County of Maui TS Lala update as of 1 p.m. on 8-17-26
STORM UPDATE
As Tropical Storm Lala continues moving west of the main Hawaiian Islands, the National Weather Service (NWS) Flood Watch for Maui County expired overnight. Lala on Saturday brought hurricane-force winds -- gusts of 85 mph in Olowalu and 82 mph in Ukumehame – along with heavy rain and flooding. The Upcountry area was hit with many large, downed trees that toppled power lines and damaged infrastructure. Thousands remain without power in areas of Kula, Hāʻikū, Olinda and Piʻiholo, along with parts of West, Central and South Maui. Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and other County departments and sections conducted preliminary damage assessments via air and ground.
COUNTY CLOSURES
• At the directive of Gov. Josh Green, all County of Maui offices on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are closed today, 8/17. Only essential personnel will report to work. Normal operations resume tomorrow, 8/18.
• For updates on County Department of Parks and Recreation parks and facilities impacted by Lala, visit mauicounty.gov/parks and scroll to Tropical Storm Lala: Updates on Park and Facility Closures. Locations not on the list are open.
• Molokaʻi-Nāʻiwa Landfill and Recycling Center and Lānaʻi Landfill were closed on 8/15 due to high winds causing unsafe operating conditions. The landfills are expected to reopen for regular hours at 8 a.m. on 8/18.
SHELTERS
Shelters provide cots, food and water. Bring bedding, medications and other essential items. Individuals with dietary restrictions should plan accordingly. Pets are allowed only if they are secured in crates or cages.
Open today, 8/17:
• UPCOUNTRY: Charging station with WiFi and shelter, Eddie Tam Memorial Center, 931 Makawao Ave., Makawao. 3:30 P.M. 8/17 UPDATE: The County charging station and American Red Cross shelter at Eddie Tam in Makawao will close tonight at 8. It will reopen tomorrow, 8/18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. solely as a charging station, or temporary service site, for powering devices and connecting to WiFi via Starlink.
Closed today, 8/17:
• CLOSED AT 11 A.M.: Hāna: Hāna High & Elementary School Cafeteria, 4111 Hāna Highway
WATER CONSERVATION ADVISORY
Department of Water Supply (DWS) is advising residents and visitors in West Maui to conserve water until power is fully restored. Limiting nonessential water use will help maintain water service reliability as service is restored following storm-related power outages. Sign up for DWS News Flash notifications at https://www.mauicounty.gov/list.aspx.
WATER OUTAGE
Four DWS drinking water tanks are positioned at 1222 Olinda Road; one at Pi’iholo Road; two at Ehu Road;
one at Alaluana Road; and one at Haleakala Acres on Crater Road. DWS reported a water service outage in the Olinda / Pi’iholo areas of Upcountry as of 5:30 p.m. 8/15.
POWER OUTAGES
Hawaiian Electric Co. widespread power outages are occurring. Learn Maui County outages by phone at 1(855) 304-8181 (toll free) and from HECO Maui County Outage Map at www.heco.com.
RADIO
For County storm updates, tune in to Pacific Media Group radio stations: KPOA 93.5 FM; DaJam 98.3 FM; ESPN Maui 102.5 FM / 900 AM; HI92 Maui; 99.9 Kiss FM; K Country 106.1 FM / 550 AM.
COUNTY CANCELLATIONS
• East Maui Water Authority’s ‘Aha Wai O Maui Hikina Board meeting, set for 8/17 in Kula, is cancelled.
• Office of the Mayor’s annual Holomua Kākou talk-story gathering and drop-in centers on Lānaʻi slated for 8/17-18, is cancelled and will be rescheduled.
ROAD CLOSURES
For updates on County road closures, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/roadclosures or download the Genasys Protect app at mauicounty.gov/MEMA.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
Residents and businesses are encouraged to report storm damage to private property through Crisis Track on https://mauirecovers.org. Reports help the County document damage and support recovery efforts. Submitting a report does not provide direct assistance to individuals or businesses, but it helps the County document the full extent of storm damage. Damage to public roads, infrastructure or County-managed areas should be reported through https://tinyurl.com/mauicountylala. For help completing a damage assessment, call Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at (808) 270-7285.
COUNTY RESPONSE
Mayor Richard Bissen signed an emergency proclamation 4/13 that lets the County access state and federal assistance and streamline procedures to quickly deploy resources, personnel and services if needed. The County Emergency Operations Center went into full activation as of 6 a.m. 8/15. County departments since 8/12 had been preparing for storm impacts by inspecting and clearing infrastructure, positioning equipment and upstaffing for emergency response.
MORE INFORMATION
For the latest information, visit NWS in Honolulu at https://www.weather.gov/hfo/ and subscribe to Genasys Protect and MEMA alerts at mauicounty.gov/MEMA.
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