Rain, snow forecast for Maui, Big Island
A storm system has prompted a flash flood watch for Maui and Hawaii island and a winter storm watch for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
The system will bring moist and unstable air to the eastern half of the state starting late tonight through early Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.
The windward sides of both islands are more likely to get showers. There is also a strong possibility of heavy rain and thunderstorms, forecasters said.
"Intense rainfall rates are possible over the slopes, which could lead to flooding of area streams," forecasters said in an advisory message.
Cold air in the upper atmosphere and an increase in moisture may also bring up to 6 inches of snow to Big Island summits at about 12,000 feet.
"The heavier bursts of snow could be accompanied by gusty winds and cloud-to-ground lightning," forecasters said.
The flash flood watch and winter storm watch are scheduled to start at midnight today.
The flood watch is projected to end at 6 a.m. Friday, while the winter storm watch is expected to end late Thursday night.
Accidents cut power in Liliha and Kalihi
Hawaiian Electric Co. crews worked Tuesday night to restore power to 2,400 customers in Liliha and Kalihi after motor vehicle accidents damaged utility poles and power lines.
The first outage began at 5:30 p.m. when a car hit a pole on Liliha Street, causing 1,100 customers to lose power, HECO said in an email.
Police shut down Liliha Street in both directions between Judd Street and Halapia Place because of the leaning pole.
HECO restored service to 600 customers by 6:30 p.m., but 500 customers were still without power at 8:18 p.m. At 9 p.m., HECO said only 15 customers were without power.
Crews responded to a second outage at about 7:30 p.m. Police dispatch said a large truck pulled down power lines, and HECO said a pole was damaged near North King and Umi streets.
About 1,300 customers were affected, HECO said.
Police shut down King in both directions between Middle and Umi streets.
Meter service cost up for vote
LIHUE » Kauai Island Utility Cooperative customers will decide in a special election whether people who refuse to install new smart meters to monitor electricity use should pay for a utility to read and service the old meters.
The Garden Island reported Tuesday that a special ballot election starting Jan. 3 will determine who will pay the estimated $340,000 per year. The KIUC board will decide the language of the final bill before its members decide.
The utility would charge about $10 per month in fees approved by the state Public Utilities Commission.
Residents against the bill say the utility is trying to manipulate the ballot’s language to sway votes to vote for it. Spokesman Jim Kelly of KIUC says the language can be changed. He said the board will take a second vote next week.
Man suspected of faking illness
HILO » A Hawaii island man accused of a double homicide is faking or exaggerating his mental illness in an attempt to be found unfit for trial, a psychologist testified.
Psychologist Tom Cunningham said he believes Sean Ivan Masa Matsumoto is "malingering," the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Tuesday.
Matsumoto is charged in the February shooting deaths of his girlfriend, Rhonda Lynn Alohalani Ahu, 45, and her mother, Elaine Ahu, 74.
"He was angry and was not answering all my questions," Cunningham said of a May 29 jailhouse interview with Matsumoto.
Deputy Public Defender Jeff Ng said Matsumoto has a long history of mental health treatment and "has symptoms consistent with paranoid psychosis."
