Hurricane Lane Remains Resilient: Thursday Updates
By Wendy Osher
Update: 11 p.m. HST, 8.23.18
Hurricane Lane has weakened to a Category 3 Hurricane, and is still expected to pass the Hawaiian Island through Friday and Saturday. The National Weather Service says the Big Island of Hawaii has experienced up to 20 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, with showers to continue. Residents are being asked to stay apprised of updates.
Maui County remains under an active Hurricane Warning along with Oʻahu. The Big Island was downgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for Kauaʻi County, including the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. A hurricane warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds. A siren alert will sound on Oahu at 4 p.m. as a final alert for those needing to seek shelter before nightfall.
The National Weather Service has extended the High Surf Warning for south facing shores of Maui County, now in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday. Expect surf of 7 to 10 feet, rising to 10 to 15 feet later tonight, then 10 to 20 feet Friday.
At 11 p.m. HST on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, the center of Hurricane Lane was located 220 miles WSW of Hilo; 165 miles SW of Kailua-Kona; 160 miles WSW of South Point; 220 miles SW of Hana; 210 miles SSW of Kahului; 210 miles SSW of Kaunakakai; 190 miles SSW of Lanai City; 215 miles S of Honolulu (near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 158.0 West).
Lane is moving toward the north near 6 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday. A turn toward the west is anticipated Saturday, with an increase in forward speed. On the latest forecast track, the center of Lane will move over, or dangerously close to portions of the main Hawaiian islands late Friday and Friday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts. Lane remains a powerful category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some weakening is forecast from Friday through late Saturday, but Lane is expected to remain a hurricane as it approaches the islands.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.
Forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center say, “It is vital that you do not focus on the exact forecast track or intensity of Lane, and remain prepared for adjustments to the forecast. Although the official forecast does not explicitly indicate Lane’s center making landfall over any of the islands, this remains a very real possibility. Even if the center of Lane remains offshore, severe impacts could still be realized as they extend well away from the center.”
In the latest CPHC Forecast Discussion, meteorologists advise that the slow movement of Lane also greatly increases the threat for prolonged heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall totals.
The forecast also calls for large and damaging surf can be expected along exposed shorelines, especially along south and west facing coasts, “with localized storm surge exacerbating the impacts of a prolonged period of damaging surf.”
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
(courtesy Central Pacific Hurricane Center)
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are already occurring on the Big Island, Maui County and Oahu. These conditions will likely persist through early Friday morning. Hurricane conditions are expected over some areas of Maui County and Oahu starting Friday and continuing through Friday night. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible on Kauai starting late Friday or Friday night.
RAINFALL: Rain bands will continue to overspread the Hawaiian Islands well ahead of Lane. Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40 inches possible over portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Over two feet of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side of the Big Island.
SURF: Very large swells generated by the slow moving hurricane will severely impact the Hawaiian Islands over the next couple of days. These swells will produce extremely large and damaging surf along exposed west and south facing shorelines. A prolonged period of high surf will likely lead to significant coastal erosion.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Hawaii Area Synopsis (courtesy National Weather Service)
“C atastrophic flooding continues on the Big Island this evening as dangerous Hurricane Lane creeps northward a couple of hundred miles south of Honolulu. This threat along with damaging winds is expected to expand westward over the smaller islands later tonight through Saturday as Lane approaches and moves into the area. This will be a long-duration event with the potential for heavy rainfall continuing Sunday into early next week as Lane begins to track westward and away from the state. Additionally, coastal impacts associated with large surf and water levels rising due to surge could lead to inundation and overwash onto low-level coastal areas through Saturday.”
At 9 p.m., an update from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center provided information on peak wind projections. The eye of Hurricane Lane is being tracked by both the North Kohala and Molokai WSR-88D radars as the tropical cyclone moves north-northwestward toward the main Hawaiian islands.
