Flash flood watch is issued for 3 counties
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Oahu, Kauai County and Maui County until 6 p.m. today.
Rain caused a mudslide between the Kailua-bound Pali Highway tunnels at about 4:40 p.m. Monday, closing a lane of traffic. It was reopened several hours later. The state Department of Transportation had worked in the area over the weekend to trim trees and remove boulders to prevent rockslides.
Forecasters say unstable atmospheric conditions and lingering moisture from a cold front that passed over the islands this weekend could create locally heavy showers.
A 100-mile-wide band of heavy showers and thunderstorms was moving east over Molokai, Lanai and West Maui through Monday night. Forecasters warn of possible lightning strikes and rainfall up to 2 inches an hour in these areas.
The wet weather is likely to continue through tonight.
Another weather system is forecast to move over the state by Wednesday, bringing more rain later in the week, forecasters said.
Firms, colleges try to develop telescope staff
HILO » Hawaii island businesses and colleges have been coordinating with managers of the planned Thirty Meter Telescope to develop workers for technology and observatory-related jobs.
They hope to establish a program that would create a pathway for island residents and students interested in telescope-related jobs, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Monday.
A majority of observatory-related jobs on the island have gone off-island in the past, officials told Hawaii island lawmakers during a presentation last month. A 2007 survey found 40 percent of tech and administration positions went to overseas locations, and 86 percent of people hired were not born or raised on Hawaii island.
Several ideas to change this are already in the works, including a new engineering program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Jerry Chang, UH-Hilo’s university relations director, said the program would develop a labor pool for projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope. Other ideas include new and enhanced Hawaii Community College programs, and observatory-related internships for Hawaii students.
Fire destroys storage shed on Valley Isle
Maui fire officials are investigating a fire that destroyed a storage shed in Haiku on Monday morning.
The fire was reported at 9:06 a.m. on North Honokala Road. Firefighters found the 600-square-foot shed burned to the ground. No injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $35,000 to the structure and $65,000 to its contents.
