NEWS RELEASE – STATE OF HAWAIʻI UPDATE ON HURRICANE LALA

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

KA ʻOIHANA PILI KAUA

HAWAI'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

KE'ENA HO'OMALU PŌULIA O HAWAI'I

HAWAIʻI JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

STATE OF HAWAIʻI UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM LALA

State and County Offices, Public Schools and Judiciary Closed Statewide Monday;

State Employees Granted Administrative Leave

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 202 6

Lala-JIC-2026-004

HONOLULU - Tropical Storm Lala was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane overnight but continues to impact the state. Hawaiʻi state agencies are actively responding to the storm, assessing damage and supporting county emergency response efforts. State personnel and resources have been deployed to address current impacts and respond to changing conditions as the storm moves across the islands.

Due to the severe impacts of Hurricane Lala, all state and county offices, Hawaiʻi State Department of Education schools and public charter schools, courts and Judiciary offices statewide, will be closed Monday, August 17.

State employees affected by the office closures should not report to work and will be granted administrative leave, except for:

• Departmental Disaster/Emergency Coordinators;

• Disaster Response Workers;

• Employees whose work involves continuing crucial operations/services, such as hospital workers, correctional workers, building and grounds maintenance and infrastructure support workers, food service, etc; and

• Employees who are assigned to remote work.

Employees who fall into one of the above categories are required to report to work, or perform remote work. Employees who are unsure whether they fall into one of these categories should contact their immediate supervisor or manager.

"The safety of our people remains our highest priority as we're responding to these storm impacts," said Governor Josh Green. "Our state crews continue to work around the clock to protect life and property, and we encourage our residents and visitors to continue to shelter in place."

The following are the latest updates on response efforts and impacts:

HAWAI'I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (HIDOE)

Following assessments of school campuses and surrounding community conditions, the additional closure will allow time to complete campus safety assessments, restore utilities where necessary and address storm-related impacts.

In addition to Monday's statewide school closure, Nāʻālehu Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff through Thursday, Aug. 20, because of storm-related damage and road closures affecting safe access. Families will receive updates directly from their schools regarding instructional plans and reopening timelines.

The Department will continue working with county and state partners and will provide updates regarding Tuesday's operations as additional information becomes available.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI SYSTEM (UH)

HAWAIʻI NATIONAL GUARD

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, the Hawai'i National Guard (HING) deployed more than 240 personnel statewide in response to life-saving operations, with more being activated as needed.

• Since this morning the HING has Guard members out supporting county first responders in Captain Cook and delivering food from Hilo to Nāʻālehu.

• The U.S. Coast Guard is flying supplies and the HING's 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package from O`ahu to the Big Island to support search-and-rescue efforts.

• Three High-water Vehicle Teams on O`ahu were deployed to Waikāne to assist, but were no longer needed upon arrival.

Personnel count by island includes:

• Maui: 26

• Hawai'i Island: 60

• O'ahu: 162

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DLNR)

With widespread damage, power outages and potential hazardous conditions following Tropical Storm/Hurricane Lala, all DLNR State Parks properties on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island will remain closed until further notice. This includes ʻIolani Palace, the Queen Emma Summer Palace and Mauna 'Ala (the Royal Mausoleum) on O'ahu. Closures will remain in effect until state and county emergency management personnel have completed post-storm assessments and determined it is safe to resume normal operations.

People are advised to avoid forested and coastal areas due to the dangers of rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees, storm surge, or high surf.

Emergency response or rescue from these areas may be delayed.

DLNR is asking for everyone's cooperation with all announcements of area closures.

Refunds will be credited to the accounts of anyone who misses camping nights due to storm closures.

DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (DLE)

• DLE is supporting Hawaiʻi County with traffic control and the Honolulu Police Department with traffic control in Waikīkī due to debris and power outages.

• DLE units are also supporting the return of airports and harbors to steady state operations.

• Detectives are staffing three Oʻahu shelters by providing security support.

• DLE drones are on standby for deployment if needed to identify areas of concern, i.e., flooded roads, damaged structures, landslides and evacuation needs.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

The DOH remains at Level 3, Enhanced Monitoring, with its Medical Operations Coordination Center monitoring EMS, air medical services, hospitals and health care partners.

• As of 8 a.m., air medical services were grounded statewide because of weather. Providers are reassessing conditions hourly, with several patients awaiting transport.

• EMS communications are intermittent statewide, particularly on Hawaiʻi Island. Agencies are using backup communication systems while crews work to restore communications.

