What Big Island residents need to know Friday about Hurricane Nolo

Category 1 Hurricane Nolo continued to churn to the south of the Big Island as of late Thursday night, still expected to bring excessive rainfall, possible tropical storm and hurricane force winds, storm surge, large swells and dangerous surf and even a possible tornado or large water spout through the weekend.

A hurricane watch, tropical storm warning, flood watch and high surf advisory remain in effect for the island.

Nolo is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane as it approaches the island. For the latest forecast, click here.

Hawaiʻi County is opening additional public shelters Friday morning after opening four shelters Wednesday evening.

As part of preparations, county crews on Thursday were removing debris from the Waiʻōhinu flood channel and the retention basin for the Nāʻālehu flood channel, which was previously cleared.

There have been a slew of cancellations, Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor Nolo and communications companies such as Verizon and Spectrum offered tips and guidance for residents as the storm approaches.

Young Brothers also updated its cargo acceptance and shipping schedules for the weekend because of expected rough ocean conditions caused by the storm.

Below is the latest information about shelters, closures and other storm-related updates.

Shelters

Hawai‘i County opened several public shelters Wednesday evening for anyone who seeks a safe place to take refuge.

The following shelter locations are open:

• Keaʻau Armory, 16-512 Volcano Road, Keaʻau.
• Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.
• Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
• Yano Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook.

Mass Transit’s free shuttle service is available from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday from Nāʻālehu Elementary School to the shelter at Robert N. Herkes Gym in Pāhala.  

Additional public shelters opening 6 a.m. Friday:  

• Honoka‘a Gym, 45-541 Lehua St., Honoka‘a.
• Pāpa‘aloa Park Annex, 35-1994 Government Main Road, Pāpa‘aloa.
• Pu‘u‘eo Community Center, 145 Wainaku St., Hilo.
• Kahilu Town Hall, 67-1182 Lindsey Road, Waimea.
• Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, Ocean View.

Those who seek refuge at any of the above public shelters should bring their own food, water and any necessary medicine they need for overnight and possibly longer. Shelters are pet-friendly; bring your own crate, leash, food and water.

Residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to consider taking refuge at a shelter or other locations outside of flood risk areas before flooding begins. Nolo could produce catastrophic flooding, with rainfall amounts of 20 to 30 inches in southeast areas of the island through Sunday.

Government closures and cancellations

• Hawaiʻi County workers: All non-emergency Hawai‘i County services and operations suspended Friday, including county offices, all park facilities and Hele-On services.
• Hawai‘i County solid waste facilities: Closed Friday and Saturday.
• Courts and Judiciary operations on Hawaiʻi Island (3rd Circuit): Closed Friday. All hearings and trials scheduled during the closures will be rescheduled. Court orders will be issued extending filing deadlines affected by the closures. Orders will be posted on the Judiciary website. Deadline for documents due during the closure in the 3rd Circuit is extended until Sept. 28. Visit the Hawaiʻi Judiciary website for updates and more information and monitor online public case information at eCourt Kokua.
• Hawai‘i County Fire Commission: Canceled meetings scheduled Thursday and Friday. New dates will be announced.
• Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission: Canceled the Thursday public hearing at Hawaiʻi Community College for Hawaiian Electric’s rebasing proposal. The commission will reschedule the hearing once conditions stabilize. Members of the public can continue to submit written comments on the company’s proposal by referencing Docket No. 2026-0162 on the commission website.
• Hawai‘i Island libraries: Closed Friday. Programs also canceled. Check the state libraries website for updates.
• State offices on Hawaiʻi Island: Closed Friday, unless they are essential support services. Employees in those categories must report to work or perform remote work unless excused by their department. Employees unsure of their status should contact their immediate supervisor or manager.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono along with U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation in Washington, on Thursday released the following statement in support of Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green’s request for an emergency declaration for all four of the state’s counties:

“An emergency declaration is critical to ensuring Hawai‘i has the federal resources it needs to prepare for and respond to Tropical Storm Nolo as we continue recovering from Hurricanes Lala and Lowell. With parts of our state facing the threat of strengthening hurricane force winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides, federal support will help our state and counties protect communities, maintain essential services and respond quickly to damage and other emergency needs.

