Hurricane Lane, which is bearing down on Hawaii, is the most powerful storm to hit the islands in a quarter-century. Ahead of the hurricane's landfall, drenching rains began falling officials opened shelters. See photos of residents bracing for the storm's impact.
WASHINGTON —Hurricane Lane brought torrential rains to Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui before the storm was expected to hit Oahu. The powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn’t necessarily scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm.
See photos of residents bracing for the storm’s impact.
A utility line lays in the street in the Nuuanu neighborhood of Honolulu, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, as Hurricane Lane approaches. Hurricane Lane barreled toward Hawaii on Friday, dumping torrential rains that caused flooding on the Big Island as people stocked up on supplies and piled sandbags to shield oceanfront businesses against the increasingly violent surf.
(AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
AP Photo/Caleb Jones
A utility line lays in the street in the Nuuanu neighborhood of Honolulu, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, as Hurricane Lane approaches. Hurricane Lane barreled toward Hawaii on Friday, dumping torrential rains that caused flooding on the Big Island as people stocked up on supplies and piled sandbags to shield oceanfront businesses against the increasingly violent surf.
(AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
AP Photo/Caleb Jones
A worker looks at empty shelves for canned goods at a supermarket ahead of Hurricane Lane, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Honolulu.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Hotel employees fill sandbags along the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
People shield themselves from the wind in front of a store with stacked sandbags in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. The National Weather Service warned that Lane will get “perilously close” to Hawaii and that some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) before the system passes.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 23: 2018 Ugg had the largest amount of sand bags to protect their Kalakaua Avenue store from flooding as any of the other stores as Hurricane Lane approaches Waikiki Beach on Thursday, August 23, 2018 in Honolulu, Hi.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 23: 2018 Fewer than the normal amount of nightly tourists stroll the streets of Waikiki as Hurricane Lane approaches Waikiki Beach on Thursday, August 23, 2018 in Honolulu, Hi.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 23: 2018 Furusato restaurant in the Hyatt Regency stayed open late but prepared sand bags to protect their Kalakaua Avenue store from flooding as Hurricane Lane approaches Waikiki Beach on Thursday, August 23, 2018 in Honolulu, Hi.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
People stand near flood waters from Hurricane Lane making the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street impassable Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state’s first hurricane since 1992.
(Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)
Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP
This photo provided by Jessica Henricks shows flooding Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, Wailuku River near Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane brought torrential rains to Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui before the storm was expected to hit Oahu. A powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn’t scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm.
(Jessica Henricks via AP)
Jessica Henricks via AP
A woman tapes up a sign letting people know a store with stacked sandbags will close soon in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Park fields are flooded from heavy rains Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state’s first hurricane since 1992.
(Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)
Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP
A landslide from heavy rains blocks the Hilo bound lane at the Honolii bridge on Highway 19 Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state’s first hurricane since 1992.
(Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)
Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP
HILO, HI – AUGUST 23: A car is stuck partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane has brought more than a foot of rain to some parts of the Big Island which is under a flash flood warning.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
HILO, HI – AUGUST 23: A car is stuck partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane has brought more than a foot of rain to some parts of the Big Island which is under a flash flood warning.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
HILO, HI – AUGUST 23: A man takes photos of floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane has brought more than a foot of rain to some parts of the Big Island which is under a flash flood warning.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
HILO, HI – AUGUST 23: A car is stuck partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane has brought more than a foot of rain to some parts of the Big Island which is under a flash flood warning.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
Yamasaki Construction workers, Talbot Khakai, left, and David Halafihi board up McDonalds multiple plate glass windows in preparation for Hurricane Lane on Kalaukaua Ave on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane is a high-end Category 4 hurricane and remains a threat to the entire island chain.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
Continuous lines of vehicles find gasoline at the Texaco station on Harding Avenue as they fill up in preparation for the possible impact of Hurricane Lane on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu, Hi.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
Wenkai He, left, waits his turn to fill up his 3 gallon water jug for just $1.50, while Alex Krivoulian fills three times as many water jugs at Safeway on Kapahulu in preparation for Hurricane Lane on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane is a high-end Category 4 hurricane and remains a threat to the entire island chain.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
City Mill hardware store sales associate Thom West, left, fills up several propane tanks for Tony Cao, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Cao said he waited nearly two hours in line for propane. Although he already stocked up on fresh food, Cao the most important things to have during Hurricane Lane were Spam and Vienna savage as you don’t need to cook them. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday.
(AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
AP Photo/Marco Garcia
In this photo taken Tuesday, August 21, 2018, lines form at a gas station before the arrival of a hurricane in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday, as people hurried to buy water and other supplies and the Navy moved its ships to safety.
(Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)
Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP
Yamasaki Construction worker, foreman Nathan Koikoinui, measures plywood to board up McDonalds multiple plate glass windows in preparation for Hurricane Lane on Kalaukaua Ave on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane is a high-end Category 4 hurricane and remains a threat to the entire island chain.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
Yamasaki Construction workers, Talbot Khakai, left, David Halafihi and Manly Williams board up McDonalds front plate glass windows in preparation for Hurricane Lane while tourists Jordan and Amberly watch them work on Kalaukaua Ave on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane is a high-end Category 4 hurricane and remains a threat to the entire island chain.
(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images
City Mill hardware store sales associates Frank Miller Gascon, left, Lisa Lavilla, fill a table up with duck tape, flashlights, and other hurricane supplies, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Gascon said he’s been filling the table up every ten minutes as supplies are being swept up by shoppers who are preparing for the approaching Hurricane Lane. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday.
(AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
AP Photo/Marco Garcia
People stand in a line waiting to fill up propane tanks at a local hardware store, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has many Hawaii residents preparing for the worst. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. The National Weather Service said tropical-storm-force winds could begin as early as Wednesday afternoon on the Big Island. The hurricane was about 305 miles (490 kilometers) south of Kailua-Kona and moving northwest toward other islands. Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier in Honolulu says winds slowed overnight from 160 mph to 155 mph (259 to 250 kph), prompting a downgrade of the hurricane from a Category 5 to a Category 4. He says it may diminish to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane. Chevalier says that by early Friday, the hurricane is forecast to be a Category 2 with winds up to 110 mph (177 kph) and the center located west of Hawaii Island and south of Honolulu.
(AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
AP Photo/Marco Garcia
With several monitor displaying hurricane information in several different languages behind them, two women sit at a desk inside a Waikiki hotel, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday.
(AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
AP Photo/Marco Garcia
A woman fills up her car as other vehicles line up behind her for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
A man fills up his truck as other vehicles line up behind for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Kaipo Popa secures plywood to protect windows on a home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Jay Kitashima, left, loads up his truck after securing his tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Kainalu Kitashima hands his father a piece of wood to help tie down their tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Jay Kitashima lashes down the roof of his tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
Jay Kitashima lashes down the roof of his tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
People, who declined to be named, fill up sand bags that will be used to help protect their home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
This NASA satellite natural-color image made at at 10:45 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (20:45 GMT) on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, shows Hurricane Lane as a powerful category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour. The Big Island of Hawaii is at upper left. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday, Aug. 22, as people hurried to buy water and other supplies and the Navy moved its ships to safety.
(NASA via AP)
