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| Hurricane Hone waters pass by Wong Yuen Store in Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday morning. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
NO SCHOOL AT NĀ’ĀLEHU ELEMENTARY, KAʻŪ HIGH & PĀHALA ELEMENTARY on Monday, following the arrival of Hurricane Hone. Principal Sharon Beck in Pāhala and Vice Principal Ku'ulei Pablo in Nāʻālehu sent out the announcement Sunday evening as bands of rain continued across Kaʻū and a flood warning remained in place.
The tropical storm warning was dropped and Hone went back to being a tropical storm as she pulled away from Hawai'i Island. Electrical outages were mostly been repaired, but rain was expected for several more days, following Hurricane Hone skirting South Point, 45 miles offshore, Sunday morning.The message from the schools says:
"The storm brought heavy rain, flooding, downed trees and power outages, creating challenges throughout our community. At this time, because Highway 11 is closed due to hazardous conditions, our school will be closed tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 26 to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families. We will update you when new information becomes available."
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Flooding in Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday morning. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| Hurricane Hone flooded Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday morning. Photo by Bob Martin |
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| Looking to ride some flood waters on Hwy 11 in Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday. Photo by Bob Martin |
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Huricane Hone's water comes into the graveyard at Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday morning. Photo by Bob Martin |
Hone flooded Hwy 11 at Kawā Flats and at Wai‘ōhinu. Hone left Ka'alaiki Road - the old sugar can haul road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu - flooded and blocked at gulches.
County and police department crews are manning the blocked roads.
Wood Valley residents have been trapped above the flooded ford since 2 a.m. Sunday morning, with gulches flooding inside the farm community blocking smaller roads.
County/ Red Cross shelters remained open at Kaʻū Herkes Gym annex in Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Community Center on Sunday.
All Hele On Bus Routes were cancelled for this area. Punalu'u and Whittington Beach Parks were closed, with all camping permits cancelled. State Department of Land & Natural Resources closed 'Ainapo cabin, Keanakolu cabin and Waimanu campsites.
Even with the rain, Department of Health maintains a no-burn during the drought directive through Aug. 27.
For updates on shelters, road closures and adivisories, see the County of Hawai'i Hazard Impact Map at
https://www.arcgis.com/.../5865229bcba74020992b372ef18b6f17 . On the website, click on the red lines to read about road closures.
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Pa'au'au Stream heads toward the ocean, the floodwaters passing under the bridge on Highway 11 at Pāhala on Sunday morning. Photos by Julia Neal |
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To read comments, add your own, and
JEANNE KAPELA, KAʻŪ'S MEMBER OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, sent a message regarding Hurricane Hone:
"Please be safe as the storm continues to pass. Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School and Nāʻālehu Elementary School will be closed to students and staff tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 26 due to hazardous road conditions.
"Highway 11 has been shut down by emergency crews, making both campuses inaccessible to families and staff.
"As emergency crews work to reopen the roads, please remain vigilant and stay indoors. The state will do all we can to support families as we recover from the damages."
Kapela recently returned from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
PUNALU'U CONDOMINIUMS REMAINED WITHOUT POWER SUNDAY NIGHT, while Punalu'u mauka homes power was restored at around 9 p.m. Both lost Hawaiian Electric service at 5:35 a.m. Sunday. The trouble with repair was apparently inability of electric crews to reach Punalu'u with Hwy 11 flooded on both sides of the mauka and makai entrances. Hawaiian Electric reached the area in early evening.
Volcano power was also restored this evening, after being off since last night. Pāhala was off for several hours on Sunday. There were several outages in Nāʻālehu and Wai’ōhinu neighborhoods.
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A section of Ka'alaiki Road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu with pavement ripped away by floodwaters on Sunday. Photo by Kalei Castillo |
KAʻŪ COFFEE FARMERS said they welcomed the rain from Hurricane Hone on Sunday morning. A drought has been affecting the crop, but hard rains and wind can break branches and make the cherries drop onto the ground.
Phil Becker of Aikane Plantation coffee farm on Ka'alaiki Road said there was no wind damage and he is grateful for the precipitation - his rain gage spilled over.
Others were waiting for sections of Ka'alaiki Road to reopen so they could inspect their farms.
Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba said at least two farmers at Pear Tree found several trees washed away from their farms and that she is collecting information to file on damages. The Kaʻū Coffee Growers Coop will have a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Herkes Gym Annex room.
Others were waiting for sections of Ka'alaiki Road to reopen so they could inspect their farms.
Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba said at least two farmers at Pear Tree found several trees washed away from their farms and that she is collecting information to file on damages. The Kaʻū Coffee Growers Coop will have a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Herkes Gym Annex room.
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| Rep. Jeanne Kapela at last week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Photo from Kapela |
like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
"Please be safe as the storm continues to pass. Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School and Nāʻālehu Elementary School will be closed to students and staff tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 26 due to hazardous road conditions.
"Highway 11 has been shut down by emergency crews, making both campuses inaccessible to families and staff.
"As emergency crews work to reopen the roads, please remain vigilant and stay indoors. The state will do all we can to support families as we recover from the damages."
Kapela recently returned from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
Volcano power was also restored this evening, after being off since last night. Pāhala was off for several hours on Sunday. There were several outages in Nāʻālehu and Wai’ōhinu neighborhoods.
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