“We urge swift approval of Gov. Green’s request for an emergency declaration and the additional federal assistance it will provide.”

Hawaiʻi Island Public Schools

All Hawai‘i public schools on the Big Island, as well as any activities including athletic events, are closed Friday.

Hawaiʻi Island college and university campuses

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hawai‘i Community College and all other university units on the island are closed Friday. All school-sponsored activities, athletics, extracurricular activities and other school events are canceled. Weekend activities and events also might be canceled depending on weather conditions.

State parks and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park 

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources closed of all state parks on Hawai‘i Island starting Thursday, including camping, forest reserves, Nā Ala Hele hiking trails, wildlife sanctuaries, natural area reserves, hunting and game management areas.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park began closing backcountry trails and campgrounds Wednesday. All backcountry areas were fully closed by 5 p.m. Thursday. All remaining park areas, including Nāmakanipaio tent camping area, also were closed to recreational activities by 5 p.m. Thursday.

Kīlauea Military Camp lodging, Volcano House and the Nāmakanipaio A-frame cabins will remain open for registered guests only. For their safety, lodging guests must shelter in place and should not recreate outdoors.

The Food Basket — Hawaiʻi Island’s food bank

The food bank warehouses in Hilo, located at 40 Holomua St., and Kailua-Kona, located at 73-4161 Ulu Wini Place, are closed Friday. Post-storm distributions will be announced as soon as conditions are safe. Call 808-933-6030 with any questions or additional information.

Bank of Hawai‘i

Bank of Hawai‘i will temporarily close all branch operations on Hawai‘i Island as of Friday. The bank also will continue to assess the status of its branch network and update the public about branch closures and reopenings as Tropical Storm Nolo continues on its path.

Bank of Hawai‘i’s Contact Center operations remain open to assist customers. The center can be reached at 808-643-3888.

Online and mobile banking as well as ATM services will continue to operate unless power interruptions are experienced.

Bank of Hawai‘i also will provide public updates on Facebook, Instagram and X as well as its website.

Sandbags/sandpiles

Sandpiles are available around the island for residents who need sandbags. You need to supply your own sand bags.

Refer to the county Department of Public Works website for sandpile locations.

Other community closures and cancellations

• Keauhou Community Day on Saturday is canceled to protect the safety and well-being of the community. Organizers are disappointed, but look forward to seeing everyone in September 2027.
• The second annual Hawai’i Isle Police Activities League Kawamoto Classic Swimming Event this Saturday in Hilo is canceled. Officials will determine at a later date if the event will be rescheduled. Contact Hilo Community Policing Lt. Ryan Pagan at 808-961-2350 and via email at ryan.pagan@hawaiipolice.gov or Officer Joshua Willing via email at joshua.willing@hawaiipolice.gov for additional information.
• “World’s Largest Pet Walk” event Saturday at Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea is postponed. Watch for an announcement about a new date soon.
• Hawai‘i Keiki Museum will reschedule the geology talk story event with Michelle Mazzetti originally planned Thursday. Mini Golf is closed until Sunday. The museum in Waikōloa, however, remains open, depending on loss of power. Call ahead at 808-315-8862 to get the latest information.

Water conservation

Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply officials urge residents to prepare for possible disruptions to drinking water service as Tropical Storm Nolo is expected to affect the island through the weekend.

Severe weather and high winds could disrupt electrical power and other infrastructure needed to operate the county’s water system.

Such disruptions could lead to temporary or extended service interruptions. Customers are asked to build an emergency supply of drinking water and conserve water.

Residents should limit tap water use to essential needs, including drinking, cooking and personal hygiene, until weather conditions improve. Conservation will help preserve water in storage tanks for essential household needs and emergency firefighting.

People who rely on a continuous supply of county water should assess their needs and make arrangements before the storm arrives.

Check the Department of Water Supply Water Emergency Preparedness Guide for additional information about how to safely store drinking water.

Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply can be reached at 808-961-8050 during normal business hours. After-hours water emergencies can be reported at 808-961-8790. You can also email the department at dws@hawaiidws.org.

