Hawaii has been fortunate the past few years. Many tropical storms and hurricanes have come barreling towards the state, though none have hit directly. Despite this luck, the state hasn’t escaped unscathed. Over the past month, we’ve seen very wet weather. This week especially, the weather has been especially bad. The hardest hit island, ironically, has been Maui. This September 2016 Maui storm damage, then, is something to be aware of if you’re visiting soon.
Thanks to the torrential rains, Maui has become saturated. This ground saturation causes the land to soften, and also causes flash flooding. It was a combination of these both that caused the parking lot at Kepaniwai Park to collapse into the swollen Iao Stream. In fact, the Iao Stream swelled so much, it flooded nearly the entire valley. Needless to say, the popular Kepaniwai Park is now closed until further notice. It isn’t the only park closed, though. Around Maui, the following parks are also closed:
- Iao Park (home of the iconic Iao Needle)
- Baldwin Park
- Keanae Park
No word on when either of the parks will re-open or how severe the damage is. The damage is the worst at Kepaniwai Park, though. Many beaches are also closed thanks to brown water advisories. These conditions are dangerous due to contamination in the water and the fact that these murky waters attract sharks.
These closures are concerning only county parks. If you will be visiting the island, check with the places you will be visiting regarding availability. Also, while the hardest hit, Maui certainly isn’t the only island affected. Oahu and the Big Island have seen some pretty significant rains, so some businesses may not be available. Hiking trails on all 3 islands will likely remain VERY muddy over the next week or so. Further, more rain is in the forecast today, with another mass of tropical moisture approaching. And remember, hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30. So be sure to watch the weather, plan accordingly, and make important charges on a card with travel interruption/cancellation insurance.