Posted on: Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Heavy showers drench Maui, Big Island

Advertiser Staff

It's going to be a wet week for Maui and the Big Island.

Heavy rain soaked the northeastern parts of both islands yesterday, causing flooding and road closures. A flash-flood watch was expected to be in effect until at least 4 a.m., and the National Weather Service was predicting possible thunderstorms today.

The forecast calls for rain in the windward areas of Maui and Big Island through the weekend.

On the Big Island, the National Weather Service reported 10€ inches of rain at Hilo Airport in the 24 hours ending at 5:45 p.m. yesterday. The drenching continued along the Hamakua Coast, with 8 inches of rain each at Laupahoehoe and at Honoka'a.

About 20 homes in Kalopa had flooding but no evacuations were necessary, according to Troy Kindred, Hawai'i County civil defense administrator. A rockslide closed the Hawai'i Belt Highway north of Hilo.

On Maui, more than 8 inches of rain were recorded at 'Ohe'o Gulch in Haleakala National Park's Kipahulu District over a 12-hour period, while Pukalani saw more than 4 inches. Kahului Airport's rainfall total for the same period was about 1.2 inches.

A rockslide and stream overflow shut Pi'ilani Highway at Lelekea, between Kipahulu and Kaupo on the remote backside of Haleakala. The road was expected to reopen today.

Several Upcountry roads also were closed because of flooding. A culvert failure on Kaupakalua Road, between West Kuiaha Road and Kauhikoa Road in Ha'iku will keep the road closed for up to two months while repairs are made, said Brian Hashiro, county highways division chief.

The county was aware that the culvert, about 4 to 5 feet in diameter, was weakening, had started planning a replacement and was shoring up the roadway where possible, Hashiro said. But yesterday's rain caused the culvert to collapse, creating a large hole in the roadway.