‘Take this seriously,’ officials urge ahead of Hone impacts

HILO (KHON2) — Hawaii County could begin feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Hone on Saturday, Aug. 24.

“There are hazards out there that could be life-threatening, so take this seriously and don’t take chances,” Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno warned.

Magno noted that the ground is already saturated from recent trade-wind rains, raising concerns about the potential eight inches of rain that TS Hone could bring. Officials will monitor flood-prone areas such as Hamakua, Hilo, Puna, and Kau.

“We’re already deploying Type 2 barricades and cones to ensure that if we need to close an area, we can address it quickly and reopen it,” said Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

Hawaii County encourages residents to reconsider their weekend plans and avoid traveling.

“Because it might just get to the point where first responders might not be able to reach people, and that’s one of our main concerns,” Magno added.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to east Maui and strong winds to the island on Saturday.

“There is a potential for wildfires or severe weather on Saturday morning and throughout the afternoon, so we’ll be prepared for that,” said Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett.

Lonokailua-Hewett noted that winds are not expected to be as severe as those during Hurricane Dora last August, which passed further south of the state.

He encouraged residents to sign up for MEMA alerts on the county’s website.

“It’s important not to focus solely on the center of the track or the cone because we could see impacts outside of that area as well,” explained Hiro Toiya of the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. “For Oahu, we’re expecting heavy rains on the windward side, and it could be a gusty tradewind day for us over the weekend.”

The state transportation department said harbors are currently operational and will be prepared to close if needed. For Hilo, all cargo boats will depart by noon Saturday.

“For airports, we’ve coordinated with all carriers to ensure that if flights are canceled, we have enough security, concessionaires, and personnel to support anyone who must remain in the terminal,” Sniffen added.

Emergency operation centers in Hawaii and Maui are expected to be fully activated this weekend.

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Officials urge residents to prepare by having enough water and food for 14 days.