High Wind — Lanai Mauka, Hawaii

2014-08-08 · Lanai Mauka, Hawaii

Event narrative

Wind gusted over 50 knots and damaged four roll-up doors at the recently built state airport fire station. There was also damage to a maintenance facility.

Wider weather episode

The impacts of Tropical Storm Iselle were mainly sustained over the east and southeast portions of the Big Island of Hawaii, in the Puna and Kau Districts. Although there were no reports of significant injuries or fatalities from Iselle, preliminary reports from the isle listed more than 200 homes and several businesses with at least some damage, and 116 infrastructure problems (including downed utility poles and power lines, and damaged roads). Agriculture was affected most especially, with around 50% of the state's papaya crop destroyed, at an estimated loss of $55 million. The storm also caused damage to other crops; including flowers, macadamia nuts, and coffee. Total costs of damages were not available, but a local private economist said a ballpark estimate for total losses by the state were between $148 million and $325 million.

Additionally, swells from Iselle and Hurricane Julio generated surf of 6 to 10 feet along the east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 533924. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.