National Hurricane Center says environmental conditions are favorable for that system to develop into a tropical depression or storm as early as today as it moves west-northwest and crosses into the Central Pacific, toward the islands.<\/p>\n
Residents and other stakeholders in Hawai\u2019i should closely monitor the progress of this system, and while it is too early to determine the track, intensity, magnitude or potential impact of what is now known as Invest 90E, Big Island residents should \u2014 for the second time in less than 2 weeks \u2014 prepare for a possible tropical cyclone and severe weather.<\/p>\n
Invest 90E will be named once it reaches tropical storm strength of winds 39 mph or greater.<\/p>\n
If that happens in the Central Pacific, it will be named \u201cMoke,\u201d a commonly used direct equivalent to the name \u201cMoses\u201d in historical Hawaiian records and family genealogies. If it forms while still in the East Pacific, it would mean the return of \u201cIselle\u201d \u2014 the same name of the hurricane\/tropical storm that devastated portions of the Big Island in August 2014.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, relief efforts continue following destruction on the Big Island caused by Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n
Here is what you need to know Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Help from Washington<\/p>\n U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawai\u02bbi Democrat, announced Wednesday that U.S. Department of Transportation approved an initial $6 million in emergency relief \u201cquick release\u201d funds to help Hawai\u02bbi repair transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n Updates from Hawai\u02bbi County<\/p>\n Monitoring tropical disturbance<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Civil Defense and National Weather Service are closely monitoring the tropical disturbance southeast of the islands that could develop into something more serious. They also urge residents to prepare now, especially since recovery continues from Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n 9-1-1 for emergencies only<\/p>\n If you are in a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1. For all other storm-related needs, go online and fill out a request for assistance<\/a> or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.<\/p>\n Donations<\/p>\n Anyone who wants to supply donations can text or call Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s donation line at 802-365-1808. Anyone who wants to make monetary donations can click here<\/a> to visit the Hawai\u02bbi Island Strong Fund web page on the Hawai\u02bbi Community Foundation website. The fund was established to support Big Island relief efforts.<\/p>\n Medical doctors availability<\/p>\n Medical doctors will be available from 2 to 6 p.m. Aug. 20 in the N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Elementary School gymnasium.<\/p>\n Public Safety<\/p>\n Fire, police and National Guard personnel continue to conduct welfare and accountability checks in affected areas. This will continue until everyone is accounted for.<\/p>\n Infrastructure<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric and State Highways along with county departments of Public Works and Water Supply continue emergency repairs and debris removal.<\/p>\n A task force is using all available resources to take care of the remains from Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu and N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu cemeteries. All cultural protocols will be observed during this process.<\/p>\n County water service<\/p>\n A precautionary boil water notice<\/a> for tap water was issued Wednesday by Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Water Supply for its Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu-N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu customers after the department began pumping its N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu well with an emergency generator, with a very limited portion of waterlines to have water.<\/p>\n Water also was restored to P\u0101hala; however, as a precaution, residents are asked to boil water<\/a> before use.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Water Supply continues to work closely with Hawaiian Electric to restore normal power to impacted water facilities.<\/p>\n Customers in the areas still not restored continue to be asked to use water for essential uses only, including drinking, cooking or personal hygiene, until power can be fully restored.<\/p>\n Potable water tankers or temporary spigots are available for customers at the following locations:<\/p>\n Kalapana: Near intersection of Chain of Craters Road and \u02bb\u0100hia Road.<\/p>\n P\u0101pa\u02bbikou: Spigots located mauka\/H\u0101m\u0101kua side of Highway 19, across from Kimura General Store.<\/p>\n Kaloko Mauka: Spigots located at Kaloko Mauka tank No. 2 below Hao Street.<\/p>\n N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu: Parking area across from Ace Hardware.<\/p>\n Potable water spigots in Ocean View also are back online and safe for domestic use.<\/p>\n Limit usage to essential potable needs only.<\/p>\n A map of permanent water spigots can be found at the Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Water Supply website<\/a> under the \u201cCommunity\u201d drop down menu.<\/p>\n Call 808-961-8790 for emergencies.<\/p>\n Damage assessments<\/p>\n Initial damage assessments began Tuesday and will continue Wednesday. You can submit a damage report at the Hawai\u2018i County Civil Defense website<\/a> or by calling Civil Defense at 935-0031.<\/p>\n Visit the Hawai\u2018i County Hazard Impact Map<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n Other updates<\/p>\n An emergency shelter at N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Elementary School gym remains open.<\/p>\n Numerous county parks and facilities continue to be affected by power outages and storm damage. As a result, some will remain closed as of Wednesday and possibly longer. Click here<\/a> for park closure information.<\/p>\n Pana\u02bbewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens as well as Hilo Municipal Golf Course will be open Wednesday for normal operations.<\/p>\n All Hele-on bus routes, except Routes 10, 12 and 90, resumed Tuesday.<\/p>\n County transfer stations and landfills have reopened. P\u0101hala transfer station will reopen Wednesday. Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu transfer station will reopen following completion of cleanup.<\/p>\n The community informational meeting scheduled for Aug. 20 about the planned closures of large capacity cesspools in P\u0101hala and N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu is postponed because of the effects of Hurricane Lala. A new meeting date will be announced at a later date.<\/p>\n County officials urge the public to continue avoiding any unnecessary travel into Ka\u02bb\u016b to help quicken emergency response.