The County of Hawaiʻi continues to repair roads, restore water service, and respond to community needs following Hurricane Lala as it prepares for impacts from Tropical Storm Moke.

Residents and visitors are urged to be ready for potentially heavy rainfall and flooding starting Saturday night as Tropical Storm Moke passes just south of Hawaiʻi Island.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, Tropical Storm Moke was 660 miles southeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. A flood watch for Hawaiʻi Island will be in effect from Saturday night through Monday.

Rainfall amounts of 5-10 inches, with isolated amounts as high as 15 inches, are possible with this storm. Because the ground remains saturated from Hurricane Lala, it won’t take much rainfall to cause additional flooding.

See below for updates on Hurricane Lala response and relief efforts.  

Disaster Relief

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense’s human services branch is coordinating with Vibrant Hawaiʻi and other community partners to distribute supplies at Points of Distribution (PODs) at locations around the island. For the locations of the PODs and hours, visit the Vibrant Hawaii website: www.vibranthawaii.org/lala.

Disaster Relief Updates:

• Hot showers are available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Kaʻū District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala. Bring your own towel and hygiene products.

• Device charging locations:

  • Sgt. Rodney J.T. Yano Memorial Hall, 82-6156 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook.

  • Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Kaʻū District gym), 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.

  • Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, 95-5695 Mamalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.

Donations

To make donations of supplies, call the Vibrant Hawai‘i Coordination Line at 802-365-1808.

Monetary donations can be made to the Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund established by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation at www.hawaiiislandstrong.org.

Water Service

• Water service has been restored to parts of Nāʻālehu. Until further notice, the Department of Water Supply advises residents in Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu to boil water used for drinking or cooking purposes.

• Water service has been restored to Pāhala.

• Water tankers are located at Old Island Market in Nāʻālehu and the Discovery Harbour Community Center. A 400-gallon water buffalo is available at Peck Road in Volcano.

Roads Update

• The Department of Public Works (DPW) has restored road access to Wood Valley in Kaʻū.

• DPW continues work to restore Cane Haul Road in Kaʻū.

Solid Waste

• Transfer stations at Pāhala, Waiʻōhinu and Ocean View are open seven days a week until further notice to assist residents with debris clearing. Bulky items, such as sofas and beds, are now accepted at the Waiʻōhinu transfer station.

• Roll-off rubbish bins are available for residential waste and bulk items at 95-5572 Mamalahoa Highway in Nāʻālehu.

• Transfer stations at Waimea, Kealakehe, Keauhou transfer stations are accepting green waste seven days a week.

Bus Service

• Route 90 in Kaʻū is back in service.

Nāʻālehu Cemetery

A multi-agency effort, in consultation with subject-matter experts and cultural practitioners, continues to recover human remains that were displaced from graves at Nāʻālehu Cemetery by flood waters.

The public and media are asked to be respectful of this sensitive recovery effort. Please allow the team room to work and do not take any pictures or video that might show human remains.

Do not touch or move human remains. Anyone who finds human remains is asked to contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.

Requests for Assistance

If you have been impacted by the storm and need assistance, please submit a Request for Assistance at bit.ly/vh-rfa. Completing the form will help direct resources to community needs.

Report Damage

If you sustained property damage, please report it to Civil Defense.

Damage reports can be submitted at the following link – Bit.ly/CDDisasterRecovery – or by calling Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

To report agricultural damage, call the USDA Farm Service Agency at (808) 933-8334.

Every damage report counts. Your reporting of damages will help Civil Defense to better understand the magnitude of impact caused by Hurricane Lala, and document it for potential recovery assistance.

As of Aug. 21, Civil Defense has received 544 residential damage reports and 56 commercial damage reports from Hurricane Lala.