(ABOVE VIDEO) Audio from a media conference call with Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira concerning Hurricane Ana, with video taken on Friday afternoon.

NEWS BRIEF

• Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira told media the county is cautiously optimistic that the Hurricane Ana will have minimal impact on the Big Island. However, the peak effects from the storm were expected to be felt on the island at 2 a.m.
• Surf was up at Pohoiki. Wave heights of 8 to 12 feet were reported. The action drew a crowd on Friday afternoon.
  At noon, five shelters opened at DOE public schools (Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School, Konawaena High School, Kealakehe High School, Waiakea High School and Pahoa High and Intermediate School.) By 3:30 p.m. on Friday, two families had decided to make use of the shelter in Pahoa.
• At 4 p.m. on Friday everything appeared to be OK in Kapoho, which suffered severe damage from storm surge on August 7th due to Hurricane / Tropical Storm Iselle.
• Oliveira confirmed that Puna Geothermal Venture did go offline today in order to avoid storm related complications.
• Oliveira said Hawaiian Ocean View Estates was experiencing some strong wind gusts on Friday, one of the few locations to report possible storm effects.

PRIMARY SOURCES

The National Weather Service Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Hawaii Island.

Hurricane Ana is located approximately 185 miles south southwest of Kailua-Kona and moving northwest at 13 miles per hour. Presently the system is showing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour with higher gusts. In addition to the high winds, high surf and storm surge may be expected as well as heavy rains and thunder showers. Surf heights of 10 to 20 feet are currently forecasted for the southeast facing shores of Hawaii Island. In addition and as the hurricane system travels north along the west side of Hawaii Island high surf and other storm impacts may be experienced across parts of West Hawaii from South Kona through South Kohala. All shoreline residents are advised to take precautions and to prepare for high surf and storm surge run up.

Present forecasts are calling for heavy rains and thunder showers across the areas of Puna, Kau, and Kona and Hawaii Island will remain under a flood watch through Sunday.

Current forecasts indicate the affects of the storm system may be limited to the Southeast, South, and West Communities of Hawaii Island.

Due to the possible impacts of storm conditions the following hurricane shelters will be opened effective 12:00 noon today, Friday, October 17th:

• Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School
• Konawaena High School
• Kealakehe High School
• Waiakea High School
• Pahoa High and Intermediate School

Those planning to shelter in one of these emergency sites are asked to bring their own water, non perishable food, personal items, medication, and sleeping bag or blanket. In addition, all pets brought to the shelter must remain in a pet carrier.Hawaii County Civil Defense on Oct. 17