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Island: Hawaiian Electric reported in an 8 p.m. Wednesday update that about 78% of impacted customers on the Big Island have been restored.<\/p>\n Crews on Wednesday restored about 2,600 customers in sections of Puna, North and South Kohala, North and South Hilo and H\u0101m\u0101kua. About 14,400 remain without power, with most continuing outages still in the Puna, North and South Kona, North and South Kohala, H\u0101m\u0101kua, North and South Hilo and Ka\u2018\u016b areas.<\/p>\n Crews continue to make repairs and restore power where possible, prioritizing critical facilities followed by neighborhoods. <\/p>\n However, new storm could delay ongoing restoration efforts. The potential storm is forecast to follow a similar path as Lala and could impact the state as early as this weekend.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric urges customers to review emergency plans, ensure they have supplies on hand and closely monitor weather updates.<\/p>\n Preparation and safety tips are available on the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a>. Detailed tips also can be found in our Handbook for Emergency Preparedness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Misinformation about filing claims<\/p>\n There is a lot of misinformation circulating about filing a claim after a power outage.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric is not liable for losses<\/a> \u201ccaused by accident, storm, fire, strikes, riots, war, public safety power shutoff or any cause not within the company\u2019s control through the exercise of reasonable diligence and care.\u201d<\/p>\n Losses not covered include, but are not limited to, food spoilage and medication that requires refrigeration, etc.<\/p>\n More information about filing damage claims can be found on the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Customers can call Hawaiian Electric\u2019s Big Island Trouble Line at 1-855-304-9191 to report any downed power lines, which should always be treated as energized and dangerous. Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.<\/p>\n Customers also can sign up to receive emergency outage alerts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Public schools<\/p>\n N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Elementary, Ka\u02bb\u016b High and P\u0101hala Elementary will be closed through at least Thursday as assessments continue.<\/p>\n Updates are being posted online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Public libraries<\/p>\n The following Big Island public libraries remain closed: Laup\u0101hoehoe, N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu and P\u0101hala.<\/p>\n Patrons are encouraged to check the schedule at their local library and the Hawai\u02bbi State Public Library System website<\/a>\u00a0regularly for the latest updates.<\/p>\n All of the state\u2019s public libraries also will be closed Aug. 21 in observance of Statehood Day.<\/p>\n Brown water advisory<\/p>\n A statewide brown water advisory remains in effect, as waters around the islands could contain higher than normal pollutant levels because of heavy rainfall during Hurricane\/Tropical Storm Lala.<\/p>\n State health officials advise the public to avoid swimming, wading in or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the leptospira bacteria.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Department of Health also recommends staying out of affected waters for 48 to 72 hours after the rain stopped and the beach received full sunshine. Remember: If the water is brown, turn around.<\/p>\n For more information and updates, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To report damage or if you need help?<\/p>\n If you sustained damage or, if you and your household are in need of help, as a result of Hurricane Lala, Civil Defense has a damage report and a Request for Assistance reporting portal on the County of Hawaii website or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031<\/p>\n Residents in need of immediate assistance \u2014 such as food, clothing, debris removal, or shelter \u2014 from a coalition of nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies can complete a request for assistance form. <\/p>\n Click here to request other assistance<\/a>.<\/p>\n Transfer stations and landfills<\/p>\n County transfer stations and landfills are open, except those in P\u0101hala, Wai\u2018\u014dhinu and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, which are inaccessible.<\/p>\n To assist cleanup efforts, transfer stations in Waimea, Kealakehe and Keauhou are accepting green waste daily this week.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park closures<\/p>\n Restrooms at U\u0113kahuna are not working.\u00a0The Welcome Center and Hawai\u02bbi Pacific Parks Association are open, but with limited hours.<\/p>\n Crater Rim Trail West and Steam Vents are open. Park rangers and staff continue to assess trails, roads and other park destinations that will reopen when deemed safe.<\/p>\n Park campgrounds and the backcountry remain closed.\u00a0Volcano Art Center Gallery is closed. Visitors should expect very limited services. They also are advised to take their safety seriously. Stay alert, heed all closures and posted warnings and do not enter areas that appear unsafe.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7K2A0355-copy-1024x736.jpg\")
<\/a>Utility lines are down along Highway 11 from Mountain View to Volcano in the aftermath of Hurricane Lala on Aug. 16, 2026. (Kelsey Walling\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n![\"Headstones](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lala-Recovery-33-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/a>Headstones from the N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Cemetery were found washed down the road into people\u2019s properties on Aug. 17, 2026, after Hurricane Lala. (Tiffany DeMasters\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hawaii_estimated_restore_map-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtesy Map: Hawaiian Electric<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Konawaena-2-1024x586.jpg\")
<\/a>Konawaena High School and all other Hawai\u02bbi Island public schools will be closed Monday. (Video screenshot: Hawai\u2018i Department of Education)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7K2A0214-copy-1024x710.jpg\")
<\/a>Crews work to clear huge trees that have fallen on Highway 11 near the Pi\u02bbikea Bridge north of Pahala on Aug. 16, 2026. (Kelsey Walling\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n![\"Nahuku](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nahuku-lava-tube-bridge-replacement-project-to-begin-4-19-26-BIN-feature-pic-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>N\u0101huku lava tube and other parts of the Hawaiian Volcano National Park will be closed, starting noon on Aug. 14 in preparation for Tropical Storm Lala. (File photo)<\/p>\n
K\u012blauea Military Camp is offering limited services to authorized patrons. Volcano House is closed to the public, but open to registered guests.<\/p>\n