Hawaii News Now

The latest on the severe weather that has stormed across the state, including heavy flooding on Maui and unsafe conditions across Windward Oahu.

Heavy rain and an overflowing dam forced evacuations in part of Maui.

Maui County emergency officials have issued evacuation orders for residents downstream of Kaupakalua Dam, which has been breached amid drenching rains that have pummeled the island for much of the day.

Hawaii reported 45 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, pushing the statewide total for infections since the pandemic began to 27,935.

There were no additional fatalities reported. The death toll from the virus in Hawaii stands at 445.

Of the new cases Monday, 21 were on Oahu, 11 on Maui, 10 on the Big Island. There were also three residents diagnosed out-of-state.

In the last 14 days, there have been 648 cases reported in the islands.

As of Monday, the state had administered 406,857 vaccine doses. About 16% of the population has received at least one dose.

Hawaii residents 70 and over are now able to get vaccinated starting today. Kupuna in that age bracket can schedule an appointment online to get a shot statewide.

Thousands of Hawaii residents are still feeling the lingering effects of COVID even after recovery. One patient has a message for others who still aren't taking the virus seriously.

The state reported two additional COVID fatalities on Friday, pushing the death toll from the virus in the islands to 443.

Both of the new deaths were on Oahu.

Meanwhile, there were 54 new coronavirus cases reported.

Of the new cases, 29 were on Oahu, 18 on Maui, and four were on the Big Island. There were also three cases of residents diagnosed out-of-state.

There have been 639 new cases in the islands in the last 14 days. Since the pandemic began, Hawaii has reported 27,753 cases of COVID-19.

The state Health Department also reported the latest COVID vaccine stats. As of Friday, some 391,116 doses had been administered statewide. Some 16% of the population has received at least one shot.

Hawaii Schools' Superintendent Christina Kishimoto says elementary campuses may not be ready to reopen for in-person learning by the end of the month.

The cancellation of a tsunami watch for Hawaii was delayed because of earthquake damage to key transmitters in the Pacific, officials said.

A tsunami watch for Hawaii has been canceled after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center determined a strong quake off New Zealand posed no threat to the islands.

The 8.1-magnitude quake struck near the Kermadec Islands region around 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The watch was issued shortly after the shake, and was lifted about 12:25 p.m. after authorities confirmed the temblor did not pose a threat of creating dangerous tsunami waves.