Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-20
RECORD BREAKING RAIN PLAYS HAVOC
AND ENTAILS BIG PROPERTY Loss

At the height OF the storm portions
OF Kalakaua avenue were entirely sub
merged and at 8 o'clock this morning
long stretch OF the section between
King street and John Ena road had
five inches or water on IL. The stream
which races TO the ocean through the
walled channel at Kalakaua avenue
and King street rose so high that IL
flooded, yards on the upper side, seven
or eight feet above the usual level.
Many OF these yards were filled with
mud and debris and much fencing was
battered down and swept away on the
turbid waters.
Good Fishing On Land
Good fishing was enjoyed on land in
the Waikiki section today. Scores OF
boys and girls, men and women went
along the edges of the flooded sec
lions. particularly the duck.ponds,
catching fish with their bare hands.
A string OF gay fishermen we're along
the street car tracks over the duck
ponds grabbing at the ffnny denizens
as they Topped in the muddy waters,
apparently unable to breathe" with.
out frequently coming TO the surface.
The fishing was not along the rules OF
the Hawaii Tuna Club, but was enjoy
ed nevertheless.
On Bishop lane, near Nnuanu ave.
hue, two houses, one occupied by a
Japanese family and the other by Ha-
waiians, were undermined and this
morning are nearly toppling over.
On LiIiha street makai OF Vineyard
big hole dozen feet deep was
gouged in the side of the street, tear
ing up the yard from in frontof a Jap
anese residence and leaving the picket
fence suspended in mid-air.
Members of the japanese church
near the corner Of Nuuanu and Kukui
frantically called the police depart
ment for help last night, declaring
their place was being ruined. They
were referred to the road department.
Policeman Ed Ross was sent on the
run early this morning TO 1wilei, where
Japanese family near the soap works
was fnarooned. He found the water
so deep that there was no chance of
helping. them without boat, which
he advised them 10 get.
Clerk James X. Odds at the. police
station Is today bernoaning the loss
or q fence and garage on Liliha street
just maulh Of the Japanese school.
Railway Is Tied 0pea =
The Oahu railway this morning was
completely tied up by the deluge, but
by noon the trains were running
late out Of Honolulu. No trains were
shipped last night, but the IL p. m.
train due into Schofield about mid
night was delayed two hours on ac-
count OF slow running In the worst Of
the storm.
Two hundred laborers this morn
ing replaced 500 feet Of roadway and
rails swept out OF line about half
mile eva of Puuloa and cleared water
and dirt from the rails at Sisel. Trains
went past there about $40
There was q foot of water in the
car shops this morning and the rail-
way people had trouble getting their
equipment out Of the local depot They
had never encountered such difficulty
in the history Of the road.
General Passenger Agent Fred b.
Smith said this morning he consider
ed the company lucky to escape with
so little damage. He said:
Practically all the water on the
mountains has to go either over or
under our tracks and we expected
something far worse than we got We
have heard OF no serious accidents
from any place in the islands but
there are scores OF humorous Incl
dents being reported and plenty Of
damage"
Home-Goers Have Troubles
At home going time yesterday aft
ernoon and early in the evening the
rain was falling in torrents and at
every corner crowds huddled under
available shelter. Cutters ran deep
in water far out into the streets and
with the arrival of car a syading bril-
gader would hurry from Sidewalk to
the shelter of the car.
Further out King street matters
were even worse. Wherever there was
street that led down from the high
lands and the valleys streams OF water
rushed down into and across the main
thoroughfare. At the grounds Of the
Agricultural and forestry department
water was from six inches to a foot
deep over the lawns. Further along
and especially at Pawaa junction the
street flowed with water above the
cutters and passing automobiles were
hub deep in the flood. Along Kaia-
kaua avenue The stream flowed over
its banks and half way across the ave-
nue..
Passengers Go Barefoot ~
There were many amusing incidents
seen by passengers on the cars. Men
and women. boys and girls, as q car
approached their point of debarkation
would be seen to stoOp over and when
they left the car would be carrying
shoes and stockings in hands as they
stepped out. often knee deep, into the
water
Out at Waikiki 1t was as Dad. In
front OF the Seaside the water flowed
over the gutter and sidewalk into the
grounds. At Kapiolani park trees and
bushes rose from vast pools and lakes
OF water that covered lawns. walks.
| roads and flower beds. Even this