Flash flooding occurs in a flash, so heed warnings

Recent rains around the state had raised the possibility of flash flooding, as weather reports repeatedly warned. But the deceiving thing about flash floods is that it doesn’t have to be raining heavily where you are for one to occur — and when one comes, it’s sudden and forceful.

On Wednesday, 62 Kauai hikers needed to be rescued after getting stranded in Kalalau Valley after several streams flooded and became impassable. This, despite posted park closure signs and a staffer at the trailhead telling hikers of potential hazards.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured — this time. To residents and visitors alike: Don’t ignore flash-flood warnings.

Lucky you live Hawaii, despite growing population

Census numbers bear out what we can already sense: Hawaii’s population is growing. In fact, according to the Census Bureau, the state’s growth rate is 0.8 percent, higher than the 0.7 percent national average and 20th in the nation. In 2014, there were 1,419,561 people living in the islands, the bureau reported. This means that Hawaii’s future will depend on addressing some of the issues we are grappling with now.

The need for more affordable housing won’t go away. Neither will the need for traffic solutions like Honolulu’s rail transit system. Nor the need to protect a fragile and beautiful environment under siege.

The fact that crowding and the high cost of living have not kept people away speaks to the enduring attraction of our lovely home. To keep it that way will challenge us as never before.