A flash flood watch is in effect for O'ahu, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau through this afternoon, and the National Weather Service said thunderstorms may be brought by a strong upper trough approaching the state from the northwest.

Kaua'i police closed the Kapa'a bypass road from 7 to 7:30 last night because of flooding. One northbound lane on Kuhio Highway near the Kaua'i Community Correctional Center was also closed earlier.

A high-surf advisory was issued from 4 a.m. today to 4 p.m. tomorrow for north- and west-facing shores of Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'ahu and Moloka'i. The weather service predicted waves of 15 to 20 feet today.

INJURED CREWMAN LIFTED FROM BOAT

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Barbers Point yesterday morning evacuated an injured man from a fishing boat about 70 miles north of Kaua'i.

The man, who had an injured finger, was flown to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu'e.

The Coast Guard received a call from the vessel at 7:15 a.m. Monday about a 30-year-old crewman who injured his finger on a tackle block aboard the fishing boat Isabella T.

A Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended that the crew of the Isabella T tend to the man's injury while awaiting the Coast Guard rescue crew.

MAC-NUT FACILITY DAMAGED IN FIRE

A fire early yesterday morning caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the Island Princess macadamia-nut warehouse above Shipman Industrial Park on the Big Island.

Firefighters received a call at 3:44 a.m. and were on the scene by 4:06 a.m. They had the fire under control shortly before 4:40 a.m. and extinguished by 4:51.

Firefighters said the fire involved half the storage warehouse, which is part of the industrial processing plant for Island Princess. An area about 50 feet by 30 feet in the warehouse was completely burned.

No one was injured. Cause of the fire was not immediately known.

TWO MEN ARRESTED IN SEX-ASSAULT PROBE

Two men wanted for questioning in a sexual-assault investigation involving a juvenile runaway were among 12 people arrested yesterday in a roundup of fugitives at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park.

State sheriff's deputies, police from the Kalihi patrol district and agents from U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement participated in the raid.

The arrests were made between 7 and 8:30 a.m.

Two men, ages 62 and 61, were arrested at 7 a.m. on suspicion of first- and third-degree sexual assault.

Another man, 42, was arrested at the park on suspicion of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nine others were arrested on 18 misdemeanor warrants served by sheriff's deputies.

They are: Adrina Lehua Barrett, 42; Michael J. DeLeon, 40; Sun Im Haimoto, 53; Carlos Olsen III, 65; Lauralaine Meleka Puaoi, 26; Rey O. Wright, 45; Rodney D. Cariaga, 56; Aris Basa Garcia, 61; and Roberta Kathleen Short, 44.