LIHU‘E — Acting Mayor Reiko Matsuyama signed an emergency proclamation for the County of Kaua‘i on Friday due to the “rain event” or heavy overnight rainfall on Thursday night.
The disaster emergency relief period will continue for 60 days or by a separate proclamation, whichever comes first, the county said in a press release.
An emergency proclamation has also been requested from Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green.
The purpose of the emergency proclamation is to provide continued relief for disaster damages, losses and suffering, and to protect the health, safety and welfare of Kaua‘i residents and visitors.
Residents are advised to start documenting and taking photos of damages on their property. More information on damage assessments will be announced.
The National Weather Service (NWS) on Friday reported that a strong low pressure system northwest of the state brought a band of heavy rain and thunderstorms across Kaua‘i.
The rain event started with light rain during the day on Thursday, and developed into steady rain and thunderstorms overnight. According to NWS, the most intense period of rain occurred in the 12-hour period between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday.
That resulted in several evacuations in the Wailua and Koloa area, and according to the local radio station, several vehicle rescues due to flooding. A number of roads around the island, including Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei Bridge, were closed due to flooding and landslides.
According to NWS automated rain gauges, totals for the 12-hour period ending at 6 a.m. Friday showed 12.51 inches of rain pelting Kalaheo, the greatest amount of rain falling on Kaua‘i. Lihu‘e Airport reported 11 inches and the gauges at the Princeville Airport showed 5.77 inched.
On the westside of the island, Oma‘o recorded 11.35 inches and Po‘ipu showed 10.59 inches. Port Allen recorded 8.60 inches and Mana gauges showed 4.12 inches.
All schools, public, private, preschools, and the Kaua‘i Community College were closed due to the heavy overnight rainfall. Several planned events were also postponed
Traffic was reduced to a trickle over the Wailua Bridge that suffered damage due to the heavy overnight rainfall. The original bridge was closed and two-way traffic was diverted to Bryan Baptiste Bridge on the makai side of Wailua River.
Rowena Contrades Pangan, of the Ho‘omana Thrift Store, said the shop was gutted by the waters that overflowed Wailua River.
“We had about 7 feet of water coming through,” Pangan said. “We lost everything. Fridays are the days we feed the homeless to a tune of about 150 meals. What are we going to do? The force of the water was so great, it tipped over our walk-in refrigerator. We can’t even cook.”
In Koloa, the Gather Federal Credit Union, Koloa Branch, and several neighboring businesses, including the parked food trucks were closed on Friday because flood waters had entered the businesses.
“The force of the water was strong enough to move our dumpster in the back,” said Justin Ganaden, a Gather FCU vice president. “We should be able to clean this over the weekend, and hopefully, open on Monday. Fortunately, no one was hurt.”
The NWS synopsis on the weather.gov/hawaii website stated another trough will move into the area Saturday night and will linger across the state through early next week.
The trough will bring another round of heavy rain starting over Kaua‘i on Saturday night into Sunday. Flooding will be the main concern as this trough moves through the state, the NWS said.
