Nearly 12 inches of rain fell on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa as Hurricane Ana passed the Big Island this past weekend, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports.
The 11.67 inches of rain registered at the Keaumo gauge, located just below the 4,000-foot elevation on Mauna Loa’s southeastern flank, was the greatest amount of rain reported across the state between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, according to NOAA’s final rainfall totals.
At Kulani, some 8.61 inches of rain fell and at Kapapala Ranch in Kaʻu, gauges recorded 7.66 inches of rain. In Pahala, 4.59 inches of rain fell and at South Point some 2.19 inches of rain fell. Kealakekua rain totals reached 2.73 inches while Honaunau saw just over 2 inches of rain.
In North Kona, the rain gauge at Kona International Airport registered .99 inches. The least amount of rain — just under 3/4 of an inch — fell at Upolu Airport in North Kohala.
The Big Island managed to dodge winds and major damage as Hurricane Ana passed south of the island Friday night and Saturday. Up to a foot of rainfall was forecast to fall as the storm made its way by the island. The storm dropped enough rain to prompt the closure of Highway 11 in Kaʻu between mile markers 57 and 58 because of flash flooding. Wood Valley Road was also blocked because of flooding.