Hurricane Hone: Hurricane Hone lashes Hawaii’s Big Island with furious waves and flooding, thousands lose power
Hurricane Hone passed within 60 miles of Hawaii’s Big Island early Sunday, bringing heavy rain, causing power outages for thousands of customers and damaging native vegetation. About 15,000 residents in a region with a roughly 206,000 population were left without electricity.
Officials report minimal damage
Mitch Roth, the mayor of Hawaii County, reported there were no injuries or major damages.Kazuo Todd, the fire chief for Hawaii County, highlighted that nearly 18 inches of rain had fallen around the southern island volcanoes, although the winds and flooding had not been severe.
Adding further, Todd said, “We do live on an island in the Pacific where the water can drain off into the ocean relatively quickly,”.
Forecast and community response
Forecasters anticipated Hone, a Category 1 storm moving westward below the islands, could still deliver up to 20 inches of rain in some regions. The storm’s progression is expected to slow and accumulate moisture over the islands, which could heighten the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding statewide.
For many residents, Hone did not prompt significant worry. On Saturday evening, a local baseball league primarily composed of older adults held its banquet at Kamehameha Park in Kapaau, shielding attendees from gusts with windscreens.
Other residents paid closer attention to the rain. Kumiko Mattison drove from her home in Kaumana to Keaukaha near the water. Despite observing swollen water bodies and rising tides during her drive, she found no damage to wetland areas and fishponds upon her arrival.
In Nanawale Estates, roughly 20 miles south, Sean O’Phelan was concerned about potential tree uprootings around his small cabin due to the rain and wind. O’Phelan, who lives off the electrical grid and utilises solar power and a rainwater storage tank, had tree damage his carport during a storm less than a year ago.
“We’re all pretty confident that we’ll be able to share aloha with our neighbours and make sure that everybody’s safe,” O’Phelan stated, noting the community’s readiness to support one another during disasters.
On Friday, Hawaii Electric, the state’s primary electricity utility, prepared to shut off power in high wildfire-risk areas to prevent potential fires fueled by strong winds. However, by late Saturday, the National Weather Service had lifted the wildfire warning, leading the utility to retract potential power shut-offs.
Hurricane Gilma remains a concern
Residents also monitored Hurricane Gilma, a Category 3 storm east of Hawaii, although forecasters expected it to weaken to a tropical depression before reaching the state.
Meteorologist Ian Morrison from the National Weather Service in Honolulu expressed hope that Gilma’s rainfall would be distributed over a day or two rather than in a rapid downpour.
Officials report minimal damage
Mitch Roth, the mayor of Hawaii County, reported there were no injuries or major damages.Kazuo Todd, the fire chief for Hawaii County, highlighted that nearly 18 inches of rain had fallen around the southern island volcanoes, although the winds and flooding had not been severe.
Adding further, Todd said, “We do live on an island in the Pacific where the water can drain off into the ocean relatively quickly,”.
Forecast and community response
Forecasters anticipated Hone, a Category 1 storm moving westward below the islands, could still deliver up to 20 inches of rain in some regions. The storm’s progression is expected to slow and accumulate moisture over the islands, which could heighten the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding statewide.
For many residents, Hone did not prompt significant worry. On Saturday evening, a local baseball league primarily composed of older adults held its banquet at Kamehameha Park in Kapaau, shielding attendees from gusts with windscreens.
Other residents paid closer attention to the rain. Kumiko Mattison drove from her home in Kaumana to Keaukaha near the water. Despite observing swollen water bodies and rising tides during her drive, she found no damage to wetland areas and fishponds upon her arrival.
In Nanawale Estates, roughly 20 miles south, Sean O’Phelan was concerned about potential tree uprootings around his small cabin due to the rain and wind. O’Phelan, who lives off the electrical grid and utilises solar power and a rainwater storage tank, had tree damage his carport during a storm less than a year ago.
“We’re all pretty confident that we’ll be able to share aloha with our neighbours and make sure that everybody’s safe,” O’Phelan stated, noting the community’s readiness to support one another during disasters.
On Friday, Hawaii Electric, the state’s primary electricity utility, prepared to shut off power in high wildfire-risk areas to prevent potential fires fueled by strong winds. However, by late Saturday, the National Weather Service had lifted the wildfire warning, leading the utility to retract potential power shut-offs.
Hurricane Gilma remains a concern
Residents also monitored Hurricane Gilma, a Category 3 storm east of Hawaii, although forecasters expected it to weaken to a tropical depression before reaching the state.
Meteorologist Ian Morrison from the National Weather Service in Honolulu expressed hope that Gilma’s rainfall would be distributed over a day or two rather than in a rapid downpour.
