An aerial assessment of the flood-ravaged forest lands on Kauai has yielded some interesting results, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 
 
 An aerial assessment of the flood-ravaged forest lands on Kauai has yielded some interesting results, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 
 
 A San Diego family caught in the deluge of historic Kauai flooding this weekend was able to make their way to safety with the help of a legendary waterman who knows his way around Garden Isle waters. 
 
 The record 27 inches of rain that fell on Kauai in just 24 hours stranded the Gwilliam family on their last day of their vacation. 
 
 "We tried not to let the kids see, but I was terrified," Erin Gwilliam said. 
 
 “It was kind of like scary, and I just wanted to go home,” added her daughter, Elin. 
 
 In the middle of the flooding and mudslides came help from an unexpected nearby resident: famed big wave surfer Laird Hamilton, who swooped in to save the stranded vacationers that were staying just across the river from his home. 
 
 The Gwilliams had rented a house along the river, but when the rain flooded the river past its banks and washed out a nearby bridge and surrounding roads, the Gwilliams with only one way out of the North Shore. 
 
 Hamilton, the pioneering leader of big wave tow-in surfing – where a person uses a personal watercraft to catch giant waves – came to the rescue. 
 
 "He just kind of boated right up and was like, 'OK, come through the mud and the slime and come throw your bags in and let's go,'" Erin said. 
 
 Hamilton's big wave reputation is well documented, but the Gwilliams got to know his good nature first hand. The family says Hamilton comforted the Gwilliam kids during the ferry ride, and they took many pictures and videos along the way. 
 
 "Now it just confirms him as being a total legend in my book," Jamas said. 
 
 Turns out, it wasn't just the Gwilliams that Hamilton managed to ferry off the North Shore. He spent the entire day Saturday helping stranded visitors. 
 
 Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now, NBCUniversal Media, All rights reserved. 

 A record 28 inches of rain has fallen on Kauai, Hawaii causing flash flooding and landslides leading the U.S. Army and National Guard to airlift over 220 people to safety on Monday after the rains subsided.According to AccuWeather, dozens of people were briefly stranded without food at a Red Cross shelter on Sunday due to flooding. Several homes and roads have been completely destroyed.Most of the rain fell in just 24 hours from 2 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, leading water levels to rise 5-8 feet above the average level along the north shore of the island. 

 Water and supplies are seen aboard a U.S. Army CH-47 Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Princeville, Kauai. Rescue and relief operations commenced in the morning from Princeville Airport for people still stranded... (Associated Press) 
 
 Water and supplies are seen aboard a U.S. Army CH-47 Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Princeville, Kauai. Rescue and relief operations commenced in the morning from Princeville Airport for people still stranded in Haena, Wainiha, and other parts of north Kauai. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP) (Associated Press) 
 
 HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on severe flooding that hit Hawaii's Kauai Island (all times local): 
 
 4:30 p.m. 
 
 Hawaii lawmakers are appropriating $125 million to help with flood relief efforts on Kauai and elsewhere in the state. 
 
 House and Senate leaders said Wednesday the money would support road, bridge and infrastructure repairs. 
 
 Kauai will receive $100 million of the money. The remainder will go to sites statewide. 
 
 House Finance Committee Chairwoman Rep. Sylvia Luke says the state and counties are assessing the damage. But she says it's important to supply the immediate cash infusion to support the people of Kauai. 
 
 The funds will be allotted to the state Department of Defense budget for this fiscal year. 
 
 At least 2 feet (71 centimeters) of rain dumped on Hanalei on Kauai's north shore during a 24-hour period over the weekend. 
 
 ___ 
 
 10 a.m. 
 
 Kauai residents struggling with the aftermath of torrential rains are bracing for the possibility of more flooding. 
 
 The National Weather Service says a flash flood watch is in effect for the Hawaiian island starting Thursday. 
 
 Mayor Bernard Carvalho says officials will be keeping a close eye on the weather. 
 
