Justin Pagba installed a generator in the parking lot of a Longs Drugs in Honolulu in case Hurricane Lane knocks power out to the state capitol.

HONOLULU, Hawaii – From Oahu to the Big Island, Hawaiians stocked up on food, lined up at gas stations and hauled out generators as the outer bands of rain began inundating some islands with the approach of Hurricane Lane.

Damaging tropical storm-force winds could arrive as early as Thursday morning on the island of Hawaii and by Thursday night on Oahu, with hurricane force-winds possible Friday, the weather service said. Tornadoes and large waterspouts are also possibilities.

A flash-flood warning was in effect on the Big Island as rain pounded the island at a rate of one to two inches per hour.

As of late Wednesday, Lane, with maximum sustained winds at 145 mph, was about 235 miles from the Big Island of Hawaii and moving on a northwesterly course at 7 mph to pass close to the islands Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii’s sizable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a “last resort” and aren’t designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph.

“Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions,” the city and county of Honolulu said in a news release.

But even as forecasters warned of the approach of dangerous winds, most people in Honolulu were relatively calm about the possibility of being hit by the first hurricane since Hawaii's statehood in 1959.

"I'm not really worried. But better safe than sorry," said Pearl Ng, who filled her shopping cart with ramen noodles, bottled water and a box of Fig Newtons as she shopped at the Safeway store near downtown. "And if it doesn't happen, then we'll have these in the cupboard," said

More: As Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii, Kilauea volcano simmers down

Forecasters can’t yet say whether the core of the storm’s winds will make landfall. But even if it is not a direct hit, Lane is expected to bring high winds, heavy rains, possible flash flooding and mudslides. Some areas could get as much as 20 inches of rain, according to the weather service.

An alert notice sent to all mobile phones in the Honolulu area on Wednesday afternoon to warn of Hurricane Lane's arrival.

In Honolulu, at Longs Drugs, lines stretched far back into the aisles and the bottled water and canned food aisles were almost picked clean by 5 p.m. local time. Heads popped up as almost every cell phone in the store began emitting the ominous blat tone of an emergency warning that was automatically sent to everyone in the area that a Hurricane Warning was in effect.

"That's the first one I've got," Sophie Granger said as she put her goods on the checkout conveyor. She was not buying up water but had grabbed a few batteries "just in case," she said.

A sign at the Budget rental car pickup at the Honolulu airport warning travelers of the possible arrival of Hurricane Lane.

In the parking lot, Justin Pagba was delivering a room-sized generator for Longs. He skillfully maneuvered the large trailer into place under some trees where it would be accessible to the store.

His company, Golden Equipment Transport of Waipahu, west of Honolulu, has been working hard since the hurricane emerged as a threat. He's been delivering generators to Longs and CVS Pharmacy all day.

"We've set up five of these today and we've got another five scheduled for tomorrow," he said.

The generators are enough to run an entire large store for 10-15 hours, he said. "But it's just in case the power goes off," he said.

While state and county officials have been encouraging residents and visitors to prepare for the worst, many weren't all that concerned.

Leanne and Jeff Day of Sydney, Australia preparing for their visit to Honolulu, Hawaii as Hurricane Lane bears down on the state. The couple shrugged off the possible disaster, saying "You can't control nature."

"It is what it is," said Leanne Day of Sydney, Australia. She and her husband have spent the last two weeks touring the Hawaiian islands and are scheduled to leave on Saturday.

"Or not," she said, laughing, as she and her husband picked up their rental car at the Honolulu airport.

"You can't control nature," Jeff Day said. "We get them in Australia, too. You just have to pay attention."

"Though he did call the hotel and make sure that the parking wasn't underground," said his wife. "We didn't know what the rental company would say if we had to call and say our car was underwater."

Personal trainer Carla Magallanes and her family at the Honolulu airport. They had come to take part in the grueling Spartan obstacle race, but it had been cancelled as they flew to Hawaii from their home in Florida, due to the possible arrival of Hurricane Lane.

Carla Magallanes and her family arrived Wednesday night in Honolulu from Florida, where she and her daughter, Arianna, have been preparing to take part in a grueling sports obstacle competition called the Spartan Race.

"We're used to this, being from Florida," she said.

Though as they were arriving at the airport, race organizers had already cancelled events on Friday and Saturday due to the hurricane.

"Our race is on Saturday," she said, laughing.

Race organizers were hoping to possibly hold an event on Sunday.</s>Find the latest path updates and live tracking information on Hurricane Lane here. All times in BST.

