Rain cuts off Hanalei; water system damaged

By Jan Tenbruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Heavy rain flooded rivers and may have damaged part of the Hanalei municipal water system yesterday.

The Hanalei River overflowed its banks about 1 a.m. yesterday, flooding Kuhio Highway west of Hanalei Bridge and blocking access to and from the island's north shore into last night.

The county Department of Water said an undiagnosed problem in Hanalei cut off its supply. Water was rerouted from the Princeville system, and the department planned to take a helicopter to try to find the cause of the failure.

Roads showed mudslides and rockfalls in various parts of the island, but no major flooding of homes was reported.

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the island had more than 5 inches of rain in the 24 hours ending at 2 p.m. yesterday. The central mountains had the most rain, filling rivers and streams on all sides of Kaua'i.