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A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Maui County (including Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe) and the Big Island as Hurricane Douglas continues on a track toward the Hawaiian Islands.   The system is remains a Major Category 3 Hurricane with sustained winds near 115 mph.  

After a record number of new coronavirus cases on Thursday, today the Hawai‘i Dept. of Health (DOH) is reporting another single-day record of 60 new COVID-19 infections. The majority of the cases, like yesterday, are on the island of O‘ahu (58), with one case on Maui, and the other one is a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed out of state. 

The Emergency Department screening tent at Maui Memorial Medical Center will be taken down in preparation for Hurricane Douglas. A hospital spokesperson said the tent is rated for 30 mph sustained wind and with the threat of the Hurricane and even stronger winds, the tent will be taken down temporarily.

The Maui Department of Water Supply advises all customers to conserve water in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Douglas, which is forecast to bring strong winds, flash flooding and high surf this weekend.

The Category 3 system will continue to experience gradual weakening today through the weekend; however, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says Douglas is still forecast to be near hurricane strength as it approaches the eastern end of the Hawaiian Island chain late Saturday night or Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center says gradual weakening is expected to begin on Friday and continue through the weekend; and Douglas is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Hawaiian Islands. “On the forecast track Douglas will approach the Hawaiian Islands Saturday night, and be near the Islands on Sunday,” according to the latest NHC forecast.

A 64-year-old Maui man was formally charged on Wednesday with a list of criminal counts involving threats directed at the Kīhei Police Station and a run-in with an officer at the site, according to Maui police.

“Hurricane Douglas is expected to gradually weaken as it approaches us, but we should prepare for the worst,” Mayor Victorino said. “I strongly urge everyone to prepare their families now, and be ready to possibly shelter in place.”

Douglas is now a powerful Category 4 Hurricane as it continues on an approach toward the Central Pacific. At 5 p.m., the system was tracked about 1125 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency advises that the potentially close passage of this hurricane brings a “triple threat of hazards” to the state, including but not limited to damaging winds, flooding rainfall, and dangerously rough seas that could result in damaging surf, especially along east facing shores.

While there was a lower level of disease activity in March when schools initially closed, health officials were asked why schools are reopening now when the state has double digit increases daily on Oʻahu.  Also, “Recent reports indicate that there may be activity occurring on Maui island… where there is evidently… a suggestion that there’s at least a low level of community circulation of the virus there,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park.

Gov. David Ige today issued a pre-landfall emergency proclamation as the State of Hawai‘i prepares for possible impacts from Hurricane Douglas. The proclamation authorizes the expenditure of state funds for the quick and efficient relief of disaster-related damage, losses and suffering that may result from the storm.

With the National Weather Service closely monitoring the oncoming category 3 Hurricane Douglas, state officials remind the public that now is the time for preparation to avoid long lines at gas stations, grocery stores, and ATMs across Hawai’i. Hurricane Douglas is currently moving on a consistent track towards the islands and is projected to reach Hawaiʻi Island with potential outlying impacts over the weekend.

As Hurricane Douglas approaches the islands with the potential for high winds and heavy rains, Hawaiian Electric is proactively preparing to respond, and customers should have their emergency plans in place. 

Police say the 41-year-old female victim, also of Kahului, was treated at the Maui Memorial Medical Center for life threatening injuries. The suspect remains in police custody and is awaiting formal charges.

Here on Maui, there were 115 people who arrived on three trans-Pacific flights on Wednesday including: 35 visitors, 53 residents, six individuals planning to relocate to the islands, 2 passengers in transit to another location and 19 crew members.  

Douglas is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, and there is an increasing chance that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting 55 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi today–that’s the highest single-day count for the state since the start of the pandemic. The new COVID-19 cases include: 50 on Oʻahu; three on Hawaiʻi Island and two on Maui.

Calling it “the perfect storm,” Dr. Lee Weiss said it’s very unusual for a respiratory virus to have high infectivity and to also be highly virulent. He explained that high infectivity means it’s spread rapidly; and highly virulent, means it has a high propensity to cause illness and people die from it.

A Lahaina man accused of a “hate crime” was arrested on Friday for assault charges related to a physical and verbal confrontation in Mākena last week that resulted in concussion injuries to one of the male victims, police said.