Automated Surface Observations Peak Gusts:
06:00Z Kohala Ranch, Big Island (KHRH1)……. 61 MPH (98 km/h)
06:00Z Kamuela, Big Island (PHMU)…………. 44 MPH (71 km/h)
06:00Z Waikaloa, Big Island………………. 47 MPH (76 km/h)
06:00Z Lanai, Lanai (LNIH1)………………. 45 MPH (72 km/h)
05:00Z Maalaea Bay, Maui…………………. 52 MPH (84 km/h)
05:00Z Lahaina, Maui (PHJH)………………. 46 MPH (74 km/h)
06:00Z Molokai Airport, Molokai (PHMK)…….. 40 MPH (64 km/h)
06:00Z Makapulapai, Molokai………………. 40 MPH (64 km/h)
06:00Z Kaunakakai, Molokai……………….. 43 MPH (69 km/h)
06:00Z Kuaokala, Oahu……………………. 49 MPH (79 km/h)
06:00Z Waianae Valley, Oahu………………. 40 MPH (64 km/h)
06:00Z Daniel K Inouye Honolulu, Oahu (PHNL).. 44 MPH (71 km/h)
LONG RANGE FORECAST: (As of 5 p.m. 8.23.18)
The latest long-range forecast places Lane 160 miles SW of Maui at 2 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, with maximum sustained winds near 110 mph as a strong Category 2 Hurricane.
The 36 Hour forecast calls for the system to be about 108 miles WSW of E Molokaʻi as a Category 1 Hurricane with 85 mph maximum sustained winds at 2 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018.
The 24 Hour forecast: The system is expected to be about 125 miles SW of Maui at 2 p.m. Friday with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph as a Category 2 Hurricane.
Saffir-Simpson Scale
Tropical Storm – winds 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)
Category 1 – winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt)
Category 2 – winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt)
Category 3 – winds 111-129 mph (96-112 kt)
Category 4 – winds 130-156 mph (113-136 kt)
Category 5 – winds 157 mph and up (137+ kt)
Helpful links:
FORECAST UPDATES:
LANE THURSDAY UPDATES
MAUI TRAFFIC UPDATES/ROAD CLOSURES
POWER OUTAGE UPDATES
***NEW COUNTY UPDATES***
*ALL COUNTY LANDFILLS CLOSED: Due to the current status and forecast models for Hurricane Lane, all County of Maui landfills will be closed (Central Maui Landfill, Hāna Landfill, Molokaʻi Landfill and Lanai Landfill) on Friday (8/24/18).
*REFUSE COLLECTION: There will be NO County refuse collection service for Friday and NO make up services completed on Saturday. County refuse collection services will resume normal operations beginning Monday (8/27/18), pending conditions of roads and the landfills. Please keep all trash carts secured on your property. Do not leave trash carts at the curb.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE:
MAUI EMERGENCY SHELTERS Emergency shelters opened at select locations across Maui County at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Locations include: Lahaina Intermediate School; Hāna High and Elementary School; Maui High School (Pet Friendly); Lokelani Intermediate School (Pet Friendly); King Kekaulike School; Molokaʻi High School; Lānaʻi High and Elementary (Pet Friendly).
MOLOKAI RESIDENTS URGED TO SEEK SHELTER AHEAD OF RAINS: Molokaʻi residents who intend to head to the evacuation shelter at Molokai High School are urged to go there early before rains have the potential to flood south facing shores, causing transportation problems.
RED CROSS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
MAUI HUMANE SOCIETY: Will be opening pet-friendly shelters in Kīhei and Kahului at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018
TRANSPORTATION:
*MOKULELE AIRLINES: Mokulele Airlines is closely watching the weather, and will be making decisions on an hour-by-hour basis regarding flights for Friday, Aug. 23, 2018. Customers are encouraged to call Mokulele (808) 495-4188 to check on the status of their flights.
*MAUI BUS/MEO: MEO transportation will end services on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. All Maui Bus and MEO transportation services will NOT operate on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, until further notice. Bus service at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center hub will stop at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, according to mall management.
*FLIGHT STATUS: The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Tweet on Wednesday morning saying “Hurricane Lane may cause airlines to cancel flights in the direct path of the storm near Hawaii. Please check flight status with your airline. You can also check the status of major airports in the storm path.
*HAWAIIAN AIRLINES TRAVEL WAIVERS
*EXPEDITIONS MAUI-LANAI FERRY SCHEDULE CHANGE
*AIR CANADA FLIGHT AC1828: Air Canada flight AC1828 Maui to Vancouver on Aug. 23 is now departing earlier in advance of Hurricane Lane. Passengers on this flight are advised to check revised departure times online.
*UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHTS TO KAHULUI (OGG) CANCELLED ON FRIDAY AUG. 24: The County of Maui released information this morning saying they were informed that all United Airlines flights to and from Kahului Airport on Friday, Aug. 24, are cancelled.
