More strong gusts forecast as power, trees fall to winds

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BRUCE ASATO / basato@staradvertiser.com

A utility pole on Cleghorn Street in Waikiki leaned precariously Monday, propped up by a piece of lumber, as police cordoned off the street. For more weather photos, see staradvertiser.com.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Traffic in two eastbound lanes of Vineyard Boulevard was blocked Friday when a tree fell and blew over from the median onto the roadway.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Traffic in two eastbound lanes of Vineyard Boulevard was blocked Friday when a tree fell and blew over from the median onto the roadway.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Traffic in two eastbound lanes of Vineyard Boulevard was blocked Friday when a tree fell and blew over from the median onto the roadway.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Police closed a portion of N. Kuakini Street Friday between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street due to a swaying utility pole.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Police closed a portion of N. Kuakini Street Friday between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street due to a swaying utility pole.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Police closed a portion of N. Kuakini Street Friday between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street due to a swaying utility pole.

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Police cordoned off Cleghorn Street in Waikiki from Liliuokalani Avenue to Kapuni Street because a utility pole was leaning over precariously and was propped up by a piece of lumber on Friday.

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Trees fell, utility poles leaned and power lines failed as powerful winds continued to buffet the Hawaiian Islands on Monday.

The heightened activity stemmed from a strong high-pressure system to the north of the state that is expected to continue to feed the blustery tradewind pattern through today and perhaps Wednesday.

The high winds are believed to have caused two utility poles to lean over streets in Liliha and Waikiki on Monday.

Honolulu police closed Kuakini Street between Lanakila Avenue and Alaneo Street as Hawaiian Electric Co. crews repaired one of the poles.

Police also closed Cleghorn Street between Kapuni Street and Liliuokalani Avenue for about 2 1⁄2 hours because of a leaning pole.

Hawaiian Electric crews also responded to power failures in Kalihi Valley and Salt Lake near Stadium Mall. The latter outage affected about 20 customers; power was restored by 4:17 p.m., according to HECO spokesman Darren Pai.

About 700 Hawaiian Electric customers in Kalihi were without power Monday night due to a downed pole, off Likelike Highway near the Kamehameha Shopping Center.

That outage occurred at about 6:20 p.m.

HECO personnel were on the scene, but it is not yet known when power will be restored, according to Pai.

On Sunday, high winds caused outages that affected nearly 5,000 customers around Oahu.

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

Firefighters also helped to clear fallen branches that had blocked part of California Avenue in Wahiawa.

On Maui, strong winds were blamed with knocking down a power line and two trees along Ala Moana Street.

The two trees — one coconut and one kiawe, both about 30 feet tall — and the power line fell in separate occurrences, according to the Maui Fire Department. The trees did not hit the power line.

Maui Electric Light Co. personnel repaired the power line.

On Hawaii island a dust devil formed in Kawaihae, sending roofing material flying through the air, according to a report by HawaiiNewsNow.

A wind advisory for the state remains in effect through 6 p.m. today. Forecasters predict easterly winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts of over 50 mph.