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Water crests dam, destroys bridge and damages homes

Residents downstream forced to evacuate, others trapped by flooded roads

By LILA FUJIMOTO and KEHAULANI CERIZO 5 min read

HAIKU -- "Unprecedented rainfall" sent floodwaters over the edge of a dam in Haiku Monday afternoon, damaging half a dozen homes, destroying a bridge and forcing the evacuation of residents downstream.

Firefighters responded to more than a dozen calls from residents surrounded by rising floodwaters.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service warned of "imminent failure" of the Kaupakalua Dam in Haiku.

Police went door to door in neighborhoods downstream of the dam in Haiku and Pauwela, evacuating some residents and alerting others to get ready to evacuate. Shortly after 4 p.m. evacuations were ordered for all downstream residents.

Neighbors near Haiku and East Kuiaha roads set up sandbags and makeshift barricades to stop water from entering their homes. For some, it was too late -- debris and brown water inundated their houses.

Swollen riverbeds spilled onto Kaupakalua Road, forcing a line of traffic to turn around at about 3:30 p.m. People hoping to get to their houses farther east toward Five Corners or Twin Falls were cut off by swift-moving floodwater that swallowed a major swath of Hana Highway near West Kuiaha Road. A bridge on Peahi Road was toppled by mid-afternoon, cutting off another route east.

"I haven't seen this much water in the 19 years I've been here," said Blaine Wiens, who lives off Peahi Road.

Mayor Michael Victorino reported that Kaupakalua Road was impassable in some areas and that about half a dozen homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. There was also evidence of landslides.

"This is a real flooding situation we have not seen in a long time," Victorino said Monday afternoon before he headed out to the scene. "In fact, some of the residents have told me that this is the worst they've seen in over 25 years."

Shelters were opened at the Paia Community Center, Eddie Tam Center in Makawao and Hana High School. American Red Cross volunteers staffed the shelters.

Officials advised people to stay away from low-lying areas near streams and not to return to the area downstream of Kaupakalua Dam until there is an "all clear" announcement, even if there is less rainfall and conditions appear to be improving.

"If you have family and friends and you can get out of the Haiku area that is probably preferable, but be careful," Victorino said Monday afternoon. "If you see high water, turn around and go back. Do not try to cross it at this time."

In the 24 hours ending at 5 p.m. Monday, gauges measured 10.38 inches of rain at West Wailuaiki near Keanae, 4.79 inches in Haiku, 6.09 inches at Puu Kukui in the West Maui Mountains and 1.35 inches in Pukalani.

At 2:08 p.m. Monday, radar and automated rain gauges indicated that heavy rain was falling over windward Haleakala. Water was reported to be flowing over Hana Highway at Wailua, with rain falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

A flash flood watch remained in effect through at least late tonight for Maui County, according to the National Weather Service.

A county evacuation map shows about 30 parcels or lots below the dam, which is at Kaupakalua Gulch near Peahi Road.

East Maui Irrigation owns the land where the Kaupakalua Reservoir is located, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Mahi Pono, which is half-owner of East Maui Irrigation, contacted the department dam safety program at about 1:30 p.m. Monday "to report extremely heavy rainfall and indicated the spillway was running very high," according to a DLNR news release. At 2:50 p.m., East Maui Irrigation reported water was starting to top the dam embankment.

"Today we notified state and county officials that due to the unprecedented rainfall, the Kaupakalua Reservoir and Dam, owned by East Maui Irrigation, reached peak levels causing the overtopping of the dam," said Shan Tsutsui, chief operating officer of Mahi Pono. "The dam did not fail.

"Out of concerns for the safety of the surrounding community, the highway was closed and residents were ordered to evacuate upon our recommendation."

By 5 p.m. Monday, Mahi Pono reported the overtopping of the dam had stopped.

"However, our crews are actively monitoring the situation and will continue monitoring the water levels until it returns to a safe level," Tsutsui said. "Our primary concern is for the safety of the residents in the area and the emergency responders. We are committed to working with state and county emergency response officials as the situation develops."

Starting at mid-morning Monday, heavy rain was reported Upcountry, flooding roads in Olinda and Makawao.

Flooding led to closures of Makawao Avenue at the Piiholo Road intersection and close to the Kokomo Road intersection. Also closed were Baldwin, Brewer, Kee and Peahi roads, Makani Road at Old Haleakala Highway and Kaupakalua Road just past West Kuiaha Road and between Lepo and Pakanu streets. Hana Highway was also shut down from Peahi Road to Keanae. All had reopened by Monday evening, though Kaupakalua Road remained closed as of 7 p.m., and other nearby roads could shut down as needed, the county said.

County parks on Maui were closed Monday afternoon. Parks were to be assessed for reopening today.

Haiku Elementary School was in full distance learning mode today because of the flooding and heavy rain. The school expected to resume blended learning Wednesday.

Victorino cautioned residents of Molokai and Lanai, where heavy rain also was falling, to be aware of streams that could flood.

"You know where the danger points are," he said. "Do not, I repeat, do not try to traverse it."

He advised visitors to "stay in your hotel or your place of lodging.

"Do not, I repeat, please do not go out tonight," Victorino said. "Luaus are not gonna be held. Many outside events are canceled and many restaurants will probably be closing to protect their employees as well as their guests."

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com. Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.

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