*ʻOHANA BY HAWAIIAN: The following ‘Ohana by Hawaiian flights have been cancelled today (August 23, 2018) due to severe weather: 9:36 A.M. HNL-JHM HA620; 10:41 a.m. JHM-HNL HA651; 12:26 p.m. HNL-JHM HA652; 1:25 p.m. JHM-HNL HA653; 4:38 p.m. HNL-JHM HA654; 5:40 p.m. JHM-HNL HA657; 6:46 p.m. HNL-LNY HA624; 7:46 p.m. LNY-HNL HA623. Please note all ‘Ohana by Hawaiian flights scheduled for August 24, 2018 will be cancelled. The company is working to re-accommodate passengers on other flights.
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSURES: All Charter Schools will be closed Thursday, Aug. 23, and Friday, Aug. 24, in anticipation of hazardous weather conditions brought to our islands by Hurricane Lane.
UPDATE: DOE SCHOOL CLOSURES: All Public Schools and HIDOE Offices to Close Thursday and Friday Statewide. The school day will proceed as normal for Oʻahu and Kauaʻi today. Only essential personnel and disaster responders are to report to work Thursday and Friday. HIDOE schools and offices will reopen on Monday, Aug. 27, unless otherwise noted.
MIL SPORTS/SCHOOL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED Effective Wednesday, all after-school activities and programs including interscholastic athletic events and After-School Plus (A+) Programs are canceled statewide for the remainder of the week.
UHMC CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE: All University of Hawaiʻi campuses and all non-essential university operations on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānai will be closed until further notice.
KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS PREPARES FOR LANE KS Schools are closed on Maui on Wednesday.
SEABURY HALL: will be closed Thursday, Aug. 23 due to Hurricane Lane. A decision about school on Friday will be made no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday.
STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSURES: Hawaiʻi and Maui Counties: All public libraries are closed Wednesday, August 22 to Friday, August 24, 2018. All library programs are cancelled through Sunday, August 26, 2018. Fines for books and materials due during the closure period will be waived.
CHRIST THE KING CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER: closed Thursday & Friday
ST JOSEPH EARLY LEARNING CENTER: located at 1294 Makawao Avenue, will be closed Thursday and Friday Aug. 23 and 24.
GOVERNMENT CLOSURES:
MAYOR URGES PREP, INITIAL COUNTY CLOSURES ANNOUNCED All county offices are closed Wednesday, Aug. 22. This includes all Driver Licensing & Motor Vehicle offices, Real Property Tax, Liquor certification examination locations and senior services will be closed until Monday, Aug. 27. All county park, park facilities and pools will be closed pending a storm damage assessment on Saturday. The last trash pick-up will be scheduled for Wednesday. All county landfills will be closed at noon on Wednesday and opening on Friday pending storm damage assessment.
MAUI COURTS CLOSED IN ADVANCE OF LANE Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island courts and facilities will be closed Wednesday, Aug. 22, to Friday, Aug. 24.
COUNCIL SERVICES, COUNTY CLERK OFFICES TO CLOSE AT NOON 8.23: The Office of Council Services and Office of the County Clerk will close today at noon and will remain closed on Friday, Aug. 24, in anticipation of Hurricane Lane. Based on current forecasts and information from emergency-management agencies, the offices will be closed to give employees time to prepare and keep individuals off the roads during unsafe periods.
PARK/FACILITY CLOSURES:
KEALIA POND NWR: The US Fish and Wildlife Service will close Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and the Keālia Coastal Boardwalk on Aug. 22-23, in preparation for any effects from Hurricane Lane. If circumstances allow, the Refuge plans to reopen on Friday, Aug. 24.
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK CLOSURE The Summit and Kīpahulu Districts of Haleakalā National Park will close at 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2018. The entrance gates will be locked and the park will not open for sunrise viewing on Thursday or Friday morning. Park managers will assess conditions on Friday evening.
