KAHULUI -- A hit-and-run motorist knocked over a fire hydrant on Lono Avenue on Wednesday morning, causing a geyser of water to erupt near the Kahului Shopping Center parking lot.
The Department of Water Supply received a call about the incident at 9:41 a.m., and a crew responded to the scene by 9:54 a.m., said Jacky Takakura, the department's administrative officer.
Department of Water Supply pipefitters Cary Constantino and Waiohuli Dancil wore rain gear to approach the broken fire hydrant and were able to close a valve underneath Lono Avenue to stop the geyser from gushing.
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Kahului fire hydrant busted
Constantino said the fire hydrant was on a 6-inch waterline, and he estimated the geyser was ongoing for about 20 minutes.
He said it was difficult to estimate how much water was lost, but streets in the immediate vicinity were flooded with water rushing toward storm drains.
