#Emergency Preparedness

As all four counties recover from flooding and damages, leaders say coastal retreat, better access and backup power are needed, especially in rural areas.

Farmers were still recovering from major damage and crop losses in the Kona low storms in March when Hurricane Lala swept by in August.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s (DOH) Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess household emergency preparedness and the impacts of natural disasters on household health in the Kona, Kohala and Hāmākua districts from Sept. 14-18.

Four steps that you can take to be better prepared for any disaster include: learning what hazards can affect you and when, making an emergency plan, building an emergency supply kit (go bag), and getting involved in your community.

The $3 million Olowalu Fire Station project was fully funded until the Canadian company supplying the modular building for the station was hit with 50% steel tariffs by the U.S. last year.

The County of Maui Department of Agriculture encourages all ranchers, farmers and producers to finalize preparations ahead of Tropical Storm Lala, which is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane before impacting Hawaiʻi Island as early as Saturday.

The County of Maui continues to prepare for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Lala, as emergency management officials echo that community members should be ready for potentially hazardous conditions across Maui County this weekend.

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers across Maui and the state to prepare for possible impacts from Hurricane Fausto, which could approach the islands as early as next week. The utility asked customers to review their emergency plans, stock up on supplies and monitor the storm’s progress in the coming days, according to a company announcement. […]

Hurricane Fausto is expected to keep weakening as it tracks toward the Hawaiian Islands this week, with the storm’s strongest winds and heaviest rainfall forecast to stay north of the island chain, according to the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. Forecasters have high confidence that swells generated by Fausto will reach […]

Maui County’s new Emergency Operations Center will begin operations in August, following a blessing ceremony held Friday in Wailuku that drew county, state and federal officials, first responders and other dignitaries. The 9,355-square-foot facility, run by the Maui Emergency Management Agency, can accommodate up to 198 people, according to the county — nearly four times […]

The state project to build a 4.5-mile northern extension of the bypass had stalled for decades due to a lack of funding, but that changed with Maui County committing $100 million in Lahaina disaster relief funds earlier this year to help build the road that now has a price tag of $220 to $250 million.

With forecasters projecting a busier-than-normal Central Pacific hurricane season, Hawaiian Electric is calling on customers across the islands to build emergency plans before the first storm threatens.

The Olowalu Fire Station, a privately funded project on donated land, would cover a growing residential community where fire is a risk and serve as a critical emergency hub between West and Central Maui.

A winter and spring of record-setting rainfall in Hawaiʻi likely is linked to record-breaking heat on the U.S. West Coast, the National Weather Service said.

Residents say more a new flood control project and better stormwater management is sorely needed.

Op-Ed: “As we continue recovery, we must also prepare for a second kona storm approaching this weekend. In many areas – debris, saturated soils, and compromised infrastructure remain ongoing concerns,” said Tom Cook, Council Member, South Maui residency area.

The new kona storm forecast to reach the state beginning today follows a severe kona storm that impacted the state March 13 to 16, 2026. Maui received the highest rainfall totals in the state from the first kona storm, and wind speeds were second highest in the state, according to NWS data. Flooding and wind severely damaged portions of South Maui, ‘Īao, Upper Kula, East Maui and Lahaina.

County of Maui officials are urging residents to prepare for a second kona low storm that is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall to Maui County — less than a week after a powerful, prolonged kona storm caused widespread flooding and strong wind. Meanwhile, County departments are taking steps to prepare while responding to existing damages.

The town’s clinic had to discard $15,000 to $20,000 worth of refrigerated vaccines and medicine, while local stores also lost thousands of dollars worth of products.

Hawaiian Electric urges customers to review family and business emergency plans, ensure they have supplies they need on hand, and keep close watch on the development of the storm.