NEWS RELEASE: State Prepares For Severe Weather Impacts

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 APRIL 2026 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

STATE PREPARES FOR SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTS

HONOLULU  ̶  State of Hawaiʻi departments have been actively preparing the islands in advance of the approaching severe weather, which began to affect island residents on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Anticipating the storm impacts, state agencies have been preparing state facilities and property to take precautions to prevent damage from the incoming storm, as well as offer resources to support the state’s response during and after the storm.

The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency has established a severe weather resources page that will continue to be updated as information becomes available. For more information, visit www.ready.hawaii.gov/severeweather.

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM (DBEDT) UPDATES

• Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC): Lowering the levels for ADC-managed water reservoirs, clearing ditches and irrigation systems, checking gates that manage waterflow, staging equipment for emergencies and working closely with DLNR’s dam safety team to monitor water levels on an hourly basis.
• Hawai‘i Community Development Authority: Posted signs at the Kolowalu Dog Park that it will be closed to the public effective Thursday morning and until future assessments deem it is safe for public access.
• Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA): Sharing clear, consistent guidance with current visitors, those planning trips to Hawai‘i and the visitor industry in Hawai‘i and worldwide.

• Industry updates and visitor safety resources will continue to be distributed regularly through HTA’s website and by email to more than 10,000 industry partners globally, including travel advisors, tour operators, airline partners, national travel media and MCI (meetings, conventions and incentives) groups.
• Direct visitor messaging including active weather alerts and island-by-island conditions and closures will continue through GoHawai‘i social media channels, the GoHawai‘i website alert banner and dedicated landing page, the GoHawai‘i app through push and in-app alerts and the 1-800-GOHAWAII call center.

• Military and Community Relations Office: Ensuring aligned, transparent communication and outside of National Guard, any necessary coordination across state, military and community partners.
• Stadium Authority: Monitoring conditions closely to determine if the swap meet will operate or potentially close for Saturday or Sunday.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCCA)

Communications and Public Outreach

• The Hawai‘i Insurance Division has been providing information about filing insurance claims, understand policies and coverage and clarifying flood insurance.
• Staff is available at the Community Assistance Center daily while in operation and shall continue to both provide on-the-ground support and assistance by phone. The public can call 1-844-808-3222 (ext. 4).

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) UPDATES

• The Hawaiʻi National Guard (HING) increased its posture by activating its Joint Task Force (JTF). The HING JTF allows for better command and control of all the smaller island Task Forces and the influx of personnel to assist the counties during the severe weather event. Currently there are 289 soldiers and airmen on State Active Duty. This is the most Guard personnel activated since the Kona Low storms in March.
• HING is assisting with monitoring two dams on Oʻahu: Reservoir 155 and the Wahiawā Dam. The Guard will continue to monitor throughout the severe weather threat.
• HING has also filled and distributed 4,420 sandbags for the North Shore community on the island of Oʻahu.
• Two helicopters are ready to support Hawaiʻi County and the City and County of Honolulu.
• High Water Vehicle Teams (HWVT) were positioned in strategic locations that saw flooding during the Kona Low 1 and 2 storms. HWVTs can drive through 3-and-a-half feet of water to evacuate or rescue those in need.
• HING has paused all debris-clearing activities in Waialua and Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu until the severe weather passes.
• HING has also distributed over 8,000 gallons of water to residents in affected areas.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) UPDATES

• The DOH Safe Drinking Water Branch offered assistance and additional emergency laboratory testing capacity to vulnerable Public Water Systems and Public Water Systems that have been previously impacted by the storms.
• DOH’s Vector Control Branch continues to trap mosquitoes in impacted areas to confirm that mosquitoes are not carrying common vector-borne diseases. Testing of previously collected mud and sediment samples for pesticides and heavy metals remains ongoing.
• The DOH Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch has been in contact with county solid waste programs that are preparing their solid waste facilities for the storms and anticipates that their facilities will remain open during the storm event (normal operations). DOH’s Clean Water Branch and the DOH Environmental Health Analytical Services Branch continue to collect and test near shore water samples to provide water quality results following the storms.
• DOH’s Indoor and Radiological Health Branch continues to provide information and guidance to persons affected by flooding, moisture incursion and mold growth.
• The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office and Disease Outbreak Control Division have activated surveillance of data health systems ahead of the storm to rapidly identify storm-related health impacts and environmental exposures, enhancing situational awareness and supporting timely response.
• DOH continues to coordinate with state and county counterparts to provide environmental health guidance.

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DLNR) UPDATES

Dam Safety

• Conducting inspections of several dams on Maui and on O‘ahu (including Wahiawā Dam, Helemano 6, and Upper Helemano). No urgent dam safety concerns statewide.
• Checking gauges and water levels, deficiencies, increased seepage and stability issues, etc.  
• Instructing dam owners to submit post-storm inspection reports.

Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR):

• Staff installed a temporary boom in the Ala Wai Canal yesterday to help funnel the anticipated storm runoff into a debris trap and keep trash out of our ocean waters.
• Since the last storm, DOBOR crews working on the Ala Wai have removed and hauled away more than 400 cubic yards of debris.

Division of Conservation Resources Enforcement (DOCARE)

• DOCARE officers are coordinating with Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Major Events Division and will have officers assigned to flood response and staged at HPD’s command post in Wahiawā.

Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW)

• DOFAW participates in County Emergency Management Agency operational briefings for status updates in anticipation of actions needed.
• Monitoring facilities and infrastructure, including, but not limited to, all Forest Reserves, Game Management Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Natural Area Reserves and Nā Ala Hele Trails and Access for issues or concern that require response.
• DLNR on O‘ahu and the Administrative Branch will provide crews for debris removal, specifically tree fall, with a DOFAW liaison at the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. 

State Parks

KAUAʻI

• The Kalalau trail and Hāʻena Shuttle are CLOSED until further notice due to imminent weather and saturated water levels that may cause the Hanakāpīʻai stream to rise quickly.
• Polihale State Park and camping is CLOSED until further notice due to mud and debris removal.
• Refunds will be credited to the accounts of anyone who misses camping nights due to storm closures.
• Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site: CLOSED for construction.
• Wailua River inland waters will be closed to vessel use for public safety, due to threat of flash flooding.

OʻAHU

• Kaʻena Point State Park: Keawaʻula (west) section remains closed due to damage suffered in the last Kona low. Mokulēʻia Section closed to permitted vehicle access.

MAUI

• ‘Īao Valley State Monument CLOSED due to damage sustained in the last Kona low.
• Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area CLOSED due to damage sustained in the last Kona low.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

• No Hawaiʻi Island closures as of April 8, 2026.

DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (DLE) UPDATES

• Drones are being used to help in:

• Assessing and identifying flooded areas, damaged roads and damaged property.
• Assisting with rescue operations by identifying the exact location of individuals who are trapped due to flooding or other dangerous situations, making it difficult and dangerous for those individuals to evacuate on their own.
• Evacuation Shelters  
• DLE sheriffs will be present at various shelters for security purposes to help maintain the peace.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) UPDATES

• O‘ahu crews have been clearing streams, culverts and drains from Kahalu‘u to Kahuku and toward Hale‘iwa. Crews are placing water filter socks around the debris from the March storms to direct water away from select areas to reduce runoff and enhance slope stabilization.
• On neighbor islands, crews are completing pre-storm checklists and preparing crews for round-the-clock storm response.
• Status on the remaining repairs on O‘ahu from the March Kona low events is as follows:

Area	Route	Issue	Notes
Kailua	Kalaniana‘ole/Pali between Kapa‘a Quarry Road and Castle Junction	Landslides	Townbound right lane past Castle Junction will be closed 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday thru Sunday. Townbound right lane from Kapa‘a Quarry Road to Le Jardin Academy closed on the following schedule: -9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Friday -6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Kailua	Pali Highway, Kailua-bound past Waokanaka	Water under the road, pavement repair	Water under the road was addressed week of March 30; pavement repairs were completed at 2 p.m. 4/8. Lanes will be reopened when asphalt cools at 3 p.m.
Kāne‘ohe	Ki‘ona‘ole Road	Culvert wash out and undercut roadway	Detour available. Design and permitting ongoing. Once the permits are received, construction duration is estimated for four weeks.
Kualoa	Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Ranch/Johnson Road	Installation of French drain to redirect water causing potholes	Single lane closure with contraflow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. expected through 4/16.
Waialua	Farrington Highway between Thompson Corner and Otake Store	Road restoration (nighttime)	Road will be closed nightly for road restoration from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning through 4/14. Following completion, crew will move to Kaukonahua Road.
Wai‘anae	Farrington Highway at Kea‘au Homestead Road	Drainage culvert	Makai lane is washed out. HDOT will restore single lane access with yield signs.

• Crews halted repair projects Wednesday, April 8 and will return to the sites as conditions permit.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE) UPDATES

After closures at Hāna High and Elementary School and Henry Perrine Baldwin High School on Maui, all public schools are open today. HIDOE is closely monitoring conditions and prioritizing keeping schools open as long as campuses remain safe and accessible. Schools have taken steps to prepare for potential impacts, including mitigating flooding where needed. There are no widespread school closures planned at this time, although localized closures may occur depending on conditions in specific areas.

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Media Contact:

Joint Information Center

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, State of Hawaiʻi