Hawai\u2018i County Department of Water Supply reports service continues to be incrementally expanded to several areas hardest hit by Lala.<\/p>\n
Water is being filled into Discovery Harbor Off-site, Discovery Harbor No. 3 and Discovery Harbor No. 4 as well as South Point Road tanks, and waterlines downstream of tanks will begin to be filled as tanks are refilled. Repairs to waterline leaks and breaks will be made as they are found.<\/p>\n
Water service to taps also will slowly be restored as tanks are filled in those areas.<\/p>\n
Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes National Park also is reopening portions as they are cleared and repaired.<\/p>\n
The public also should continue avoiding unnecessary travel into Ka\u02bb\u016b to help quicken emergency response.<\/p>\n
Keep reading for more updates about ongoing Hurricane Lala recovery.<\/p>\n
Hawaiian Electric<\/strong><\/p>\n Crews have made significant progress with repairing utility infrastructure; however, there are several hundred customers in various locations around the island yet to be re-energized because of issues accessing equipment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEven though we are ready to restore power, we need to first ensure that our customers\u2019 property can receive electricity safely,\u201d said Hawaiian Electric Vice President of Energy Delivery Shari Ishikawa in an update Saturday morning.<\/p>\n Although most customers who remain without electricity reported it, those who have not followed up within the past 3 days \u2014 except those in Wood Valley \u2014 should call the company\u2019s trouble line at\u00a01-855-304-9191<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0report it online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Repairs to customer-owned electrical components such as wiring, outlets or equipment and\/or removal of vegetation from individual service lines might be needed before power can be restored.<\/p>\n Customers who experienced major flooding and have not had their power restored must ensure their main circuit breaker is off and contact a licensed electrician to confirm their system is safe to re-energize.<\/p>\n Floodwaters swept away portions of Wood Valley and Center roads along with more than a dozen utility poles in Wood Valley. Hawaiian Electric plans to reroute its lines and install new poles away from the damaged areas to help get customers back online as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Crews on Friday did pre-work for installation of new poles, which will continue through the weekend.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric representatives are still available at\u00a0Vibrant Hawai\u2018i<\/a>\u00a0points of distribution at P\u0101hala Community Center and Kurtistown Samoan-English Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where customers can get questions answered, updates about restoration and outages, news about ongoing work in their area and estimated restoration timelines.<\/p>\n Customers are encouraged to remain alert for potential utility imposters. Verify a person\u2019s affiliation by calling Hawaiian Electric customer call centers at:<\/p>\n Information about filing damage claims can be found on the Hawaiian Electric website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i County Department of Water Supply<\/strong><\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu to Wai\u2018ohinu<\/strong> (including Discovery Harbor, Mark Twain Subdivision, Green Sands Subdivision, and South Point Road areas):<\/p>\n P\u0101hala<\/strong><\/p>\n For more information about water service outages, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The public also is reminded and continues to be warned about reports of people posing as department employees<\/a> and attempting to collect payment for an alleged past due water bill.<\/p>\n Disaster relief and donations<\/p>\n Hawai\u2018i County Civil Defense Human Services continues coordinating with Vibrant Hawai\u02bbi<\/a> and other community partners to distribute supplies around the island.<\/p>\n Call the Vibrant Hawai\u2018i Coordination Line at 802-365-1808 to make donations. Monetary donations specifically can be made to the Hawai\u2018i Island Strong Fund<\/a> established by the Hawai\u2018i Community Foundation.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Department of the Attorney General urges donors to verify charities before giving to disaster relief efforts as crowdfunding campaigns and fundraising efforts are being launched throughout Hawai\u02bbi in support of those impacted by Lala.<\/p>\n The attorney general\u2019s Tax and Charities Division asks donors to do their homework before contributing to or organizing any relief fundraiser.<\/p>\n Residents should confirm a charity\u2019s status using the following resources:<\/p>\n Donors also are recommend taking these precautions:<\/p>\n If a charity cannot answer these questions clearly, donors should consider giving to an established, registered charity instead.<\/p>\n State law requires written consent from a charity before the event takes place. Consent forms can be submitted here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Charities, in turn, should confirm that any fundraiser conducted in their name has been properly authorized. Further details are posted on the\u00a0Tax & Charities Division website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Contact the Tax & Charities Division at\u00a0808-586-1480<\/a>\u00a0or visit its website<\/a> to report a suspected charity scam or questionable fundraiser.<\/p>\n Banks<\/p>\n Bank of Hawai\u2018i on Thursday reopened its K\u0101\u2018u branch<\/a>, located at 96-3163 P\u012bkake St. in P\u0101hala. Temporary hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until further notice.