Winds create more problems, advisory extended

Traffic in two eastbound lanes of Vineyard Boulevard was blocked because of a fallen tree which blew over from the median onto the roadway this afternoon. (Bruce Asato/basato@staradvertiser.com)

A utility pole on Cleghorn Street in Waikiki leans over precariously, propped up by a piece of lumber, as police cordoned off the street from Liliuokalani Avenue to Kapuni Street. (Bruce Asato/basato@staradvertiser.com)

Police closed a portion of North Kuakini Street between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street this afternoon because of a swaying utility pole. (Bruce Asato/basato@staradvertiser.com)

Blustery winds continued over the state, knocking down trees, causing some minor power outages and destabilizing utility poles Monday. The National Weather Service says the strong winds will continue at least through this evening and possibly into Wednesday.

Forecasters extended a wind advisory until 6 p.m. today, and cautioned that the winds could continue into Wednesday.  Strong easterly winds are blowing at 20 to 35 mph with localized gusts of over 50 mph.

The winds are believed to have caused two utility poles and a light pole to lean over streets in Kapalama, Liliha and Waikiki Monday afternoon.

Police rerouted traffic through the Kapalama Shopping Center this evening after a light pole came down near the Likelike Highway/Kalihi Street intersection. About 700 customers lost power. All but about 50 customers had their electricity restored by 10:30 p.m. All customers had their power restored as of 8 a.m., a Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman said.

Honolulu police closed Kuakini Street between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street until Hawaiian Electric crews repaired a leaning pole. Police also closed Cleghorn Street at about 3 p.m. between Kapuni Street and Liliuokalani Avenue until a leaning pole could be fixed there.

Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Darren Pai said crews also worked on power outages in Kalihi Valley and near Stadium Mall, where about 20 customers lost electricity. Power was restored by 4:17 p.m. at Stadium Mall.

Winds also knocked down a tree and power line on Round Top Drive at about 8:30 p.m.

Honolulu Fire Department crews responded to five calls involving high winds blowing away roofing material from residences in Pearl City, Aiea and Liliha, according to HFD spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

On Maui, its believed strong winds knocked down a power line and two trees on Ala Moana Street this morning, a Fire Department spokesman said. 

The trees, a coconut tree and kiawe tree, both about 30 feet tall, and the downed power line were knocked down separately, the spokesman said. The trees did not hit the power line.

Maui Electric Light Co. crews responded to repair the power line.