Board of Water Supply crews restored service at about 8 a.m. to four Waikiki businesses cut off by a 12-inch water main break yesterday on Royal Hawaiian Avenue. But the road will remain closed for most of today as repairs are completed.

Board of Water Supply spokesman Keoni Mattos said crews replaced the pipe by 1:30 p.m. and are re-paving the road. The work should be completed by 7 p.m.. A second crew arrived on scene this morning to help with the road patching.

In the meantime, Royal Hawaiian Avenue between Kuhio Avenue and Waikolu Way remains closed and the right lane of Kuhio Avenue near the break is also closed.

Because of the size of the break, the work took longer than expected, Mattos said. 

He said it will likely be several weeks before the cause of the main break can be determined. The main was relatively new, replaced in 2003.

A claims specialist from the Board of Water Supply was out yesterday gathering information on damage from businesses who were flooded. Mattos said other affected businesses can call the board at 748-5000.