PulseBlog

Tova Callender of Hui O Ka Wai Ola community based water quality monitoring program, stands atop a debris field on the South Kihei Road culvert bridge at Waiakoa Gulch near Kihei Canoe Club Sunday afternoon. The low-slung bridge lived up to its reputation as choke point, though the flooding it caused did not inundate nearby condos as it did during a major storm last December. Callender said she was taking photos to document the muddy water flowing into the ocean. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos

A kona low Sunday brought thunderstorms, heavy rainfall at times and high winds to the county and closed down roads, the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, county pools and a portion of Haleakala National Park.

A flood watch remains in effect for the state through late tonight and a high wind warning is in effect through this afternoon. A high wind warning for the summit of Haleakala remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Waiehu Municipal Golf Course was closed Sunday and will remain closed today and will reopen Tuesday if weather conditions permit, the county said in a news release.

Storm-generated lightning also closed all Maui County pools Sunday. Staff will monitor conditions and follow public safety protocols, the news release added.

For the latest information on Maui County closures see its Facebook page.

Drivers on South Kihei Road plow through muddy water near Kulanihakoi Gulch Sunday.

The inclement weather also closed the Summit District of Haleakala National Park and the Pipiwai Trail in the Kipahulu District at 4 p.m. Sunday. All sunrise reservations today have been canceled, the park said in a news release.

Haleakala National Park will reopen once conditions improve. For further updates, visit: www.nps.gov/hale.

The road was also closed between South Kihei and Alu Like streets around 3:50 p.m. Sunday as it was covered with mud, according to a county road notification. Roadways were also closed between Kulanihakoi and Kaonoulu streets and also from 551 South Kihei Road going south to Kulanihakoi Street, the notification said.

At nearby beaches the ocean was brown Sunday with lots of debris floating offshore.

There was also a road closure at 5:08 p.m. Sunday at Kauhikoa Road and Haiku Road due to a fallen utility pole.

Also Piilani Highway between Kipahulu and Ulupalakua was closed due to flash flooding, the county said in a news release Sunday night.

At 7 p.m. Sunday, the county opened two emergency shelters as a precaution as more flooding could occur.

One shelter was opened at the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku and the other at Kamalii Elementary School’s cafeteria at 180 Alanui Ke Alii Drive in Kihei. The county said arrangements were being made for a shelter in West Maui.

“A kona low system can bring strong gusty southerly winds across many areas that don’t usually experience them, and can easily damage roofs or send loose branches or other items flying,” said Luke Meyers, administrator of the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency.

He added that while the storm appears relatively fast-moving and isn’t expected to cause widespread flooding, the locally heavy rain could cause localized flooding, road washouts or landslides.

The system did bring more than four inches to a portion of the county in a 24-hour period ending at 6 p.m. Sunday.

A gauge at Kaunakakai Mauka on Molokai received 4.66 inches of rain and Makapulapai received 4.43 inches, according to the National Weather Service Hydrologic Observation report.

On Maui, a gauge in Lahainaluna saw 3.37 inches of rain fall in a 24-hour period ending at 6 p.m. Sunday. Another high total registered was at the Kula Branch Station which saw 3.19 inches in the same time period.

The Kahului Airport saw 1.87 inches of rainfall and on Lanai the Lanai City gauge reported the highest total for the island with 2.08 inches of rain falling in a 24-hour period ending at 6 p.m. Sunday.

The weather system also is expected to push high swells onto north and west-facing shores through Tuesday, with waves affecting swimmers, boaters, and shoreline property. The swells could flood roads and coastal properties, according to a news release from HI-EMA.

Maui County said that through Tuesday night large breaking waves could be in the 25 to 40 feet range for the north and west facing shores of Molokai and north facing shores of Maui.

The weather should gradually improve Tuesday with fair weather and much lighter winds expected Wednesday, according to the National Weather service.

Mayor Michael Victorino urged residents of flood-prone areas to prepare for potential storm impacts and also listen to the radio and check emergency alerts for information about opening of emergency shelters should evacuations due to flooding become necessary.

He also advised that residents pack a family emergency kit.

Due to the significant rainfall expected over the next 36 hours, the county Department of Environmental Management advises all residents connected to the county’s wastewater (sewer) system to minimize toilet flushing, bathing and using washers and dishwashers through Tuesday morning.

On Sunday the county said it has activated its Emergency Operations Center with partners from the Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department, American Red Cross and others under the direction of Herman Andaya, administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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