State and county authorities are advising residents to batten down the hatches as harsh weather continues through the weekend.
Thursday began with the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings for the entirety of O‘ahu. While the warning terminates at 11:45 a.m., a flood watch remains in effect until Saturday evening, and a high wind watch goes into effect tonight at 6 p.m. until Sunday morning.
Residents are advised to secure outdoor loose items, clear debris from gutters and storm drains and to avoid driving through flooded streets or standing water. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts from their county's and the state's emergency management agencies. The state Department of Transportation will track weather-related road closures on its website.
Meanwhile, several state and county facilities will be closed for residents’ safety.
The City and County of Honolulu already closed city park facilities beginning yesterday, with a reopening date yet to be determined. Also closed is the Honolulu Zoo, the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, all Honolulu botanical and community gardens and all municipal golf courses.
Scheduled performances of the Royal Hawaiian Band between today and Saturday have been cancelled, while a lei draping ceremony at Thomas Square Park that was scheduled for Friday has been postponed.
The O‘ahu Department of Emergency Management has advised that additional closures and cancellations are likely as the storm continues.
A gymnasium at ‘Ewa Mahiko District Park is closed to the public so it can be used as a shelter for the homeless.
A planned “Tourism Day” at the state Capitol on Friday has been postponed to an unspecified future date, although the Capitol itself remains open, for now.
On Kaua‘i, Polihale and Hā‘ena state parks are closed, along with all parking lots within Koke‘e State Park.
The state Department of Education announced the closure of several O‘ahu and Molokai schools today: Molokai high and middle schools, Kaunakakai Elementary, Kilohana Elementary and Maunaloa Elementary are all closed on Molokai, while Waialua High and Intermediate School and Hale‘iwa Elementary are closed on O‘ahu. The department will issue notices regarding any future closures.
