Cloudy, wet days expected through Saturday

By Peter Boylan and Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writers

Sporadic showers pushed across the state by tradewinds can be expected through the weekend, but will give way next week to warm weather and dry days, the National Weather Service said today.

Lead forecaster Roy Matsuda said the flood watch issued for the Big Island and Maui would be lifted by this afternoon.

"Next week, we're looking at an exclusively dry pattern" he said.

Cloudy, wet weather is likely to hang around through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, and all islands were ripe for rain overnight.

Maui and the Big Island got the brunt of the weather yesterday.

On the Big Island, firefighters rescued a couple whose car was pulled off the road and into a gulch when they tried to cross a storm-swollen stream in Kapulena near Honoka'a.

Stormwater also washed out a huge chunk of Akoni Pule Highway in North Kohala at about 2 p.m., rupturing a water main.

The flooding carved out a swath of roadway 20 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet deep between the police station and the Kohala Hospital in Kapa'au, said Lanny Nakano, assistant civil defense administrator for Hawai'i County.

Nakano said a county water crew was able to install a bypass line to restore water service, except for about 100 homes in 'Ainakea and Hala'ula, which are relying on water tankers.

Other road closures included the road to Laupahoehoe, Waipi'o Valley Road and several secondary roads in Hamakua. The Hilo Bayfront Highway was closed because of high surf.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.