Floods, snow and surf possible for isles
Hawaii and Maui counties are under a flash flood watch through Thursday afternoon.
The National Weather Service said Oahu will also be under a flash flood watch from this evening through Thursday afternoon. And the Hawaii island summits will be under a winter storm watch starting today with possible snow accumulation of up to 3 inches.
The weather service issued a high-surf warning for north- and east-facing shores for most islands through 6 a.m. Thursday.
Forecasters predict that surf will rise to 25 to 35 feet along northern shores and 15 to 20 feet along eastern shores.
The north swell will peak today and diminish Thursday, they said.
Bridge called safe despite widening crack
State transportation officials say the bridge that crosses Waiahole Stream on Kamehameha Highway is sturdy and safe for vehicles to use despite its age and a widening crack in the roadway.
The assessment comes after state Department of Transportation inspectors checked the structure Tuesday because of concerns from community members that a crack running the full width of the bridge had grown wider amid heavy rain during the weekend.
"There are community members who noticed the crack," said Kenneth LeVasseur, chairman of the safety committee for the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board. "It wasn’t there before, or if it was, it wasn’t very perceptible."
Nonetheless, LeVasseur said he believed the bridge remained safe.
Bridges in the state are inspected every two years, transportation spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter said Tuesday. She didn’t immediately know when that bridge was last inspected.
"There’s really no structural problems with the bridge," Sluyter said.
Session to have tight security
The Kauai County Council will continue the same security procedures used at last week’s special Council meeting for Thursday’s session to consider an override of Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s veto of Bill 2491, which creates disclosure requirements for large-scale pesticide use and the farming of genetically modified crops.
All members of the public, including the news media, will be screened with metal detectors by police officers before being allowed into Council chambers. Personal belongings — including bags, food, beverage containers and water bottles — will not be allowed. For more information, contact Yvette Sahut, legislative assistant, at the clerk’s office, 241-4821.
Tangled whale sought off Maui
The public is being asked to look out for a juvenile humpback whale off Maui that has large green polypropylene line wrapped around its tail flukes.
A rescue team from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is on standby.
The Pacific Whale Foundation vessel Ocean Discovery saw the whale at about 4 p.m. Monday about 1.5 miles outside Lahaina Harbor.
The captain and crew contacted the sanctuary and waited with the whale for as long as possible, but the animal started doing longer dives and began traveling faster, according to the whale foundation. By the time the sanctuary team arrived, it was out of sight.
If you see the whale, call the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries hotline at 888-256-9840.
