PROCLAMATION TERMINATING THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION RELATING TO THE APRIL 2026 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT AND CONCURRENT HAZARDS

WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) § 127A-14(b), the Charter of the County of Hawaiʻi § 13-23, Hawaiʻi County Code § 7-1-7(a), and based on the available data, I issued the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards; and

WHEREAS, when the emergency proclamation was issued, there was an active National Weather Service Honolulu (NWS) Flood Watch for the entire State of Hawaiʻi, in effect through 6:00 P.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026, and a Winter Weather Advisory for Hawaiʻi Island summits above 12,500 feet, in effect through 6:00 A.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026; and

WHEREAS, there was also an active NWS High Surf Advisory for south-facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands, which was in effect until 6:00 A.M. HST Thursday, April 9, 2026; and

WHEREAS, there was also an active NWS Special Weather Statement regarding Kīlauea Volcano Episode 44 precursory activity, advising that an episodic fountaining eruption is expected within the Kīlauea summit caldera, with a potential eruption window extending through Wednesday, April 15, 2026; and

WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts to the County of Hawaiʻi during this period included heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts, thunderstorms, flash floods, dangerous ocean conditions, ice accumulation and snow accumulations on the Hawaiʻi Island summits, and a potential volcanic eruption likely to result in ashfall, Pele’s hair, and tephra; and

WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts would be compounded by the already-saturated ground conditions resulting from the two recent successive Kona Low weather events; and

WHEREAS, the Winter Weather Advisory has expired; the High Surf Advisory has expired; the NWS Special Weather Statement regarding Kīlauea Volcano Episode 44 precursory activity is no longer in effect, as Episode 44 occurred on April 9, 2026, and the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has lowered the alert level to Advisory (Yellow) with the eruption currently paused; and

WHEREAS, while the flood-prone conditions continue to exist statewide and the NWS Flood Watch that was in effect at the time of the emergency proclamation had been extended, NWS cancelled the Flood Watch for Hawai‘i Island on the afternoon of April 12, 2026, as flooding no longer posed a sufficient threat to Hawaiʻi Island, and NWS subsequently cancelled the remaining Flood Watch for the rest of the State in the early morning of April 13, 2026; and

WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, and pursuant to my authority as sole judge of the existence of the danger, threat, or circumstances giving rise to a termination of a local state of emergency in the County of Hawaiʻi under HRS § 127A-14(c), I find that the dangers, threats, and circumstances supporting the emergency proclamation have sufficiently waned such that the emergency measures authorized under the emergency proclamation are no longer reasonably necessary to address the emergency or disaster or imminent danger or threat thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, hereby terminate the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards dated April 8, 2026, pursuant to HRS § 127A-14(c) and (d), immediately effective upon promulgation of this proclamation pursuant to HRS § 127A-15, as I find that the local state of emergency is no longer necessary.

Proclamation Terminating the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards