4pm update: Tropical storm warning lifted for O‘ahu as City shifts towards cleanup and recovery
HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu is transitioning toward cleanup and recovery operations Sunday afternoon after the National Weather Service discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Oʻahu at 2 p.m. as Tropical Storm Lala continues moving away from the island.
While the lifting of the warning is welcome news, storm-related hazards remain across Oʻahu, and City officials are urging residents and visitors to continue using caution. Strong, gusty winds, periods of heavy rainfall, saturated ground, fallen trees and branches, downed power lines, and localized flooding may continue to create dangerous conditions through Sunday evening.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center and Honolulu Police Department Joint Operations Center remain activated, with City departments and first responders continuing response operations while crews clear roads, remove debris, assess damage and begin restoring normal City operations.
Latest forecast
The National Weather Service discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Oʻahu at 2 p.m. Sunday as Lala continued moving westward away from the island. However, outer bands associated with the storm continue to produce periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds across portions of Oʻahu and the western Hawaiian Islands.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for Oʻahu through late Sunday night, with additional heavy rainfall possible. With soils already saturated from overnight and Sunday morning rainfall, additional rain could result in localized flooding and rapidly rising streams. Gusty winds also remain possible, and weakened trees and branches may continue to fall even as conditions improve overall.
Residents should continue to avoid flooded roadways, streams and drainage channels, stay clear of downed trees and power lines, and use caution when traveling while cleanup operations are underway.
“The lifting of the Tropical Storm Warning is certainly good news, but we are not finished yet,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Our first responders and City crews have been working around the clock, and now we’re beginning the hard work of clearing roads, assessing damage and getting our island back to normal. I want to thank everyone on Oʻahu for taking this storm seriously and looking out for one another. Please continue to be patient and cautious, give our crews room to work, and don’t take unnecessary chances around downed trees, power lines or flooded areas.”
Cleanup and damage assessment underway
Fallen tree on vehicle at 1322 Houghtailing Street
City crews are responding to storm impacts across Oʻahu, including fallen trees and branches, debris, damaged roofs, flooding and downed power lines.
As of 4 p.m., Hawaiian Electric is reporting 448 outages across Oʻahu, affecting approximately 117,000 customers.
Cellular service in parts of Central Oʻahu and the North Shore is intermittent, and residents may experience disruptions to calls, text messages and data service.
Road closures
City crews continue responding to storm-related road and lane closures across Oʻahu caused by flooding, fallen trees, debris and other hazards. Motorists should continue to use caution and expect localized closures and delays while crews assess damage and clear roadways.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday, significant closures include:
• Kamehameha Highway in the Waiāhole-Waikāne area, including the area from Waiāhole to Wailehua Road
• Kalākaua Avenue between Monsarrat Avenue and Poni Moi Road
• Kalākaua Avenue between Kaiulani Avenue and Seaside Avenue
• Woodlawn Drive near Mānoa Stream
• Pali Highway near 6001 Pali Highway
• Tantalus Drive and Round Top Drive, with multiple storm-related closures
• Kamehameha Avenue, from Kaʻala Way to Hunnewell Street
• Ukee Street and Pupuhi Street
• Nahele Street and Hapiki Street
Additional full and partial road closures are being reported in communities across Oʻahu. Motorists are urged to avoid flooded or debris-covered roads, obey all barricades and directions from first responders, and never attempt to drive through floodwaters.
City crews will continue working to reopen roads as conditions safely allow.
Department of Facility Maintenance and Department of Parks and Recreation crews continue clearing fallen trees, branches and debris from City roadways and properties.
City personnel are also assessing roads, drainage systems, traffic signals and other infrastructure for storm-related damage.
Residents encountering cleanup crews are asked to slow down, follow directions and provide workers enough space to safely complete their work.
Report storm damage
Property owners who experienced storm-related damage are encouraged to report it through the City’s damage assessment form at www.honolulu.gov/homedamage.
The reports will help the City determine the extent and location of storm damage across Oʻahu and support broader damage assessment efforts. Submitting the form is not an application for disaster assistance, relief, or emergency funding.
Hurricane refuge areas
At the peak of operations, 247 people sought refuge at the City’s eight hurricane refuge areas. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, 127 people remain at the facilities.
To help restore regular education operations at the eight State schools used as hurricane refuge areas, the City will transition overnight shelter operations to three City parks beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, August 16.
The three overnight shelter locations are:
• Booth District Park
• ʻEwa Mahiko District Park
• Kāneʻohe District Park
The City is working directly with individuals remaining at the school refuge areas to assist with the transition and provide transportation as needed. The move will allow the Hawaiʻi Department of Education to prepare the eight school campuses to resume regular operations on Monday.
Public Safety
City facilities and services
Municipal golf courses: The City’s six municipal golf courses will remain closed through Sunday. Crews will assess conditions at each course first thing Monday morning to determine whether play can safely resume or should remain suspended. Storm impacts varied by location, with some courses experiencing more damage than others, so reopening decisions may differ by course. We will provide updates as assessments are completed.
Honolulu Zoo:
The Honolulu Zoo will reopen Monday and resume normal operations.
Parks and Recreation:
Indoor City park facilities, most botanical gardens reopening
Tomorrow, Monday, August 17, all City park indoor facilities (such as gymnasiums, rec buildings, and bathrooms) will reopen under their regular schedules.
Outdoor facilities, like pools and fields, will be assessed Monday morning to determine whether they are safe for public use.
Most Honolulu Botanical Gardens will reopen tomorrow, except for Wahiawā Botanical Garden, which sustained storm damage to its walkways.
Refuse: Refuse convenience centers, transfer stations, and the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill will reopen Monday and resume normal operations. Residential refuse collection will also proceed as scheduled on Monday.
Public transportation: Skyline is operating on its normal schedule. TheBus and TheHandi-Van have largely returned to normal operations, although some routes may continue to experience detours or delays due to localized storm impacts, road conditions, and ongoing cleanup work. Riders should allow additional travel time and monitor City and transit updates for changes affecting their route.
Continue conserving water
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply continues asking residents to limit water use to essential needs, including drinking, cooking, and sanitation, as crews respond to power outages affecting pumping operations in parts of Oʻahu.
Island-wide conservation will help maintain reservoir levels until power and normal pumping operations are restored.
Hazards remain during cleanup
Even though the Tropical Storm Warning has been lifted, residents should not treat this as an all-clear.
Downed power lines, unstable trees and branches, damaged structures, debris and flooded roads can remain dangerous long after the strongest weather has passed.
Residents should avoid unnecessary travel in areas where cleanup operations are underway and never drive or walk through floodwaters. Anyone clearing debris should use appropriate protective equipment and operate chainsaws, generators and other equipment safely.
The City’s informational call center remains available at 808-723-8960 for non-emergency storm-related information until 11 p.m. tonight.
Anyone needing immediate emergency assistance should call 911.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center will remain activated as response and recovery operations continue.
-PAU-
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