UPDATE: Essential use only notice canceled for water customers in some East Hawaiʻi communities
Update at 2:26 p.m. Nov. 14, 2026: Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply notifies its customers in Pāpaʻikou, Puʻuʻeo Pāku, Paukaʻa and Honoliʻi that effective as of the evening of Nov. 13 that the essential use only notice is canceled.
The Pāpaʻikou well was repaired and returned to service. Normal water use can resume; however, use water wisely and don’t waste it.
Story originally published 11:31 a.m. Oct. 19, 2026: A water restriction notice has been upgraded to an essential-use-only notice for some South Hilo communities.
The upgraded restriction was ordered to maintain water storage in tanks for all water customers in Pāpa‘ikou, Pu‘ueopaku, Pauka‘a and Honoli‘i while Hawai‘i County’s Department of Water Supply repairs a well that unexpectedly went offline.
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 or boats
- 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 while county crews work to stabilize the water system. This essential water use only request will remain in effect until water system conditions improve. Customers will be notified when normal water use may resume.
For more information and updates, visit www.hawaiidws.org or contact the Department of Water Supply at 808-961-8790.
