Hawaii County preps for winds, heavy rain this weekend

HILO (KHON2) — Agencies statewide discussed potential impacts from Tropical Storm Hone throughout the day on Thursday, after the storm formed in the central Pacific in the early hours of August 22.

It is the first storm to develop in the central Pacific since 2019.

“We’re expecting it to pass south of the state, but we could still see increasing winds this weekend, along with periods of heavy rain and high surf along east-facing shores,” explained John Bravender, National Weather Service Honolulu Warning Coordination Meteorologist.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is reminding residents that impacts can extend hundreds of miles from the storm’s center.

“With the new projections, it looks like more of the island might get impacted, so we’re preparing the entire island community for rain, winds, and surf on the eastern shores,” said Talmadge Magno, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator.

“Civil defense is partially activated, meaning they’ll be available 24/7 for the next several days,” explained Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth. “If the situation worsens, we’ll move to full activation, where everyone will convene at the Emergency Operations Center.”

He added that the county is already looking into drafting an emergency proclamation if needed.

“The Department of Public Works is assessing roads, streams, and other infrastructure, while Parks will discuss shelter options. Everyone has their checklists, and we’re ensuring that all preparations are in place,” Mayor Roth added.

Forecasters have indicated that portions of the Big Island could see four to eight inches of rain this weekend.

However, windy conditions are expected before the rain arrives, and fire weather could also be a concern on Saturday.

“We’re currently on the edge of red flag conditions for fire weather,” said Bravender. “Watch for red flag warnings, which indicate the most extreme fire weather conditions. We’ll continue to monitor the situation as it develops.”

HECO stated that it will monitor the weather and notify customers if a public safety shutoff program needs to be implemented.

“Everyone should be aware that there could be island-wide impacts and consider adjusting their weekend plans accordingly,” Hawaii Civil Defense said.

The 2024 International Va’a Federation finals, originally scheduled for this weekend, will now conclude on Friday instead.

The county will announce any additional cancellations on Friday, August 23.

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Officials encourage everyone to prepare an emergency kit, stay informed through text alerts, and check county websites for emergency messages.