Hurricane Flossie keeps Hawaii edgy

HONOLULU – Tourists canceled reservations and stores rapidly sold supplies Monday as Hurricane Flossie stayed on course to come within at least 100 miles of the Big Island of Hawaii today.

About 20 guests had canceled their reservations at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo within the past 24 hours, front desk clerk Malama Valentino said.

“We’ve had a lot of cancellations, both from people coming from the mainland and from Oahu,” Valentino said.

Burt Takata, assistant manager for Wal-Mart in Hilo, said customers were “buying a lot of water, batteries and propane. I guess they’re getting ready just in case.”

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued a statement warning tourists and residents that Flossie could change course.

“Everyone in the Hawaiian Islands is urged to continue monitoring the progress of Hurricane Flossie,” the hurricane center’s statement said. “A northward shift in the track could potentially bring hurricane conditions to the Big Island.”

Flossie’s maximum sustained winds dropped Monday from a Category 4 level of 140 mph, the National Weather Service reported. It remained a Category 3 storm with winds of 125 mph.

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim declared a state of emergency for Hawaii County. All 56 public schools on the island will be closed today.

“You always prepare for the worst-case scenario and hope for the best,” Kim said.

George Applegate, executive director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau, said state and county officials forwarded updates on Flossie to Big Island hotels, airports and visitor-related companies.

The primary message to tourists is “stay tuned,” Applegate said. “Right now we’re waiting.”

The Civil Defense Web site warned people to stay away from the ocean until the threat passes.