News Release

Monday, Feb. 28, 2022  Release No. 2022-012 HONOLULU — There are only a few weeks left to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) federal disaster loans for physical damage sustained during the December 2021 "Kona low" severe weather, flooding, and...

Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 Release No. 2022-011 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at...

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 Release No. 2022-010 HONOLULU — The U.S. President on Tuesday declared a major disaster related to the record-breaking ‘Kona low’ storms of December 2021, opening a new source of assistance to help communities in Hawai‘i recover from...

Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022   Release No. 2022-009 HONOLULU – An apparent malfunction in the Hawai‘i All-Hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System Saturday night caused at least one siren on the Big Island in central Hilo to sound in error for...

Friday, Jan. 28, 2022  Release No. 2022-008 HONOLULU – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Friday authorized low-interest federal disaster loans for businesses and residents on several islands that were affected by severe storms, flooding and landslides as a...

Friday, Jan. 28, 2022  Release No. 2022-007 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 at...

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022    Release No. 2022-006 HONOLULU – The deadline is quickly approaching for Hawai‘i nonprofits, local governments and other interested parties to apply for nearly $25 million in grant funding tied to presidential disaster declarations for the COVID-19...

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022  Release No. 2022-005 HONOLULU – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday announced that it has obligated the advance of more than $47 million to pay for nearly 1,000 state-contracted medical staff to assist hospitals...

Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022  Release No. 2022-004 HONOLULU – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the Tsunami Advisory for the State of Hawaiʻi at 8 a.m. HST on Saturday, Jan. 15. At this time, no casualaties, injuries, or major damage...

Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 Release No. 2022-003 HONOLULU – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami Advisory for the State of Hawai‘i at 12:40 a.m. HST on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, as a result of a volcanic eruption in...

Friday, Jan. 7, 2022  Release No. 2022-002 HONOLULU – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the 2021 Delta variant surge, access to free diagnostic testing sites for Hawai'i communities has been invaluable in protecting the health of residents, their families...

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022 Release No. 2022-001 HONOLULU – Teams of state, county and federal workers will return to Maui Tuesday to examine private property damage caused by the "Kona low" weather system that dumped more than 20 inches of...

Dec. 30, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at 11:45 a.m. During this...

Dec. 20, 2021 HONOLULU – Teams of state, county, and federal workers got an in-person look Monday at damages caused by the "Kona low" weather system which dumped more than 20 inches of rain on areas of Hawaiʻi early in...

HONOLULU – State and county teams began assessing damage Wednesday from the “Kona Low” weather system which set new rainfall records across the state this week, with aerial reconnaissance to identify wind and flooding damage on Maui. The Hawaiʻi Emergency...

HONOLULU - The “Kona low” weather system which has swamped the state of Hawai‘i with 20 inches or more of rain in places since Friday will move farther westward but could continue to affect Oʻahu and Kauaʻi through Tuesday night....

Dec. 6, 2021 HONOLULU – A powerful “Kona low” weather system continues to affect Hawaiʻi Monday, with torrential rain, damaging winds, and high tides expected over the next several days. Portions of the island of Maui saw as much as 12 inches of...

Dec. 4, 2021 HONOLULU – A “Kona Low” weather system will be impacting the Hawaiian islands and could bring as much as 25 inches of rain, along with flash floods, damaging winds and landslides to parts of the State, which makes...

Nov. 29, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 11:45 a.m. During this monthly...

November 17, 2021 HONOLULU – A newly awarded bridge project totaling nearly $3 million dollars is set to bring relief to over 200 rural residents in and around Haʻikū in Maui County, saving them hundreds of extra driving miles and bringing...

HONOLULU –The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) has launched a new interactive tool to provide the public with updated information on potential hazards statewide, the “Know Your Hazards” map, now posted on the HI-EMA website. Using “Know Your Hazards,” Hawaiʻi...

11/1/2021 HONOLULU – The all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System was inadvertently activated on the island of Oahu at 11:21 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. There is no emergency. The regularly scheduled test of the statewide system will occur...

