The National Weather Service warned on Twitter on Thursday that the hurricane “will bring life threatening conditions across Hawaii through Saturday with damaging winds, risky surf, coastal storm surge and INTENSE FLOODING RAINS”.
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Oahu island, which includes the capital Honolulu and most of the state’s population, is under a hurricane warning, along with Maui County and Hawaii County.
More than 60cm of rain fell in a 36-hour period on the Big Island’s windward side, where the Weather Service reported “catastrophic flooding” and wind gusts peaking at 108kph. Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation on Tuesday in case Hawaii needs relief for “disaster damages, losses and suffering”.
Over in Hilo, five people were rescued from a flooded house and taken to a shelter a nearby gulch overflowed.
Around 1am emergency crews were called to a brush fire in the Kauaula Valley area in Lahaina, Maui.
A flash flood warning is in place for the eastern Hawaiian Islands.
Shelters opened on Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. It’s a monster as viewed from the International Space Station.
There are already reports of flooding and landslips on the Big Island of Hawaii which is being buffeted by heavy rain from Hurricane Lane which continues to edge closer to the islands from the south.
Lane has had little impact on Kīlauea Volcano, which has been erupting since May, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Those trying to leave Hawaii ahead of the storm will find capped fares, ensuring that airline surge pricing can not take place. Many said the administration did not do enough to help restore power or ship necessary resources to the island.
Weather experts say that the hurricane will move past the islands from Thursday to Saturday and its eye may make landfall.
As workers piled sandbags and boarded up store windows, pictures showed many still enjoying the waves of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach Thursday.
The proclamation declares the counties of “Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao, Kauai and the City and County of Honolulu disaster areas for the goal of implementing emergency management functions”, his office said.
“Hurricane conditions are expected over some areas of Maui County and Oahu starting Friday and continuing through Friday night”.
Neighbor island barges are also just offshore in safe areas from the storm, ready to unload as quickly as possible.
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A number of structures on the Big Island were destroyed and some residents were reported to be fleeing their homes, said Melissa Dye, a Weather Service spokeswoman in Honolulu.
