Maui News

Iselle is still a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph, with some slight weakening recorded over the last six hours.

Wind gusts of 55 mph have already been recorded on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi in the Mauna Kea area. The onset for Maui is projected to be between 9 and 10 p.m. according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Mayor Arakawa asked that residents stay indoors this evening. “Civil Defense has recommended that no one, except for emergency personnel be out on the roads past 9 p.m.,” he said during the press conference. “This is very important, as we are expecting damaging tropical storm force winds of up to 60 mph, as well as potential life-threatening flash floods and rock and mudslides.”

The impacts—in the form of heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge—are anticipated to begin as early as 4 p.m. on Hawaiʻi Island today, with the center of the storm passing over the Big Island of Hawaiʻi in the late afternoon to evening hours.

The Hawaii Red Cross volunteers will begin opening shelters in Maui County at 1 p.m. in response to Iselle. Shelters on Maui include: Baldwin High ; Lokelani Intermediate (pet friendly); Kekaulike High; Hāna High & Elementary; Molokaʻi High; and Kilohana Elementary (Molokaʻi); and Lānaʻi High & Elementary.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says the onset of tropical storm conditions are expected over Maui County tonight, with very large damaging surf expected along mainly east and south shores starting late tonight.

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi following a 4.5 (upgraded from a 4.2 preliminary magnitude) earthquake reported at 6:24 a.m. HST on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in the Kohala region of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

All public schools in Maui County and Hawaiʻi County will remain closed on Friday, Aug. 8, according to an update provided by the state Department of Education.

The mayor’s office announced that it will be sending home all non-emergency county employees at noon on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, with the possible exception of county elections employees.

Iselle is now located about 625 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The system still has maximum sustained winds of 90 mph with present movement towards the WNW at 16 mph. Heavy rain is expected Thursday and Friday, with an anticipated 5 to 8 inches.

The County of Maui Department of Transportation announced the following Maui Bus services to be suspended on Thursday, Aug. 7, and Friday, Aug. 8, due to safety concerns associated with the approaching tropical cyclone Iselle.

All irrigation systems and other non-essential uses of water should be shut off until further notice. Water and wastewater systems may be compromised if electricity cannot be supplied to power the pumps and motors in the distribution and transmission systems.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says the system was located 510 miles ESE of Hilo; 620 miles ESE of Kahului, Maui; 675 miles ESE of Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi; and 650 miles ESE of Lānaʻi City at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014.

It allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels, along with the suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.

A tropical storm watch has been added to the advisories affecting Maui County due to hurricane/tropical storm Iselle. Until early Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, only Hawai’i County had been issued with a tropical storm watch.

Hawaiian Airlines announced that it will waive reservation change fees and differences in fares for customers who need to change travel plans due to Hurricanes Iselle and Julio.

Young Brothers, Limited issued an advisory saying it will not be able to sail its Thursday barge to Kahului under current forecasts associated with Hurricane Iselle.

At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, Hurricane Iselle was located 710 miles ESE of Hilo, and 820 miles ESE of Kahului, Maui. The system was moving WNW at 15 mph, and has maximum sustained winds near 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.

When fire crews from Hāna arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke showing from the eaves of the single family home, and some flames near the front door. The incident was reported at 7:57 a.m., at a 500 square foot cottage located in Upper Nāhiku.

The following is a summary of closures in Maui County due to impending tropical storms Iselle and Julio.