Updated at 7:15 p.m. Aug. 17. Information will be regularly updated.
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green announced during a press conference Monday afternoon in Hilo about the recovery from Hurricane Lala that all public schools, as well as all county and state offices on the Big island, will be closed Tuesday.
This is because of a lack of power still in many areas and also to enable public works and utility crews to work more effectively to clear roads and restore power.
Here is what else you need to know on the Big Island.
Crews work to clear huge trees that have fallen on Highway 11 near the Piʻikea Bridge north of Pahala on Aug. 16, 2026. (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)
Public schools
All Hawaiʻi State Department of Education schools and public charter schools will be closed Monday.
The additional closure will allow time to complete campus safety assessments, restore utilities where necessary and address storm-related impacts, the state said in a news release.
Nāʻālehu Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff through Thursday, Aug. 20, because of storm-related damage and road closures affecting safe access. Families will receive updates directly from their schools regarding instructional plans and reopening timelines. Public schools statewide are already closed Friday in observance of Statehood Day.
Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School may be closed longer. The department continues to assess campus conditions and roadway accessibility.
Konawaena High School and all other Hawaiʻi Island public schools will be closed Monday. (Video screenshot: Hawai‘i Department of Education)
Public libraries
All Hawai’i Island branches of Hawaiʻi State Public Library System will remain closed Aug. 18.
The state is working to reopen libraries following the impacts of Hurricane Lala, with the safety of patrons and staff as the top priority.
Because conditions vary throughout the state’s library system, reopening times will differ by location. Some libraries continue to address storm-related impacts, including power outages, downed trees and other conditions that may affect access to the buildings.
Patrons are encouraged to check the schedule at their local library and the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System website regularly for the latest updates as conditions change.
Airports
Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole reopened Sunday morning after airport personnel completed runway and terminal inspections. Passengers should check with their airline on flight status before going to the airport and should plan ahead for longer wait times to check in and clear security screening.
Harbors
Hawai‘i Island harbors in Hilo and Kawaihae are open and operating.
Supply Chain Hawai‘i Executive Director Melissa Pavlicek provided a brief update Monday as the storm exits the area.
“Hawai‘i’s commercial harbor terminals have been reopened after Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lala,” she said. “Cargo shipments carried by Matson, Pasha Hawai‘i and Young Brothers have resumed operations. Several ships were positioned offshore during the storm in order to immediately deliver cargo as soon as conditions allowed.”
Pavlicek added that commercial harbors of Hilo and Kawaihae.
“The people and businesses supporting Hawai‘i’s supply chain are dedicated to ensuring our communities have needed goods,” she said. “Thank you to our crews, the U.S. Coast Guard, Hawai‘i [Department of Transportation] and all of the Hawai‘i Harbors User Group members who keep the supply chain running smoothly.”
Courts
Court and Judiciary facilities in 3rd Circuit Court on Hawaiʻi Island will remain closed Aug. 18; however, all other courts and Judiciary facilities statewide will reopen.
All hearings and trials scheduled Tuesday on Hawaiʻi Island will be rescheduled.
In addition, by court order, the deadline for all court filings due Tuesday on Hawaiʻi Island will be extended until Aug. 19.
The public is encouraged to visit the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary website for updates and information regarding court operations. As always, parties also can monitor the state’s online public case information system eCourt Kokua for the most current information regarding hearings, trials and case activity.
Brown water advisory
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has issued a brown water advisory for the Big Island. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of these affected waters for 48 to 72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.
The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the leptospira bacteria.
If the water is brown, turn around. For more information and updates, click here.
County water service
Effective immediately and until further notice, an essential needs only notice remains in effect for all Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply customers because of adverse impacts from Hurricane Lala, including power outages, islandwide.
Essential needs are for drinking, cooking or personal hygiene only.
The county is working closely with Hawaiian Electric to prioritize restoration of power to water facilities. Until power can be restored and the department can operate equipment normally, certain water systems will continue to have no water or low water pressure.
Potable water tankers were deployed for customer use at the following locations:
Pāpaʻikou: Parking area behind Pāpaʻikou Community Center.
Pepe‘ekeo: Parking area next to Kulaʻimano Community Center.
North Kohala: Bottom of Makapala Road.
Nāʻālehu: Parking area across from Ace Hardware.
A map of permanent water spigots can be found at the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply website (www.hawaiidws.org) under the “Community” drop down menu.
Customers are asked to limit usage to individual household essential needs only.
Call 808-961-8790 for emergencies.
Utility lines are down along Highway 11 from Mountain View to Volcano in the aftermath of Hurricane Lala on Aug. 16, 2026. (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)
Hawaiian Electric
Hawaiian Electric said in a 4 p.m. update that crews are gaining ground as restoration efforts continue with damage assessments and transmission line repairs to stabilize systems on the Big Island, O‘ahu and in Maui County.
A total of about 103,980 customers throughout the state are still without power as of 2:30 p.m. Aug. 17, and Oʻahu customers again are asked to conserve power through 10 p.m. today.
About 39,730 Big Island customers as of 2:30 p.m. Monday remain powerless. Most of the outages are in the Puna, North and South Kona, North and South Kohala, Hāmākua and South Hilo areas.
That’s 1,460 more since the utilities 11 a.m. update Monday.
Damage assessments continue; helicopters are inspecting six transmission lines around the island.
Hawaiian Electric reported earlier Monday that crews had repaired three major transmission lines and teams were deployed to Puna and Kona Mauka for damage assessments.
Vegetation management crews are trimming and removing trees and branches that fell on transmission lines. Additionally, teams of engineers are flying to Hawaiʻi Island from Oʻahu on Tuesday to support restoration efforts.