Oct. 29, 2021  HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 1 at 11:45 a.m.  During this monthly test,...

10/10/2021  HONOLULU — An earthquake occurred at 11:49 am on Sunday, October 10, 2021, off the Kau Coast of the Big Island, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter Scale. Based on all available data from the Pacific...

Sept. 29, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 1 at 11:45 a.m. During this monthly...

HONOLULU – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. The Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) would like to remind all residents that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after...

September 15, 2021  HONOLULU – Small nonfarm businesses in Honolulu County are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of...

HONOLULU  — The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), together with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, will conduct siren testing at the following locations and times. Hoʻopili – Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 from 9...

September 13, 2021 Honolulu –  In the past year, the State of Hawaiʻi has faced unparalleled and unpredictable hardships and challenges to our island ʻohana. Severe weather brought damaging floods and landslides to several parts of our islands, a close call with Tropical Cyclone...

Honolulu – Where were you when the world stopped turning? It is a question often asked when the nation pauses each year to reflect on Sept. 11, 2001. The epicenter of the tragedy was in New York City where two...

 September 10, 2021 The County of Hawai‘i will receive $1,376,067 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support wastewater treatment. This funding covers eight new emergency power generators, helping to ensure...

Honolulu – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced funding for two 2021 hazard mitigation grant programs: The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program. These programs provide funding to State agencies,...

September 03, 2021 Honolulu – The Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) has taken steps to secure a consistent supply of liquid oxygen (O2) from the mainland to the state of Hawai`i in order to meet the increased demands brought upon...

Aug. 30, 2021  HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 11:45 a.m.  During this monthly...

August 21, 2021 HONOLULU – Remnants from former Tropical Storm Linda have the potential to bring flooding rains to all Hawaiian Islands on Sunday through Monday. A Flash Flood Watch will go in to affect for all islands starting Sunday....

HONOLULU – The result of COVID-19 on the State has significantly affected the life safety and livelihoods of Hawaiʻi residents. This is true across the nation and around the globe as the virus has created not only health concerns, but...

Honolulu – This is a test; this is only a test. But what happens when it’s not just a test? From AMBER – or MAILE – Alerts, to severe weather warnings, consumer cell phone users, as well as television viewers...

July 30, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2 at 11:45 a.m. During...

7/28/21 HONOLULU — The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled the tsunami watch for the Hawaii Islands effective on 7/28/21 at 21:15 HST. There is no tsunami threat to the State of Hawai`i. The Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency would like...

7/28/21 HONOLULU — The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for the Hawaii Islands effective on 7/28/21 at 20:46 HST. An earthquake occurred at 8:16 PM HST on Wednesday, 7/28/21, on the Alaska Peninsula with a preliminary...

Page last updated 2/2/22. E-Order for Self-Quarantine On March 4, 2020, the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States...

HONOLULU  — The Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), together with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, will conduct siren testing at the following locations and times. Pier 39, Honolulu, Monday, July 19, 2021 from 9 a.m. to...

HONOLULU – “Let me tell you a story about ka moana.” That’s the opening line of a new animated public service announcement created by Oahu-based creative media company, Hyperspective, in coordination with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) to draw...

June 29, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for Thursday, July 1 at 11:45 a.m. During...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director  Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded Hawai`i small nonfarm businesses in Kauai County of the July 13, 2021, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic...

HONOLULU – On May 19, 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced its outlook for the Central Pacific Hurricane Season, predicting 2-5 tropical cyclones for the season which begins Tuesday, June 1, 2021 and continues through Nov. 30,...

May 28, 2021 HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1 at 11:45 a.m....

HONOLULU — The Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for the Honolulu Fire Department to install hurricane-resistant doors on the Waikiki Fire Station (Station 7). The project will replace...

HONOLULU  — Assistance is on the way for areas affected by the March severe weather, flooding, and landslides incident after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Hawai`i on May 13, 2021. The...

HONOLULU  — The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), together with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, will conduct siren testing at the following locations and times. Mililani Town, Mililani – Monday, May 17, 9 a.m. to...