The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the entire state except for the summits on Hawaii island and Haleakala on Maui.
The wind advisory is in effect until 10 tonight, and affected areas could see sustained 30 mph winds from the northeast and east along with gusts near 50 mph, the weather service said.
The strong winds can cause tree limbs to break and power outages, while making driving difficult for high-profile vehicles, the agency said.
A strong high north of the state is causing powerful tradewinds that will last through midweek.
A gale warning was also in effect for the Pailolo and Alenuihaha channels that is set to expire at 6 a.m. Thursday. Winds were expected to reach 35 to 40 mph with seas of 9 to 14 feet, the weather service said.
A high-surf advisory was also in effect for east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island. South shores along Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and the Big Island were also under the high-surf advisory. It was set to expire at 6 p.m. today.
State transportation director takes new post
State Transportation Director Ford Fuchigami will leave his job for the new post of administrative director for Gov. David Ige beginning Nov. 1, the governor’s office announced.
Jade Butay, currently deputy transportation director in charge of administration, has been named Fuchigami’s permanent replacement. He will have the title of interim director pending Senate confirmation during next year’s Legislature.
The administrative director’s post is a new one in the Ige administration but will be similar to that of deputy chief of staff, an Ige spokeswoman said. The administration has been without a deputy chief of staff since Laurel Johnston left to be deputy director of budget and finance in December.
In his new job, Fuchigami will coordinate essential business and discussions between the state and various industries, serve as lead liaison between the governor’s office and various state agencies, and administer management improvement programs, according to a news release from Ige’s office.
Butay has been a deputy director since January 2015. Prior to that he was deputy director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in 2013-14. He served an earlier stint as deputy transportation director for administration in 2011-13.
Hawaii island
Man dies after head-on collision
A man died and a woman was left in serious condition following a head-on collision Saturday morning on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
Hawaii island police said a minivan traveling east on the highway crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a vehicle headed west.
The driver of the minivan was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. The female driver of the other vehicle was transported in serious condition to a hospital.
Police closed the highway, formerly Saddle Road, from the 9-mile marker above Hilo to the Waikii entrance above Waimea for several hours while an investigation was conducted.
Swimmer rescued from Hilo Bay
Hawaii County Fire Department personnel rescued an exhausted swimmer in Hilo Bay on Saturday afternoon.
According to an HCFD report, a witness saw a woman in her late 20s swimming from the Wailoa River mouth toward a channel marker about a mile offshore but lost sight of her and called 911.
The department conducted a 35-minute search before a helicopter crew spotted the woman and deployed a rescue swimmer to assist her. She was then transported to shore.
She was reported to be “exhausted” but did not require further assistance.
Maui
Iao Valley park closed for repair
Iao Valley State Monument will close for an estimated two months starting today as the state Department of Land and Natural Resources continues work to stabilize areas of the park that were damaged by a massive flood last year.
The park is expected to reopen by Dec. 16, or sooner if conditions permit, according to the DLNR. The work is part of the second phase of slope stabilization.
Vares Contracting began work in February to remove green waste, concrete debris and railings, and Maui Kupono Builders LLC did interim slope stabilization. The new work is the second phase of that slope stabilization.
The overall project cost is $1,837,341, according to DLNR.