Hurricane Lane, classified as a powerful Category 4 storm, was packing sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour and is expected to dump as much as 20 inches of rain, triggering flash flooding and landslides, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned.

The barreling storm churned toward the main island of Oahu on Thursday as schools, government offices and business closed while residents stocked up on supplies and boarded up homes.

Hurricane Lane is threatening a potentially deadly direct hit on Hawaii in the regions worst storm in a quarter century.

The latest Google crisis map shows the storm closing in on Hawaii, with wind speeds of a maximum 259km/h.

However, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System says the storm “can have a low humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.”

9.10am update: Residents urged to hunker down with emergency supplies until the storm passes

Dangerous, -force winds are expected to hit Big Island and Maui on Thursday, the National Weather Service said, while Oahu remains under a warning and Kauai was on a hurricane watch meaning it could face such conditions starting Friday morning.

"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NWS said. "Life threatening impacts are likely in some areas as the makes its closest approach."

Governor David Ige urged residents to prepare for the worst by setting aside a 14-day supply of water, food and medicines in the event of major damage to roads and infrastructure.

He added: "I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact."</s>HONOLULU (Reuters) - Hurricane Lane churned toward Hawaii on Thursday, dumping torrential rain on the Big Island and threatening storm surges and dangerous waves, as schools, government offices and businesses closed and residents stocked up on supplies.

Packing sustained winds of up to 130 miles per hour (215 km per hour), Lane could dump 10 to 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain, triggering flash floods and landslides, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. More than 30 inches could fall in some places, it said.

"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu said in an advisory.

As of early Thursday, Lane was centred about 205 miles (330 km) south-southwest of Kailua-Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, the NWS said. Moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph), it was classified as a powerful Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength.

The NWS said excessive rainfall would affect the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, "leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides."

More than a foot of rain has already fallen on part of the Big Island, the NWS said on Thursday.

The centre also warned of "very large and damaging surf" along exposed west- and south-facing shorelines, likely leading to significant coastal erosion.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii County. The islands of Kauai and Niihau remained on hurricane watch and could face similar conditions starting Friday morning.

Governor David Ige has urged residents to take the threat seriously and prepare for the worst by setting aside a 14-day supply of water, food and medicines.

All public schools, University of Hawaii campuses and nonessential government offices on the islands of Oahu and Kauai will be closed for at least two days starting on Thursday, Ige said Wednesday.

The shelves of a downtown Honolulu Walmart were stripped of items ranging from canned tuna to dog food as well as bottled water and coolers full of ice after warnings of possible power outages.

"I went to Safeway last night for regular groceries. Everyone was in a panic," said Thao Nguyen, 35, an employee at a Honolulu branch of Hawaiian shirt retailer Roberta Oaks.

Long lines of cars formed at gasoline stations in Honolulu and people pulled small boats from the water ahead of the expected storm surge. U.S. Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii were instructed to leave port, a common practice when a hurricane approaches to avoid damage.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for Hawaii and ordered federal authorities to help supplement state and local responses, the White House said on Thursday.

Since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made changes to how it works, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said on Thursday.

One key change is making sure that generators are in place so they can immediately provide power to residents and quickly restart the water system, Long told a briefing in Washington.

"It's not just providing food and water. If you fix the power first you solve 90 percent of the problems," Long said, adding that FEMA was focused on food and shelter, health and medical, power and fuel, communications, transport, and hazardous waste.

"We're reorganizing the fire power of the federal government under these critical life lines and we’re pushing forward," he said.

The most powerful hurricane on record to hit Hawaii was Category 4 Iniki, which made landfall on Kauai island on Sept. 11, 1992, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.</s>HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Lane (all times local):

Tourist Elisabeth Brinson says she will ride out the wind and rain on the ninth floor of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki, where she was watching surfers and powerful waves from her balcony.

She said Thursday she was not too concerned with flooding, and hotel staff had left notices in English, Japanese and Korean that the rooms would have water and phone service.

She says a backup generator is expected to power an elevator.

The native of the United Kingdom, who now lives in Denver, said many shops were closed or filled with frantic people buying food, water and beer to take back to their rooms.

She said she knew the hurricane was coming and had crammed in as many activities as she could in the past few days.

Forecasters say Hurricane Lane has shifted course and is now moving closer to Hawaii.

National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said Thursday the shift will put the Big Island and Maui “in the thick” of the hurricane.

