Sudden stormy weather imperils paddlers

Flood advisories for Oahu and Kauai were canceled late Tuesday afternoon, but not before paddlers off Kauai were caught in severe weather conditions.

Inclement weather also caused power outages on Oahu in Aina Haina, Kalihi, Kailua and Kahuku.

Kauai rescue personnel were dispatched to Lawai and Poipu beaches Tuesday at about 10:30 a.m. after a group of one-man paddlers got caught in a squall, Kauai County officials said. They arrived to find a 64-year-old female paddler from Kalaheo had become separated from her canoe, but had made it safely to shore.

The woman reported she was with a group of six paddlers who had set out from Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor when they were hit with a sudden shift in weather and wind gusts of up to 50 mph. Two other paddlers also made it safely to shore with help from beachgoers, and lifeguards helped the other three. None required medical treatment.

At about 10:25 the National Weather Service reported a band of heavy showers and strong wind gusts were poised to hit Kauai. The Garden Isle and Oahu were the first islands to feel the brunt of a cold front moving across the state, bringing strong winds, heavy downpours and possible thunderstorms.

The weather system was expected to reach Maui County in the evening and Hawaii island Tuesday night.

The weather service issued several advisories in advance of the storm, including a high wind warning for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa summits until 6 a.m. Wednesday, with gusts up to 90 mph possible; a winter weather advisory for Hawaii island summits above 11,500 feet through 8 a.m. Thursday; a high wind advisory for Haleakala’s summit until 6 a.m. Wednesday; a gale warning for Kauai’s leeward waters until Tuesday evening; and a small craft advisory for all Hawaii waters until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Automobile kills nene at Haleakala

MAKAWAO, maui » The National Park Service says a nesting nene was killed by a car at Haleakala National Park.

The endangered Hawaiian goose was killed Friday. Officials say they know the bird was nesting because of a featherless area on its underside used to transfer heat to eggs.

The park service says the eggs now cannot survive because only females incubate eggs, and there are no facilities on Maui that could incubate the eggs. There are typically two to five eggs per nest.

The accident marks the first traffic-related nene death during the 2014-2015 nesting season. A total of 10 nene were killed during the previous two nesting seasons by cars on park roads.

Park officials are reminding motorists to drive slowly and carefully.

Astronomy adds $91M to isle’s economic tally

HILO » A study by the University of Hawaii has concluded that astronomy is big business on the Big Island.

The UH Economic Research Organization report says Hawaii island in 2012 took in $91.48 million from direct and indirect effects of the astronomy sector.

Throughout the islands, the figure was $168 million. The report says direct expenditures accounted for $58.43 million on Hawaii island, $25.8 million on Oahu, $2.58 million on Maui and $1.28 million on Kauai.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports more astronomy economic benefits are coming.

Sandra Dawson of the Thirty Meter Telescope project says its construction on Mauna Kea will begin in spring and that construction alone will cost more than a billion dollars.