23.70 -159.40 09/12/06Z 100 959 HURRICANE-3 28 25.70 -159.00 09/12/12Z 80 980 HURRICANE-1 29 28.10 -158.90 09/12/18Z 80 980 HURRICANE-1 30 30.40 -158.80 09/13/00Z 65 990 HURRICANE-1 31 33.00 -158.70 09/13/06Z 65 990 HURRICANE-1 32 35.00 -158.50 09/13/12Z 50 1000 TROPICAL STORM 33 36.70 -158.10 09/13/18Z 40 1002 TROPICAL STORMInformation on the Unisys World Wide Web server is Copyright 1994-2001 Unisys. All rights reserved.Hurricane Iniki moved west of Hilo, and many residents thought it would miss Hawaii. It had reached the western edge of the "subtropical high pressure ridge, a semi-permanent feature found north of Hawaii that normally keeps hurricane south of the islands." Unfortunately, a large low-pressure trough weakened the ridge causing Iniki to take a more northern path toward the islands. Iniki accelerated with wind speeds of 110 knots with gusts reaching 135 knots about 400 miles south of Lihue, Kauia. Hurricane watches were put into effect for Kauia and Niihau on September 10th at 5:30 p.m. They quickly turned into warnings later that evening around 8:30 p.m. Hurricane preparations started being made by the residents of Kauia. Reconnaissance aircraft reported winds had increase to 125 knots and pressure was down to 938 millibars (lowest ever recorded in the central Pacific hurricane at the time), as Iniki approached the Kauian coast. (Rosendal, 1996) High surf advisories were continued for all of the Hawaiian chain. On September 11 at 5:30 a.m., sirens were sounded all over Kauia. Hurricane preparations intensified as residents tuned into the local broadcast station for the latest updates. Workers were told to stay home unless it was imperative they be at work. Windows were boarded up, and cars were covered. Many vacationers on Kauia changed their plans to depart immediately. Hurricane Iniki hit the Kauia at approximately 1:30 p.m. At that point, the wind speeds were at 125 knots ...
