Flooding on Highway 11 in the Ka‘ū District on March 14, 2026. (Photo courtesy: Hawai‘i Department of Transportation)
Editor’s note: This page will be continuously updated throughout the day.
As of 6 p.m. on Monday, most parks across Hawaiʻi Island have reopened, though officials say damage assessments are ongoing at facilities across the island.
However, several sites remain closed, including all county beach parks in South Kohala and North Kona, Hale Hālāwai, Kona Community Aquatic Center, Waiʻōhinu Park, Harold H. Higashihara Park, and Mahukona Wharf.
Closures are due to debris cleanup and brown water advisories.
To help residents manage storm debris, the Department of Environmental Management has expanded green waste collection at several transfer stations through Saturday, April 4.
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New collection sites include Keauhou (daily) and Waiʻōhinu (Monday, Thursday, Saturday).
Existing sites in Keaʻau, Kealakehe, Waimea, and Pāhoa will now accept green waste seven days a week.
Other disposal options include the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility in Hilo (daily), the West Hawaiʻi Organics Facility at Puʻuanahulu (Monday-Saturday), the Volcano Transfer Station (Monday, Thursday, Saturday), and the Keʻei Transfer Station (Sunday, Tuesday, Friday).
Officials urge residents to follow posted schedules and safety advisories while clearing debris.
In a 5 p.m. press release, Hawaiian Electric said its crews are continuing efforts to restore power to about 5,700 customers on Hawaiʻi Island after the Kona storm brought down power lines, toppled trees, and caused flooding across the island.
Most outages are focused in Puna and Kona.
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Hawaiian Electric crews have been making progress in Keaʻau, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Volcano, South Point, and North and South Kohala. Damage assessment began Sunday in accessible areas of North Kona, South Point, and Puna, but restoration in the hardest hit locations has been slowed by numerous fallen trees, large branches, floodwaters, and downed power lines blocking roadways.
Hawaiian Electric warned residents to remain vigilant for scammers posing as utility representatives. The company said it will never request personal information or payment to restore service.
Customers seeking claim information should refer to Rule No. 16 from the Public Utilities Commission.
Restoration times remain uncertain as crews continue inspections and repairs. Officials also cautioned that while storm conditions have eased, unstable trees and branches could still fall, triggering new outages.
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Fallen trees, large branches and downed powerlines on roadways are slowing efforts to restore power in the hardest hit areas, according to Hawaiian Electric.
As of 1 p.m., 8,000 customers are without power, mostly in Puna and North Kona. Crews are continuing to work in Kea‘au, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Volcano, South Point, and North and South Kona.
Yesterday, 30 damaged or broken poles were identified and three transmission lines were repaired.
The State of Hawaii Department of Health has also issued a brown water advisory for all beaches in the South Kohala and North Kona districts of Hawaiʻi Island.
The County of Hawaiʻi has closed all county beach parks in South Kohala and North Kona districts, which includes Spencer Beach Park to Kahalu`u Beach Park.
For more information, visit the County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map.
The County of Hawaiʻi has returned to normal operations today, but the public should continue to exercise caution due to ongoing hazards from the Kona low storm.
“While peak storm impacts have passed, we are not out of the woods yet, so please continue to exercise caution,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “I want to give a special mahalo to our first responders and road crews who are working hard to keep our residents safe. Throughout this storm, our community has stepped up in a big way, and the support from our State, National Guard, and nonprofit partners has been critical to protecting life and property.”
Mayor Alameda added, “As we move toward the cleanup and recovery phase, be aware of hazards that may still be present, including downed power lines.”
Residents looking to dispose of green waste created by the storm may use the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility in Hilo, West Hawaiʻi Organics Facility at Puʻuanahulu or the following County transfer stations: Keaʻau, Waiʻōhinu, Keʻei, Kealakehe, Waimea, Volcano and Pāhoa. All solid waste facilities return to normal operations on Monday.
Bus services also will return to normal operations on Monday. Park facilities will reopen following the completion of damage assessments.
As the Kona low storm moves away from Hawai‘i, residents may be eager to start clean-up. Use caution to protect against continuing hazards and document the damage. Residents should contact their insurance agent and document damaged property with photos before beginning cleanup.
