Kauai residents cleaning up after historic floods

THE LAST TIME I was on Kauai, I tried to imagine living on the North Shore where there were fewer tourists because of the incessant rains, but in exchange, the vegetation was so lush, flowers so beautiful, and most of its beaches uncrowded.

I tried to take a picture of lone white horse, hitched up to a tree framed with the green pastures and mountains as if its owner left knew it would make a great picture.

Driving up the two-lane highway, crossing numerous bridges spanning flowing creeks; Hanelei Valley was lush with fields of taro, a lonely house in the midst of all that beauty. How would it be like to live there?

ED DIOKNO

Kauai's Hanelei Valley before the recent storm

Hanelei Valley from the same lookout point during the flood.

The torrential rains of last week changed that beautiful landscape into broken bridges, whole sections of roads wiped out, homes built to survive tsunamis forced off their supposedly strong concrete foundations, homes collapsed like tinker toys.

"I've lived here all my life and this storm was pretty gnarly," resident Kevin Kaleiohi told Hawaii News Now.

The National Weather Service lifted a flash flood warning for Kauai last Friday (April 21) and a flash flood watch across the Hawaiian islands. Although the storm hit all the islands, one of the worst hit was Kauai, which historically receives the most rain.

Hanalei on Kauai's north shore saw 28.1 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period starting at 2 a.m.. April 16. Weather officials say it was likely record-breaking rain, but the rain gauge there stopped working. 

With the ground already waterlogged, the water had nowhere to go except to the ocean, unfortunately, the communities on Kauai's north shore were in the way.

Living on the mainland, the disaster that struck Kauai barely made the news amidst the crazy goings-on in Washington. There was hardly a picture, much less TV footage of what befell paradise.

The video of a visit last weekend by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard gives us a glimpse of the damage that occurred.

Cleanup has already begun. Hanalei is a popular tourist spot and it was also one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. Business owners that depend on tourism are suffering. "Although I see all the doors open, I just don't see all the people," Jimit Mehta told KHON-TV.

Even with the progress made over the last week, visitors are scarce. "We're looking at a 75% drop in business," Mehta said.
Despite the flood damage, the Hawaii Tourism Authority wants travelers to visit Kauai even though parts of the island are recovering from major flooding. Tourism is the island state's No. 1 business.

Flooding this month badly damaged the only road connecting the small north shore towns of Haena and Wainiha with the rest of Kauai. Some restaurants and shops in the nearby town of Hanalei also flooded.

But many other major tourist areas on the southern and eastern sides of the island were unaffected. And many other Hanalei restaurants and shops have reopened.

Kauai resident Ikaika Okuno rinses off his belongings.

Emergency rescue crews have evacuated 152 people by helicopter, 121 by bus and others by water, according to Gov. David Ige's office.

The governor and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho flew with military and county emergency crews over heavily damaged regions in the Hanalei District, including Wainiha and Haena, seeing "the swollen Hanalei River, flooded neighborhoods and farmlands," according to the governor's office.

"Damage is very extensive in this area. The immediate problem is access. Several landslides are blocking roads into the communities. 

"Crews are working to restore access to the Hanalei District, but it will take some time. We are establishing landing zones for aircraft. The Hawaii National Guard has deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, two CH-47 Chinooks, eight Zodiacs and more than 45 soldiers and airmen to support rescue efforts, and to get medical aid and necessary supplies to the area," Ige said.

U.S. COAST GUARD

At the height of the flooding, the community near Hanelei Bay was under water.

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Evacuations

In a statement posted on Facebook, the County of Kauai said emergency agencies were working to get water and supplies into Wainiha and Haena, from where more than 100 people had been airlifted.

"Those who wish to be evacuated are advised that it is unknown at this time when they can return, as landslides continue to block access along Kuhio Highway between Waikoko and Wainiha," the statement said.

It said that power had been restored to the Wainiha pump stations and that water services would be slowly restored to customers in the Wainiha and Haena areas. 

"However, DOW has issued a 'do not drink' advisory and a conservation notice for Wainiha and Haena customers. Those who are receiving water are also urged to heed the conservation notice," the county said.

U.S. NATIONAL GUARD

National Guard members helped evacuate residents and tourists from the flood on Kauai's north shore.

Coast Guard airlifts

The US Coast Guard said in a statement April 16 that its helicopters had helped local authorities rescue hikers around Hanalei Bay Sunday after being asked to assist early that morning.

"The north shore of Kauai experienced flash flooding with waters rising between five and eight feet above average due to the severe thunderstorms and heavy rains, trapping many residents inside their homes and on rooftops," it said in the statement.

"Crews from the Hawaii Fire Department and Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services have been evacuating residents to higher ground via jet skis but were unable to effect rescues in the towns of Hanalei, Wainiha, and Haena," the Coast Guard  stated.

In one instance, the coast guard said hikers waved down one of its helicopters above Hanakapiai Beach after being stranded for two days and were hoisted to safety.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article209683894.html#storylink=cpy

Rep. Gabbard tweeted out: "The #Kauai community is taking action to help each other after severe rain, flooding, and landslides have ravaged homes and businesses, and washed out roads across the island. If you want to know how to help our community on #Kauai, please visit @HawaiiRedCross at http://redcross.org/local/hawaii.

Weather forecast

The sun has returned to help dry out the island. Ominously, CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri said the forecast for Kauai was set to improve over the next couple of days.

"However, this is a part of the world is notorious for persistent rainfall over 300 days per year," Javaheri said. 

"I'd expect showers and blustery weather to continue in this region, although not nearly similar to the amounts seen in recent days."

Kauai County said in its statement that the rain meant the Kalihiwai Reservoir had been nearing capacity Saturday afternoon and residents in low-lying areas had been told to evacuate.

"Since that time, the dam has been inspected and it has been deemed safe for residents to return. 

Officials will continue to monitor the reservoir," the county said. It advised residents to stay out of flood waters.

"Heavy rains have caused storm water runoff throughout Kauai, leading to widespread flooding producing large areas of standing water. Coastal waters have also been affected and a brown water advisory remains in effect until further notice."

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