Newswatch

Rain causes outages, rockfalls across isles

Heavy rain caused isolated flooding, fallen trees and rocks, and power failures across the state Monday, and forecasters predict more wet weather to come.

Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe were under a flash flood watch for most of Monday as the remnants of a cold front continued to travel south down the island chain.

On Oahu, rain dislodged rocks and boulders in Kalihi Valley and Hawaii Kai. No injuries were reported in either case.

In Kapaa, Kauai, about 3,000 customers were left without electricity for half an hour after a tree branch fell on a utility line at about 3:30 p.m., according to Shelley Paik, spokes­woman for the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

The National Weather Service predicts that residual moisture from the dissipating front combined with incoming tradewinds will fuel more windward and mauka showers, especially across Hawaii island and Maui County.

Traveler tries to sneak 3 knives onto plane

An airline passenger tried to smuggle three knives through a checkpoint at Hono­lulu Airport last week by hiding them in a thermos, Transportation Security Administration officials report.

The incident happened Jan. 20 at about 6 p.m.

The passenger had tried to pass through the checkpoint once and was permitted to take the knives out of the area to check them in his baggage. Instead, he attempted to sneak them through in a thermos, the TSA reported.

Nationwide, TSA officials found 30 firearms in carry-on baggage last week. Of those, 25 were loaded and 13 had rounds chambered, the agency said.

Officials did not say whether any charges were filed. Violators could face a penalty as high as $7,500.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Woman falls into custody through ceiling
It’s not often a suspect lands in the lap of police. But a 34-year-old Maui resident did just that.

She fell through the ceiling of the Kihei Police Station into the prisoner processing room at about noon Monday. Police Lt. Wayne Ibarra said the woman broke a number of ceiling panels but did not complain of pain or injuries after landing on the floor.

A preliminary investigation indicated the woman had entered a crawl space from outside the building. She was arrested on suspicion of criminal property damage, trespassing and disorderly conduct, and was being held at Maui Memorial Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation, Ibarra said.

Crew saves unconscious residents
Two residents of a South Kohala home were treated for exhaust inhalation Sunday after firefighters found them unconscious in their Mauna Kea Fairways home, the county Fire Department said.

The house has a pool outside the living room, and the heater’s exhaust system might have caused the problem, officials said. The residents returned home after they were treated.

Clogged drain takes blame for wet church

A clogged drain allowed rain to flood the basement of the Living Way Church of Maui in Wai­luku just before 11 p.m. Sunday, the Fire Department reported.

The floor of a rear residence also was flooded, the department said. Fire crews pumped about 3 feet of water out of the backyard.

No damage estimate was provided.