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A storm that blanketed the state Sunday, causing flash floods that trapped motorists near Waikane, lightning strikes that damaged property in Kaneohe and road closures on several islands, could continue dumping more rain on the islands today, the National Weather Service said.
“The best hope is it’s not as widespread across the entire state,” forecaster Alex Gibbs said Sunday night. “As far as what you’re seeing right now, that potential exists for (today).”
There could be intermittent periods when the rain stops and skies remain overcast, but forecasters can’t pinpoint those periods, Gibbs said.
A flash-flood watch for all islands was set to expire this afternoon, and more rain could quickly lead to flooding because the ground is saturated, the weather service said.
Honolulu Fire Capt. Kevin Mokulehua said firefighters responded to 33 weather-related incidents beginning Saturday night, mostly in Windward Oahu. Sunday afternoon, firefighters and a good Samaritan rescued several motorists caught in flooding on Kamehameha Highway near Waikane.
About 25 firefighters arrived at a site near Waikane Store at about 1:10 p.m. and found three vehicles stranded in 2 to 3 feet of water — a pickup with a man inside, a minivan with a woman and child inside, and a sedan that appeared to have been abandoned by its driver.
Mokulehua said floodwaters were moving at about 17 mph.
The good Samaritan drove a tractor into the water to get firefighters closer to the victims. Firefighters then retrieved the woman and child using rescue boards, rope and life vests. They also rescued the man, and the vehicles were left in the water.
No one was injured. Flooding closed the road for several hours between Waikane Valley Road and Kualoa Ranch. It was reopened at about 6:30 p.m.
Kailua resident Rich Taylor, 32, was driving to Kualoa Ranch for his wedding, which he and his fiancee had been planning for a year and a half.
About the same time firefighters were trying to rescue the stranded motorists, Kualoa Ranch called him to say the wedding had to be canceled for safety reasons.
The couple now plan to marry on Tuesday.
He and some in the wedding party stopped at a store in Kahaluu after receiving the news and spent part of the day helping push motorists out of flooding water.
On Saturday night, a lightning strike blasted a hole through the roof of a Kaneohe residence.
Ben Cole, who lives at Windward Estates, said he was watching TV when the bolt hit, causing an explosion that stunned him and momentarily left his home in darkness. The lights came back on and he looked out his front door to see what had exploded when he realized rain was coming into his home from a hole in his ceiling about 7 feet long and 2 feet wide.
“It was like someone threw a concussion grenade in my house,” he said. “My ears were ringing for hours afterwards.”
He said firefighters came to help and laid tarp on the stairwell to channel the rainwater out of the house. They weren’t able to get on the roof because of the heavy rain and lightning.
Christopher Zarka, the resident manager for the property, said he saw the lightning strike while closing a glass door.
The bolt hit the roof on one unit and traveled horizontally across the roof of three or four other units, leaving a trail of damaged tiles. Another bolt hit at the same time, striking the ground about 10 feet away from a nearby unit — where a resident had been standing while walking his dog only moments before, he said.
He said he thought a car had exploded.
“Lots of sparks, but no fire,” he said.
On Maui, flooding closed Kahekili Highway between Makaala Drive and Waiehu Beach Road, officials said. Downed trees blocking roads were reported on Oahu and the Big Island.
About 5:30 p.m. Sunday, rain was falling at more than 4 inches per hour in Niu Valley and Hawaii Kai, the weather service said.
Oahu appeared to receive most of the rainfall in the 24-hour period ending Sunday afternoon. Waiahole received 14.2 inches of rain, Kahana, 13.4 inches, and both Punaluu Stream and Ahuimanu Loop gauges recorded 11 inches.
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