Posted on: Monday, January 3, 2005
Heavy rains not in forecast but high-surf advisory in effect
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
The heavy rains that ushered in the New Year have largely passed, a National Weather Service forecaster said last night.
Jan TenBruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser However, a high-surf advisory was issued for all islands, with 18- to 22-foot surf expected for O'ahu's North Shore and 10 to 15 feet on the Wai'anae Coast. Forecasters also issued a high-wind warning last night for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with gusts of up to 80 mph.
On Kaua'i, Kalapaki Beach in Lihu'e was still closed yesterday following a spill of 132,000 gallons of sewage caused by New Year's Day flooding.
A sewer line ruptured near the entrance of the Kaua'i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, where torrential rains caused four sinkholes. A rental car was swallowed by one of two large sinkholes in the parking lot.
"We are taking every step necessary and coordinating our efforts with state and county officials to remediate and repair the damage caused by the storm," said Stan Brown, vice president of Marriott International in the Pacific islands and Japan.
On O'ahu yesterday, a section of Diamond Head Road near Makalei Place was closed at 12:32 a.m. because of rock and debris on the roadway. The road was reopened at 2:30 a.m.
Also in Waikiki, Ohua and Lili'uokalani avenues and Cleghorn Street near Ala Wai Boulevard were closed at 3:20 a.m. because of flooding from overflowing storm drains.
"There's an outside shot Kaua'i could get some rain in the middle of the week but nothing like what happened Thursday through Saturday," forecaster Ray Tanabe said. "It looks pretty good for the rest of the islands."
Torrential rains caused two large sinkholes in the parking lot of the Kaua'i Marriott Resort, including one that swallowed a rental car.
