KEVIN J. OLSON photo
It has been blustery around Maui County, which was under a high-wind advisory until 8 a.m. Thursday. Wind speeds were reported near 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph in Kahului and nearly 40 mph with gusts exceeding 50 mph in Lahaina on Wednesday, the National Weather Service reported. The winds brought down a branch of a mango tree in the 800 block of Front Street (above) at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, nearly hitting some tourists and workers at nearby booths. “The wind was coming and going,” said Kevin Olson, who was working at the Sunshine Helicopter booth nearby. “All of a sudden we heard a crash.” For safety reasons, the hanging branch was cut down and hauled away, he said. The wind kept Maui Electric crews busy as well. Power was out in Olinda for about 100 customers for about eight hours Wednesday afternoon and evening when a large tree fell and took down a transformer pole and lines. About 200 customers in Sand Hills lost power for about an hour when a pole was broken by high winds Wednesday afternoon. And at about 5 a.m. Thursday, a large eucalyptus tree in Piiholo fell, breaking two poles and tearing down several spans of lines. Power was expected to be restored to four customers in the area Thursday evening.
It has been blustery around Maui County, which was under a high-wind advisory until 8 a.m. Thursday. Wind speeds were reported near 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph in Kahului and nearly 40 mph with gusts exceeding 50 mph in Lahaina on Wednesday, the National Weather Service reported. The winds brought down a branch of a mango tree in the 800 block of Front Street (above) at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, nearly hitting some tourists and workers at nearby booths. “The wind was coming and going,” said Kevin Olson, who was working at the Sunshine Helicopter booth nearby. “All of a sudden we heard a crash.” For safety reasons, the hanging branch was cut down and hauled away, he said. The wind kept Maui Electric crews busy as well. Power was out in Olinda for about 100 customers for about eight hours Wednesday afternoon and evening when a large tree fell and took down a transformer pole and lines. About 200 customers in Sand Hills lost power for about an hour when a pole was broken by high winds Wednesday afternoon. And at about 5 a.m. Thursday, a large eucalyptus tree in Piiholo fell, breaking two poles and tearing down several spans of lines. Power was expected to be restored to four customers in the area Thursday evening.