 At least 2 feet (71 centimeters) of rain dumped on Hanalei on Kauai's north shore during a 24-hour period over the weekend. The rain left people stranded in a shelter that became surrounded by water, homes damaged or washed off foundations and landslides along roadways. 
 
 Since Monday, military and county emergency workers have airlifted more than 340 people from the isolated north shore towns of Haena and Wainiha. Evacuations are ongoing. 
 
 Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Sunday declared Kauai a disaster. 

 What was supposed to be a fun gathering of friends along Kauai's Na Pali Coast turned into an adrenaline-pumping fight for life as the island endured historic amounts of rain and flooding over the weekend. 
 
 What was supposed to be a fun gathering of friends along Kauai's Na Pali Coast turned into an adrenaline-pumping fight for life as the island endured historic amounts of rain and flooding over the weekend. 
 
 For hikers on the Na Pali Coast, floods were like an 'apocalyptic moment' 
 
 For hikers on the Na Pali Coast, floods were like an 'apocalyptic moment' 
 
 On Saturday, the storm targeted Kauai, where floodwaters and quick-moving mudslides destroyed homes, officials said. 
 
 On Saturday, the storm targeted Kauai, where floodwaters and quick-moving mudslides destroyed homes, officials said. 
 
 Kauai residents grappling with devastating floods and landslides are getting some tax relief. 
 
 Kauai residents grappling with devastating floods and landslides are getting some tax relief. 
 
 An aerial assessment of the flood-ravaged forest lands on Kauai has yielded some interesting results, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 
 
 An aerial assessment of the flood-ravaged forest lands on Kauai has yielded some interesting results, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 
 
 Kauai police and prosecutors are investigating multiple complaints from people who say they were rescued during the island’s historic rain and flood event over the weekend — only to be extorted for money by those who they thought were simply good Samaritans. 
 
 Kauai police and prosecutors are investigating multiple complaints from people who say they were rescued during the island’s historic rain and flood event over the weekend — only to be extorted for money by those who they thought were simply good Samaritans. 
 
 Four days after historic flooding on Kauai, Red Cross and county assessment teams are still trying to get a scope of the disaster, traversing into communities cut off by mudslides and devastated by floodwaters that ripped homes from foundations and washed away roads. 
 
 An aerial survey conducted Wednesday of state-owned lands showed that the damage in some areas was much worse than previously thought. 
 
 Meanwhile, clean-up and recovery efforts continue alongside a push to ensure that flood victims in the hardest hit areas have access to the basics — bottled water, food, and a ride out on a helicopter if they want it. 
 
 On Thursday, power was cut to all of Kauai for several hours as crews made repairs to a transmission repair. Power was restored by 10 a.m., and crews were also able to replace two or three downed poles Wednesday near the Waikoko landslides, restoring power to hard-hit areas in Wainiha and Haena. 
 
 County officials were also able to lift a "do not drink" advisory for some areas of Kauai, but residents along a portion of Kuhio Highway in Haena are still being told they shouldn't drink or cook with tap water. 
 
 And Education Department officials are hopeful they'll be able to reopen Hanalei Elementary by Monday. The school has been closed for repairs. 
 
 Though life is slowly returning to normal in some spots, Kauai leaders continue to stress that the road to recovery will be a long one — and that simply reopening Kuhio Highway could take weeks. 
 
 Meanwhile, forecasters say another round of wet weather is set to move in starting Thursday. And while Kauai isn't expected to get the brunt of the heavy rains, they say that even moderate showers in flood-ravaged areas could trigger big problems. 
 
 “While this system isn’t expected to be as severe as the last one, we will be keeping a close eye on the weather and make the necessary adjustments to keep all our people and visitors safe,” Mayor Bernard Carvalho said, in a news release. 
 
 Since Monday, upwards of 500 people have been rescued from devastated communities on Kauai's north shore, some of whom escaped rising floodwaters by climbing to their rooftops. Over 446 people were airlifted to safety, and crews plan to resume rescue efforts on Thursday. 
 
 The push to get supplies to those who need it is also ongoing. 
 
