The Hawaiian Islands are currently under the influence of a low pressure system west of the islands along with an associated kona low just west of Kauai. The kona low is moving ever so slowly to the southwest meaning that the storm system remains somewhat stationary over the islands.
Rainfall has been exceptionally heavy from Hilo on the Big Island west to many areas on windward Oahu. Some areas of the Big Island have already reported in excess of 14 inches of rain. Here, on the normally dry west coast of Maui, over 6 inches or rain has already fallen with more predicted.
Unfortunately the storm has already resulted in loss of life here on Maui, when three people died when caught in a fast moving stream in the West Maui mountains.
After years of drought, both residents and frequent visitors may have been lulled into a sense of weather security. When flood warnings are posted they need to be heeded. When road signs indicate that the area is subject to flooding and falling rocks, those warnings are accurate.
It is definitely an eerie experience to look towards the ocean and see blood red water washing up on the beach. The color is the result of the red clay soil of Maui being washed out of streams and drainage conduits into the ocean.
Believing that a picture speaks a thousand words, we offer some of our photos of today's weather here on Maui.
View our 10 photos of the heavy rain that struck Hawaii on January 29, 2002