<\/p>\n Public schools<\/p>\n K\\a\u02bb\u016b High & P\u0101hala Elementary School will reopen Monday, Aug. 31, for in-person learning, while N\u0101\u02bb\u0101lehu Elementary students will start temporary classes Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Ka\u02bb\u016b High gym. Additional updates are being posted online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Public libraries<\/p>\n N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Public Library<\/a>, located at\u00a095-5669 M\u0101malahoa Highway,<\/a> and P\u0101hala Public and School Library<\/a>, located at 96-3150 Pikake St., are reopen. Both resumed full services and regular hours, with electricity and network connectivity restored.<\/p>\n Food distribution<\/strong><\/p>\n The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is serving up warm meals to high-impact areas across Hawai\u02bbi Island this week.<\/p>\n Lunch and dinner meals are being served at shelters throughout Ka\u02bb\u016b. Walmart, Wai\u0101kea Water, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and Kaleo\u2019s Bar and Grill also joined in the effort.<\/p>\n Brown water advisor<\/strong>ies<\/p>\n Brown water advisories remain in effect for waters along the H\u0101m\u0101kua Coast to Hilo Bay<\/a> in East Hawai\u02bbi and from Honu\u02bbapo to Punalu\u02bbu<\/a> along the island\u2019s southeast coastline.<\/p>\n Hot showers<\/p>\n Hot showers are vailable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium and Shelter (Ka\u02bb\u016b District gym), located at 96-1219 Kamani St., in P\u0101hala. Bring a towel and hygiene products.<\/p>\n Device charging locations<\/p>\n Devices can be charged at the following places:<\/p>\n Roads update<\/p>\n Visit the Hawai\u02bbi County Hazard Impact Map<\/a> for updates about any road closures and more.<\/p>\n Solid waste<\/strong><\/p>\n Requests for assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n If you were impacted by Hurricane Lala and need assistance, submit a request for assistance<\/a>. Completing the form will help direct resources to community needs.<\/p>\n Report damage<\/strong><\/p>\n Report property damage to Civil Defense. Damage reports can be submitted online<\/a>\u00a0or by calling Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.<\/p>\n Call U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency at 808-933-8334 to report agricultural damage.<\/p>\n 9-1-1 for emergencies only<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are in a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1. For all other storm-related needs, go online and fill out a request for assistance<\/a> or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park partially reopens<\/p>\n Most of Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park is now open following temporary closures, including these most recently opened:\u00a0<\/p>\n Areas that remain\u00a0closed\u00a0until further notice are:<\/p>\n Hazards remain, including fallen trees, hanging branches, unstable slopes, flooding, debris, damaged roads and facilities.<\/p>\n Visitors from the island\u2019s west side should use Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road or H\u0101m\u0101kua Coast (Highway 19) to avoid using Highway 11 through Ka\u02bb\u016b.<\/p>\n Check the Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park website<\/a> and connect with official park social media on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a> for additional updates.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/USE-20260827_mamalahoa_hwy_before_kau_sce_crew_on_road-1024x796.jpg\")
<\/a>Utility crews work Aug. 27, 2026, on and along a portion of M\u0101malahoa Highway before Ka\u02bb\u016b as Hawaiian Electric efforts continue to restore power to customers continuing to experience outages because of Hurricane Lala. (Courtesy Photo: Hawaiian Electric)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Hawaiian-Electric-continues-restoration-efforts-after-Lala-8-27-26-BIN-feature-pic-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>A utility crewmember works Aug. 27, 2026, along a portion of M\u0101malahoa Highway in P\u0101hala as Hawaiian Electric efforts continue to restore power to customers continuing to experience outages because of Hurricane Lala. (Courtesy Photo: Hawaiian Electric)<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Water-Service-2-1024x573.jpg\")
<\/a>A potable water tanker is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Island Market parking lot, across from N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Ace Hardware. (Courtesy Photo: Hawai\u2018i County Department of Water Supply)<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/260820-pahala-263-copy-1024x739.jpg\")
<\/a>Clarissa Pua grabs a family sized hot curry meal donated Aug. 20, 2026, at P\u0101hala Community Center. (Kelsey Walling\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kau-high-and-elementary-e1368243006229.jpg\")
<\/a>Ka\u02bb\u016b High & Elementary School in P\u0101hala. (File Photo)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/260820-pahala-094-copy-2-1024x679.jpg\")
<\/a>A portion of Highway 11 in front of Ka\u02bb\u016b Hospital in P\u0101hala collapsed during Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7K2A0214-copy-1024x710.jpg\")
<\/a>Crews work to clear huge trees that have fallen on Highway 11 near the Pi\u02bbikea Bridge north of Pahala on Aug. 16, 2026. (Kelsey Walling\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food-assistance-featured-image-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Dane Sesson, 61, passes out food to volunteers and community members clearing properties of mud and debris in N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu after Hurricane Lala. (Tiffany DeMasters\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"Headstones](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lala-Recovery-33-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/a>Headstones from the N\u0101\u2018\u0101lehu Cemetery were found washed down the road into people\u2019s properties on Aug. 17, 2026, after Hurricane Lala. (Tiffany DeMasters\/Big Island Now)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20260825_honokaa_old_mamalahoa_hwy5-copy-1024x774.jpg\")
<\/a>Hawaiian Electric makes repairs to a pole near Honoka\u02bba off M\u0101malahoa Highway. (Courtesy of Hawaiian Electric)