What you need to know about Hurricane Lala recovery: Hawaiian Electric, county Department of Water Supply and additional updates

Updated regularly

Federal emergency declaration for Hawaiʻi

Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that federal disaster assistance is available to Hawaiʻi County to supplement state and local response efforts because of the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Lala.

President Donald J. Trump approved the emergency declaration, which authorizes the emergency agency to coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering on the local population caused by the emergency and provide appropriate assistance to save lives and protect property, public health and safety as well as lessen or avert the threat of catastrophe.

Designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

“This emergency declaration will bring critical federal resources to communities impacted by Hurricane Lala and help with restoring essential services, clearing debris and repairing damaged infrastructure,” said Hawaiʻi U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, in a statement. “We will continue working with Gov. Green, county leaders and the administration to make sure Hawaiʻi gets the support it needs to recover.”

Hawaiian Electric

About 3,224 Hawaiian Electric customers on the Big Island remained without power as of early Wednesday morning.

Hawaiian Electric’s estimated restoration times as of noon Tuesday based on the best information:

Within 24 hours for most, extended outages for some

• Lower Puna subdivisions
• Keauhou, South Kona, Upper Road Kona
• Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches, Orchidland Estates
• Royal Hawaiian Estates, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Forest, Volcano: Half of Volcano was restored as work continues. Fern Forest and Royal Hawaiian remain out into Wednesday.
• Kohala Mountain: About a third of customers are restored; restoration efforts continued Tuesday, with small pockets possibly taking longer.

Beyond 48 hours, significant extended outage possible

• Halaʻula and Hāwī: About a third of customers are restored. Some pocket outages might take longer to restore.
• Maliu Ridge and Cane Haul Road
• Pāhala Town
• Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Leilani Estates and Nānāwale Estates
• Upper Āhualoa: Crews are making progress, but some customers are asked to prepare for extended outages.

5 to 7 days

• Kaloko Mauka to Hōlualoa: Remaining customers without power should prepare for a possible extended outage because of extensive necessary pole repairs.
• Orchid Isle Substation to Mountain View Post Office/Mountain View and Glenwood: The Orchid Isle Substation was energized and crews are working to restore distribution lines. Because of extreme damage, customers should prepare for extended outages.
• Āhualoa: Crews are working, but customers are asked to prepare for extended outages.

By Sept. 8 for full restoration; many sooner:

• Kaʻū, including Waiʻōhinu, Nāʻālehu, Punaluʻu, Pāhala, Kapāpala and Wood Valley: Repair work on transmission lines to Pāhala are near completion, but further assessments are underway on distribution lines. Debris must be cleared from Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Pāhala and Wood Valley before distribution lines can be rebuilt.

This list does not represent every community or pocket of customers currently without power on Hawai‘i Island. The utility said even if your area isn’t listed here, it is aware and working on restorations.

Visit the Hawaiian Electric website to get the latest information about power outages and estimated restoration times.

Customers who experienced major flooding and have not had their power restored must ensure their main breaker is off and contact an electrician to confirm their system is safe to re-energize once power is restored.

If you have photovoltaic panels and battery energy storage systems installed on your home or business, consult your licensed solar contractor regarding normal and emergency operation procedures for your system.

Customers on the Big Island who are without power but see their neighbors have electricity restored should call the utility’s troubleline at 1-855-304-9191 or Report online.

Customers also can all that number to report any downed power lines, which should always be treated as energized and dangerous. Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Customers also can sign up to receive emergency outage alerts.

Misinformation about filing claims

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about filing a claim after a power outage.

Hawaiian Electric is not liable for losses “caused by accident, storm, fire, strikes, riots, war, public safety power shutoff or any cause not within the company’s control through the exercise of reasonable diligence and care.”

Losses not covered include, but are not limited to, food spoilage and medication that requires refrigeration, etc.

More information about filing damage claims can be found on the Hawaiian Electric website.

Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply

An “essential use only” restriction remained in effect as of Tuesday for customers in the water systems listed below.

Nā‘ālehu to Wai‘ohinu (includes Discovery Harbor, Mark Twain Subdivision, Green Sands Subdivision, and South Point Road areas):

• Hawaiian Electric power was restored to Nā‘ālehu well and Nā‘ālehu booster station.
• Department of Water Supply will continue to incrementally expand water service to these areas.
• Water is being hauled to tanks within the system to assist/facilitate water restoration efforts.
• Field assessments are underway with Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency on damages to its water systems.
• A precautionary boil water notice remains in effect until further notice for all customers in Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ohinu, Discovery Harbor, Mark Twain Subdivision, Green Sands Subdivision and South Point Road areas.
• Check for waterline leaks continues throughout the entire distribution system
• Potable water tankers are located across from Nā‘ālehu Ace Hardware and at Discovery Harbor Clubhouse for public use. Use water for essential purposes only.

Upper Mountain View

• Hawaiian Electric power has not been restored yet to ʻŌlaʻa No. 7 booster and No. 8 booster station.
• ʻŌlaʻa No. 7 booster is operating on generator power.
• Water continues to be hauled to Mountain View No. 2 tank (North Peck Road/Ihope Road).
• A potable water tanker is deployed along North Peck Road for public use. Use water for essential purposes only.

Hawī

• Hawaiian Electric power has not yet been restored to it’s uppermost booster station in the Ka‘auhuhu area, which is operating on generator power. Use water for essential purposes only.