She said some parts of the Big Island already have received 20 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.

However, she says the hurricane will weaken due to some possible terrain interaction and other factors that will begin to destroy its core. The timing of the decay was uncertain.

The hurricane is about 275 miles (445 kilometers) south of Honolulu.

Authorities say two campers are trapped in a Hawaii valley that has been hit by heavy rain from an approaching hurricane.

Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe says the campers called to report they were trapped Wednesday in Waipio Valley on the Big Island’s northern coast.

He says emergency workers haven’t been able to contact them since then because of poor cellphone reception.

He says it’s not safe for emergency crews to search for them because of landslides and rivers of rain blocking roads.

Okabe says the south shore of the Big Island is seeing 31-foot swells as Hurricane Lane approaches.

Dangerous, heavy rains and flooding are occurring in east Hawaii as Lane slows down.

Okabe says there are also reports of boulders falling in a Hilo park.

The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says the government had positioned generators and other aid in Hawaii well before the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Lane.

FEMA administrator Brock Long said Thursday the supplies arrived in Hawaii after a volcano began oozing lava into neighborhoods in May and in preparation for a recent hurricane that bypassed the islands.

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year, a FEMA report noted that one of its main issues was not having enough generators and other emergency aid on the island before the storm.

In response, officials stockpiled such items in hard-to-reach areas such as Hawaii and Alaska.

FEMA says the agency has been talking with grocers to make sure food sources are stocked.

Long says he doesn’t anticipate the Jones Act will to be an issue for Hawaii. The federal law requires goods to bypass the state on their way to the mainland before being shipped to Hawaii.

Federal official say Hurricane Lane remains a powerful, category 4 storm that will have a major impact on the Hawaiian islands.

Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said at a news conference Thursday that Lane had winds up to 130 mph.

It was about 300 miles south of Honolulu and expected to soak the Big Island before heading toward Maui and Oahu.

Goldstein said a direct strike is not needed to see a significant impact from such a strong hurricane.

Officials say more than 30 inches of rain is possible in some areas, which could mean flooding, dangerous surf of 20 feet, and a storm surge of up to 4 feet above normal levels.

Federal officials said they were prepared to help people on the islands.

Brad Kieserman of the Red Cross said there were 16 emergency shelters open and 283 people across the island already in them.

Torrential downpours from Hurricane Lane are soaking Hawaii’s Big Island as the storm approaches the island.

National Weather Service meteorologist Gavin Shigesato says rain gauges near Hilo had recorded 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) of rain in 12 hours as of 4 a.m. Thursday.

Parts of Maui County also seeing rain as bands of rain extended 350 miles (566 kilometers) from the hurricane’s center.

Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall.

Shigesato says the hurricane’s speed on Wednesday slowed from 9 mph to 7mph (15 kph to 11 mph).

He says the more stationary hurricane increases the threat of flash floods and landslides because of prolonged, increased rainfall.

President Donald J. Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Hawaii as residents prepare to deal with Hurricane Lane.

Trump issued the declaration on Wednesday. It authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate disaster relief efforts with the state.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday. That would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway could become impassable.

Three inches of rain fell in three hours on the Big Island on Wednesday.

As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Those who lived in Hawaii when Iniki hit said they remember the “pandemonium” and were boarding up their houses and stockpiling water.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway could become impassable.

Three inches of rain fell in three hours on the Big Island on Wednesday.</s>HONOLULU — Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that Lane will get "perilously close" to Hawaii and that some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) before the system passes.

Lane was not projected to make direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm.

"You do not need a direct strike to have major impacts from a hurricane this strong," said Steve Goldstein, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington.

The center of the Category 4 storm was predicted to move close to or over portions of the main islands later Thursday or Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet (6 meters) and a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter), forecasters said. As of 11 a.m., the hurricane was about 275 miles (460 kilometers) south of Honolulu.

Lane "shifted a little closer to the islands, unfortunately," meteorologist Melissa Dye said. "Big Island and Maui are in the thick of it now."

As Lane moved closer to the islands, it was expected to weaken more rapidly and turn toward the west. But it was unknown exactly when that would happen, forecasters said.

Pablo Akira Beimler, who lives on the coast in Honokaa on the Big Island, said the road to Hilo was cut off due to landslides.

"Rain has been nonstop for the last half hour or so and winds are just starting to pick up," Beimler said as he posted videos of trees being blown sideways. "Our usually quiet stream is raging right now."

He said staying put is about the only choice he has.