DLNR/STATE PARK CLOSURES AHEAD OF LANE Due to the possibility of landslides on the Hāna Highway, Wai‘ānapanapa State Park on Maui will close effective 10 a.m. on 8/22/18 once all campers and cabin users have checked out. Beginning Wednesday night camping and lodging in state parks across the state (except Kaua‘i) will be cancelled. Park closures statewide go into effect Thursday morning (except for Kaua‘i). All Hawai‘i island and Maui Nui DOFAW lands, including forest reserves, natural area reserves, game management areas, wildlife sanctuaries, public hunting areas and Nā Ala Hele trails closing at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. All resource conservation officers are on notice to report for duty. If necessary, DOCARE will stand-up a DLNR Emergency Operations Center in Honolulu to coordinate departmental response to any emergencies and recovery.
LĀNAʻI MOUFLON HUNT CANCELLED: The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife has cancelled the Lānaʻi mouflon hunt scheduled for Aug. 25-26, 2018. The Lānaʻi Cooperative Game Management Area is closed until further notice. Hunters holding permits for the state mouflon hunt on Lānaʻi for this weekend will be notified of opportunities to reschedule their hunts and are advised to monitor announcements on the state’s hunting web page.
HEALTH SERVICES:
*KAISER MAUI CLOSURES: Kīhei and Lahaina Clinics will be CLOSED on Thursday (8/23) and Friday (8/24); Maui Lani Medical Office, Maui Lani Elua Clinic, and Wailuku Medical Office will CLOSE AT NOON on Thursday (8/23); All Maui clinics will be CLOSED on Friday (8/24).
*KAISER PRESCRIPTIONS: In anticipation of Hurricane Lane, Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi has adjusted its prescription refill timeline restrictions. Effective immediately, members should be able to refill most medications 24 hrs/day, 7 days/wk by phone at 808-643-7979 (TTY 711) and online at kp.org/pharmacycenter or through the KP mobile app. Controlled substances are still subject to approval by a physician.
*VA PACIFIC ISLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: Due to Hurricane Lane the VA Kona, Hilo, Maui Community Based Outpatient Clinic will close remainder of Thursday through all day Friday. Molokaʻi VA Clinic, Leeward and Kauai CBOC will be closed Thursday and Friday. Spark Matsunaga VA Medical Center Ambulatory Care Clinic will be closed Thursday through Saturday.
SAFETY ADVISORY:
PROPER GENERATOR SET-UP: At this time Maui’s emergency responders would like also like to remind people to be careful not to set up their generators in an enclosed space, such as a garage, as it can cause people to pass out from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Please refer to these tips from the Centers for Disease Control on how to avoid CO poisoning.
BUSINESS ADVISORIES:
*KAANAPALI BEACH HOTEL SUNDAY BRUNCH CANCELLED: Sunday Brunch for this Sunday, Aug. 26 is going to be closed. KBH is still providing dinner for in-house guests on Thursday night Aug. 23, and TBD for Friday night, Aug. 24.
*AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK: American Savings Bank branches on the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa Campus Branch will be closed on Aug. 23 and 24 due to Hurricane Lane. In addition, Oahu and Kauai branches will close at 1 p.m. on Aug. 23 and remain closed on Aug. 24. Branches will return to normal business hours once conditions are safe for our customers and teammates.
*MAUI TROPICAL PLANTATION: is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The property will re-open on Friday night if possible, with a projected re-opening most likely Saturday morning. Check social media for updates. The closure includes Mill House restaurant, Mill House Roasting Co., Tropical Express Tours and the whole property.
*FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK: All Hawaiʻi First Hawaiian Bank branches will be closed Friday 8/25. As of noon on Thursday 8/23, FHB Kauaʻi branches are open (Thursday 8/23). Kauaʻi branches will be closed on Friday and Saturday. Maui, Big Island, and Lānaʻi branches which are closed on Thursday, will remain closed Friday. Customers may access their accounts via FHB Online and FHB Mobile app or may call the FHB Customer Service Center at 1-888-844-4444.
*MAUI OCEAN CENTER: In anticipation of Hurricane Lane, Maui Ocean Center is taking necessary precautions to protect the well-being of the marine life under its care, guests and employees. The Aquarium is open on Wednesday, Aug. 22nd, but will be closed on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.
*QUEEN KAAHUMANU CENTER: will be closing Wednesday Aug. 22, at 5 p.m.
HAWAII METALS RECYCLING OFFERING SAND BAGS: Hawaiʻi Materials Recycling would like to offer to the public at no charge a place to fill sand bags for personal use with the upcoming hurricane threat. The are located in Kīhei (2662 Wai Wai Place # 201) by the waste water treatment facility.
