Updated: 7/26/2020, 11 a.m.
Hurricane Douglas continues to approach the western islands with the potential to deliver destructive winds, floods, landslides and life-threatening surf and currents through this weekend into Monday. Maui County is now under a hurricane warning. Oahu and Kauai County remain under a hurricane warning, meaning hurricane conditions are expected within the next 36 hours. The hurricane watch for Hawaii County has been canceled but a tropical storm warning remains posted.
At 11 a.m. today, the National Weather Service forecasters said Douglas remains a category 1 hurricane, weakening slightly. Last located 55 miles east-northeast of Kahului and 140 miles east of Honolulu, the hurricane was tracking west-northwest at 16 mph and packing maximum sustained winds of 85 mph with higher gusts.
Forecasters say winds are starting to pick up in Maui County and warn residents not to go outside when conditions begin to deteriorate. Hurricane conditions are expected in parts of Maui County today, Oahu this afternoon and Kauai and Niihau tonight.
Outdoor emergency sirens were sounding on Oahu starting at 11 a.m. to alert residents to the nearing hurricane with alerts warning of extremely dangerous winds and possible flooding.
Hawaii Island appears to have largely dodged the worst of the storm, but forecasters warn just a small change in the hurricane's track can mean significant impacts for different parts of the state.
NWS meteorologist Robert Ballard says it’s now too late for Maui County residents to make any final preparations. O‘ahu residents have a little bit of time this morning. Kaua‘i residents still have time, and can make last-minute preparations today during daytime hours.
While it has weakened on its approach, Douglas can still bring hurricane-strength winds capable of causing major damage to structures and toppling large trees.
Douglas may drop its heaviest rains, between 5 to 10 inches, on Maui County, Oahu and Kauai County, said Chris Brenchley with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Higher terrain potentially can see heavier downpours. This could produce flash flooding and landslides.
Large, possibly damaging surf will arrive ahead of Douglas, likely impacting all islands. Storm surge between 2 to 4 feet above normal tides is expected near the center of Douglas.
Prepare to hunker down
Throughout the state, officials urged residents to plan to stay at home during the hurricane. Many activities, including the city's Open Streets event in Waikiki scheduled for today, has been canceled.
Hawaiian Airlines canceled all flights today between the islands and the Mainland as well as interisland flights because of anticipated weather conditions. Passengers can change flights without fees and check their flight status at HawaiianAirlines.com/flight-status.
Matson is maintaining its West Coast sailing schedule and adjusting its vessel and barge schedule so cargo deliveries to the Neighbor Islands can resume once ports reopen. The U.S. Coast Guard closed Big island ports at 8 a.m. today, Maui ports at 8 p.m. today, Oahu ports at 2 a.m. tomorrow and Kauai ports at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
The city's TheBus and TheHandiVan services will stop service at noon today. Officials advise riders to complete their travel before that hour. If conditions allow, bus service will resume at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
City trash pick up and bulk item pickups are canceled for tomorrow. All refuse convenience centers, transfer stations and Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill will close today and tomorrow.
The city parks, zoo and all golf courses will be closed today and tomorrow.
Trump approves federal disaster declaration
President Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration in advance of Hurricane Douglas, making federal resources available for disaster preparation and response. County mayors issued emergency proclamations yesterday following Gov. David Ige declaration Thursday, allowing the state to respond quickly to impacts from Douglas.
Ige also said he is prepared to activate Hawaii National Guard, beyond those assigned for COVID-19 assistance, to help with any hurricane-related impacts.
Those abiding by the mandatory 14-day travel quarantine should remain in quarantine, Ige said. But if they need supplies, they can break quarantine as a last resort, but maintain social distance and use noncontact retail transactions and curbside pickup services to reduce the risk of virus spread.
"If they believe that the quarantine site is not safe for any reason, then they should contact the Department of Health or other emergency responders or get to a shelter location," he said.
Shelters will be limited, COVID-challenged
Because of COVID-19 physical distancing requirements, emergency shelters can accommodate significantly fewer residents who need to be sheltered, the governor said.
The counties, which operate the shelters, have urged residents and visitors to shelter in place or with friends or family and only use the shelters as a last resort if they need to evacuate. If you go to a shelter, you must bring your own food, water, medicine, blankets and COVID-19 supplies, such as face masks and hand sanitizer.
