Maui County residents advised to prepare as Tropical Storm Hone approaches

Maui County residents are advised to prepare and monitor developments as Tropical Storm Hone approaches the state, with the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting the potential for heavy rainfall, strong trade winds and large surf starting Saturday. For Maui County, East Maui is expected to see the majority of potential impacts.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for breezy trade winds to persist through tonight, with showers favoring windward and mauka locations. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center continues to monitor Tropical Storm Hone, which is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island Saturday night into early Sunday bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and large surf.

The NWS is forecasting strong and gusty easterly winds to continue Sunday into Monday as Hone passes south of the smaller islands. A brief return of moderate to breezy trade winds is expected late Monday through Wednesday of next week as Hone tracks away from the state and Tropical Cyclone Gilma approaches the region from the east.

Maui County storm preparations

County of Maui personnel have been actively inspecting and clearing culverts where flooding is known to occur. Flood mitigating equipment will be staged at Maui County locations that could be impacted by the storm. Employees on each island in Maui County are preparing their district, according to county Public Works officials.

County of Maui’s Emergency Operations Center remains in an enhanced steady state and will move to partial or full activation depending on NWS reports. 

As of 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, NWS reported Hone was located about 400 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi and moving west at around 14 mph. If continuing on this track, Hone was expected to pass south of or near Hawaiʻi Island late Saturday through early Sunday.

NWS was forecasting that East Maui would be the area most impacted on Maui, beginning Saturday afternoon. The Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) was notifying residents, including organizers of multiple weekend events, about potential storm impacts.

On Friday, NWS issued a Tropical Storm Watch and Flood Watch for Hawaiʻi Island effective from Saturday afternoon through Monday evening. Although NWS has not issued watches or warnings for Maui County, the County of Maui is taking steps to prepare for the storm.

The public is encouraged to stay informed through credible sources such as the NWS, the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency and the Maui Emergency Management Agency. Sign up for Maui Police Department Road Closure notifications at bit.ly/MauiRoadClosure. 

The public is also urged to take the necessary steps to be prepared, including:

• Topping off personal vehicle fuel tanks;
• Ensuring you and your family have 14 days of food and water;
• Securing or bringing indoors any loose objects or items;
• Having a plan to evacuate yourself and your family;
• Ensuring your cellphone is charged;
• Having a 14-day supply of needed medication; and
• Having an emergency kit with essential items.

For more information on emergency preparedness and to sign up for alerts from MEMA, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/MEMA.