(BIVN) – The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Coastal Hazard Message for the Hawaiian Islands, warning of isolated minor coastal flooding in the coming days. 

The Coastal Flood Statement says impacts include “flooding of beaches that are normally dry, minor coastal erosion, and saltwater inundation of low-lying roads, docks, boat ramps, and other coastal infrastructure,” in vulnerable low-lying coastal areas on all islands. 

The National Weather Service explained the reason for the coastal flooding in a Thursday statement:

Two significant northwest swells are expected to impact the state over the next few days. The first moderate to large, long period northwest swell will peak overnight tonight into early morning Friday. The second overlapping, larger, long period northwest swell will build in on Friday and peak late Friday into Saturday before subsiding through the rest of the weekend. The first swell will produce High Surf Advisory (HSA) conditions tonight for north and west facing shores of Niʻihau, Kauai and Oʻahu. The peak of the second will push surf height above warning levels from late Friday through Saturday for the same northwest islands, expect the HSA to expand in coverage to the islands of Molokai, Maui and west facing shores of the Big Island by Friday. A combination of large surf and higher than predicted water levels will lead to flooding of beaches that typically remain dry, especially at and around the peak daily tide.

The minor flooding will occur at and around the daily peak tides, and will be possible through the overnight and early morning hours of Friday, through Monday. 

The Hawaii Army National Guard on Wednesday unveiled a memorial to honor the Hawaii-born soldiers who were on the U.S. Army Transport Royal T. Frank when it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on Jan. 28, 1942, in waters off North Kohala.

Family members of those soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment, were in attendance at the Keaukaha Military Reservation in Hilo to observe the unveiling of the memorial.

According to an account in the National Archives, the Royal T. Frank’s final voyage occurred in a particularly tense time period in Hawaii. Japanese submarines were active in Hawaiian waters and had already sunk three ships.

A submarine had also surfaced to shell Maui’s Kahului Harbor, and others had fired at Hilo and Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. As a precaution, on its final voyage, the Royal T. Frank was part of a three-ship convoy that included a Navy destroyer.

Aboard the Frank were 26 soldiers from Hawaii Island who had just completed boot camp at Schofield Barracks on Oahu.

According to declassified government documents, a Japanese submarine fired on the transport just after 7 o’clock on the morning of Jan. 28, 1942, an estimated 30 miles north of Upolu Point in the Alenuihaha Channel. Two earlier torpedoes had missed.

An official account given by one of the ship’s officers and published in mainland newspapers (which were not subject to Hawaii’s martial law), states that the third torpedo had moved deceptively slowly prior to impact.

“I saw a torpedo coming straight at us. It veered as it approached. It appeared to be moving very slowly and seemed to be running down. It struck opposite the starboard boiler. There was a terrific explosion. As soon as I had seen the wake (of the torpedo), I ran forward shouting ‘torpedo!’” said the unnamed officer in an official account released by U.S. Army authorities and reported by the New York Times on Feb. 11, 1942.

Those below deck were killed by the initial explosion. Above deck, shrapnel killed the ship’s captain and others, and the vessel sank in less than a minute.

According to the National Archives account, of the 60 people aboard the Frank, only 36 survived. Survivors of the explosion included nine of the Hawaii Island soldiers who had been above deck and 27 crew members. Some were thrown into the water, and others jumped in afterwards.

Covered in oil, the survivors spent hours in the ocean, many clinging to whatever debris they could, before they were picked up by the ammunition barge that had been the actual target of the Japanese submarine.

The nine Hawaii Island soldiers, all privates, who survived the attack were George Taketa, Yoshio Ogomori, John R. Souza, Takimaru Takamoto, Shizuo Toma, Shigeru Ushijima, Haruo Yarnashita, Susuma Yoshioka and Tsutomu “Mac” Wakimoto. They would become known as the “Torpedo Gang.”

Fourteen Hawaii Island soldiers and three from Oahu were killed in the attack. All were privates.

The 14 Hawaii Island men were: lwao Nakamura, Yoshito Nii, Larry M. Oku, Reginald M. Osato, John Perreira, John S. Rodrigues, Raymond H. Shirakawa, Yeishun A. Soken, Bushichi Tani, Pemal C. Torrijos, Alfred Veriato, Torao Yamamizu, Albert H. Yano and Yonezo Yonemura.

The three Oahu men were Shoii Okido, Shinichi Shigi and Hook Y. Young.

A Hawaii-based chef was among those killed in a crash involving a private jet chartered by a Houston-based personal injury law firm in Bangor, Maine.

Nick Mastrascusa was aboard the Bombardier Challenger 600 that flipped over and burst into flames Sunday evening while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport amid a major winter storm, according to a GoFundMe established by his family. The jet, registered to law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP, had stopped in Bangor to refuel after departing Houston and was bound for Paris, France.

Mastrascusa is one of four victims who have been publicly identified. Previously identified were Tara Arnold, a 46-year-old Houston attorney and wife of Arnold & Itkin co-founder Kurt Arnold; Jacob Hosmer, 47, a Houston-area pilot; and Shawna Collins, a Texas-based event planner. Four passengers and two crew members were reportedly on board.

“Nick touched the lives of so many in our community through his kindness, dedication, generosity and friendship,” the GoFundMe reads. “As we grieve this unimaginable loss, our hearts are with the Mastrascusa family and all who knew and loved Nick.”

Investigators say the jet crashed under unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff Sunday night amid snowy, icy conditions from an approaching winter storm, coming to rest upside down and catching fire. The National Transportation Safety Board is examining whether ice buildup contributed; the law firm said none of its partners were aboard and has not identified all passengers.

Mastrascusa was an award-winning chef and sommelier who worked at luxury hotels, resorts and private clubs, according to his professional biography. Most recently, he served as executive chef and director of food and beverage at Discovery Land’s Kūki‘o Golf and Beach Club in Hawaii, overseeing three restaurants and a wine program.

Previously, Mastrascusa trained at Johnson & Wales University and the Culinary Institute of America, launching his career at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla., before rising to executive banquet chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach.

Mastrascusa is survived by his wife, Natalia, and three children — Analani, Mateo and Noah. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser had raised more than $125,000 to help support the family’s immediate and long-term needs.