Maui Flood Response, Rain Blankets Waiehu

Flooding along the Wailuku section of the Honoapiilani Hwy. Photo courtesy County of Maui.

By Wendy Osher

Maui remains under a Flash Flood Warning until 3:15 p.m.as rainfall amounts of up to four inches were reported in Waiehu this afternoon.  County crews from the Department of Public Works and the Maui Fire Department responded to several weather related issues over the last 24 hours.  The incidents include the following:

Flooded Molokai Home: At 12:31 a.m. crews from the Maui Fire Department were called out to a home located at 661 Kamehameha V Highway, on the far east end of Molokai. Residents said they woke up to find water almost to their knees.

Kamehameha V Highway Blocked by Boulders: At 2 a.m. Maui police on Molokai called on the assistance of crews from the Department of Public Works Highways division to assist state workers with a portion of Kamehameha V Highway, which was blocked off by boulders, tree stumps and mud.   The highway was cleared by 6 a.m.  Crews also assisted by pumping out water in certain areas in Kaunakakai town.  There were also runoff issues reported on the Maunaloa Highway at the Kaunakakai Flood Control Project about 0.1 mile west of Kaunakakai town.

Ponding on Maui Roadways:  At 9:20 a.m., crews from the Department of Public Works set up pumps near Aleo Place in Kahului due to ponding of the roadway.  Pumps were also used to remove water from the intersection of Holua Drive and Lalani Circle in Kahului.  In South Maui, barricades were set up along South Kihei Road from Uwapo Road to Kalama Park in order to warn motorist of ponding road conditions in that area.

Wet Weather Forces Closure of Maui’s Iao Valley and Polipoli Parks: At 12:30 p.m., DLNR closed ‘Iao Valley State Park and Polipoli Spring State Park on Maui due to heavy rains and rising stream water at ‘Iao stream.