What Big Island residents need to know Monday about Hurricane Nolo

A Hurricane Nolo moves northwest away from the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiʻi County is now accepting damage reports to property and asking for other unmet needs.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to report storm damage and other requests for assistance to help local officials and non-profit partners better understand the extent of damage and its impacts on the community.

• To report damages to a residential property, click here.
• To report damages to a commercial property, click here.
• If you have any other unmet needs, please click here.

A previous high surf advisory has been canceled, but a high wind warning is still in effect for North Hawaiʻi until 6 a.m. on Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, east winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts of 50 mph can tear off shingles, knock down tree branches, blow away tents and awnings and make it difficult to drive.

Visit the Hawai’i County Civil Defense Agency website or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031 for additional information. Below are details on shelters, closures, and other storm-related information.

Road closures

Crews with the state Department of Transportation and the county Department of Public Works have cleared Highway 11 of debris and have opened it to all traffic from Hilo to South Kona.

Highway 11 closed due to heavy rain led to flooding between Pāhala and Waiʻōhinu in multiple locations.

Highway 250, also known as Kohala Mountain Road, remains closed due to high winds and hazardous conditions. Motorists are advised to avoid these areas and use alternate routes if possible.

The Hele-On Route 90 from Kaʻū to Kona is canceled today, and the solid waste facilities in Kaʻū are also closed due to flooding conditions.

Water conservation

The Department of Water Supply has issued an Essential Water Use Only notice for Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Discovery Harbour and South Point water service areas.

Customers in these service areas are being asked to limit water use to essential needs only until further notice due to impacts from flooding associated with Hurricane Nolo. Power outages and possible damage to water system infrastructure are affecting the Department of Water Supply’s ability to provide water to the affected area.

Customers are asked to use water only for essential health and safety needs, including:

• Drinking
• Cooking and food preparation
• Necessary personal hygiene
• Necessary sanitation
• Other essential household or health needs.

Until this notice is lifted, customers are asked to discontinue or postpone nonessential uses of water, including:

• Irrigation and lawn watering
• Washing vehicles
• Filling swimming pools or spas
• Pressure washing
• Other unnecessary or high-volume water use

Reducing water use will help preserve available water supplies and maintain adequate storage for essential needs. When conditions allow, Department of Water Supply crews will be assessing the system for damages and connecting backup generators and will notify customers when normal water use may resume.

Customers may experience low water pressure or intermittent water service while system conditions are being stabilized.

For more information and updates, please visit the Department of Water Supply website, or contact the Department of Water Supply at 808-961-8790.

Solid waste facilities

Due to flooding on Highway 11 in Kaʻū, the following County of Hawaiʻi solid waste transfer stations will remain closed Sunday, Sept. 27:

• Pāhala: 96-1250 Old Māmalahoa Highway
• Wai‘ōhinu: 95-6155 Kaulia Road
• Ocean View: 92-9017 Māmalahoa Highway

Shelters

Three Hawai‘i County public shelters remain open Saturday for anyone in flooded locations in the Waiʻōhinu and Nāʻālehu areas of Kaʻū:

• Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.
• Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
• 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.

The Salvation Army’s Hilo Overnight Safe Space, regularly serving houseless members of the community, will temporarily relocate to Hilo High School — location designated by Hawai‘i County to help weather the anticipated hazardous conditions.

Hawai‘i County operations

Hawai’i County will resume normal operations Sunday as Hurricane Nolo continues its westward trek away from the Big Island.

All solid waste facilities, including transfer stations, are scheduled to resume normal operations, and all county parks, including Hilo Municipal Golf Course and Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, also are scheduled to reopen.

Hele-On bus service is scheduled to resume for Routes 11, 40, 101, 201, 202, 204 and 401. Hele-On’s Paratransit and shared ride taxi programs also will resume regularly scheduled services.

“We still could see rain and wind impacts through the weekend, so residents should remain cautious,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “Our first responders and partners remain ready to respond to any issues that may develop and we will continue to keep a close watch on this storm as it moves away from us.”

Kohala Mountain Road remained closed Saturday because of high winds and possible hazardous conditions.

State parks and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park 

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

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has reopened most areas along Kīlauea summit, and Kahuku Unit following Hurricane Nolo. 

Areas around Kīlauea and Mauna Loa that remain closed are Hilina Pali Road past the Mauna Iki trailhead, Mauna Loa Road past the second cattleguard, Kīpukapuaulu Trail, and the Sulphur Banks Bridge. 

