Forecasters expect more stable weather

HONOLULU (AP) — Rain showers were expected for the next few days, but forecasters said a more stable weather system was moving across Hawaii after nearly a week of thunderstorms, hail and other wild weather.

All Hawaiian islands, except Lanai, were under a wind advisory Saturday, but for the first time in days, no island was under a flood watch or warning, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters were predicting trade winds to be moderate to strong through at least the first half of the week, but area residents weren’t expected to experience the severe weather that hit the islands during the past several days.

Forecasters were also predicting showers for today and Monday, but the amount of precipitation was expected to be much less than the amount of rain that fell during the last several days.

A 30-minute hail storm Friday over windward Oahu was “unprecedented” for Hawaii, said Tom Birchard, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

Also Friday, Kahaluu resident Chad Simeona was swept away by rushing water as he tried to clear debris out a stream behind his house Friday morning, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.

When his safety line failed, he was dragged across river rocks and sucked under a highway bridge, the newspaper said.

His 17-year-old son, Isaac, ran across the highway and was able to help his father climb out of the stream.

“Good thing it had an area I could grab onto, or I might have got sucked under to who knows where,” Simeona said after climbing out of the stream. “I was thinking of my kids, just worried. That was the first time that kind of stuff ever happened.”

The 40-year-old Simeona was mostly unhurt, except scratches and a cut on his hand.

Along the beaches, a high surf advisory for the east shores of all islands, except Lanai, was in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

Waves were expected to be up to 10 feet, with rough seas.