Closures update #6: Shelters at Keaʻau Armory, Pāhoa Community Center to close today; Gilma downgraded to tropical storm

4:08 p.m. Tuesday update: Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports that the emergency shelters at the Keaʻau Armory and Pāhoa Community Center will close at 4:30 p.m. today. If you need assistance or need to report storm damage, call 808-935-0031 or visit the Civil Defense website.  

Hurricane Gilma was downgraded to a tropical storm and is not expected to have significant impacts on Hawaiʻi Island when it passes by later this week.

Additional notifications will be made should conditions change.

12:34 p.m. Tuesday update: The Wai‘ōhinu transfer station in Kaʻū will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to collect solid waste caused by Hurrcane Hone.

This Hawai‘i County Department of Environmental Control added the day of service to accommodate the increased demand for waste disposal and ensure residents have the ability to clear storm debris safely and efficiently.

The Wai‘ōhinu station will also maintain its regular Monday/Thursday/Saturday schedule.

Visit the Environmental Control Department website for additional information.

9 a.m. Tuesday update: The Department of Education confirms all schools are open today.  

Hawaii County Parks and Recreation confirms Mahua Kona Beach Park and Wharf in Kohala, Bayfront Soccer Fields and Carvalho Park in Hilo will remain closed.  

All other parks and beaches are open.

The county has opened 2 shelter facilities to support households experiencing prolonged power outages due to Hurricane Hone. The shelters are located in Kea‘au Armory at Shipman Park and Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility at Billy Kenoi District Park.

Both sites are pet-friendly and Wi-Fi is available.

Residents are advised to report damages to Civil Defense on their website: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/13ffdc337b544dc0a8665fcdf9e67957 or by phone at 808-935-0031.

7:35 a.m. Tuesday update: Hawaiʻi Police Department reports that both lanes of Highway 11 between the 57 and 63 mile markers, from near Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach to Whittington Beach Park, in Kaʻū are again open to traffic.

7:04 p.m. Monday update: Big Island police report that one lane of Highway 11 is now open to traffic between the 57-mile marker near Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and the 63-mile marker near Whittington Beach Park in Kaʻū.

Crews continue to work on the roadway.

7 a.m. Monday update: Bayfront Highway in Hilo and Highway 11 in Ka‘ū near mile marker 59 are closed traffic following weekend flooding brought by Hurricane Hone.

The Department of Education reports Ka‘ū High School, Pāhala Elementary School, Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, and Volcano School of Arts and Sciences in Volcano and in Mountain View are closed today.

Extra flights have been added into and out of Hilo International Airport today due to flights that were canceled during Hurricane Hone. Travelers should expect more volume and allow for at least 2 hours to get through security.

Akolea Road in Hilo between Pala‘a Street and Mamaka Place is now open.

8 p.m. Sunday update: Young Brothers provides an updated sailing schedule for the remainder of this week:

Honolulu to Hilo sailing on Saturday was rescheduled. The barge departed on Sunday and is estimated to arrive on Tuesday.

A Hilo to Honolulu barge sailing on Monday was rescheduled. The barge is now scheduled to depart on Tuesday and will arrive on Friday. There are no changes to cargo acceptance at the Port of Hilo.

A barge from Honolulu to Hilo sailing on Tuesday was rescheduled. The barge is now scheduled to depart on Wednesday and will arrive on Friday.

There are no changes to cargo acceptance at the Port of Honolulu.

There were no changes to Monday’s schedule for barges from Honolulu to Kawaihae and Nāwiliwili on Kaua‘i and Kahului on Maui.

There are no changes to the sailing schedule on Tuesday from Honolulu to Kaumalapau/Kaunakakai.

All cargo restrictions have been removed. All cargo must be received by the normal cargo cut-off times as posted in Young Brothers’ Cargo Acceptance/Availability Information.

As a precaution, no livestock will be accepted at all ports for the remainder of the week.

Young Brothers will continue monitoring the impacts of Hurricanes Hone and Gilma on weather and ocean conditions and may continue to make adjustments as necessary.

7:31 a.m. Sunday update: Reports of flooding have forced road closures throughout the Ka‘ū District as Hurricane Hone brings heavy rain to the Big Island.

Hawai‘i Island police is asking that the public refrain from traveling on Highway 11 between mile markers 69 and 63 due to hazardous road conditions as a result of the storm. 

Highway 11 at Kawa Flats in is closed between the 57 to 61 mile marker areas. 

Police advise motorists to avoid the east end of Wood Valley Road as it is closed to flooding. No alternate routes are available at this time.

Highway 11 is also closed between the 57 mile marker (Whittington Beach) and mile marker 63 (Punalu‘u Beach) due to flooding. No alternate routes are available.

County Parks and Recreation has closed the Hilo Municipal Golf Course due to flooding and debris.  

The County Department of Environmental Management has closed the Oceanview and Pāhala transfer stations.

Visit the Civil Defense hazard page for more information on closures and storm impacts County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map

Original post: As of 8 p.m. on Saturday, Tropical Storm Hone was southeast of the Big Island about 105 miles south-southeast of Hilo.

According to the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the storm is moving at 14 mph and continues to track westward.

The tropical storm is strengthening slightly, nearing hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

Due to the storm, several road and park closures have been reported.

Road closures include Waipi‘o Valley Access Road and Kohala Mountain Road due to a downed tree at mile marker 17.

Other road closures may occur without warning.

All east-facing Hawai‘i County Beach Parks are closed.

Hele-On Bus Service canceled routes through the weekend. For a list of canceled bus routes, please visit the County of Hawaii, Civil Defense website at https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/.

Public Shelters are open in the following locations:

• Ka‘ū Herkes Gym, located at 96-1219 Kamani St. Pāhala.
• Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Cafeteria, located at 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway in Nā‘ālehu.
• Pāhoa High School Gym, located at 15-3038 Pāhoa Village Rd. in Pāhoa.
• Kea‘au High School Library and G Building, located at 16-725 Kea’au-Pāhoa Rd. in Pāhoa.
• Mountain View Elementary School Cafeteria, located at 18-1235 Volcano Rd. in Mountain View.
• Waiākea High School Gym in Hilo, located at 155 W Kawili St.
• Honoka‘a High School and Intermediate School Cafeteria, located at 45-527 Pakalana St. in Honoka‘a.

Those who plan to ride out the storm at a public shelter should be at the shelter at this time. All shelters are pet-friendly.

For those going to the evacuation centers, you must bring your essentials with you. Families are responsible for their own bedding, food, water and medicine. Additionally, make sure you have your phones, chargers and other necessary items.