he wanted people to be ready for more than 60 mph winds that had been forecast by the National Weather Service at about 3 p.m. Thursday, shortly before he issued his advice to officials on Kauai, Oahu and Maui.

Richard Knabb, director of operations for the National Weather Service's Honolulu Forecast Office, said winds were strong yesterday, with gusts up to 49 mph, just not as severe as the possible 60 mph gusts that were expected.

“;We were getting really strong winds on Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa,”; Knabb said yesterday. “;It's just that the strong winds we were seeing above the surface didn't quite get brought down to the surface as much as we thought.

“;The showers weren't quite as heavy as we thought they might be. When you have more vigorous showers, they tend to bring down the strong winds.”;

Lee said officials had been monitoring the east-moving front as early as Tuesday and even considered closing schools on Thursday. It was not until Thursday afternoon, however, that the forecast called for damaging winds until 6 p.m. yesterday, he said.

“;I can't place a price on someone that is injured during a storm when it could have been prevented,”; Lee said when asked about people inconvenienced by the closure of schools and public offices during what turned out to be a windy but calm day.

Still, he called the 49 mph gusts recorded in some areas of the state yesterday “;high enough in my book.”; He said winds were anticipated to peak in Honolulu at 5 a.m. yesterday, so it was important to minimize the number of people on roads during rush hour in case traffic lights went out or poles toppled.

Education Department spokeswoman Sandy Goya said the school closures were announced after officials consulted with National Weather Service and Civil Defense officials at 3 p.m. Thursday and found out the winds were forecast to be 60 mph.

“;The danger is not when the students would have been in the classroom, but as they were getting to school and leaving school. Certainly, flying debris and branches and other items cause danger not only to our students, but to the community,”; she said.

After waking up to a windy but otherwise calm morning, some parents called the Education Department yesterday to double-check whether schools would be closed.

Last month, during heavy rain that caused floods, a few parents were frustrated to learn about campus closures after they had dropped off their children.

Goya said schools try to inform parents as quickly as possible when they close, but the weather makes each situation unique and sometimes delays are unavoidable.

Parents of public school children may check whether their schools are open or closed daily by visiting the state Education Department's Web site, doe.k12.hi.us, and clicking on the “;School Closures”; link.

The fact that schools would be closed weighed into the city's decision to let workers stay home because child care would be an issue, said Bill Brennan, spokesman for the mayor.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is in Washington, D.C., called the decision to give nonessential workers paid administrative leave “;a prudent precaution.”;

“;We wanted to do that during daylight hours and with enough notice,”; Brennan said. “;Even though the sun was shining at the time we were doing it, it was to make things flow more smoothly. I think that worked very well. We had more than 100 people take shelter.”;

Knabb, the meteorologist, noted that “;every weather event is different,”; and predictions always involve uncertainty.

“;Just because the winds were a little weaker than forecast this time doesn't mean it will be that way next time,”; he said. “;We caught a break this time—and we should all just be happy about that—but we may not be so lucky next time.”;