Neighbor island residents brace for severe weather conditions

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Overflowing streams, flooding roadways and neighborhoods caused headaches for many. The windward side was hit particularly hard with flooding reported from Maunawili to Waikane.

Kailua residents sat for hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic trying to get home. The H3 was jam-packed, the Kaneohe-bound exit flooding with nearly three feet of water adding to the traffic backlog.

The Pali Highway was down to one lane for most of the afternoon due to a rockslide. Around 12:40 p.m., debris forced a fence into the Kailua-bound lane of the Pali Highway.

Department of Transportation crews finally cleared debris and stabilized the slope around 6:15 p.m., allowing the road to reopen.

Less than a mile down the road along Kalanianaole Highway, the torrential rains caused flooding, forcing crews to close the town-bound direction. By 6 p.m., the water had subsided but mitigation efforts are ongoing.

Crews are busy clearing trees, rocks and other debris that had fallen onto the road here along Kalanianaole near Kapaa Quarry Road. KHON2 News was told that they would likely continue working through the night.

Neighbor island residents are also bracing for the heavy rain.

Big Island resident Margarett Collins lives next to the river along Waianuinui Avenue. She’s on edge with the warnings the National Weather Service has been sending out.

“Because I was actually flooded in 2018 from Hurricane Lane. And with this warning, I will have a packed bag ready to leave Because not only do I have the river in my backyard, but I have a Brook on the side of the property, which means I need to get out before that gets obstructed,” Collins explained.

Collins had to be rescued in that last flood, so seeing the river change puts her on edge.

“I’m far more sensitive to hearing the sound and knowing when it’s escalating to prepare to get out,” she added. “The water has turned much browner. And I would say it has risen at least two feet. None of the rocks that normally are seen in the river are visible at this time.”

Officials urge everyone to have a plan and a bag packed in case you have to evacuate.