• A Hawaiʻi Island ambulance was flooded and likely destroyed while responding to people trapped by flooding in Nā'ālehu. The crew is safe and uninjured and a replacement ambulance will be deployed when road conditions allow.

• Hospitals remain operational, although patient numbers are high. Emergency departments have capacity and several Hawaiʻi Island hospitals and long-term care facilities are operating on generators.

• DOH public health nurses and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are supporting shelters, including five Oʻahu shelters this morning and three Oʻahu shelters this afternoon. Hawaiʻi Island teams are supporting two critical-needs shelters, while Kauaʻi staff and volunteers are also assisting at shelters.

• DOH is monitoring for infectious disease risks that may emerge following flooding and other storm impacts.

• Environmental health staff are on standby to conduct water and environmental sampling as conditions allow and as storm damage assessments identify potential needs.

• Oʻahu is under an islandwide water conservation notice issued by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

• A Brown Water Advisory has been issued statewide. The public should avoid entering brown or discolored coastal waters because of potential contamination from stormwater runoff.

• DOH advises the public to avoid wading in or swimming in stormwater runoff or floodwaters and refrain from drinking from freshwater streams or ponds to prevent infections such as leptospirosis, a bacterial infection.

HAWAIʻI STATE ENERGY OFFICE (HSEO)

• Power outages trended upward overnight across counties with 255,378 customers impacted at 11 a.m., as Hawaiian Electric and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) assess damages and start to safely restore power. Oʻahu: 173,900; Maui County: 26,200; Hawaiʻi County 50,800 and Kauaʻi 4,478.

• Two of Hawaiʻi Island's largest independent power producers, Puna Geothermal Venture and Hāmākua Energy Partners, as well as wind energy providers Hāwī Renewable Development and Pakini Nui, were unable to connect to the island's grid as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

• Some fuel suppliers report short-term disruptions due to power outages, particularly on Hawai'i Island, but no long-range fuel supply concerns or damages are reported at this time.

• Despite some timing issues with port damage assessments, reopenings and scheduled fuel deliveries, there is no indication or expectation of an energy shortage.

HAWAI'I DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (HDOT)

All airports are now open, but some flights may be canceled or experience delays. The Hilo Airport (ITO) and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) reopened this morning after airport personnel completed runway and terminal inspections. Passengers should check with their airline on flight status before going to the airport and plan ahead for longer wait times to check in and clear security screening.

Hawai'i Island harbors (Hilo and Kawaihae), Kahului Harbor and Kaumalapau Harbor (Lanaʻi) are open and operating. Kaunakakai Harbor (Moloka'i), O'ahu harbors (Honolulu and Kalaeloa) and Kaua'i harbors (Nāwiliwili and Port Allen) remain closed, pending port assessment. Port assessments for Honolulu and Kalaeloa Harbors on O'ahu commenced at 2 p.m., and assessments of Nāwiliwili and Port Allen Harbors on Kaua'i will proceed once weather conditions allow.

HAWAIʻI TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA)

Hotels are open and continue to welcome guests. Travelers scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks should keep their travel plans and check directly with their hotels or other accommodations for emergency procedures or instructions.

Airlines are the best source for flight changes and delays. Visitors should verify that their airline has their current contact information and enable available mobile or text alerts, confirm scheduled tours and activities directly with providers and keep mobile devices charged and enabled for emergency alerts.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS)

The Department of Human Services continues to coordinate with the Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) and the American Red Cross on shelter operations, working with its partners to address needs as they arise.

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES (DAGS)

The Department of Accounting and General Services' Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) division is on 24-hour emergency staffing, monitoring major and critical informational technology infrastructure that serve state government services.

Building crews readied DAGS base yards across five islands and ensured generators that power DAGS-managed facilities are fully fueled.

The department's Public Works Division (PWD) instructed the contractors on all building projects statewide to secure project sites, and ensured all state partners and contractors are on standby.

On Monday morning, all crews will triage at DAGS-managed facilities to remove debris, repair wind and water damage, including the damaged State Capitol construction barrier and remove any downed tree branches.

DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS (DHHL)

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) personnel carried out on-site damage assessments across several homestead communities in East Hawai'i.

DHHL attributes the limited impacts observed in the Maku'u, Pana'ewa and Keaukaha areas to the prompt mobilization of contractors across the state.

No additional impacts have been reported.

Staff continues to closely monitor conditions statewide and remains committed to ensuring beneficiaries' safety and well-being.

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