Customers in heavily damaged rural areas are asked to prepare for extended outages.
Two of Hawaiʻi Island’s largest independent power producers, Puna Geothermal Venture and Hāmākua Energy Partners, as well as wind energy providers Hāwī Renewable Development and Pakini Nui, were unable to connect to the island’s grid as of 4 p.m. Saturday.
Hawaiian Electric also requested assistance from mainland partner electric utilities to expedite post-storm restoration. Roughly 100 crew members are anticipated to arrive as early as Tuesday and begin working Wednesday.
Customers can call Hawaiian Electric’s Big Island Trouble Line at 1-855-304-9191 to report any downed power lines, which should always be treated as energized and dangerous. Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
The company is experiencing a high volume of calls at its customer center. Information about outages is available at the Hawaiian Electric website, the Hawaiian Electric mobile app (available on the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices or its social media accounts.
Customers also can sign up to receive emergency outage alerts.
Public Shelters
All shelters are closed in Hawaiʻi County, with the exception of the following two that are open Sunday night for residents that were severely impacted by Hurricane Lala.
Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.
Bus service
With the exception of Paratransit Transportation Services, all Hele-On bus routes will remain cancelled Monday.
To report damage or need help?
If you sustained damage or, if you and your household are in need of help, as a result of Hurricane Lala, Civil Defense has a damage report and a Request for Assistance reporting portal on the County of Hawaii website or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031
Click here to make a Residential Damage Report
Click here to make a Commercial Damage Report
Residents in need of immediate assistance — such as food, clothing, debris removal, or shelter — from a coalition of nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies can complete a request for assistance form.
Click here to request other assistance
Transfer stations and landfills
County transfer stations and landfills that are normally scheduled to be open on Monday will be open, except for transfer stations in Pāhala, Wai‘ōhinu and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, which are inaccessible.
To assist cleanup efforts, transfer stations in Waimea, Kealakehe and Keauhou will accept green waste daily this week.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park closures
Nāhuku lava tube and other parts of the Hawaiian Volcano National Park will be closed, starting noon on Aug. 14 in preparation for Tropical Storm Lala. (File photo)
Most of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has limited services and remains closed due to a lack of power. The Welcome Center and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store will be closed Monday; however, park rangers and volunteers will provide visitor information in the Kilauea Military Camp lobby.
Mauna Loa summit, Red Hill and Mauna Loa Road past Kīpukapuaulu are closed. Kīpukapuaulu also remains closed because of hazard trees.
Crater Rim Drive West from the park entrance to Uēkahuna at the summit of Kīlauea volcano has reopened.
The Welcome Center and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, Kahuku Unit, all trails and Nāhuku lava tube, tent camping at Nāmakanipaio campgroun, all backcountry sites including the coast and Pepeiao, Chain of Craters Road and the Crater Rim Drive East are closed. Visitors should check the park website for alerts, www.nps.gov/havo.
These areas are still open for registered guests only: Kīlauea Military Camp, Volcano House and the A-frame cabins at Nāmakanipaio. Lodging guests must shelter in place.
County closures and facility impacts
All County Park & Recreational facilities and beach parks will be closed and all facility usage permits for Monday are cancelled.
All County offices are closed Monday.
State closures
Courts and judiciary offices statewide will be closed Monday. All hearings and trials scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled. In addition, by court order, the deadline for all court filings due Monday has been extended until Tuesday. Visit the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary website for updates and information.
The Hawaiʻi State Capitol will be closed on Monday.
The Hawaiʻi State Senate and House of Representatives offices, Legislative Reference Bureau, including the Public Access Room and LRB Library, and other legislative services will be closed to the public on Monday.
Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources — out of an abundance of caution as Tropical Storm Lala continues its approach toward the state — on Friday announced the following closures of camping, parks, lands and trails:
Statewide
All camping and lodging in state parks and on state lands is suspended as of 7 p.m. Friday — and at least through the weekend. Notifications were sent to everyone who received a camping permit.
Refunds will be credited to the accounts of anyone who misses camping nights because of storm closures.
Hawaiʻi Island
All state parks on Hawaiʻi Island are closed Monday.
Hawaiʻi Island forestry and wildlife lands are closed Monday.
People are advised to avoid forested and coastal areas because of the dangers of rising streams, flash flooding, falling trees, storm surge and high surf.
Online resources:
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College were still determining on Sunday night whether they would open Monday.
For University of Hawai‘i at Hilo residential students, the on-campus residence halls remain open, and Residence Life staff members are actively present to assist on-campus students through the duration of the storm. The residence halls are relatively empty because students don’t begin moving in until next week.
Road closures
For an updated list of road closures, visit the County of Hawaii Hazard Map: Hazard Impact Map.
Hawaiʻi Visitor Information
Hotels are open and continue to welcome guests. Travelers scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks should keep their travel plans and check directly with their hotels or other accommodations for emergency procedures or instructions, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority said in a state news release.
Direct visitor messaging, including active weather alerts and island-by-island conditions and closures, will continue through GoHawaiʻi social media channels, the GoHawaiʻi website alert banner and dedicated landing page, the GoHawaiʻi app through push and in-app alerts, and the 1-800-GOHAWAII call center. Visit gohawaii.com/lala or call 1-800-GOHAWAII, available 24 hours a day to answer any questions.
Visitors’ Guide to Hawai‘i News, Radio, and Weather: This updated visitor guide lists local news and official information sources so visitors can stay informed and adjust their plans as needed. Please share the guide with guests, clients and customer-facing employees. The latest version is available at hta.hawaii.gov.