"We essentially have one way in and out of our towns so sheltering in place is the priority," Beimler said in a Twitter message.

Two campers were reported trapped overnight in Waipio Valley, along the Big Island's northern coast. The campers called authorities Wednesday, but emergency crews could not mount a rescue operation.

"We can't go in because the roads — there's a river of water down there," said Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe. Landslides had closed some roads.

In addition, there were reports of boulders falling into a park in Hilo on the east side of the island, Okabe said.

Shelters opened Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns that the main highway on the island's south coast could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Aid agencies were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Because there's not enough shelter space statewide, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis urged people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

On the island of Lanai, it was eerily dead still and gray, said Nick Palumbo II, who owns Lanai Surf School and Safari.

"It's relatively like a regular day," he said by telephone. "I got friends calling me telling me there's surf at the beach, and they're actually going surfing right now."

He won't be joining them and instead is staying home with his four children since there's no school.

Palumbo is prepared for the storm after boarding up one large window and stocking up on snack food. He's also got a freezer full of fish he's caught on dives and deer he's hunted on the island to last them through the storm.

"I don't have a generator, but I figure as things thaw out, if the electricity goes, we'll just get cooking," he said.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said she and her husband planned on boarding up their windows and sliding doors. She was 12 at the time of Hurricane Iniki.

"When it did happen, I just remember pandemonium. It was all-out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency moved several barges packed with food, water, generators and other supplies into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said.

Associated Press writers Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, Seth Borenstein in Washington and Annika Wolters in Phoenix contributed to this report.</s>Hurricane Lane’s outer bands have been pummeling Hawaii’s Big Island with torrential rain Thursday morning, triggering landslides and threatening serious flooding as the Category 4 cyclone moves perilously close to the Aloha State.

The center of the storm — which could become the first major cyclone to make landfall in the state in 26 years — is expected to move very close to the main islands or cross into land Thursday through Friday, forecasters said.

It could be so devastating that authorities are urging residents to set aside two weeks’ worth of food and water.

“Be prepared to shelter in place with 14 days of food supplies and water and any other necessities,” Hawaii Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The storm’s center, with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph, was in the Pacific about 210 miles south-southwest of the Big Island town of Kailua-Kona around 5 a.m. HT Thursday (11 a.m. ET).

Landslides are a concern, with 10-30 inches of rain forecast through the weekend — and slides already were happening on the Big Island as the storm’s outer bands hit Thursday morning.

On the Big Island’s northern tip, landslides were blocking parts of Route 19, the county civil defense agency said.

About 7 to 12 inches of rain already had fallen on parts of the Big Island by early Thursday, the National Weather Service office in Honolulu said.

Buses around Honolulu have been picking up residents in need and taking them to shelters. All public schools canceled classes until further notice, and many state employees have been asked to stay home.

Tropical storm force winds (39-73 mph) stretch out to 140 miles, so even if the hurricane doesn’t make landfall, it could have widespread impact. Lane threatens to bring dangerous winds, landslides, rough surf and major flooding.

All of the islands are under weather alerts.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island as well as Maui County and Oahu — meaning hurricane conditions are expected there. Kauai and Niihau are under a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions are possible and that winds of at least 39 mph are anticipated in the comings days.

Why is Hurricane Lane so rare?

The Central Pacific gets few hurricanes and tropical storms. The Atlantic or Eastern Pacific usually see many more named storms.

Hawaii is a small target in a vast ocean, and isn’t often threatened. Hawaii gets a named storm within 60 miles of its coastline about once every four years on average, forecasters say.

Lane could become a further rarity if its center crosses land. Only two hurricanes have made landfall in Hawaii since the 1950s: Hurricane Dot in 1959, and Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

People have been rushing to stores for supplies and are stocking up on canned foods, ramen, water and toilet paper.

Some were going for plywood to board their windows and for generators. Others have been filling up propane tanks and waiting in lines that circle around the block to get gas for their cars.

“(I’m) filling up my bathtub with some water, hoping to board up my main windows in time,” a shopper on the Big Island, Shana Bartolome, told CNN affiliate KHON on Tuesday.

Authorities are asking people to seek shelter before it’s too late or to stay in their homes if they believe those structures can withstand hurricane winds.

Many others are leaving. Long lines were seen at airports in Honolulu as hundreds of people tried to catch flights out of the islands before the storm comes closer.

The 15 airports throughout the state will remain open as long they don’t suffer damage to their infrastructure or the debris “makes flight operations unsafe,” the Hawaii Department of Transportation said in a statement.