The American Red Cross, which staffs the shelters for the counties, has also put out a call for more help, having lost about 70 percent of its volunteers because of concerns over the virus. Those who are in good health can apply by visiting the Red Cross website.
Shelter locations by counties:
Oahu Opens Today, 9 a.m.
Pets allowed at all locations but must be securely leased or caged.
* Hawaiian Humane Society staffed.
—Central - *Mililani HS, 95-1200 Meheula Pkway
—Central - Moanalua HS, 2825 Ala Ilima St.
—Central - Waialua H/I, 67-160 Farrington Hwy.
—Honolulu - *Hawaii Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave.
—Honolulu - Niu Valley MS, 310 Halemaumau St.
—Leeward - *Campbell HS, 91-980 North Rd.
—Leeward - Leihoku ES, 86-285 Leihoku St.
—Leeward - *Nanakuli H/I, 889-980 Nakakuli Ave.
—Leeward - *Pearl City HS, 2100 Hookiekie St.
—Waimanalo - *Castle HS, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Dr.
—Windward - Kalaheo HS, 730 Iliaina St.
—Windward - *King IS, 46-155 Kamehameha Hwy.
—Windward - Pope ES, 41-133 Huli St.
Maui Shelters Open
* Pets allowed at sites indicated but need to be in hard shell kennels
—*Maui HS
—*King Kekaulike HS
—*South Maui Gym,
—Lahaina Intermediate
—Hana HS Opening
—*Lanai HS
—Molokai HS
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said in his daily video that shelters will open as needed. He advised residents to check for updates on the county website.
Where we stand
The Hawaii Department of Health reported 64 new COVID-19 cases today, not record-setting but still in line with the high numbers the state has seen in recent days.
Of today's new cases, 55 are on Oahu, 7 in Maui County, and 2 in Kauai County. Yesterday's new case count hit a record high with 73 cases, following two successive days of high numbers of infections.
Health officials say the high numbers are threatening the state's reopening and there are calls for rollbacks to restrictions that had been imposed when daily cases were even lower than where they are now. They urge residents and visitors to wear face masks even at family gatherings, physically distance, practice good hygiene and not go out if they feel sick.
The state total now stands at 1,683 cases. Out of that total, 1,345 were cases on Oahu, 153 in Maui County, 117 in Hawaii County, and 45 in Kauai County. One case was dropped from Oahu's count based on updated information. There were 23 residents diagnosed outside of the state. One-hundred sixty-three people have been hospitalized. There have been 26 deaths.
Ige confident in contact tracing despite record-setting days of COVID-19
Gov. David Ige still has faith that the state can manage a surge in COVID-19 cases and effectively trace close contacts.
That’s despite three consecutive days of record-setting new cases, a majority on Oahu.
At a press conference yesterday, Ige said the state health department recently trained more than 400 contact tracers.
He also says the department has software that allows contact tracers to monitor up to 3,000 active cases.
"We continue to, as our goal, to make contact with every close contact of a positive patient within 24-48 hours. And we are able to maintain that goal in most instances," Ige said. "And so, we feel confident that the current contact tracing capacity continues to allow us to make contact and trace every single positive COVID individual, and make contact, and test as appropriate, every close contact of every positive case."
Ige maintains the state is the only one in the country that can successfully trace and manage COVID-19 cases.
He said he’s meeting with the mayors and other officials this week to discuss ways to reduce COVID-19 cases in the state.
Honolulu bar focus of virus cluster probe
State health officials are investigating a Honolulu bar where COVID-19 may have spread to staff and customers.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell highlighted the incident during a press conference yesterday with Gov. David Ige following three consecutive, record-breaking days of new COVID-19 cases, most on Oahu.
Caldwell says the state health department is looking into several people who fell ill at the bar.
"This is the first case I’ve been made aware of regarding a cluster starting in a bar. I think it was on July 20th, where there were many -- it was packed with a lot of people," the mayor said.
"No one was wearing face coverings -- they were watching a UFC fight. We have bouncers, patrons, and others, bartenders who’ve tested positive. And I think they’re continuing to test others who were in this bar. And it’s very troubling."
Caldwell says the bar was not one that was previously shut down for violations of his emergency rules.
He says he may consider further restricting bar and cabaret liquor sales hours and closing them at 10 p.m. rather than at midnight.
July 26, 2020 at 11:10PM
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