Stone, earth and wood were washed out to sea after flash flooding from a heavy storm Monday night — and more storms might be on the way.
The storm came in after a flash flood warning was issued Monday by the National Weather Service. The warning was lifted for a short time, then a watch was re-established at 7:52 a.m. Tuesday and expected to last until 6 a.m. today.
What happened is moisture moved in from the east, then got hung up in the currently unstable atmosphere over the island, meteorologist Chris Brenchley said, as warming air from the ground rose and freed water.
The resulting heavy rains were seen all over the Big Island.
As of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, the heaviest 24-hour rainfall totals were recorded in Piihonua (3.95 inches), Kealakomo (3.04 inches) and Waiakea Uka (3.24 inches).
Brenchley said the storm was not connected to what was Tropical Storm Hilda.
Several roads were closed throughout the leeward side of the island, including Hualalai Road. All were reopened by midday Tuesday.
There were no road accidents attributed to the weather, said Hawaii Police Maj. Samuel Thomas.
However, four vehicles near Kawaihae Harbor were stranded by flowing water, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. There also was an evacuation center established for residents in the affected area, as four apartment units flooded.
The Kawaihae area, still recovering from a large-scale brush fire, was hit with flooding and other damage.
The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is undergoing another evaluation. Most of the open areas of the park were burned during the fire and specialists from mainland and island parks were headed there to evaluate the damage.
The flooding has added to that effort, said park superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea.
The area already was without electrical and phone service from the fire, although water service was reconnected Aug. 12. The maintenance area now has an 8-foot-long ditch gouged under it from the rain.
Archaeologists will be searching for any artifacts exposed by the weather as well, Kawaiaea said.
Spencer Beach Park was closed until after noon Tuesday as workers recovered from the damage.
There was one rescue incident related to the weather. The Hawaii Fire Department said it rescued 14 people who were part of a tour group from Lalakea trail in or near Waipio Valley on Monday.
The Fire Department said it used a sling from a helicopter to bring them to higher ground after they became trapped by a flash flood.
Meanwhile, forecasters say a tropical cyclone could form south of the Big Island in the next couple of days, bringing the possibility of more flooding and perhaps windy conditions by next week.
As of Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service was giving the area of low pressure 900 miles south-southeast of Hilo a 60 percent chance of forming into a cyclone in the next 48 hours.
While it’s difficult to offer predictions for a storm that has yet to form, forecasters are watching the system closely.
“It’s still early to say what kind of impacts we could see, just the potential for more unsettled weather this weekend,” said NWS meteorologist Tom Birchard.
“Wednesday through Friday will be a bit of a break. And then as we get into Saturday, it could be unsettled again.”
Strong winds couldn’t be ruled out, he said.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald staff writer Tom Callis contributed to this report.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