*SERVCO MAUI CLOSURE: Servco Pacific Inc. will be temporarily closing their Maui operations on Thursday, August 23, 2018, due to Hurricane Lane. Dealerships include Servco Lexus Maui and Servco Subaru Maui. Customers who are scheduled to pick up their vehicles should call their salesperson to reschedule their appointments. Customers who have service appointments are also being called by Servco’s customer care center to reschedule their appointments.
*HYATT REGENCY MAUI: In support of providing safe shelter options to residents and travelers who have been impacted by Hurricane Lane, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is offering reduced room rates. More information is available by calling (808) 661-1234.
SAND BAGS:
*HAWAII METALS RECYCLING OFFERING SAND BAGS: Hawaiʻi Materials Recycling would like to offer to the public at no charge a place to fill sand bags for personal use with the upcoming hurricane threat. The are located in Kīhei (2662 Wai Wai Place # 201) by the waste water treatment facility.
*ALOHA LOCK AND SAFE: For those that are still looking for sand, for sand bags there was still some left at the Haʻikū Paʻuwela Cannery.
PRICE GOUGING:
Reports of price gouging by some stores have been coming into the county on Wednesday. Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 127A-30 prohibits any increase in the selling price of any commodity, whether at the retail or wholesale level, during a declared disaster or emergency situation. If a business is found to be price gouging, it may face a fine of $500 to $10,000 per violation.
Please report all incidents of price gouging to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection by calling either 243-4648 or 1-800-468-4644. Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Lynn Araki-Regan is also keeping a record of price gouging incidents, please call her at 270-7855 after calling the DCCA.
RUMOR CONTROL:
The county would like to ask residents to help stop the spread of bad information which is causing some panic. For the record:
– Honoapiʻilani Highway (pali highway) is NOT closed
– evacuation centers are NOT full
– Maui Electric does NOT have rolling blackouts planned
– the county is NOT shutting off water to customers. As of 7:30 p.m. on 8.22.18, there are NO plans to shut off water anywhere in the county system. Department of Water Supply personnel are currently working on a waterline break which is not hurricane related. Customers are not affected. Any plans to shut off water will be distributed through the Emergency Operations Center
PREPAREDNESS:
WATER CONSERVATION URGED The Maui Department of Water Supply advises all customers to conserve water when Lane begins impacting the county due to high winds and/or flooding that could disrupt power supply to water sources.
HURRICANE PREP FOR PETS
PREPAREDNESS INFO
TIPS/CHECKLISTS
Other Noted Closures/Cancellations/Notices:
*MAPA’s INTO THE WOODS RESCHEDULED: The Friday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Aug. 25 performances of MAPA LIVE – Into The Woods are cancelled. Into The Woods is now opening on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. Ticket holders for Friday and Saturday night are able to exchange their tickets for any of the other performance dates, including a new performance added on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. For other questions regarding tickets, including exchanges and refunds, please contact the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Box Office at 808-242-SHOW (7469) or visit their website for details at http://mauiarts.org/mapa.
*JEFF DAYTON CONCERT AT UH MAUI COLLEGE CANCELLED: The Jeff Dayton performance at UH Maui College originally scheduled for Thursday evening, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, has been cancelled due to the proximity of Hurricane Lane and in anticipation of severe weather. Administrators say that unfortunately they will not be able to reschedule the event, but hope that Jeff will return in the future and be able to perform then.
*EASTER SEALS HAWAII ON MAUI: All Easter Seals Hawaii services and offices will be closed from Thursday through Sunday. Families and employees will be notified when services can resume.
*HENRY KAPONO CONCERT RESCHEDULED: Henry Kapono and Friends concert has been rescheduled to Sept. 16, 4 p.m. gates open, 5 p.m. actual concert.
*MEO KAHI KAMALI’I: Infant and Toddler Center and all MEO Head Start centers on Maui and Molokaʻi will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 23 and 24 due to anticipated severe weather conditions.
*C-SPAN BUS TOUR: Due to the anticipation of Hurricane Lane, all remaining C-SPAN events have been cancelled for Maui and Oahu.
*MEO HEAD START: centers on Maui and Molokaʻi will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Scheduled plans for Thursday and Friday, August 23 and 24 are pending based on anticipated severe weather conditions. Stay tuned for updates.
*MEADOW GOLD MAUI WALKERS: Walking event at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been cancelled.