Lester Passes by Hawaii After Downgrade

HONOLULU (AP) -- Lester has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it churns away from Hawaii.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says no coastal watches or warnings are in effect Sunday. The storm had been a hurricane and was the second to threaten the islands in a week.

Hurricane Madeline headed toward the Big Island earlier in the week but was downgraded to a tropical storm and passed without causing major damage. The same happened with Lester.

The storm is about 225 miles north-northwest of Honolulu and moving northwest. Residents and tourists flocked to beaches this weekend to watch large waves whipped up by the storm.

Officials said they hadn't heard of mass trip cancellations or other major effects to the tourism industry.

(KA)