Crews from the Hawaii Department of Transportation have worked through the night to remove trees and clear mud debris along roads and highways after heavy rains caused landslides. Crews were onsite at Kalanianaole Highway (Route 61) Kailua-bound between Castle Junction and the vicinity of Kapaa Quarry.
The National Weather Service has placed the entire state of Hawaii under a Flood Watch through Friday. A Kona low is forecast from Wednesday through this weekend, which could bring the potential for widespread flooding and heavy rains.
Earlier Tuesday, NWS posted flood advisories for Hawaii Island, Kauai, Oahu and Maui as the radar showed heavy rain falling at one to two inches per hour.
The Hawaii Department of Health has also issued a brown water advisory for Nawiliwili Bay and Kalapaki Beach on Kauai as a result of stormwater runoff caused by heavy rain entering coastal waters. They advise the public to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff because of possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and flood debris. If the water is brown, stay out.
This advisory is in addition to brown water advisories issued on Monday on Hawaii Island from Holoholokai Beach Park to Pololu Valley and Hilo Bay along the Hamakua Coast, and at Kaneohe Bay and on the North Shore on Oahu.
Heavy rains on Monday caused flooding and closed roads in different areas of Oahu, as well as a mudslide along the Pali Highway in the Kailua-bound direction necessitating a closure of the right lane after the second tunnel. An anticipated closure Monday evening was not needed as crews were able to stabilize the slope next to the highway early on.
On X, formerly Twitter, the Hawaii Department of Transportation also announced closures at Halekou Interchange and along Kamehameha Highway.
Waiahole Elementary School messaged parents in the early afternoon on Monday stating that Kamehameha Highway was closed in both directions and no one was allowed in or out. As the highway slowly drained itself and the rain showers dissipated around 3:30 p.m., school pickups resumed.
Waiahole Poi Factory had to close Monday afternoon when Waiahole Stream overflowed.
"We closed probably midday. The water was coming over the river. It didn't subside probably for about 3 or 4 hours. We waited for things to calm down. [Tuesday] is dedicated to pretty much cleaning and reset," said Liko Hoe, owner of Waiahole Poi Factory. "It was probably about a foot, foot-and-a-half up [flood water]."
Hoe said he hopes to reopen by Wednesday.
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency stated in an X post a Flood Advisory is in effect in Honolulu county until 8 a.m. Tuesday and a Flood Watch continues for the state through Friday.
Early Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said an upper level low northeast of the Hawaiian Islands is contributing to moist and unstable conditions with spotty heavy rains possible over the next few days.
NWS also indicated a kona low is set to develop several hundred miles north of the state Tuesday night and will hang around northwest of the islands throughout the week. Winds will turn southerly bringing slow-moving showers, some heavy, and a few thunderstorms later this week to keep flash flooding a concern for residents.
Hawaiian Electric posted on X/Twitter Tuesday morning that crews are working to replace a pole on Hopaka Street near Piikoi Street impacting traffic and parking in the Ala Moana area Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hopaka will be partially closed.
Editor's Note: The article has been updated with the information on flood advisories posted for Hawaii Island through 7 p.m. and Maui and Honolulu counties through 7:15 p.m. (May 14, 2024)
