The entire state remains under a flash flood watch through tomorrow and it could easily be extended, said Kevin Kodama, weather service hydrologist.

Heavy rain is expected through the weekend, with possible thunderstorms, he said. Blue skies are not in anyone's forecast for as far off as next week, he said.

"The whole state is under risk," he said. "The timing is going to be very difficult to figure out — what area is going to get heavy rain at what time. But the state is under the risk of heavy rains at least through Saturday."

The rain last night, which began about 8 p.m. and grew intense at midnight, spared the devastated north shore areas where reservoirs have overflowed and breached. Instead, they affected eastern and southern parts of the island.

"Luckily, the north side got a bit of a break last night," Kodama said.

Hawai'i has been in the path of one moisture-producing weather pattern after another since the start of March, he said.

"We're just in the wrong zone," he said. "We're in the cross hairs, unfortunately. It's our third week now that we have had some serious flooding events."

Meanwhile, Gov. Linda Lingle and Kaua'i Mayor Bryan Baptiste inspected the damage in Kilauea by helicopter this morning, said county spokeswoman Mary Daubert. After the flight, they met with residents at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.