Maui County residents breathe a tentative sigh of relief as the storms that swept through the area from Thursday to Friday dissipate, ushering in a cleanup and recovery phase led by local authorities. According to a Maui County government update, the National Weather Service in Honolulu reported that the cold front responsible for heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding is now moving past the Big Island. As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the latest forecast predicts bands of showers will persist through mid-next week in windward and mauka areas.
The after-effects of the storm continue to impact the community, water service restoration in Hāpapa Gulch in Kula is expected by 8 p.m. today, and residents in certain areas are advised to boil water until further notice; these advisories affect those on Ihe Place to Kanaio Road, Lower Kula Road, ʻIoʻio Place, and Upper Nāʻalae Road, which includes all sides of those roadways the boil water notice will remain in effect until tests are completed and the Department of Water Supply deems it safe to lift. Access to potable water tankers has been arranged for Copp Road and Kula Highway; at the Kula Community Center; and near Ching store, for full details on the boil water notice can be found on the county's website.
In terms of public spaces, the Waiehu Golf Course has already opened its doors to patrons today, while other County of Maui playing fields and stadiums will stay closed pending further evaluations, all recycling centers and landfills have resumed normal operating hours. County officials anticipate resuming standard office hours by tomorrow, ensuring that administrative functions are back to aiding the community swiftly in the aftermath of the storm.
Meanwhile, for transportation, the Nuʻu and Pahihi crossings on Piʻilani Highway became passable as of 1 p.m. today, though cleanup operations are expected to continue into the weekend, while South Kīhei Road remains limited to residents only between North Kīhei to Uwapo roads and from Ohukai Road to Namauʻu Place, this is to ensure safer and more efficient clear-up work can be conducted without the general public interrupting the efforts of the multiple contractors and County Highways crews involved. In response to the crisis, Mayor Richard Bissen had preemptively signed an emergency proclamation which empowers the County with the necessary legal authority to expedite resources and response capabilities.
For ongoing updates and more information, residents are being urged to monitor announcements from established sources including the National Weather Service, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, and MEMA. People can also submit damage reports related to the storm to MEMA online, with the aim of assisting in the thorough assessment of the storm's impact on the local community and infrastructure.
