High Winds Causing Debris Damage, Road Closures

***Updated at 12:35 a.m. Saturday with additional road closure information.***

The Hawai’i Police Department reports the following additional road closures due to high winds and fallen debris.

• Kahakai Boulevard in Puna is blocked above Ola’u Street. A detour is available through Auina Street.
• Kaohe Homestead Road, above Pahoa High School
• Old Mamalahoa Highway between Kahana Drive and Waokele Street in Ahualoa

***Updated at 12:20 a.m. Saturday with additional road closure information.***

The Hawai’i Police Department reports the following road closures in the Puna district due to high winds and fallen debris.

• Highway 130 near the 12 mile marker.
• Highway 132 near Lava Tree State Park.
• One lane of Highway 130 near Milo Street.

***Updated at 12:15 a.m. Saturday with Red Cross shelter information.***

The American Red Cross Hawai’i State Chapter will open a shelter in Hilo at 12:30 a.m. for residents affected by high winds.

The shelter will be opened at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau Hale in Hilo on Pi’ilani Street.

***Original story posted at 12:07 a.m.***

Strong, gusty winds are causing trees to fall and roads to close as a storm continues to approach the Big Island.

According to Hawai’i County Civil Defense, downed trees and debris have been reported across the island, specifically in Pahoa, Waimea, and Kona.

As of 11:45 p.m. Friday, Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira informed Big Island Now of the following road closures:

• A 10-mile stretch of the Old Mamalahoa Highway between Ahualoa and Waimea.
• One lane along Highway 190 in Kona at the 20 mile marker.
• Highway 153 at the 53 mile marker, completely closed by the Mealani Experiment Station.

According to Oliveira, Fire Department crews responded to a report of a tree falling on a house in Waimea at Puanuanu Street. There was no damage and no injuries reported.

A downed tree was also reported in Pahoa on Apa’a Street above Pahoa High School. As of this story, road crews have yet to reach the scene.

Power outages have been reported islandwide. In a radio message, Civil Defense says that crews from Hawai’i Electric Light are working to restore power in all affected areas.

A high wind warning is currently posted for the Big Island until 6 a.m. Saturday. South to southwest winds are forecast to reach 25 to 40 miles per hour with gusts approaching 60 mph. Hurricane force winds are expected at the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, where the warning is posted until 6 p.m. Saturday. Wind speeds are forecast to come out of the west between 55 and 90 mph with gusts up to 130 mph.