HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gov. Josh Green confirmed he submitted a formal request to President Donald Trump on Monday for a presidential disaster declaration following severe storms that swept across the state.
“These storms have impacted every county in our state and stretched our emergency response capabilities,” said Green. “This request is about getting our communities the support they need to recover quickly and safely.”
If approved, the declaration would unlock critical federal support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including:
Public Assistance: Funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent repairs to roads, bridges, utilities and public facilitiesIndividual Assistance: Direct support for residents, including housing assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and legal servicesHazard Mitigation Funding: Resources to strengthen infrastructure and reduce future disaster risk statewideEnhanced federal cost share: Up to 90% federal funding for eligible recovery costs
Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda said they support Green’s request and urged federal action to help communities recover from two consecutive Kona low storm systems.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, the delegation said approval would help unlock federal resources for response, recovery, and rebuilding.
“We write in support of Governor Josh Green’s March 23, 2026, request that you issue a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawai‘i. We ask that you consider expediting all federal assistance possible to help the State recover from the severe and ongoing impacts of two consecutive Kona Low weather systems that struck from March 10-16, 2026, and again beginning on March 19, 2026. As you know, approval of a disaster declaration can make a real difference for families and communities working to recover and rebuild. We appreciate the Trump administration’s continued attention to ensuring Americans have access to the federal support and resources they need in the aftermath of natural disasters.”
The lawmakers said the storms brought extensive damage statewide, including washed-out roads, utility outages, wastewater discharges on Oahu, and the evacuation of patients from Kula Hospital on Maui because of water damage.
They also noted the state estimates damage may exceed $1 billion.
“We are grateful for your consideration of this request, and we look forward to working with your administration in the months and years ahead to help Hawaii recover and rebuild,” the delegation wrote.
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