Haiku residents watched homes succumb to flood
Governor declares state of emergency; weather advisory remains in effect
HAIKU — In a matter of hours Monday, Mark Alexander watched floodwaters begin to swallow up his home, vehicles, refrigerator, tools, mower and other belongings in Haiku.
He was able to save the family dog, Legend, who was rescued from a rooftop and taken to the vet where he was treated for fluid in the lungs, according to Alexander’s sister, Elena Alexander Nishizaki.
“It looks like he’s going to survive,” she said Tuesday.
Nishizaki said the home of Mark and his wife, Dixie, is severely damaged. The couple was trying to salvage what remained on the property near Haiku Community Center and mauka of Hana Highway.
“They’re still in shock,” she said. A little farther east off West Kuiaha Road in Haiku, carpenter Bill Pinkard watched much of his livelihood get swept up by a swollen river Monday.
Two vehicles. Work tools. A freezer. Kite, snow and surf equipment. The bridge that provides access to his home.
“I watched everything wash away,” he said Tuesday. “At first I was like, ‘No, no, no.’ Then I just stood there.”
“I think I’ve felt the full range of emotions,” Pinkard added as he searched through rubble downstream Tuesday.
Dixie and Pinkard are among the Haiku residents severely impacted by Monday’s flooding. Family and friends launched GoFundMe donation pages detailing their losses at www.gofundme.com/f/mark-anddixie-flood-recovery and www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-billpinkards-home.
At least a half dozen homes were heavily damaged or destroyed,
according to the County of Maui on Tuesday. A more detailed assessment is pending, county spokesman Brian Perry said.
Gov. David Ige signed an emergency declaration for the entire state on Tuesday as heavy rains caused flooding, landslides and fear of dam failure. Evacuations were issued in at least two counties, according to a state news release issued Tuesday night.
Monday’s flooding, called “unprecedented” for the Haiku area by Mayor Michael Victorino, forced evacuation and relocation for area residents and trapped others at their homes.
Swollen streams and rapid flash flooding shut down roadways, snarled traffic, destroyed bridges and caused cresting of the Kaupakalua Reservoir and Dam.
Residents ordered to evacuate their homes Monday were asked not to return until an “allclear” announcement was made, the county said Tuesday.
The National Weather Service extended a flash flood watch through 6 a.m. today. The evacuation remains in effect for residents in the vicinity and downstream of Kaupakalua Dam.
Carla Morningstar, a tenant on Oili Road, an area makai of Hana Highway and downstream of the dam that was evacuated by firefighters, said she grabbed her three grandkids Monday and left in a matter of minutes to stay in Kula.
“It was scary,” she said Tuesday. “I think we just missed it. They told us not to stop, ‘Go right up the highway.’ ”
Morningstar returned home Tuesday morning and decided to leave later in the day as the rain came down again.
By Tuesday afternoon, the Red Cross had closed emergency shelters that opened at Hana High School, Eddie Tam Center and Paia Community Center due to the dam cresting.
The Department of Public Works reported Tuesday that a portion of Awalau Road in Haiku was washed away and debris buildup at a nearby bridge continues to block access. Awalau Road remained closed Tuesday.
Kaupakalua Bridge at Ulumalu Road was still covered with mud and debris but passable as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the county. Five culverts on Kaupakalua Road were still clogged with flood-related rubble.
On Hana Highway in Kipahulu, the roads were covered with mud and debris but still passable for motorists. In Kahului, pumps were deployed to remove floodwaters near Aleo Place and Holua Drive.
The storm packed half a month’s worth of rain in one day, according to AccuWeather.
In Haiku, 13.2 inches of rain fell between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday. In Keanae more than 17 inches of rainfall fell over a 36-hour period ending at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
“A storm will continue to bring heavy rains and locally strong east-to-southeast winds across the Hawaiian Islands through Tuesday,” Paul Walker, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said in a news release.
Over the past 24 hours, Hilo received 5.41 inches, which is more than half of a month’s worth of rain for the area, the news release said.
People were advised by the county to stay off roads in the Haiku area and to exercise extreme caution due to debris and potential landslides.
“This has been unprecedented flooding and we will be making damage assessments today,” Victorino said in a statement Tuesday morning. “I ask everyone to stay vigilant and be safe.”
Haiku Elementary will continue full distance learning today, the state Department of Education announced. Graband-go lunches will be available for drive-thru pickup from 10 to 10:30 a.m. for children ages 18 and younger. Parents and guardians are asked to call the school at 575-3000 before 8:30 a.m. to provide a meal count to ensure adequate preparation.
Hana High & Elementary will resume in-person learning today, the DOE said.