The reports will be used to assess impacts, prioritize response efforts and access recovery resources. If you are unable to fill out forms online, call Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031. Residents and businesses impacted by the storm may submit damage reports to Civil Defense at the following links:
To report agricultural damage, please contact the USDA Farm Service Agency at (808) 933-8381 Ext. 2.
The Hawaiʻi National Guard will continue to work with the counties and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency for any future requests for assistance.
On Saturday, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department personnel rescued 18 residents from flooded homes and stranded vehicles.
Late Saturday evening, the shelter at Nāʻālehu Community Center was relocated to Nāʻālehu Elementary School due to a flood channel overflowing. The Hawaiʻi Fire Department and Hawaiʻi Police Department personnel conducted voluntary evacuations of nearby residents.
Twenty-four civilians, including the six shelter occupants, were assisted by Hawaiʻi National Guard’s high-water vehicles.
As of 3 p.m. today, the Hawai‘i National Guard has as activated about 90 soldiers and airman to support all counties during the recent kona low storm.
The scene outside Volcano Art Center on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as a powerful kona low walloped Puna and Ka’u with excessive rainfall and flash flooding, which was still ongoing by 8:30 p.m. Saturday. (Photo Courtesy: Volcano Art Center Facebook page)
A tree felled in Kona during severe weather Saturday, March 14, 2026, because of a powerful kona low moving through the islands. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. National Weather Service Honolulu & Central Pacific Hurricane Center Facebook post/Shared by Julie Leydelmeyer)
Screenshot from Saturday, March 14, 2026, captured from a Kailua-Kona webcam. (Image Shared: Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association on Facebook)
Felled tree across Highway 190 near the 31-mile marker at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, on the Big Island. (Photo Shared: Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation on Facebook)
Whenever it storms like it did Saturday, March 14, because of a powerful kona low moving through the state, “Lake Kīlauea” makes an appearance in Volcano Village. (Photo Courtesy: Volcano Hideaways on Facebook)
Road closures
Kaʻalāiki Road (Cane Haul Road) between Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu closed in both directions due to flooding
Hāʻao Springs Road/Young Road in Waiʻōhinu is closed in both directions due to flooding
Highway 11 near mile marker 111.5 in Captain Cook is closed in one direction due to water main break
Highway 11 near mile markers 30 and 31 in Hāmākua is closed in both directions due to debris in the road
About 8,000 Hawaiian Electric customers on the Big Island were still without power as of 1 p.m. Monday, mostly in Puna and North Kona.
Hawaiian Electric continues work to restore around 12,540 customers who are without power across Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu and Maui County, however, weather conditions are continuing to slow restoration efforts.
Hawaiian Electric is not slowing its efforts and has nearly 350 crewmembers in the field working as quickly and safely as possible to complete inspections and make repairs.
The outage numbers above represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change as stated above. Customers can view current outages and report outages on the outage map at hawaiianelectric.com.
Water main break
Department of Water Supply customers in the Konawaena and Nāpōʻopoʻo areas are without water as crews work to repair a water main break in South Kona.
A Department of Water Supply water tanker is stationed on the makai side of the Kealakekua Ranch Center for public use during the interruption.
Water restriction
Water customers in North and South Kona, North Kohala, Pāhoa and Mountain View are asked to restrict water use to essential needs — and everyone on the island to conserve water — only because of possible prolonged power outages.
The department relies on Hawaiian Electric to power its wells and booster pumps for water distribution, an extended power outage could deplete portions of the department’s water systems and leave customers with low pressure or no water at all.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Storm impacts caused Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to remain closed on Monday, March 16. With power and communications still out, the park will likely be closed through Tuesday, March 17.
Park staff continue to assess damage and are working to clear roadways and trails. Overnight guests of Kilauea Military Camp and Volcano House may enter the park and shelter in place.
Stay informed
Hawaiʻi County will provide updates as conditions evolve. Residents can receive emergency notifications by signing up for Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense alerts.
View the Hawaiʻi County Hazard Impact Map for additional weather-related information.
Stay updated about weather by visiting the Big Island Now weather page and the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.
Screenshot of Hawaiʻi County Hazard Impact Map from Monday, March 16, 2026.