Kuakini Highway from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street was closed Tuesday after a tree fell on a power pole, snapping it and breaking two others along with knocking out power, telecommunications and other services to some West Hawaii businesses. ADVERTISING
Kuakini Highway from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street was closed Tuesday after a tree fell on a power pole, snapping it and breaking two others along with knocking out power, telecommunications and other services to some West Hawaii businesses.
The fall apparently took out the traffic lights along Palani, but police checks showed the road was “operable,” “open.”
The road was closed to foot and vehicle traffic, which led many Ironman participants on a trip west on Kaiwi Street, along Queen Kaahumanu Highway and down Palani Road.
The fire department said it would take up to 12 hours to reopen the road. Work crews estimated it would take five or six truckloads to remove it from the area.
Shortly after the tree fell, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory.
“A tight pressure gradient between Hurricane Oho and a strong high far northwest of the state will produce strong north winds in the Kona area,” the advisory said. The advisory was in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Six spans of line fell, with one power line hanging from a wire crossing the road.
The connections to the Kona Brewery building were slack, coming close to the ground over the pedestrian access to the building. The brewery, Big Island Honda and other businesses were without power.
Some employees took the day off, as their jobs were impossible without electricity. Others stuck around, their responsibilities hindered without being able to use normal technology.
Island Printing and Graphics on Kaiwi Street also lost power, pushing its production back by as much as three hours.
The business was engaged in all sorts of work for people coming out for Ironman, said owner Jerry Adams, and this extended work by hours.
“When things happen here,” he said, “they happen.”
Because the power failed while it was cooking and serving lunch, the Fresh Off Da Boat restaurant had to sell its food at half price for about two hours. It was a better option than letting it go bad, said general manager Brandie Purcell. That also meant the restaurant would have little to nothing to serve for dinner, she said.
The Umeke’s location on the corner of Kuakini and Kaiwi was without power for much of the day. The restaurant remained open with a full staff, selling poke bowls. But purchases were cash only, as a loss of telecommunications made it impossible to accept credit and debit cards. The business was able to transfer food requiring refrigeration to its other location or pack it in ice.
Getsinger Motorwerks also lost power, putting its operations out for about an 90 minutes, and its computer servers remained nonfunctional hours later.
Some businesses, such as Forever Fitness, simply closed for the day because of the loss of power.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
