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<\/a>A portion of Highway 11 in front of Ka\u02bb\u016b Hospital in P\u0101hala collapsed during Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\nThe request covers Hawai\u02bbi County, Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu. It seeks immediate federal assistance to protect public health and safety as well as maintain essential services and support communities still recovering as Tropical Storm Moke approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cHurricane Lala caused severe damage across our state and placed an extraordinary strain on communities already recovering from previous disasters,\u201d said Green in a release from his office. \u201cI have been in direct contact with the White House and cabinet officials, including Homeland Security Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin, to advocate for the urgent assistance Hawai\u02bbi needs. We are asking for specialized federal resources to protect our communities, care for our people and keep essential services operating while another storm approaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
The state is requesting federal emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance, including:<\/p>\n
Deployment of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team personnel and other specialists to assist with the recovery, identification, documentation and reinterment of human remains.<\/p>\n
Large-capacity emergency generators and federal technical and logistical support for critical facilities and essential services.<\/p>\n
Federal experts and equipment to establish microgrids or comparable interim power systems until permanent electrical service is restored.<\/p>\n
The request notes that state and county personnel conducted search-and-rescue operations, opened shelters, cleared debris, restored emergency access, assessed infrastructure and coordinated with nonprofit, utility and private-sector partners.<\/p>\n
Hawai\u02bbi is also continuing recovery work related to the kona low storms in March and the magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck the Kona region in May. Those successive disasters, combined with Lala and approaching Tropical Storm Moke, place additional demands on state and county personnel, equipment and financial resources.<\/p>\n
The signed emergency declaration can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Updates from Hawai\u02bbi County<\/p>\n Flood waters<\/p>\n Health officials ask all residents of Hawai\u02bbi Island to stay out of flood waters and all standing water, as they pose a possible health threat.<\/p>\n Disaster Relief<\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i County Civil Defense Human Services branch is coordinating with Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi and other community partners to distribute supplies at points of distribution in locations around the island.<\/p>\n Visit the Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi website<\/a> for locations and hours.<\/p>\n Additional disaster relief updates<\/p>\n Hot showers: Available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Ka\u02bb\u016b District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., P\u0101hala. Bring your own towel and hygiene products.<\/p>\n Device charging locations:<\/p>\n Sgt. Rodney J.T. Yano Memorial Hall, 82-6156 M\u0101malahoa Highway, Captain Cook.<\/p>\n Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Ka\u02bb\u016b District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., P\u0101hala.<\/p>\n N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Hongwanji,\u00a095-5695 M\u0101malahoa Highway, N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu.<\/p>\n Water service<\/p>\n Water service was restored to parts of N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu. Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Water Supply advises residents in N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu and Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu to boil water used for drinking or cooking purposes until further notice.<\/p>\n Water service was restored to P\u0101hala.<\/p>\n Water tankers are located at Old Island Market in N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu and the Discovery Harbour Community Center. A 400-gallon water buffalo also is available at Peck Road in Volcano.<\/p>\n Roads update<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Public Works restored access to Green Sands and Wood Valley Access Road is open in Ka\u02bb\u016b.<\/p>\n Public Works continues work to restore Cane Haul Road in Ka\u02bb\u016b.<\/p>\n For an updated list of road closures, visit the Hawai\u02bbi County Hazard Map:\u00a0Hazard Impact Map<\/a>.<\/p>\n Solid waste<\/p>\n Transfer stations at P\u0101hala, Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu and Ocean View are open 7 days a week until further notice to assist residents with debris clearing. Bulky items such as sofas and beds are now accepted at the Wai\u02bb\u014dhinu transfer station.<\/p>\n Roll-off rubbish bins are available for residential waste and bulk items at 95-5572 M\u0101malahoa Highway in N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu.<\/p>\n Transfer stations at Waimea, Kealakehe and Keauhou are accepting green waste 7 days a week.<\/p>\n Bus service<\/p>\n Hele-On Route 90 in Ka\u02bb\u016b is back in service.<\/p>\n N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Cemetery<\/p>\n A multi-agency effort, in consultation with subject matter experts and cultural practitioners, continues to recover human remains displaced from graves by flood waters at N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Cemetery.<\/p>\n The public and media are asked to be respectful of this sensitive recovery effort. Allow the team room to work and do not take any pictures or video that might show human remains.<\/p>\n Do not touch or move human remains. Anyone who finds human remains is asked to contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.<\/p>\n Requests for assistance<\/p>\n If you were impacted by Hurricane Lala and need assistance, submit a request for assistance<\/a>. Completing the form will help direct resources to community needs.