Storm Drenches Molokai, Again

A section of Kamehameha V Highway partially blocked by the Kona low storm is seen here Sunday evening. Photo by Léo Azambuja

By Léo Azambuja

The Kona low storm that punished the Hawaiian Islands with heavy rains and floods March 12-15 returned last Friday for a second round, causing Molokai’s schools, government offices and many businesses to shut down again.

“This is the largest flood that we’ve had in Hawaii in 20 years,” Gov. Josh Green said in a press conference March 20. 

More than 230 people have been rescued across the state, without any deaths reported as of press time. But the storm caused severe flooding on most islands.

“This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green said at the press conference. “We are now beginning to contemplate the reality that this storm could cost over a billion dollars of damage in both the private and public sector.”

Maui County officials issued a flood watch March 19, saying the “new Kona low storm” wouldn’t be as strong as the prior week’s storm. But with the ground already saturated from recent flooding, officials warned there was an increased threat for potential flash flooding, falling trees and landslides.

On the morning of March 20, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Molokai, predicting rainfall of one-to-two inches per hour. 

Throughout the weekend, Molokai’s East End was hit hard with the storm. Road blockades cut residents east of mile-marker seven from the rest of the island during a good chunk of the storm. Many other areas along Kamehameha V Highway were also dangerous or impossible to cross because of flood waters rushing across the road, carrying mud, rocks and branches.

Kaunakakai’s largest markets — Friendly Market and Misaki’s — closed earlier than usual on Friday, between 3:30 and 4 p.m., and remained closed for the entire weekend. Molokai Minimart remained in operation, but with reduced hours. 

The storm also affected other establishments throughout the weekend and caused closures, including Molokai Pizza Café, Molokai Burger and Paddlers Restaurant and Bar, among other businesses.

1. Pascua Store kept open through both back-to-back Kona low storms, and continued operating its normal hours — 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends and holidays.

“We opened because a lot of people need something, so we decided to open to serve the community,” C. Pascua Store owner Maria Watanabe said.

Because the largest markets were closed, C. Pascua Store experienced a surge in customers, who had to form a long line to pay for their groceries, according to Watanabe.

The bus operated by Maui Economic Opportunity was also affected.

“MEO Molokai has canceled all bus rides today due to hazardous conditions from the Kona storm,” the nonprofit organization announced in a press release Saturday.

The foul weather caused many events to be cancelled. Saturday’s Mac Market at Molokai Community Health Center and Molokai Farmers Market in front of the library were cancelled. A presentation on Kalaupapa’s proposed memorial at Molokai Public Library scheduled for March 19 was postponed. Molokai High School’s prom, scheduled for March 20, was also postponed. 

Several high-school sports were also affected by the storm. The boys’ volleyball team game against Seabury Hall on Maui was postponed, as well as the girls’ flag football home-game against Maui’s Kūlanihākoi High School. Molokai’s baseball team was supposed to play against Seabury Hall at Duke Maliu Park, but the game was also postponed. The softball team didn’t have a game scheduled for last weekend, but their game in Hana scheduled for the prior weekend had been postponed due to the prior storm. Their next game is this weekend at home against Lanai. 

On Saturday night, rain and thunderstorms intensified on Molokai, continuing through Sunday morning, when MEMA issued an evacuation warning for Kapaʻakea and Kalamaʻula because of flash flooding. A warning is not a mandatory notice, but it does indicate potential threat to life and property.

The American Red Cross, along with Maui Emergency Management Agency and Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation had set up a shelter at Kaunakakai Gym. But the gym had water leaks, and the shelter was relocated to Mitchell Pauole Center, where cots, food and water were available. Pets were allowed if they were in crates.

On the East End, a temporary evacuation point was set up Sunday morning at Kilohana Recreation Center in ʻUalapuʻe Park, but without the same supplies as Kaunakakai’s full shelter. 

The rainy conditions eased throughout the day Sunday, and before sunset, blue skies could be seen again. Despite the improved weather in the evening, the damages to Molokai’s roadways were still present. 

New potholes were visible throughout Kaunakakai’s streets. Several portions of Kamehameha V Highway that had been closed by flooding waters were still partially blocked by mud, rocks and branches. As such, those sections were turned into one-lane stop-and-go traffic. But without government workers directing traffic, drivers used courtesy and common sense to share those narrow strips of partially blocked roads without incident. 

Countless homes along Kamehameha V Highway still had yards completely filled with water or muddy conditions. Culverts alongside Kawela were filled with water, and many portions of the roadside had piles of mud.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for Molokai calls for an entire week of mostly or partly sunny skies.