Trails at the Kahuku Unit will open as staff finish assessments. Hikers are advised to follow the signs posted at the trailheads and check with staff at the Welcome Center.

Hikers throughout Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park should be aware of potential overhead hanging branches, loose rocks and uneven terrain on trails. 

Park staff will assess conditions and reopen areas when it is safe to do so.

Visitors should check the park website for current alerts and follow the park on Facebook, Instagram and X for updates.

Hawaiʻi Island Public Schools

All Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools on Hawaiʻi Island will reopen Monday, Sept. 28, following precautionary closures ahead of Hurricane Nolo.

Hurricane Nolo did not cause significant damage to Department campuses. Some communities on Hawaiʻi Island experienced flooding, high winds and temporary road closures, but campus assessments indicate that schools are ready to reopen and roads serving affected communities are accessible.

Closures, cancellations and postponements

• Courts and Judiciary operations on Hawaiʻi Island (3rd Circuit): The courts were 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.
• Hawai‘i Island libraries: All of them are closed Saturday. Programs also canceled. Check the state libraries website for updates.
• Several miles of Kohala Mountain Road (Highway 250), between Waimea and Hāwī , were closed Friday night because of dangerous driving conditions caused by high winds. All other major roadways and highways are open.
• Motorists are advised to continue to anticipate potential hazardous conditions and possible road closures.

Gov. Josh Green’s request for a pre-landfall presidential emergency declaration covering all four of the state’s counties was approved Friday by President Donald Trump.

Hawaiʻi Island college and university campuses

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hawai‘i Community College and all other university units were closed during the weekend. All school-sponsored activities, athletics, extracurricular activities and other school events also were canceled.

• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo women’s volleyball match against Hawai‘i Pacific University on Sunday postponed.
• Vulcan Booster Club’s “A Night of Champions” scheduled Saturday canceled.
• University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa men’s volleyball intrasquad scrimmage scheduled Sunday canceled.
• Photo meet-and-greet session scheduled at Big Island Candies canceled.

Volleyball match tickets purchased online will be refunded automatically through the AudienceView platform. For in-person purchases, contact the Vulcans Ticket Office at 808-932-7802.

Tickets and table purchases for the “A Night of Champions” dinner will be processed for a refund in the coming days.

The Food Basket — Hawaiʻi Island’s food bank

The food bank warehouses in Hilo and Kailua-Kona are closed. 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

Following Hurricane Nolo, Bank of Hawai‘i will reopen its branches on Hawai‘i Island for normal operating hours starting tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 28.

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

Other community closures and cancellations

• The second annual Hawai’i Isle Police Activities League Kawamoto Classic Swimming Event was canceled. Officials will determine at a later date if the event will be rescheduled.
• “World’s Largest Pet Walk” event Saturday at Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea postponed.

Young Brothers shipping schedule update

The shipping firm adjusted its sailing schedules and gate times to mitigate any impacts.

Sailing schedules

Kawaihae sailings

• The next expected sailing to Kawaihae is the regularly scheduled sailing Monday.

Honolulu to Hilo sailing; Saturday: RESCHEDULED

• The barge is now scheduled to depart Sept. 27 from Honolulu and estimated to arrive Sept. 29 in Hilo.
• Cargo from Hilo to Honolulu will be available upon notification.

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.

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

State roads

Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds the public about how to keep up with the latest road closures and other department news.

• Monitor weather-related traffic alerts on the department website for the latest roundup of storm-related closures, traffic alerts and travel advisories for state highways, airports and harbors. The page is active for Hurricane Nolo.

• Follow the department on social media. Social media is a quicker way to communicate information to media and the public. Find the state Transportation Department on Facebook, X and Instagram.
• Sign up to receive department news releases, road closure notices and travel alerts.

Spectrum

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

Hawaiian Electric

Hawaiian Electric is now monitoring high winds and dry conditions that could lead to an increased risk of wildfires throughout its service territories.

The utility firm implemented all safety measures to reduce wildfire risk during severe weather conditions. It also initiated a public safety power shutoff watch.

Crews overnight Friday and on Saturday responded to restore power to a total of nearly 660 Hawai‘i Island customers in lower Puna, Ocean View, Hāmākua, lower Puna, Ka‘ū and North Kohala.

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

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.