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<\/a>Utility crews work Aug. 27, 2026, on and along a portion of M\u0101malahoa Highway before Ka\u02bb\u016b as Hawaiian Electric efforts continue to restore power to customers continuing to experience outages because of Hurricane Lala. (Courtesy Photo: Hawaiian Electric)<\/p>\nHawaiian Electric<\/p>\n
The remaining outages are increasingly concentrated in smaller pockets where damage is more complex and additional work could be required before equipment can be safely energized.<\/p>\n
Hawaiian Electric representatives are still available at\u00a0Vibrant Hawai\u2018i<\/a>\u00a0points of distribution at P\u0101hala Community Center and Kurtistown Samoan-English Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where customers can get questions answered, updates about restoration and outages, news about ongoing work in their area and estimated restoration timelines.<\/p>\n Crews are taking opportunities to strengthen the island\u2019s electrical system as they replace storm-damaged power lines. Aluminum wire is being replaced with copper wire in certain areas at high wildfire risk as part of repair and restoration work to improve system resilience.<\/p>\n Estimated restoration times as of Thursday afternoon<\/p>\n Customers are encouraged to remain alert for potential utility imposters. Verify a person\u2019s affiliation by calling Hawaiian Electric customer call centers at:<\/p>\n Hilo:\u00a0808-969-6999.<\/p>\n Kona:\u00a0808-329-3584.<\/p>\n Waimea:\u00a0808-885-4605.<\/p>\n Customers without power but see their neighbors have electricity should call the utility\u2019s trouble line at\u00a01-855-304-9191<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0report it online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Customers also can call the above number to report any downed power lines, which should always be treated as energized and dangerous. Be sure to sign up for emergency outage alerts<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n Information about filing damage claims can be found on the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Banks<\/p>\n Bank of Hawai\u2018i on Thursday reopened its K\u0101\u2018u branch<\/a>, located at 96-3163 P\u012bkake St. in P\u0101hala, after a nearly 2-week closure after Hurricane Lala. Temporary hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until further notice.<\/p>\n Public schools<\/p>\n Ka\u02bb\u016b High & P\u0101hala Elementary School will reopen Monday, Aug. 31, for in-person learning, while N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Elementary students will start temporary classes Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Ka\u02bb\u016b High gym. Additional updates are being posted online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Public libraries<\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Public Library<\/a>\u00a0is located at\u00a095-5669 M\u0101malahoa Highway<\/a>\u00a0and public service hours are:<\/p>\n Monday, Wednesday: 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Friday: noon to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n Saturday\/Sunday: Closed<\/p>\n Phone:\u00a0808-939-2442<\/a><\/p>\n P\u0101hala Public and School Library<\/a>\u00a0is located at\u00a096-3150 Pikake Street<\/a>\u00a0and public service hours are:<\/p>\n Monday, Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Friday: noon to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n Saturday\/Sunday: Closed<\/p>\n Phone:\u00a0808-928-2015<\/a><\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i County Department of Water Supply<\/p>\n Water Supply officials issued the following updates shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday.<\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu to Wai\u2018ohinu (includes Discovery Harbor, Mark Twain Subdivision, Green Sands Subdivision, and South Point Road areas):<\/p>\n All customers in these areas are reminded that a precautionary boil water notice remains in effect until further notice. Boil all tap water used for drinking and cooking purposes. Do NOT drink the water without boiling it first. Click here<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n Customers might see fire hydrants open in certain areas. The purpose is to force air out of waterlines, allowing water to take its place. Future water service issues will happen if air remains locked in waterlines.<\/p>\n Water service continues to be incrementally expanded in these areas.<\/p>\n Water is being boosted from N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu tank to its upper tanks and also being hauled to Discovery Harbor off-site and South Point Road tanks.<\/p>\n Water service will slowly be restored to customer taps as tanks are filled. Continue to limit use to essential needs only to help increase water stored in these tanks.<\/p>\n Breaks are being located on the waterline between the H\u0101\u02bbao Springs tank and South Point Road tank. Breaks are being fixed as they are found while waterlines continue to be slowly filled with water.<\/p>\n Potable water tankers for public use are located across from N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Ace Hardware and at Discovery Harbor Clubhouse.