<\/p>\n Report Damage<\/p>\n Report property damage to Civil Defense. Damage reports can be submitted online<\/a>\u00a0or by calling Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.<\/p>\n Call U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency at 808-933-8334 to report agricultural damage.<\/p>\n Every damage report counts. Reporting damages helps Civil Defense better understand the magnitude of impact caused by Hurricane Lala and document it for potential recovery assistance.<\/p>\n Civil Defense had received 544 residential damage reports and 56 commercial damage reports from Hurricane Lala as of Aug. 21.<\/p>\n Donations<\/p>\n Call the Vibrant Hawai\u2018i Coordination Line at 802-365-1808 to make donations of supplies.<\/p>\n Monetary donations can be made to the Hawai\u2018i Island Strong Fund<\/a> established by the Hawai\u2018i Community Foundation.<\/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 County officials urge the public to continue avoiding any unnecessary travel into Ka\u02bb\u016b to help quicken emergency response.<\/p>\n Insurance assistance<\/p>\n Zephyr Insurance, Hawai\u2018i\u2019s hurricane insurance provider, will open two additional claim assistance centers next week on the Big Island to provide in-person assistance to policyholders impacted by Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n Representatives will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 26 in Waimea and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 27 in Hilo to help policyholders report hurricane-related damage, answer questions about their policies and provide guidance through the claims process.<\/p>\n The Waimea assistance center will be located at Allstate Insurance Agency \u2013 Nakoa Kai Professionals, 65-1291 Kawaihae Road, Suite 201. The Hilo assistance center will be located at Business Insurance Services, 1080 K\u012blauea Ave.<\/p>\n Policyholders are encouraged to reserve a timeslot in advance by clicking here<\/a>. Walk-ins will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis as time permits.<\/p>\n Visit the Zephyr Insurance website<\/a> or call 808-440-5400 (toll free at 866-440-5401) for additional information, including what you need to bring and more about how the insurance company can help.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric remains focused on repairing damage and restoring power to communities impacted by Hurricane Lala as quickly and safely as possible ahead of Tropical Storm Moke.<\/p>\n The utility reported Saturday that power has been restored to about 2,500 Hawai\u2018i Island customers since Friday morning. About 8,800 customers as of 9 a.m. Saturday remain without power.<\/p>\n Estimated restoration times are based on the best information available at the time. Times might be adjusted because of access issues, additional damage, unsafe conditions or specialized equipment.<\/p>\n The list below focuses on larger or more complex outage areas estimated to take longer to fully restore.<\/p>\n Its purpose is to enable customers to make plans based on estimated restoration times. Keep in mind:<\/p>\n This list does not represent every community or pocket of customers currently without power on Hawai\u2018i Island \u2014 even if your area isn\u2019t listed here, Hawaiian Electric is aware.<\/p>\n Tropical Storm Moke is forecast to bring heavy rains and wind gusts through the weekend which will affect the timing of restoration efforts.<\/p>\n Some locations that experienced little storm damage could still be without power because of damage to lines and facilities that provide electricity to their area. These might be hidden from view or located in distant areas.<\/p>\n Visit the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a>. to get the latest information about power outages and estimated restoration times.<\/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 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 Public schools<\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Elementary and Ka\u2018\u016b High & P\u0101hala Elementary schools remain temporarily closed, and recovery and planning efforts continue after both experienced significant impacts from Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i Department of Education, Ka\u02bb\u016b-Kea\u02bbau-P\u0101hoa Complex Area and school leaders are developing plans to support continued learning while campus and community recovery efforts continue. Families and employees at both schools will receive additional information directly as plans are finalized.<\/p>\n The state Education Department hopes to have plans finalized and shared by early next week.<\/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 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 Click here<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park closures<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park remains without power, internet or phone service as the community \u2014 and many park employees, volunteers and partners \u2014 recover from the devastating impacts Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n Emergency services in the park are limited and the park\u2019s air quality monitoring system is down because of ongoing power and communications outages.<\/p>\n Check the Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park website<\/a> for alerts and connect with official park social media on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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 Online resources<\/p>\n Banks<\/p>\n All Bank of Hawai\u2018i Big Island branches are open except the K\u0101\u2018u Branch.<\/p>\n <\/a>A portion of Highway 11 by the Ka\u02bb\u016b\u00a0Hospital was badly washed out by raging flood waters Aug. 15, 2026, during Hurricane Lala. (Photo Credit: Erika Polido\/Ka\u02bb\u016b Hospital Administrator)<\/p>\n<\/a>Dane Sesson, 61, passes out food to volunteers and community members clearing properties of mud and debris in N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu after Hurricane Lala. (Tiffany DeMasters\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n<\/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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/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<\/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<\/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