Young Brothers shipping schedule update

The shipping firm expects operational changes, adjusting its sailing schedule and gate times to mitigate any impacts.

Sailing schedule updates

Honolulu to Kawaihae sailing; Thursday: CANCELED

• The port continues to operate normal gate hours Thursday for acceptance of cargo. 
• The port is CLOSED on Friday as determined by U.S. Coast Guard.  
• The next expected sailing to Kawaihae is the regularly scheduled sailing Sept. 28.

Hilo to Honolulu sailing; Thursday

• Port of Hilo will not accept any cargo.
• The port is CLOSED on Friday as determined by U.S. Coast Guard. 

All sailing schedules remain subject to change based on U.S. Coast Guard and Hawai’i Department of Transportation Harbors Division decisions regarding harbor access, restrictions, reopening status and safe operating conditions.

Honolulu to Hilo sailing; Saturday: RESCHEDULED

• The barge is now scheduled to depart Sept. 27 and estimated to arrive Sept. 29.
• All dry and refrigerated straightload containers as well as mixed cargo destined for Hilo must be received by 3 p.m. Friday in Honolulu.
• Cargo from Hilo to Honolulu will be available upon notification.

Cargo acceptance

Cargo acceptance is modified accordingly in anticipation of severe ocean conditions and tropical storm force winds:

• For sailings Thursday from Honolulu to Nāwiliwili, Kauaʻi, and Kahului, Maui, on Thursday, all straightload refrigerated and hazardous cargo will be accepted. NO livestock or less than container load hazardous cargo will be accepted.
• For all other sailings, NO livestock, less than container load refrigerated cargo or less than container load hazardous cargo will be accepted in Honolulu, Hilo, Kawaihae or Kahului.

Visit the Young Brothers website and sign up for customer notices. Young Brothers will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Verizon Wireless

• Prepping for another storm: Verizon engineering teams are monitoring conditions 24/7, keeping backup generators fueled and staging mobile assets throughout the islands as Tropical Storm Nolo nears Hawaiʻi.
• On-the-ground support: Additional members from the Dedicated Impact Response Team will be deployed to the Big Island to support potential recovery efforts. 
• Relief offer in place: To ensure there’s one less thing to worry about, Verizon is waiving charges for calling, texting and data use for its postpaid, Value and Small Business customers through Oct. 7 for the state of Hawaiʻi.
• Verizon stores: For Verizon authorized retailer store hours, check the store locator page for the most up-to-date information.

How residents and businesses can prepare for another storm

1. Charge up early: Keep all mobile devices, tablets and portable power banks fully charged.
2. Protect your gear: Place phones, chargers and external batteries in waterproof accessories or heavy-duty resealable bags to safeguard them from floodwaters or rain.
3. Establish a communication plan: Coordinate a dedicated family emergency plan and save key emergency contact numbers directly to your devices.
4. Check on your kūpuna: To ensure their devices are charged and they have an emergency communication plan in place.
5. Secure visual backups: Take photos of your home, vehicle and valuables for insurance purposes. Ensure these images are uploaded to the cloud so you can access them even if your phone is lost or damaged.
6. Use digital resources: Download critical weather tracking, news and American Red Cross safety apps ahead of time.
7. Mitigate customer disruption: List critical software, equipment, service contracts and vital contacts (utilities, vendors, authorities) needed to maintain operations. Review coverage with your insurance agent to eliminate gaps.
8. Contacts and documents are key: Centralize updated contact info for all staff (including remote and satellite offices) and keep accessible, secure copies of your insurance policies.
9. Keep track of equipment: Maintain an inventory of all corporate hardware deployed to remote employees to streamline claims for potential loss or damage.
10. The right tech makes an impact: Secure the mobile-ready technology and infrastructure needed to maintain business connectivity if you are forced to relocate.
11.  Have a backup plan: Establish a protocol to immediately reroute workloads if remote employees lose power or face evacuation.

Customers also are urged to update their personal digital preparedness plans.

