Weather downs Traffic Signal in Kaanapali on Maui

By Wendy Osher

Heavy rains on Maui associated with a cold front moving over the island chain have resulted in traffic and power related issues.

Kaanapali Parkway downed traffic signal. Photo courtesy MPD.

Maui Police say wind and rain were responsible for a downed traffic signal at Kaanapali Parkway. Officers are directing traffic in affected areas until traffic signals can be repaired.

Repair work is also in the works for traffic lights near Kapoli Street and near the Hilo Hatties in West Maui.

In Maalaea, the heavy rain threatened to overflow a culvert near Haoli Road. Crews continue to monitor the situation.

Work continues to repair a damaged water main in Kula. Area residents were notified yesterday to boil their water before using it or to use water from tankers stationed in the area.

Maui Electric Company officials said about 1400 customers in the Ulapalakua and Keokea area lost power at 9:20 a.m. when the weather snapped a power line along Kula Highway. Power was restored to all customers at around 10:45 a.m.  A repeat outage was reoprted at around noon when a tree fell on Waiakoa Road, cutting off power to customers in Kula, Keokea, and Ulupalakua.  Another much smaller power outage affected about 20 customers along Polipoli Road.

The Parks Department also announced that rains  forced the closure of the Waiehu Golf Course and Keokea Park in Kula.  That is in addition to the state closure yesterday of the Kula Forest Reserve and the Polipoli Springs Park.