H-1 lanes in both directions to be closed
The three right lanes of the H-1 freeway will be closed in the westbound direction from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday between the Manager’s Drive overpass and the Kaahumanu Street overpass, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Two eastbound right lanes will be closed from 3:30 p.m. Sunday and again March 30 and April 6 until 4:30 the next morning.
The Pearl City Viaduct Deck Repair project is rebuilding the H-1 freeway viaduct by demolishing and rebuilding sections of the concrete deck overnight. In addition, this project includes widening of the Pearl City viaduct from the westbound Pearl City onramp to the Waipahu offramp to create an auxiliary lane and widening of the H-1 freeway west of the H-1/H-2 merge.
For more information, visit the project website at www.pmcontraflow.com or call the project hotline at 945-1144.
Heavy rain still likely for Hawaii island
A flood advisory for Hawaii island expired at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, but the island is still likely to see heavy showers during the next few days.
According to the National Weather Service, scattered showers and thunderstorms could occur Sunday afternoon. Showers are expected to continue through Monday evening.
The activity is linked to low-level moisture interacting with a mid-level trough, the weather service said.
On Saturday afternoon, radar detected stationary heavy rain in Laupahoehoe, Waipio Valley, Waikoloa, South Point and Pahala.
Areas of Maui also experienced heavy rain Saturday morning. Haleakala National Park rangers closed the Hosmer Grove road and campground temporarily due to flooding.
Searchers save teens stranded by floodwaters
Two teenage Kihei girls spent a cold, wet night in Haleakala National Park after they became stranded by floodwaters.
Park rangers, with help from the Maui Police and Fire departments, reunited the hikers with their families Saturday after an extensive search-and-rescue operation in the park’s Kipahulu District.
The rangers were notified at 5:45 p.m. Friday by family members that a 16-year-old girl and a friend were stranded by floodwaters near Pipiwai Trail.
Park workers began the search and were joined by Maui County firefighters and police from Hana, the park said in a news release. The team continued the search until 9:30 p.m. in heavy rain and flooding until it became unsafe.
The search resumed at 5:30 a.m. Saturday and at 7 a.m. the two girls were spotted by a Maui fire helicopter.
The girls were airlifted out, examined by paramedics and released with minor cuts and bruises.
Two searchers were also temporarily stranded by rising waters at one point during the operation.
The hikers had left the park trail along Pipiwai Stream and bypassed a fence designed to prevent hikers from going up Palikea Stream, a tributary that feeds into Pipiwai. The park closed the Pools of Oheo, also called the Seven Sacred Pools, at 3 p.m. Friday based on data from its stream monitoring system.
"We are impressed with the bravery shown by the young women, thankful for the dedication shown by all the rescue teams, and above all relieved that all are safe," park Superintendent Natalie Gates said Saturday. "Let’s honor the courage of the girls and their rescuers by spreading the word — follow park instructions on signs, check our website and listen to guidance from our staff. Not doing so invites tragedy."
