Islands hit by winds, rain as storm veers west

HONOLULU — Hurricane Ana was on course Saturday to miss Hawaii by more than a hundred miles while generating strong winds and heavy rains that prompted flash flood warnings and lured surfers with high waves.

The center of the powerful Pacific storm was about 135 miles southwest of Honolulu, and it was losing speed as it churned southwest of the islands, the National Weather Service said.

“The intensity of Ana is slowly expected to weaken,” said Chris Brenchley, a weather service meteorologist.

A tropical storm watch remained in effect on Oahu and Kauai but was lifted for Maui, Lanai and the Big Island.

On Oahu, tourists and surfers at Waikiki Beach enjoyed ample waves created by the storm in the early afternoon that later gave way to choppy water.

“When the waves are good, you’ve got to get in,” said surfer Emile Meder, 23, who squeezed in a session before heading to work. “Every time we have a hurricane we know it’s going to be good.”

Rain fell early in the day on the island’s North Shore and Koolau Mountains, and slickened the island’s southeast shores. Waves were expected to crest to 10 to 15 feet on the south shores of the islands and remain high through Sunday.

At Sandy Beach State Park, people ignored the “no swimming” signs.

Residents took the storm warnings seriously on Kauai, which was devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes.

“Those of us that were here during that time remember, and so we are very cautious,” said Mary Daubert, a county spokeswoman. “Until she’s passed us, we all have to remain vigilant.”

Ana was expected to pass Kauai on Saturday night, with the worst conditions to be felt around midnight, Brenchley said.

Though weaker, the hurricane also was expected to pass closer to the island than first predicted, so the potential for damage was unclear, he said.