NEWS RELEASE – STATE OF HAWAIʻI AUGUST 23 UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM MOKE

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 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

 

STATE OF HAWAIʻI UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM MOKE

State Departments Continue to Support Residents

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

August 23, 2026

TropicalStormMoke-JIC-2026-004

HONOLULU — Hawaiʻi state agencies remain ready to respond to Tropical Storm Moke and support county emergency response efforts, especially in Kaʻū. The storm will pass south of the islands but still bring significant rain to Hawaiʻi Island, with five to 10 inches of rain predicted.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency is providing temporary housing assistance to residents impacted by Tropical Cyclone Lala and Tropical Storm Moke. The call center is now open Monday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents in need may call 808-818-7587 (808-818-PLUS) for assistance.

Operation TREK808 is now active. It is a logistics and relief mission using C-17 military aircraft to transport critical recovery equipment and supplies to Hawaiʻi Island in anticipation of severe weather impacts from Tropical Storm Moke.

The state is also making progress in recovering from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Lala. National Guard members continue to help recover iwi and other remains displaced from the Nā‘ālehu cemetery. More protection will arrive in the area today.

Roads are rapidly being repaired. Ninety percent of Hawaiʻi Island customers have power back on, and crews are working to restore power to the last 6,600 customers without electricity.

“The state is both making sure it’s prepared for Tropical Storm Moke while simultaneously recovering from the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Lala,” said Governor Josh Green. “We’ve submitted a federal disaster declaration request and we anticipate approval.”

Looking even further ahead, Tropical Storm Iselle is already forming in the Pacific and is expected to pass near our state in 10 days. While it is projected to miss us, the state of Hawaiʻi is tracking it and will advise residents if that changes. This is a good time to remind people to prepare their hurricane kits and secure items around their homes since we are in hurricane season.

The following are the latest updates on response efforts and impacts:

HAWAIʻI NATIONAL GUARD (HING)

The Hawaiʻi National Guard (HING) is supporting state and county emergency response and recovery efforts from Tropical Cyclone Lala and preparing for incoming Tropical Storm Moke that is expected to affect Hawaiʻi on Sunday.

HING has 189 personnel supporting the state and counties: 98 on Oʻahu, 17 on Maui and 74 on Hawaiʻi Island. Personnel include teams are working on debris clearance and  search-and-rescue and extraction. HING is increasing staffing to continue to support recovery efforts.

HING is also supporting recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala:

• To date, HING has assisted 16 civilians, rescued two emergency medical services personnel and conducted 322 wellness checks on Hawaiʻi Island.
• Crews are assisting Hawaiʻi County with wide-area search operations in Kaʻū and have identified 72 remains from Nāʻālehu Cemetery. The teams are following all protocols with respect and cultural sensitivities regarding the iwi and remains found. Debris clearance teams have cleared more than 4.41 miles of debris from communities.
• On Maui, HING personnel have conducted 80 damage assessments with the county and are standing by for support requests.
• The HING is coordinating and supporting a request for two C-17 flights from California to Hawaiʻi Island to transport additional equipment for Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company.

Photos and video of HING supporting storm response efforts are available ​​ ​​​​here​​.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT)

Highways:

A portion of Highway 11 remains closed for paving work in Nāʻālehu because of damage from Tropical Cyclone Lala. Crews will conduct slope stabilization work on Monday. Single-lane traffic will remain in place while the work is ongoing. DOT expects to fully reopen Highway 11 at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Lala also affected Maui’s Route 378, also called Crater Road, which is open to one-lane access from mile marker 2.5 and beyond. It’s open only to first responders and the Space Force. DOE hopes to open it to the public Monday, pending inspection.

Preparations for Tropical Storm Moke:

Crews prepared equipment, tools and materials to respond to Tropical Storm Moke, in addition to clearing drains and culverts. Crews also removed drain filters from construction projects.

Streams:

On Oʻahu, DOT has cleared Kaʻalaea, Kaukonahua, Waiawa and Waiāhole Streams. Crews continue to clear Kalihi and Mānoa Streams.

Airports:

Hilo and Kona airports are providing weather information over their public-address systems.

Harbors:

Crews have prepared for the storm and are standing by to respond.

Road-closure notices and updates will be provided at hidot.hawaii.gov/weather-traffic and HDOT’s social media accounts.

Photos of storm preparations are available in the Tropical Storm Moke album on HDOT’s Facebook page at facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (HIDOE)

HIDOE will begin weekly distribution of free nonperishable meal boxes this week to support children and families in Kaʻū communities.

HIDOE expects to provide approximately 4,500 meals each week through three distribution sites in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu and Ocean View. Each meal box will contain five breakfasts and five lunches that meet school meal nutritional requirements.

Meals are available at no cost to children ages 18 and younger. Children must be present at pickup. Distribution will continue weekly until further notice. Families should monitor communications from their schools and HIDOE for schedule changes.

DOE food service employees are being deployed to prepare, transport and distribute the meal boxes.

For Kaʻū High, Pāhala Elementary and Nāʻālehu Elementary, the department will finalize and share plans for resuming educational programming early next week. Plans are being developed to support continued learning while campus and community recovery efforts continue.

No additional issues requiring interagency assistance are being reported at this time.

AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ADC)

The Agribusiness Development Corporation activated its emergency protocols and is taking the following measures at the Wahiawā Dam:

• On Sunday morning, the water level in the Wahiawā Reservoir, also known as Lake Wilson, was 75.6 feet and dropping.
• ADC has been lowering water levels by releasing approximately 85 million gallons per day. All drainage outlets are open and fully operational and controlled releases will continue through the storm.
• Debris has been cleared to ensure the spillway remains unobstructed.
• ADC installed an AquaDam, increasing the spillway height by an additional 1.5 to 2 feet and temporarily expanding the dam’s capacity.
• Water levels, weather conditions and the dam structure are being monitored continuously.
• ADC is maintaining communication with dam regulators and state, county and federal agencies to provide and receive status updates.

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DLNR)

Statewide

Forests and Wildlife Lands

Due to hazardous weather conditions, the public is strongly urged to avoid forested and coastal areas. Hazards from recent storms may still pose safety risks. DLNR recommends staying away from outdoor areas that may be exposed to hazards such as flooding, rockfalls, landslides and unstable vegetation. Emergency response and rescue operations in these areas may be delayed because of dangerous conditions.

Ongoing closures related to Tropical Cyclone Lala impacts are reflected on the OuterSpatial app and ehawaii.gov for camping and day use permits.

Anticipated impacts of hazardous weather conditions include rising stream levels, flash flooding, falling trees and branches, storm surge and high surf.

Camping and Lodging

Refunds for canceled camping and lodging permits in state parks and on state lands will be credited to the accounts of permit holders who miss reserved nights because of storm closures.

Boating and Harbors

All state small boat harbors will remain open to provide safe harbor for vessels, subject to any limitations on available mooring space and vessel size. Vessels seeking safe harbor should contact the nearest harbor to make arrangements at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/contact. Vessel groundings should be immediately reported to the nearest harbor office. See dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/contact.

Kauaʻi

No state park or camping area closures are anticipated because of Tropical Storm Moke, and there are no immediate dam safety concerns.

Oʻahu

Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area/‘Aiea Loop Trail will remain closed until at least Aug. 28. Hawaiian Electric Company is conducting repairs on a structure carrying high-voltage transmission lines damaged by Tropical Storm Lala.

Maui Nui

No state park or camping area closures are anticipated because of Tropical Storm Moke and there are no immediate dam safety concerns.

Hawaiʻi Island

No immediate dam safety concerns. Parks closed due to Tropical Cyclone Lala will remain closed through the weekend.

The following parks were open Saturday and are closed Sunday:

West Hawaiʻi: Kekaha Kai State Park

East Hawaiʻi: ʻAkaka Falls State Park, Wailuku River State Park and MacKenzie State Recreation Area

Hawaiʻi Island forestry and wildlife lands closed on August 14, 2026, and will remain closed until Moke has passed. Keanakolu and ʻĀinapō cabins and the Puna Trail are currently closed.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

Hospital and Health Care Resources: Air medical and ground EMS services are operating normally statewide. Ten aircraft are available, two are in transit and one crew is on standby. Hospitals are operating at normal capacity. The Medical Operations Coordination Center (MOCC) continues to monitor 911 activity, EMS, air medical, hospitals and the healthcare coalition.

Public Health: The Public Health Nursing Branch is working with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies to coordinate requests from the Mobile Medical Services hub beginning Monday.

Behavioral Health Resources: DOH community mental health clinics are open across Hawaiʻi Island. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Surveillance: DOH continues to monitor for infectious disease threats related to storm impacts and other threats statewide.

Ongoing Brown Water Advisories: Brown Water Advisories remain in effect for Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu and certain areas on Kauaʻi. Residents should stay out of brown or discolored coastal waters and streams. View ongoing Brown Water Advisories at eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/landing

Post-storm guidance: Visit the DOH hurricane preparedness page for post-storm health and safety guidance, including fact sheets in multiple languages: health.hawaii.gov/response-center/emergency/hurricane-preparedness

HAWAIʻI TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA)

HTA continues to provide active weather alerts, island-specific conditions and closure information through GoHawaii social media channels, the GoHawaii website and app, and the 1-800-GOHAWAII call center, available 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. HST. Visitors also can visit gohawaii.com/moke.

• Travel plans: Hawaiʻi continues to welcome visitors and advises travelers scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks to keep their plans.
• Hawaiʻi Island messaging to visitors: The visitor industry continues to inform visitors that Māmalahoa Highway (Route 11) remains closed to through traffic between South Point Road and Kamani Street in Pāhala, and that Volcanoes National Park remains closed.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS)

In addition to assisting storm-displaced residents with temporary housing arrangements, the department advises current SNAP recipients who lost food because of Tropical Cyclone Lala that they have until Sept. 3 to request replacement benefits. Households must submit a signed, written statement that includes the participant’s name, date and estimated value of the food loss, a description of what occurred and contact information. Statements may be submitted to any DHS Processing Center statewide, except the Kaʻū–Nāʻālehu and Kohala offices, which remain closed. For more information, visit the DHS website or call 1-855-643-1643.

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES (DAGS)

The Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) division provides 24-hour emergency staffing and monitors major and critical IT infrastructure that supports state government services. ETS is prepared to escalate rapidly if conditions deteriorate.

The West Hawaiʻi District Office (WHDO) is working closely with HIDOE to address impacts from Hurricane Lala and potential impacts from Tropical Storm Moke at Naʻālehu Elementary School, Kaʻū High School and Pāhala Elementary School. WHDO and HIDOE are moving forward with environmental and structural assessments, cleanup and mitigation, and necessary repairs to restore safe and operational school facilities within a reasonable time frame so students can return to their schools as soon as conditions safely allow.

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