Cyclone Moke moved toward Hawai on Saturday morning, lining up a fresh round of heavy rain and strong winds for La Isla Grande just as many residents were still dealing with the damage left behind by Lala. At 5 a.m. in Hawai, the storm was about 755 kilometers southeast of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 19 km/h with maximum sustained winds near 85 km/h.
The biggest impact was expected on the Big Island from Saturday night into early Sunday, when forecasters said it would take the worst of the rain and gusts. Rainfall of 13 to 25 centimeters was expected on the southeast and windward sides, with isolated areas getting as much as 38 centimeters. The rest of the island chain was forecast to get 2 to 5 centimeters, while parts of east Maui could see up to 10 centimeters.
That forecast matters now because Moke formed on Friday in the Pacific and was already close enough on Saturday to put the island on alert for what could come that night. Tiffany Edwards Hunt said there was tension in the air over the possibility of more rain in communities where floodwaters had already turned streets into rivers. Josh Green and other state officials held a news conference before Moke’s arrival as about 9,000 customers on the Big Island were still without electricity.
Even with no coastal watches or warnings in effect early Saturday, the storm center warned of dangerous rip currents, life-threatening flooding and mudslides. The warning carried extra weight on the Big Island, where Lala had already knocked down trees, ripped buildings from their foundations, damaged roads and bridges, and left routes covered with mud and rocks. The northeast coast of the island recorded the highest total rainfall from Lala at 1.1 meters, and one death was reported.
Moke was expected to keep moving west near the islands until early Tuesday, but the most important question is whether it stays offshore or spends enough time near the islands to deepen the damage already in place. For people on the Big Island, the next day will be measured in rain totals, power outages and whether the ground can absorb much more water.
