Flooding on Hawaii island forces road closures
Hurricane Ana swung its way south of Hawaii Island on Friday morning. Surfers and onlookers came out to watch the high surf at Pohiki Beach.
The expected high surf from Hurricane Ana was not that high in the morning at Point Panic and Kewalos. They were small 2-4 footers at 08:00 and started to pick up an hour later to 4-6 footers. This surfer is at Kewalos.
HILO >> Hurricane Ana blew past Hawaii island with no reports of damage or calls for assistance as the National Weather Service cancelled a tropical storm watch for the island.
Flooding did force the closure of Highway 11 near the 55-mile marker between Pahala and Naalehu, police said. The flooding occurred along the south side of the Sea Mountain Golf Course.
Police had no estimate when Highway 11 would re-open.
A tropical storm watch remained in effect for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.
On Oahu, Honolulu Emergency Management officials had no reports of flooding or power outages Saturday morning.
Lifeguards were keeping an eye on 2- to 3-foot surf off of Kaneohe that’s expected to rise later Saturday, said acting director Peter Hirai. Lifeguards had not made any rescues, Hirai said.
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"We’re cautiously optimistic," Hirai said. "But we won’t assume anything."
Hawaii County Civil Defense reported no power outages.
A flash flood watch remained in effect until noon Saturday for Hawaii island in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Ana of 4 to 6 inches and up to 8 inches along the southeastern and western sides of the island. A high surf warning for the west- and south-facing shores of Hawaii island remains in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Only one person showed up at an evacuation center set up at Kealakehe High School; one at Konawaena High School; three at Kau and Pahala Elementary School; and 15 at Pahoa High and Intermediate Schools.
The county closed a shelter at Waiakea High School.