President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii on Wednesday ahead of the storm.

In a statement announcing Trump’s approval, Gov. David Ige said Hawaii had submitted the request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to help with the impact the hurricane may have in the islands.

“The approval of the Presidential Disaster Declaration means that Hawai’i will have quick and efficient access to federal resources in the wake of Hurricane Lane, as our communities and residents recover from any damage and losses caused by the storm. We are grateful to the president and FEMA for the swift approval of our request as our state braces for the severe weather ahead,” the governor said.

What are experts saying?

Tropical-storm-force winds — 39-73 mph — and rain could be seen on portions of the Big Island and Maui County on Thursday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.

As Hurricane Lane’s outer bands approach the islands, steady and heavy rain could lead to major flash flooding. Most areas are expected to see 10 to 20 inches through Sunday, while some could get more than 30 inches.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near the center of Lane,” the hurricane center said.

The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

While the exact path of Lane remains uncertain, CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri says the storm could weaken as it nears the islands. Conditions could trigger a weakening of Lane in the coming days, but it would still be dangerous because it’s likely to remain a Category 1 cyclone.</s>HONOLULU -- Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping 12 inches (30 centimetres) of rain in as many hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches (76 centimetres) before the system passes. Bands of rain extended 350 miles (566 kilometres) from the hurricane's centre.

"Even though the eye is south of the Big Island, we are seeing excessive rainfall already affecting the islands," weather service meteorologist Gavin Shigesato said from Honolulu.

Tropical storm conditions, with winds of 73 mph (118 kph), were expected to reach the Big Island, Hawaii's easternmost major island, later Thursday morning, with hurricane conditions possible later in the day.

As of 2 a.m., the hurricane was 335 miles (540 kilometres) south of Honolulu and moving northwest. Maximum winds had weakened slightly to 130 mph, Shigesato said.

The storm was expected to turn to the north later Thursday and into Friday, with little change expected in forward speed. The centre could move close to or over portions of the main islands on Thursday or Friday. Then the storm will likely turn to the west Saturday and Sunday and pick up speed, forecasters said.

On Wednesday, the hurricane's speed slowed from 9 mph to 7 mph (15 kph to 11 kph), Shigesato said. A slower hurricane increases the threat of flash floods and landslides because of prolonged rainfall.

The arrival of the storm's outer bands made the threat seem more real.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

Shelters opened Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns that the main highway on the island's south coast could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

Authorities also warned that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64 kph) and that for most people they should be a "last resort."

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Lane is at Category 4, with winds from 130 to 156 mph (209 to 251 kph).

Melanie Davis, who lives in a Honolulu suburb, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and, of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder -- birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork -- and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests "just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week, and local government workers were told to stay home unless they are essential employees.

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may weaken to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes home -- he has all the power tools."

Puaoi was 12 at the time of Hurricane Iniki.

"When it did happen, I just remember pandemonium. It was all-out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and must stay put. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to co-ordinate disaster-relief efforts with the state.

Associated Press writers Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.</s>HONOLULU (Reuters) - Hurricane Lane, threatening a direct hit as Hawaii’s worst storm in a quarter century, on Thursday churned toward Oahu, the island with the largest population, as schools, government offices and business closed and residents stocked up on supplies and boarded up homes.

Packing sustained winds of up to 130 miles per hour (215 km per hour), Lane could dump as much as 20 inches of rain, triggering flash floods and landslides, the National Weather Service said.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu said in its latest advisory.

As of early Thursday, Lane was centered about 230 miles (370 km) south-southwest of Kailua-Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, the NWS said. It was classified as a powerful Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength.

The NWS said the storm weakened slightly overnight but excessive rainfall would affect the Hawaiian islands into the weekend, “leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.”

The center also warned of “very large and damaging surf” along exposed west- and south-facing shorelines.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii County. The islands of Kauai and Niihau remained on hurricane watch and could face similar conditions starting Friday morning.

Governor David Ige urged residents to take the threat seriously and prepare for the worst by setting aside a 14-day supply of water, food and medicines.

All public schools, University of Hawaii campuses and nonessential government offices on the islands of Oahu and Kauai will be closed for at least two days starting on Thursday, Ige said Wednesday. [nL2N1VD0RP]

The shelves of a downtown Honolulu Walmart were stripped of items ranging from canned tuna to dog food as well as bottled water and coolers full of ice after warnings of possible power outages.

