Heavy rain, possible flooding for Kauai

Forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall with a chance of thunderstorms for Kauai on Sunday as a low-pressure system moves in from the west.

A flash flood watch will be in effect for Kauai and Niihau from noon Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

The National Weather Service notes that soil in some of the affected areas is already near saturation from recent rain.

The agency predicts that the highest threat for flooding will be Sunday night.

A trough of low pressure is expected to linger near the state until the middle of the week, resulting in unsettled weather — mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers — across the island chain.

A high-pressure system is expected to build to the north later in the week, resulting in more stable weather.

USS Lake Erie deploys, Houston returns

The USS Lake Erie will leave Hawaii this week on its last deployment while being based at Pearl Harbor.

The Navy says the guided-missile cruiser is scheduled to depart for the western Pacific on Tuesday. The Navy says the ship’s sailors will work with partner nations to promote peace and security and provide deterrence.

When it returns, the Lake Erie is expected to head to San Diego, where it will replace the John Paul Jones as a rotational ballistic missile defense warship.

The USS Lake Erie is named in commemoration of the Battle of Lake Erie fought in 1815.

Meanwhile, in a Valentine’s Day homecoming, the submarine USS Houston returned to Pearl Harbor on Friday from a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific.

"He’s the best Valentine’s gift ever!" exclaimed Eileen Ward, wife of Lt. j.g. Coleman Ward. "I’m overwhelmed, elated and excited! We’re expecting our first child, and I’m just so excited to have him home so we can move forward and enjoy Hawaii together as a family again."

The Los Angeles-class, nuclear-powered sub conducted a variety of operations and theater security exercises throughout the deployment. In particular, the Houston strengthened relationships with South Korea through exercises with the submarine Choi Moo Sun and the USS George Washington carrier strike group.

One sailor had an extra special homecoming waiting for him.

Petty Officer 1st Class Fred Leonard, a sonar technician, arrived to meet his new daughter, born Sept. 3, while the sub was underway.

"I’ve been looking forward to holding my daughter for five months," he said. "It’s great that it’s finally a reality."

The Houston played its sister ship USS Dallas in the 1989 movie "The Hunt for Red October."

Searchers keep looking for Maui woman

WAILUKU, Maui » The search continued Saturday for a missing pregnant Maui woman whose SUV was found torched near a remote surf break last week.

Crews and volunteers searched by air, sea and land for Carly Scott, a 27-year-old redhead last seen Feb. 9 at her sister’s home in Haiku.

Scott, who is five months’ pregnant, was reported missing Monday. Volunteers found a sweater and a skirt belonging to her Thursday.

The Makawao woman’s burned 1997 Toyota 4Runner was found Wednesday in Haiku’s Peahi area. Earlier, police found Scott’s dog in Nahiku.

UH-Hilo renews agreement for Semester at Sea

The University of Hawaii at Hilo has extended its popular Semester at Sea program in concert with the Institute for Shipboard Education.

A renewal agreement was signed last month by institute Vice President Michael Zoll and UH-Hilo Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Matthew Platz aboard the MV Explorer during a visit to Hilo. Under the open-ended agreement, UH-Hilo and ISE plan to award a total of 10 scholarships each year.

Since 2009, 21 Hilo students have taken part in the program.

Among the students receiving a scholarship for the current voyage is Kyle Davis, a student in the UH-Hilo College of Agriculture, who will visit 12 countries.

For more information about the program, contact the Center for Global Education and Exchange at 808-932-7488 or visit hilo.hawaii.edu/ studyabroad.