3 emergencies strike Kauaʻi over the weekend, showcasing need to be prepared

Over the weekend, the North Shore of Kauaʻi was hit with a tsunami alert, flash flooding and a road closure due to a two-vehicle crash with injuries.

“While rare, back-to-back emergencies can and do happen, this past weekend was a clear reminder of the importance of being prepared for all types of emergencies, Kauaʻi Fire Chief Michael Gibson said.

Elton Ushio, administrator for the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, reiterated that back-to-back or concurrent emergencies that rise to the level of KEMA activation do occur.

During the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency’s extended COVID-19 activation, various flood and flash flood incidents, tropical cyclones and complex public safety events took place.

Additional incidents include the Aliʻi helicopter fatal helicopter crash off the Nā Pali Coast on July 11, 2024. The Robinson R44 helicopter, operated by Aliʻi Kauai Air Tours & Charters, crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot and two passengers. The crash coincided with the Kōkee wildfire, which burned approximately 1,600 acres and began around July 18, 2024, reaching 85% containment by July 21, 2024.

Last weekend’s emergency events on Kauaʻi began at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, when a tsunami alert was issued by the National Weather Service after a series of earthquakes, including a 7.5-magnitude tremor that struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

According to officials at the National Weather Service, if tsunami waves were to impact Hawaiʻi, the estimated arrival time would be 2:43 am on Sunday. But the National Weather Service cancelled the tsunami watch at 9:42 p.m. on Saturday.

At 1 a.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for northern and central Kauaʻi. At 5:30 a.m., the advisory was upgraded to a flash flood warning after heavy rain triggered a flood in Hanalei that prompted the closure of Kūhiō Highway in both directions near the Hanalei Bridge.

Flooding was primarily observed from Ohiki Road to the Hanalei Dolphin.

At approximately 7:45 a.m., law enforcement shut down Kūhiō Highway, this time near Hoʻokui Road in Kilauea due to a two-vehicle wreck that sent two people to the hospital.

Traffic was diverted onto Kolo Road for approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes while Kauaʻi Police Departmentʻs Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation.

Kūhiō Highway near Hoʻokui Road re-opened at around 11 a.m., while Kūhiō Highway near the Hanalei Bridge re-opened approximately 12 hours later at 5:50 p.m. to alternating one lane traffic.

The rare cluster of events triggered preparedness awareness.

“We were ready,” said Melissa R, a bartender at Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant. “Especially this time of year, we are always ready. It had rained all day, and it wasn’t a sudden downpour. So we assume the bridge could close.

She said the restaurant did not receive a tsunami notification.

“We only found out when the manager sent texts to all of us,” she said.

With the rain and flooding, “we’re always told to have a 14-day supply of food and water, as well as an emergency kit, and we’re set to go,” she said.

The restaurant was closed all day but reopened in the early evening with a modified menu. The flood did not reach the restaurant.

The last tsunami watch issued for the State of Hawaiʻi occurred three years ago on Jan. 15, 2022, following a large underwater eruption in Tonga. The advisory was issued about 1 a.m. and canceled just before 8 a.m.

“Kauaʻi is one of the more active jurisdictions in terms of issuing advisory, watch and warning products for flood/flash flood threats, along with road closures that occur at any time and have occurred several times this week, with varying durations,” Ushio said.

“Hazard awareness, preparedness, and resilience are everyone’s kuleana and truly begin at the individual and household level,” he said. “Take personal responsibility to determine one’s tsunami and flood risk in areas where we live, work and frequent.”

The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency has various locations that may be used as Tsunami Refuge Areas. A list of some but not all possible sites can be found on the KEMA website.

Gibson said when emergencies occur, community members should stay tuned to local media for updates, know their evacuation routes, and ensure their emergency kits are easily accessible.

“We are so used to it,” R said of the emergencies. “That is just part of living the Kauaʻi life. I know babies that have been born in incidents like that, people who have missed their weddings. It’s a very different lifestyle, but we are ready.

“We like to encourage visitors to carry flashlights in their cars, have a full tank of gas, and stay informed.”

Individuals interested in subscribing to the County’s WENS notification can click here. For a full list of emergency food supply tips or a handbook on emergency preparedness, click here.

For a map of the islandʻs Tsunami Evacuation Zone, click here.