All state departments on Oʻahu close early due to severe weather conditions

Gov. Josh Green announced the closure of all state departments and the release of employees not considered disaster response and preparedness workers on Oʻahu, effective immediately.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate a prolonged period of heavy rain that could continue through Sunday, with flash flooding and severe thunderstorms across the state.

At the request of fire officials earlier this morning, Hawaiian Electric Co. turned off power to about 1,300 customers in the Waialua area due to flooding. Additional areas were de-energized shortly before 9 a.m., resulting in an outage for a total of 4,100 customers on the North Shore.

“The safety of our residents and families must come first. With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oʻahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously,” Green said. “Closing state offices will allow families to focus on getting to safety and will support emergency operations. We urge everyone to heed all warnings, evacuate if directed, and stay out of floodwaters as this storm continues through the weekend.”

Meteorologists warn that rainfall could lead to flooding of roads, streams, and areas with poor drainage, particularly on smaller islands and in leeward areas. Strong winds and thunderstorms may also create hazardous travel conditions and possible power disruptions.

With the exception of the Wahiawā District Court, which closed earlier today, the Judiciary remains operational and will issue any further guidance for judicial branch employees.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official updates from the National Weather Service and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

Additionally, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency website provides preparedness guidance and additional information.