 Government agencies and volunteers have come out in force to deliver pallets of water, canned goods, toilet paper, even blankets and clothes to those in communities cut off by severe damage to major roadways. 
 
 State and county officials say landslides that continue to block Kuhio Highway make it impossible to predict when evacuees might be able to return home. 
 
 The state Transportation Department said there's no timeline for repairs to the highway, and some think it could take months. Two areas of the road are severely damaged in Waikoko and Wainiha. The state confirms six minor and six large landslides. 
 
 “We’re going to have people stranded across the river in Wainiha probably closer to a month — so this is not going to end," said Kauai Councilman Mel Rapozo. "They’re going to need food and water and supplies." 
 
 The torrential rains that hit Kauai over the weekend and into Monday have been called unprecedented, and many were unprepared for the flooding that followed. 
 
 "People were stuck and the door, you couldn't push open because the water was right there," said Ehukai Gois-Mederios, describing the flooding in Koloa. "And water was already in their house. So we had to open screens, we had to open back doors, we had to do whatever we could to get them out." 
 
 Now, as the floodwaters recede, residents are coming to terms with the damage. Some have lost everything. 
 
 "There's a lot of stuff that we didn't pay off yet and everything's totaled," Koloa resident Qiana Quinn said, through tears. 
 
 MORE COVERAGE: 
 
 ► Police investigate claims 'rescuers' demanded money from Kauai flood victims 
 
 ► Legendary surfer Laird Hamilton among those who came to rescue on Kauai 
 
 ► Take a look at the landslides blocking north shore families on Kauai 
 
 ► What you can do: How to help Kauai flood victims 
 
 ► PHOTOS: Widespread flooding destroys homes, closes roads on Kauai 
 
 But flood victims are being buoyed by the help of friends, community members — and complete strangers. 
 
 Ekolu Chong doesn't know anyone in Koloa, but wanted to drop off dumpster bins to help. "Why not? I mean look at these guys," he said. "They no more one house right now. They cannot sleep in their house. So speed up the process to get damaged goods out to get new stuff in." 
 
 In Kalaheo, kumu Hula Leina’ala Pavao-Jardin organized a community donation drive two nights in a row. She said it’s a perfect example of the Kauai spirit coming through. 
 
 “Kauai is full of aloha,” Pavao-Jardin said. "Last night, the donations that came in were beyond anything we ever expected, and then again today. Just spectacular our people.” 
 
 And thousands of people have donated money to a number of funds aimed at getting help to those who need it. Among them: Facebook founder (and part-time Kauai resident) Mark Zuckerberg, who pledged $1 million for storm recovery. 
 
 For a full list of ways to donate and get involved, click here. 
 
 This story will be updated. 
 
 Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
– Kauai was hit with historic flooding over the weekend—a record 28 inches of rain fell in just about 24 hours—but a legendary surfer was there to save the day for many who were stranded. Laird Hamilton, who pioneered the art of big wave tow-in surfing, spent Saturday helping people caught in the downpour and ensuing mudslides, including one San Diego family that was on the island for a vacation. The Gwilliams were stuck in their rented house along a river, which flooded its banks and washed out surrounding roads and a bridge. "I was terrified," mom Erin Gwilliam tells Hawaii News Now. That's when Hamilton, who lives across the river, showed up in a boat with his daughter and their dog. "He just kind of boated right up and was like, 'OK, come through the mud and the slime and come throw your bags in and let's go,'" Erin says. He reassured their kids and took photos and videos with the family as he ferried them off the North Shore. "Now it just confirms him as being a total legend in my book," says dad Jamas. Meanwhile, evacuations are still ongoing; more than 340 people have been airlifted to safety so far. And the crisis may not be over yet: The AP reports a flash flood warning is in effect starting Thursday. Hawaii News Now reports that power to Wainiha and Haena was cut Thursday so repairs can be made to a transmission line as crews work to restore full power service. It could be weeks before some roads reopen. (This weekend was not Hamilton's first brush with heroism.)