Hawaii declares emergency as flooding forces evacuations, causes extensive damage
KGMB, KHNL via CNN
and last updated 2021-03-10 11:25:22-05
HONOLULU â Hawaii s governor has declared a state of emergency after heavy rains, nearly two feet in some areas, have caused extensive damage and forced evacuations.
The National Weather Service has issued flash flood emergencies and warnings for parts of the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui. Every island has seen heavy rains and some localized flooding.
The heavy rains are predicted to last through Friday.
In his emergency declaration, Governor David Ige said the saturated ground conditions, degraded stability and lateral support of hillsides and areas of land, and the increased water levels in the reservoirs throughout the State of Hawaiâi have increased the risk of erosion, seepage, piping, and fear of dam failure in the reservoirs of the State of Hawaiâi.
Haleiwa is partially submerged. An emergency declaration has been issued. Image: Ryan De Seixas/YouTube
Flash flooding has devastated parts of Hawaii, including the North Shore of Oahu and Haleiwa Town specifically. After nearly two days of torrential rain in Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao, and Kauai that saw up to three inches per hour, the city and county of Haleiwa issued an emergency evacuation notice on Tuesday. It has since been lifted. The damage, however, is extensive. Homes are flooded, cars are submerged, trees are down, and roads are closed. “I’ve lived on the North Shore my whole life,” wrote Ryan De Seixas, the man who shot the aerial footage below, on YouTube. “I have never seen Haleiwa flood like this before.”
A 150-person luau sparks frustration for businesses still hobbled by COVID restrictions
Businesses say Oahuâs tiered reopening system is sending confusing mixed messages By Allyson Blair | March 8, 2021 at 5:36 PM HST - Updated March 11 at 11:56 AM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii businesses that are anxious to get busy again are complaining enforcement of pandemic rules is sending confusing mixed messages.
One case in point thatâs raising many eyebrows: A Waikiki resort was allowed to host a luau Friday with 150 patrons in one of its ballrooms while businesses who cater events wonder why theyâre shut down.
âWeâve been asking for a review,â said wedding planner Taryn Magalianes.
Half a month s worth of rain fell over parts of Hawaii in one day yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Town north of Honolulu evacuated as stream floods
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1of8Floodwaters sweep over Hana Highway near West Kuiaha Road in Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, on Monday, March 8, 2021. Heavy rains caused a dam to overflow on the Hawaiian island of Maui, and and nearby residents in the community of Haiku are being evacuated, county officials said Monday.(Kehaulani Cerizo/The Maui News via AP)Kehaulani Cerizo/APShow MoreShow Less
2of8A house on Haleiwa Road is surrounded by floodwaters Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Torrential rains have inundated parts of Hawaii for the past several days. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)Jamm Aquino/APShow MoreShow Less