<\/p>\n Customers in these areas also are reminded to use water for essential purposes only.<\/p>\n Upper Mountain View<\/p>\n Power was restored to \u02bb\u014cla\u02bba No. 7 booster and No. 8 booster stations. Water tanks at higher elevations also are being boosted.<\/p>\n Water service was on track to be restored Thursday.<\/p>\n Normal water use can resume.<\/p>\n P\u0101hala<\/p>\n Power was restored to P\u0101hala well. Normal water use can resume.<\/p>\n Spigots are available on the fire hydrant fronting Ka\u2018\u016b Hospital for Punalu\u2018u residents. Use water for essential purposes only.<\/p>\n A 2-inch outlet is available from the fire hydrant fronting Ka\u2018\u016b Hospital for ranchers to fill water tankers.<\/p>\n For more information about water service outages, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The public also is reminded and continues to be warned about reports of people posing as department employees<\/a> and attempting to collect payment for an alleged past due water bill.<\/p>\n Food distribution<\/p>\n The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is serving up warm meals to high-impact areas across Hawai\u02bbi Island this week.<\/p>\n Lunch and dinner meals are being served at shelters throughout Ka\u02bb\u016b. Walmart, Wai\u0101kea Water, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and Kaleo\u2019s Bar and Grill also joined in the effort.<\/p>\n Brown water advisories<\/p>\n Brown water advisories remain in effect for waters along the H\u0101m\u0101kua Coast to Hilo Bay<\/a> in East Hawai\u02bbi and from Honu\u02bbapo to Punalu\u02bbu<\/a> along the island\u2019s southeast coastline, .<\/p>\n Disaster relief<\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i County Civil Defense Human Services is coordinating with Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi and other community partners to distribute supplies at points of distribution in locations around the island. Visit the Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi website<\/a> for locations and hours.<\/p>\n Hot showers<\/p>\n Hot showers are vailable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Ka\u02bb\u016b District gym), located at 96-1219 Kamani St., in P\u0101hala. Bring a towel and hygiene products.<\/p>\n Device charging locations<\/p>\n Devices can be charged at the following places:<\/p>\n Sgt. Rodney J.T. Yano Memorial Hall, 82-6156 M\u0101malahoa Highway, Captain Cook.<\/p>\n Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter, 96-1219 Kamani St., P\u0101hala.<\/p>\n N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Hongwanji,\u00a095-5695 M\u0101malahoa Highway, N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu.<\/p>\n Roads update<\/p>\n Visit the Hawai\u02bbi County Hazard Impact Map<\/a> for updates about any road closures and more.<\/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 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 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 Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park partially reopens<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park partially reopened many areas. However, areas still closed are:<\/p>\n Kahuku Unit until further notice.<\/p>\n N\u0101makanipaio Campground until further notice.<\/p>\n K\u012bpukapuaulu Trail because of tree hazards.<\/p>\n All areas not mentioned as open remain closed while park staff continue to address hazards, but will reopen as soon as they are deemed safe.<\/p>\n Park visitors coming from the west side of the island are urged to use Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, or Highway 19 along the H\u0101m\u0101kua Coast to avoid using Highway 11 through Ka\u02bb\u016b.<\/p>\n Check the Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park website<\/a> and connect with official park social media on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a> for additional updates.<\/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<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>A utility crewmember works Aug. 27, 2026, along a portion of M\u0101malahoa Highway in P\u0101hala as Hawaiian Electric efforts continue to restore power to customers continuing to experience outages because of Hurricane Lala. (Courtesy Photo: Hawaiian Electric)<\/p>\n<\/a>Visit the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a> to get the latest outage updates and estimated restoration times. (Courtesy Graphic: Hawaiian Electric)<\/p>\n<\/a>A potable water tanker is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Island Market parking lot, across from N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Ace Hardware. (Courtesy Photo: Hawai\u2018i County Department of Water Supply)<\/p>\n<\/a>Clarissa Pua grabs a family sized hot curry meal donated Aug. 20, 2026, at P\u0101hala Community Center. (Kelsey Walling\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n<\/a>A portion of Highway 11 in front of Ka\u02bb\u016b Hospital in P\u0101hala collapsed during Hurricane Lala.<\/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>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>Ka\u02bb\u016b High & Elementary School in P\u0101hala. (File Photo)<\/p>\n