“I went to Safeway last night for regular groceries. Everyone was in a panic,” said Thao Nguyen, 35, an employee at a Honolulu branch of Hawaiian shirt retailer Roberta Oaks.

Long lines of cars formed at gasoline stations in Honolulu and people pulled small boats from the water ahead of the expected storm surge. U.S. Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii were instructed to leave port, a common practice when a hurricane approaches to avoid damage.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for Hawaii and ordered federal authorities to help supplement state and local responses, the White House said on Thursday.

The most powerful hurricane on record to hit Hawaii was Category 4 Iniki, which made landfall on Kauai island on Sept. 11, 1992, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes.</s>HONOLULU — As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised those who not in flood zones to stay home.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a "last resort" and that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64 kph).

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at Category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156 mph (209 to 251 kph).

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder — birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork — and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests "just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may weaken to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

"We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands," Chevalier said. "That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane."

A look at the cone representing the possible tracks Hurricane Lane could take as it approaches Hawaii. The times are in Hawaii–Aleutian Standard Time. (Credit: NOAA)

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes home — he has all the power tools."

"When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands ad must stay put. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

President Donald J. Trump issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate disaster relief efforts with the state.

Associated Press journalists Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>HONOLULU, Hawaii – Stores were jam packed, lines were long at gas stations and trailers carrying generators could be seen on the highways. But most people in Honolulu were relatively calm about the possibility of the island being hit by the first hurricane since Hawaii attained statehood in 1959.

Pearl Ng had a shopping cart full of ramen noodles, bottled water and a box of Fig Newtons as she shopped at the Safeway store near downtown.

"I'm not really worried. But better safe than sorry. And if it doesn't happen, then we'll have these in the cupboard," she said.

As of Wednesday night, Hurricane Lane, with maximum sustained winds at 145 mph, was about 270 miles from the Big Island of Hawaii and moving on a northwesterly course to pass close to the islands Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters can’t yet say whether the core of the storm’s winds will make landfall. But even if it is not a direct hit, Lane is expected to bring high winds, heavy rains, possible flash flooding and mudslides. Some areas could get as much as 20 inches of rain, according to the weather service.

The onset of damaging tropical storm-force winds could come as early as Thursday morning on the island of Hawaii and by Thursday night on Oahu, with hurricane force-winds possible Friday, the weather service said. Tornadoes and large waterspouts are also possibilities.

At a nearby Longs Drugs, lines stretched far back into the aisles and the bottled water and canned food aisles were almost picked clean by 5 p.m. local time. Heads popped up as almost every cell phone in the store began emitting the ominous blat tone of an emergency warning that was automatically sent to everyone in the area that a Hurricane Warning was in effect.

"That's the first one I've got," Sophie Granger said as she put her goods on the checkout conveyor. She was not buying up water but had grabbed a few batteries "just in case," she said.

In the parking lot, Justin Pagba was delivering a room-sized generator for Longs. He skillfully maneuvered the large trailer into place under some trees where it would be accessible to the store.

His company, Golden Equipment Transport of Waipahu, west of Honolulu, has been working hard since the hurricane emerged as a threat. He's been delivering generators to Longs and CVS Pharmacy all day.

"We've set up five of these today and we've got another five scheduled for tomorrow," he said.

The generators are enough to run an entire large store for 10-15 hours, he said. "But it's just in case the power goes off," he said.

While state and county officials have been encouraging residents and visitors to prepare for the worst, many weren't all that concerned.

"It is what it is," said Leanne Day of Sydney, Australia. She and her husband have spent the last two weeks touring the Hawaiian islands and are scheduled to leave on Saturday.

"Or not," she said, laughing, as she and her husband picked up their rental car at the Honolulu airport.

"You can't control nature," Jeff Day said. "We get them in Australia, too. You just have to pay attention."

"Though he did call the hotel and make sure that the parking wasn't underground," said his wife. "We didn't know what the rental company would say if we had to call and say our car was underwater."

Carla Magallanes and her family arrived Wednesday night in Honolulu from Florida, where she and her daughter, Arianna, have been preparing to take part in a grueling sports obstacle competition called the Spartan Race.

"We're used to this, being from Florida," she said.

Though as they were arriving at the airport, race organizers had already cancelled events on Friday and Saturday due to the hurricane.

"Our race is on Saturday," she said, laughing.
Hurricane Lane causes flash flooding, and threatens a direct hit towards Hawaii as it passes through Oahu. Over 19 inches (48 cm) of rain has already fallen in some areas.