State starts off new year with heavy rains

Firefighters rescued a 43-year-old man who was swept away by fast-moving water in a drainage canal in Pearl City yesterday. More rain is likely, as the slow-moving storm is not expected to leave the state until early next week. Photos by Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Heavy rains downed a tree on Oliva Street in Newtown. Traffic was also rerouted in other parts of the state.

Trees fell down on Tantalus Drive, off Oliva Street in Newtown, on King Street and Fort Weaver Road. A utility pole came down near the Hawai'i Country Club in Kunia, which blocked the road for several hours until it could be removed. Electrical service was unaffected, said Jose Dizon, Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman.

The heavy rains also caused mudslides near the Diamond Head Lookout and on Kane'ohe Bay Drive near the Kaneohe Yacht Club. On Diamond Head Road, police created a contraflow lane because boulders appeared ready to slide down the side of the crater. A similar situation occurred in Kane'ohe, where police closed one Kailua-bound lane.

A 43-year-old man was rescued yesterday morning when he was swept away by fast-moving water in a drainage canal across the street from the Pearl City Longs store on Kamehameha Highway. The man sustained minor injures and was rescued from the ditch by firefighters, said Fire Battalion Chief Manuel Neves.

Norman Hui, a National Weather Service forecaster, predicts the state will continue to be soaked through Tuesday.

Last night Moloka'i still had a flood warning in effect.

Reach Mike Gordon or Treena Shapiro at 525-8090.