Hurricane warning downgraded for Hawaii's Big Island

HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Forecasters on Wednesday downgraded Hurricane Madeline to a tropical storm as it veered past Hawaii's Big Island, but officials reiterated warnings to prepare for heavy rain and strong winds.

The developments came as merchants boarded up shop windows along Hilo Bay and shoppers snatched supplies of food and water from grocery store shelves after initially being told the island could be hit by its first hurricane in a quarter-century.

"Hopefully our roofs stay on, and our houses don't float way or get blown away," Big Island resident Mitzi Bettencourt said as she covered walls of glass windows while the island was under the hurricane warning.

In Hawaii, Peggy Beckett, a retiree and beekeeper, stopped at a Hilo supermarket to pick up onion bagels, cheese, cold cuts and salad to add to her canned food at home.

The Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe were under a tropical storm watch, but there were no alerts for Oahu or Kauai.