Pāhala

• Hawaiian Electric power has not yet been restored to the Pāhala well, which is operating on generator power. Use water for essential purposes only.
• There remains no timetable for repairs to waterlines to water sources above Pāhala, which sustained significant damage.
• Spigots are available on the fire hydrant fronting Ka‘ū Hospital for Punalu‘u residents. Use water for essential purposes only.
• A 2-inch outlet is available from the fire hydrant fronting Ka‘ū Hospital for ranchers to fill water tankers.

For more information about water service outages, click here.

Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply also warns the public about reports of people posing as department employees and attempting to collect payment for an alleged past due water bill.

The department does not show up unannounced at residences to collect payments for past due balances. Employees also operate marked vehicles and carry official identification cards at all times.

Food distribution

The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is serving up warm meals to high-impact areas across Hawaiʻi Island this week.

Lunch and dinner meals are being served at shelters throughout Kaʻū, with nearly 550 meals already served. Walmart, Waiākea Water, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and Kaleo’s Bar and Grill also joined in the effort.

Brown water advisory

A brown water advisory that was in effect for the entire Big Island was canceled by state health officials. However, new advisories were issued for the Hāmākua Coast to Hilo Bay and a portion of the island’s southeast coastline, from Honuʻapo to Punaluʻu.

Disaster relief

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Human Services is coordinating with Vibrant Hawaiʻi and other community partners to distribute supplies at points of distribution in locations around the island. Visit the Vibrant Hawaiʻi website for locations and hours.

Hot showers

Hot showers are vailable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Kaʻū District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala. Bring your own towel and hygiene products.

Device charging locations

You can charge your devices at the following places:

• Sgt. Rodney J.T. Yano Memorial Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook.
• Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Kaʻū District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
• Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, 95-5695 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.

Roads update

• Public Works continues work to restore Cane Haul Road in Kaʻū.

For an updated list of road closures, visit the Hawaiʻi County Hazard Map: Hazard Impact Map.

Solid waste

• Transfer stations at Pāhala, Waiʻōhinu 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 Waiʻōhinu transfer station.
• Roll-off rubbish bins are available for residential waste and bulk items at 95-5572 Māmalahoa Highway in Nāʻālehu.
• Transfer stations at Waimea, Kealakehe and Keauhou are accepting green waste 7 days a week.

Requests for assistance

If you were impacted by Hurricane Lala and need assistance, submit a request for assistance. Completing the form will help direct resources to community needs.

Report damage

Report property damage to Civil Defense. Damage reports can be submitted online or by calling Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.

Call U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency at 808-933-8334 to report agricultural damage.

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.

Civil Defense had received 544 residential damage reports and 56 commercial damage reports from Hurricane Lala as of Aug. 21.

Donations

Call the Vibrant Hawai‘i Coordination Line at 802-365-1808 to make donations of supplies.

Monetary donations can be made to the Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund established by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

9-1-1 for emergencies only

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 or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.

County officials urge the public to continue avoiding any unnecessary travel into Kaʻū to help quicken emergency response.

Insurance assistance

Zephyr Insurance, Hawai‘i’s 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.

Representatives will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in Waimea and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in Hilo to help policyholders report hurricane-related damage, answer questions about their policies and provide guidance through the claims process.

The Waimea assistance center will be located at Allstate Insurance Agency – Nakoa Kai Professionals, 65-1291 Kawaihae Road, Suite 201. The Hilo assistance center will be located at Business Insurance Services, 1080 Kīlauea Ave.

Policyholders are encouraged to reserve a timeslot in advance by clicking here. Walk-ins will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis as time permits.

Visit the Zephyr Insurance website 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.

Public schools

Nā‘ālehu Elementary and Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary schools remain temporarily closed, and recovery and planning efforts continue after both experienced significant impacts from Hurricane Lala.

Updates are being posted online.

Public libraries

• Laupāhoehoe Public and School Library is reopen with regular hours; however, the meeting room is temporarily closed for public use until a heat mitigation solution can be found.
• Nāʻālehu Public Library and Pāhala Public and School Library reopened Monday with regular hours, but both remain without power.

Patrons are encouraged to check the schedule at their local library and the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System website regularly for the latest updates.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park partially reopens

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has partially reopened some areas along the Kīlauea summit. Crater Rim Drive West, from the park entrance to Uēkahuna, is open along with the Welcome Center and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store.

Popular overlooks such as Kīlauea Overlook and Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) are open.

Mauna Loa Road is open to Kīpukapuaulu. Tree Molds and the day-use area also are open.

Volcano Art Center Gallery is open. Volcano House is open and offering a limited menu in its restaurants. Kilauea Military Camp is open to authorized patrons.

Still closed in the park:

• Kahuku Unit remains closed until further notice.
• Nāmakanipaio Campground is closed until further notice.
• Kīpukapuaulu Trail is closed because of tree hazards.
• 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.

Visitors coming to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park from the west side of the island are strongly urged to use Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, or the Hāmākua Coast (Highway 19) and avoid using the Highway 11 southern route through Kaʻū.

Park electricity, air quality monitoring system and communications were restored following a weeklong outage.

Check the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for alerts and connect with official park social media on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Nāʻālehu Cemetery

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 Nāʻālehu Cemetery.

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.

Do not touch or move human remains. Anyone who finds human remains is asked to contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.

Online resources

• Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency
• Emergency management contacts
• Weather information/forecasts
• Storm-related park updates

Banks

Bank of Hawai‘i Kā‘u branch, located at 96-3163 Pīkake St. Pāhala, remains temporarily closed.