DREDGING COMPLETED AT WAILOA SMALL BOAT HARBOR (Video)
The long-awaited completion of the dredging work at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo has finally come for Hawaiʻi Island boaters.
The dredging contractor wrapped up its operations on November 27 and will be removing its barge from Wailoa Small Boat Harbor on Saturday, December 7. The barge has occupied the harbor to facilitate dredging operations since the project started in July, and its removal is the final step to close out the project.
The final project cost increased from the initial budgeted amount of $3.1 million to $4.8 million, and the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), which manages Wailoa Small Boat Harbor, was able to cover the cost overrun with its Boating Special Fund, which derives its revenue from statewide harbor and boating facility use fees.
"We appreciate the public's patience, understanding, and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year," said Meghan Statts, DOBOR administrator. "We also appreciate the legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding."
10:55am Friday
Reports of a traffic accident in the area of Puainako and Highway 11 fronting Minute Stop.
A vehicle is said to be overturned after possible striking a utility post.
The stoplights in the intersection are not operable at this time.
Elderly male occupant in a Honda pickup
Expect slowdowns and Drive with Aloha.
MASSIVE CORAL RECOVERY PROJECT COMPLETE ON HAWAI‘I ISLAND
(HONOKŌHAU SMALL BOAT HARBOR, Hawai‘i Island) — A collaboration of conservation divers has successfully removed and relocated nearly 11 years worth of coral growth from a decommissioned offshore fish farm pipe ring that was towed into this busy harbor last week.
Divers from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Arizona State University (ASU) then teamed up to remove hundreds of large, healthy, native coral heads from the ring, which supported the teepee-like structure used to raise Hawaiian kanpachi (greater amberjack). Four of the fish pens remain in operation and visible just off a runway at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
“Essentially, this pen has been in the water for eleven years, since 2013, and in that time, just natural recruitment of coral has happened to the point that now it’s time to take the pen out of the water. And there’s a whole, you know, eleven years’ worth of coral on the pen,” explained Julia Rose, the coral restoration program manager for TNC.
The partners have been working closely together over the past couple of years to build capacity for coral restoration and for emergency response. Rose added, “Opportunities like this are actually really, valuable, because the amount of time and effort and money that it would take to grow eleven years’ worth of coral that’s on these offshore pens, is huge. Any amount of coral that we can save from these pens today, is so valuable. It’s the biggest bang for the buck that you can get.”
The coral removal was a complex, but well-orchestrated three-day long operation. Corals on top of the pipe were not recovered as prolonged exposure to air kills them, but most everything below the water line was removed using chisels and hammers.
Those corals sank to the bottom of the harbor where divers collected them in milk crates that were lifted onto boats. L
12:10pm Thurseday
Kona Airport remains CLOSED due to the arrival of a Piper PA-22-250 Aztec after it landed approximately at 12:10 pm.
Preliminary reports suggest malfunction of the landing gear to be the cause of the shutdown.
We will monitor the flight deck and advise when the Airport is actively reopened.
Jeep in football field by ironworks bridge. VC: @kaiiluhh81
At 500 PM HST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Hone was located near latitude 19.1 North, longitude 158.6 West. Hone is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, Hone will pass well south of Oahu and Kauai through Monday morning. Hone is expected to pass well north of Johnston Island around midweek. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Hone is expected to become a tropical storm by early Monday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.36 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
RAINFALL: Rain bands associated with Hone will continue to bring widespread rainfall to portions of the Hawaiian islands this evening, with the rainfall potential gradually diminishing overnight.
Reports of Kawa flooding, Waiohinu flooding and a Tree down above Milolii. VC: @brynrose_d
HONE GRADUALLY MOVING AWAY FROM THE BIG ISLAND BUT CONTINUES TO BRING GUSTY WINDS AND WIDESPREAD RAINFALL
At 800 AM HST (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Hone was located by Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 18.5 North, longitude 156.6 West. Hone is moving toward the west near 8 mph (13 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue the next couple of days, with some increase in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Hone is expected to gradually weaken the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.23 inches).
LOCATION...18.2N 155.3W ABOUT 105 MI...170 KM S OF HILO HAWAII ABOUT 275 MI...440 KM SE OF HONOLULU HAWAII MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.27 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS .
At 1100 PM HST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Hone was located near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 155.3 West. Hone is moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue into Monday, with slight slowing expected thereafter. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected tonight into early Sunday, followed by a gradual weakening trend Sunday afternoon onward. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
WIND: Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes. RAINFALL: Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over mainly windward and southeast facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible.
This is a Civil Defense Tropical Storm Hone update for Saturday 08-24-2024 06:24 PM.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports as of 5 PM, Tropical Storm Hone is 125 miles southeast of Hilo with sustained winds of 65 MPH moving west at 14 MPH.
High Surf, High winds and flooding rains is being reported across areas of Hawaii Island.
The National Weather Service Flood Watch for Hawaii Island and High Surf Warning for east-facing shores remain in effect.
Be advised due to impact from Tropical Storm Hone,
Waipio Valley Access Road is closed.
Kohala Mountain Road, Highway 250 is closed due to a downed tree at the 17 Mile Marker.
Other road closures may occur without warning.
All east-facing County Beach Parks are closed.
Hele On Bus Service canceled routes through the weekend. For a list of canceled bus routes, please visit the County of Hawaii, Civil Defense website at https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/.
Public Shelters are open;
In Ka`u at Ka`u Herkes Gym and Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria
In Puna at Pahoa High School Gym, Kea`au High School Library and G Building, and Mt View Elementary School Cafeteria
In Hilo at Waiakea High School Gym
And, in Hamakua at Honoka`a High School and Intermediate School Cafeteria
Those that plan to ride out the storm at a public shelter should be at the shelter at this time. All shelters are pet-friendly.
If you have any questions regarding public shelters, please call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.
At 1100 AM HST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Hone was located near latitude 17.7 North, longitude 153.2 West. Hone is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next several days, gradually slowing after the weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. A slight increase in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. However, Hone is forecast to remain just below hurricane strength at its peak Sunday through Monday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).
(Video of projected wind speeds)
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
WIND: Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island, beginning as early as this evening and continuing through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.
RAINFALL: Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over mainly windward and southeast facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible over portions of the smaller islands, mainly windward.
SURF: Surf associated with large swells generated by Hone will quickly build today through Sunday as Hone continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.
Pahoa School update on pick-up traffic situation. @pahoahis
