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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 1, 2003

Jimena bears down on Hawai'i

 •  For the latest on Hurricane Jimena's strength and course, go to: www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc
 • 

See Hawai'i County Civil Defense updates for the Big Island: co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/message.htm

 •  Hurricane tips

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

KA'U, Hawai'i — Hurricane Jimena, moving steadily westward across the Pacific at 17 mph, was expected to pass 45 miles south of Ka'u early this morning.

Warnings

• Hurricane watch: Hurricane conditions with winds above 75 mph pose a threat.

• Tropical storm warning: Winds of 40 to 70 mph expected within 24 hours. Areas subject to storm surge or tides should be evacuated, as well as areas that could be isolated by flood waters.

Hawai'i County Civil Defense issues updates for the Big Island on Hawai'i island radio stations.

You can also call Big Island Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

At 11 p.m., the hurricane was 130 miles southeast of Hilo with winds of 80 mph.

The first hurricane of the season to approach the Islands, Jimena's center had been moving over the weekend toward a point south of the Big Island's South Point. Updated hurricane watch and tropical storm warning advisories late yesterday had the storm 25 miles closer to South Point than had been expected Saturday.

High winds and surf and flash flooding were expected on the Big Island's east and southeast facing shores as Jimena's edges pass over, said meteorologist Norman Hui of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Jimena was expected to stay clear of other islands in the chain.

Jimena's speed and course have varied little, National Weather Service forecasters said, but even slight course changes could be the difference between hurricane-force and tropical storm-force winds.

Maintenance supervisor Guy Desa tapes up the front windows of Ka'u Hospital to prepare for Hurricane Jimena, which is expected to pass 45 miles south of Ka'u early today.

Tim Wright

Early Saturday afternoon, with the sun still shining on Big Island beaches, some Puna and Ka'u residents stocked up and took precautions. But with the ocean calm for much of yesterday, most Big Island residents seemed confident Jimena would miss them as it continued its westbound course.

A hurricane watch remained in effect for the Big Island last night, meaning there was a possibility of strong winds, high surf and heavy rain within 36 hours.

A flash-flood watch was also in effect for the Big Island, and high-surf advisories were in effect for the east and southeast shores, especially for the shores of Puna and Ka'u.

At the Ka'u Hospital and Rural Health Clinic, acting administrator Chuck Bolden, who rode out Hurricane 'Iniki on Kaua'i in 1992, was taking no chances. Hospital staff boarded up the south-facing windows, removed planters and other items that could be picked up by heavy winds, and made contingency plans, just in case.

Extra staff was called in to work last night and today, still more hospital workers were on standby in Hilo, and a secure area was set up where patients could ride out the storm. Bolden, who lives in Hilo, had his clothes packed and made plans to sleep in his hospital office.

Tourists check out the waves at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in Ka'u. All South Hawai'i beaches were closed as Jimena kicked up seas as it neared the island.

Tim Wright

"I think we'll be OK," he said of the hurricane. "Usually they pass us by, but I think it's important that you be ready in case they don't."

Big Island Civil Defense officials issued cautionary warnings to Puna and Ka'u residents from Kumukahi Point to South Point, and all state, county and federal beach parks in those districts were closed.

Highway 137, the beach road leading to Isaac Hale Beach Park in lower Puna was closed, and several busloads of tourists were disappointed yesterday when county officials turned them away from barricades at the closed Punalu'u Beach in Ka'u.

County workers said they turned away about 100 tourists and locals during the day who were trying to get to the coastline at South Point, where the road was also closed.

The hurricane warnings apparently didn't cause much of a stir in Pahala or the Na'alehu area, where by mid-afternoon residents seemed more intent on a hula festival in Wai'ohinu or a leisurely day in the sun than in the advancing storm.

Jade Moses, general manager of the Tex Pahala restaurant, said many residents likely would get busy with their preparations later if it appeared the storm had veered toward the Ka'u coast.

Workers at Tex Pahala planned to wait until late afternoon to tape the windows, and put locks on the refrigerators and freezers to protect the food in case the windows shattered from the wind.

In the event the hurricane cut electrical power, Tex's gas stoves would be used to prepare emergency meals as part of the Red Cross relief effort, Moses said.

Tex Pahala general manager Jade Moses planned to cook meals for the Red Cross on gas stoves if Jimena knocks out power.

Tim Wright

"All these years it hasn't hit, but I know for a fact that there's at least a 1 percent possibility, and I'm not taking any chances that this is the one," she said.

Despite the warnings, business was still brisk at Tex because of the seventh annual Hula Fest Hula and the Arts Cultural Festival in nearby Wai'ohinu, she said.

Organizers of that event said it drew up to 20,000 residents and tourists to Wai'ohinu Park Saturday and yesterday, although the crowds were larger Saturday than yesterday.

Paulette Chang, who was working a booth in the hot, sunny park, said no one at the festival mentioned the approaching hurricane to her, but said she believes some people stayed away yesterday because they were worried they would be caught in Ka'u if the hurricane blew in.

Police officer John Basa, who was sweating as he took turns with other officers directing traffic in front of the crowded park, said the hot, clear weather was lulling people into feeling that that hurricane would pass the island by.

At Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, rangers relocated about a dozen campers at the Namakani Paio Campground shortly after noon for fear they might be injured by winds or falling debris from the park's stands of eucalyptus.

At the Ace Hardware store in Na'alehu, Carol Amaral stopped in for batteries yesterday afternoon, the last of the supplies she needed.

"I've got water packed and I've got food packed," she said. Like many Big Island residents, she suspected the hurricane would blow by without doing major damage, but she wasn't sure.

"Usually the mountains hold it back. Let's hope it does this time," she said.

Advertiser staff writer Karen Blakeman contributed to this report. Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.