Spectrum

• Spectrum is monitoring Tropical Storm Nolo and preparing to support customers in Hawaiʻi.
• Crews and equipment are staged across the storm’s path for a fast response.
• Customer tips and account tools are available to help residents stay prepared.

Spectrum will assess damage caused by Nolo following the storm. Once conditions are safe, technicians will work quickly to restore any affected services.

Because service interruptions are often directly tied to power outages in affected areas, restoration of Spectrum services will follow as power is restored.

Ways customers can prepare:

• Protect your equipment. Plug Spectrum equipment into surge protectors if available. If a surge protector isn’t available, unplug Spectrum devices from the wall after losing power.
• Charge your devices. Fully charge cellphones and other mobile devices before the storm arrives.
• Manage your notifications. Customers can sign in to their account to choose how they receive service updates or download the My Spectrum App to manage their account from a mobile device.
• Know where to turn for outage information. Spectrum works closely with local power companies, who will have the best information in the event of a power outage.

More storm preparedness resources are available online.

Hawaiian Electric

Hawaiian Electric urges customers to prepare for possible extended power outages.

“In the past 24 hours, we’ve increased our staffing and have teams standing by to restore power as quickly as possible,” said Hawaiian Electric Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Jim Alberts on Thursday. “As long as it’s safe, we’ll work continuously after the storm clears until all customers have power again.”

Depending on the storm’s ultimate path and intensity, damage to the electrical infrastructure could be extensive. Repairs could take longer, and in extreme cases, require the rebuild of parts of the system.

Flooding, fallen structures, debris and other obstacles also can affect the scope of work and speed of power restoration.

What you can do

• If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. Contact Hawaiian Electric or for emergency assistance call 9-1-1.
• Prepare to be without power for at least a couple of days and keep a battery-operated radio on hand with a fresh supply of batteries.
• If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occurs. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
• If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
• Keep cash on hand. If power outages happen, you might not be able to withdraw cash from banks or ATMs.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.
• Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. In the event of an outage, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.
• If your power goes off, use flashlights or chemical light sticks instead of candles or kerosene lamps. Be careful with cooking flames. Open flames can create a fire hazard, and the fire department might not be able to respond promptly.
• If you are cooking when an outage happens, remember to turn off the stove, oven or other appliances and remove all items such as pots and pans from the burners.
• Don’t venture out in the dark because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris.
• Click here for more preparation and safety tips.

Reporting an outage

Customers can report outages online or by calling the Hawaiʻi Island trouble line at 1-855-304-9191.

How to stay informed

• Hawaiian Electric website.
• Twitter/X: @HwnElectric; @hielectriclight
• Facebook.
• Mobile app: free download available on Apple App and Google Play stores

Immediately after the storm clears, as soon as it is safe to do so, Hawaiian Electric will send out damage assessors to estimate when repairs might be finished and power restored in each affected area.

Assessments, especially in remote areas, can take several days depending on the severity of damage, accessibility of roads and availability of helicopters. While the company does use drones, there are line-of-sight limitations.

General safety information

• Know the areas prone to flooding, especially near your home, and use extra caution around them. Heavy rain uphill from your location can cause flooding, even if it’s not raining where you are.
• Be prepared for road closures and extended power outages.
• Never try to cross moving water on foot or in a vehicle: “Turn around, don’t drown.”
  Monitor local forecasts from reliable sources for the latest information about the storm and potential hazards.
• Have a “go bag” ready in case you must evacuate, especially if your home is in an area prone to flooding. It should include food, water, necessary medication, important documents and other necessities for members of your household, including pets, if you need to leave in a hurry.
• Check the area around your home. Trim tree limbs and secure awnings, umbrellas and other objects that could become airborne and damage your roof or windows. Remove debris that could block drainage and increase the chance of flooding.
• Check in with neighbors, especially those who might have mobility problems, to make sure they have a safe way to evacuate if flooding strikes.

Stay informed

Sign up for Hawai‘i County Civil Defense emergency alerts, and pay attention to the Hawai‘i County Hazard Impact Map.

Be sure to check the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website for the latest information on impacts to your specific local community, including any changes to advisories, watches or warnings issued.