The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1916-01-14
Unusual Storm
Sweeps All Islands
House Washed Away At 0lOwalu-
Roads Blocked by Water and
WashOuts-Damage Light.

Torrential downpours of rain. high
seas that interfered seriously with
shipping, and fierce winds in some
sections, together with thunder and
lightning of unusual violence, were
some of the features of one of the
most severe storms on record, that
swept these islands during the latter
part of last and the first of this week.
All parts of the Territory suffered,
and Maui came in for it's full share.
The rain which began on Friday night
continued almost necessarily until
Tuesday, and in many places the pre-
cipitation was Unprecedented.
During Saturday and Sunday travel
was interrupted in most sections of
this island. The Lahaina road was
impossible for three days to vehicle
traffic, owing to the flooding of the
flats between Olowalu and the foot
of the pail, and by a washout some
20 feet wide and about 10 feet deep
near the Olowalu schoolhouse.
Water covered the road between
Kahului and Paia during Sunday and
Monday, in places to such a depth
that automobiles were unable to
traverse them. Makawao was cut off
by torrents which flooded the roads
III u HuIuDeT Ol pldCeS.
The Claudine from Honolulu was
unable to land passengers or freight
at Kahului on Saturday, and mails
were carried around to Lahaina
where they were later brought over
land by automobiles and wagons
which transferred their loads at i'm
passable places. Although the Claud-
inc returned to Kahului and re-
manned outside until Sunday it was
found impossible to effect a landing
on account of the great seas which
swept into the harbor and the YES
sci returned to Honolulu. The Amer
'ican-Hawaiian freighter Minnesotan.
which had been taking on sugar at
Kahului earlier in the week, was COM
PEELED to put to sea on Wednesday,
and although an attempt was made
to return later, was again obliged to
seek refuge outside the breakwater.
The waves at Kahului ran so high
that a great quantity of stones were
carried upon the beach road, blocking
traffic number of times before they
could be cleared off by the prison
gang.
Hama Wharf Wrecked.
The wharf at Hama was partially
rolled into the harbor. 1t is reported
that the sea was probably higher than
had ever been known before at that
point. However, but little other dam
age was done save to the wharf, at
that end of the island. A rainfall Of
over inches was recorded there.
lao Bridge Goes Out.
The bridge in lao valley, just below
the Field place was carried out, and
considerable damage was done to gar
dens along the stream. The cost of
replacing the bridge will amount to
$1,000 or $500 Below the Wailuku
mill the water flooded a number of
houses and did some damage e. A,
Kreuger lost quite number of chick
ems which were swept away by the
flood.
Tremendous Rainfall.
The rainfall at Wailuku last Satur-
day, as recorded by Brother Frank,
representative of the weather bureau,
was 400 inches, and for the week
ending on Tuesday of this week, 7.97
inches At Waihee nearly nine inches
fell.
In the Lahaina district records were
broken. At Olowalu mill 17.2 inches
of rain fell between s o'clock on Fri
day night and the following Monday
morning. At Honolua ranch about Is
inches fell. At Hama there was S.89
inches. AT Haiku a total of I'll
inches was recorded
Family Has Narrow Escape.
The terrific rains in the mountains
back of Olowalu washed out he
sflume supplying water to the general
ing plant of the Olowalu Company
and as a consequence the plantation
has been without light ever since
and the mill has been compelled to
suspend grinding. The damage will
probably be repaired today or tomor
row.
The house of Nahooikaiki, the ditch
tender of Olowalu, was washed away
by the torrent on Saturday evening
aand the family had barely time tC
escape with their lives, so suddenly
did the water rise.
Damage Comparatively Light.
In spite of the severity of the storm
the damage appears to have been com
paratively light on this island. Coun
e. ty Engineer Cox states that the coun
ty got off comparatively easy in the
matter of damage, the greatest prob
ably being the washing out of the IaC
bridge an d the washout on the La
haina road. The roads were not ser
iously injured in other places. The
wind uprooted a good man Y trees a
different points, and some work was
required to clear these from the road
across which they had fallen.
On Other Islands.
The bay at Hilo was so rough tina
the Matsonia was obliged to put t
sea, as was also the tanker Lansing
and even on Tuesday the sea wa
still considered too rough to permi
the Great Northern to approach tn
wharf at the Crescent City On OahI