HURRICANE NOLO APPROACHES HAWAII AS TRUMP DECLARES EMERGENCY

Hurricane Nolo was moving slowly south of Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 105mph, forecasters said. Its centre lay about 145 miles south of the island's southernmost point and could strengthen into what forecasters called a potentially life-threatening and catastrophic storm through the weekend. Forecasters warned of flash flooding, mudslides and extreme surf, with parts of the Big Island expected to see up to 20 inches of rain. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Centre, urged people to avoid the "dangerous flooding environment" and high winds, warning that trees and power lines could come down.

Parts of the Big Island are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which struck in August with winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations. The relief group Community Organised Relief Effort, known as CORE, spent the week shipping camp stoves, hygiene products and other supplies by air cargo from Oahu to a relief hub on the Big Island set up since Lala. Hawaiian Electric said crews restoring power in Kauai after Hurricane Lowell had returned to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island ahead of Nolo. Hawaii's governor activated hundreds of Hawaii National Guard members, and officials told residents to prepare emergency kits.

President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Hawaii on Friday, authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate federal assistance and funding for emergency measures. Big Island county officials urged residents in flood-prone areas to consider moving to shelters being set up across the island. Hawaii had already faced Hurricane Lowell, which affected Kauai, and August's Hurricane Lala this year. Forecasters said they would continue monitoring Nolo's potential to intensify over the weekend.