HONOLULU — Extensive preparedness efforts are actively underway across the City and County of Honolulu today as officials brace for another approaching Kona low system, sharing an urgent reminder with residents to take precautionary measures now.
Potential for more severe weather
City departments and our partners at the state and federal level are preparing for the potential for severe weather this week to ensure resources, personnel, and public information efforts are ready to support the community.
The Department of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center will be fully activated starting Wednesday. The City’s first responder agencies – Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, and Honolulu Emergency Services – have disaster staffing, equipment, and response strategies ready for activation.
High water vehicles from the Hawaiʻi National Guard will be deployed to key locations across Oʻahu in the event that they need to be deployed and reach communities through floodwaters. The U.S. Army is also offering resources in case of emergency.
Four shelter locations will be activated across Oʻahu as needed. Additional details will be released soon by the City.
On Monday, the City’s Department of Facility Maintenance cleared storm drains, waterways, and exit pipes. That work includes, but was not limited to:
*Clearing the plug from the mouth of the ‘Ewa Beach lined channel
*Opening waterways from Ma‘ili to Ulehawa, Kahala to Kuli‘ou‘ou, and Hau‘ula to Lāʻie
*Checking for the proper functioning of a duck bill (a valve that allows water to flow but prevents storm surge and debris from entering) near Ke Iki Road on the North Shore
*Clearing exit pipes near Haona Street in Waialua
Waialua Community Assistance Center (CAC) and Community Distribution Hub
Ahead of potential severe weather anticipated later this week, the Waialua Community Assistance Center (CAC) and Distribution Hub will be closed Wednesday, April 8, Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10 as a safety precaution. The services will continue after the threat of potential floods associated with a third Kona low storm have passed.
Yesterday (Monday, April 6), 95 households were served at the Waialua CAC. Below is a summary of visitation thus far at the CAC.
Thursday, March 26: 51 households
Friday, March 27: 147
Saturday, March 28: 163
Sunday, March 29: 167
Monday, March 30: 94
Tuesday, March 31: 157
Wednesday, April 1: 129
Thursday, April 2: 126
Friday, April 3: 81
Saturday, April 4: 55
Sunday, April 5: 0 (closed for Easter Sunday)
Monday, April 6: 95
On Saturday, the Pop-Up Community Assistance Center at BYU-Hawaiʻi in Lāʻie served 100 households.
Debris Removal Update
Areas including Waialua, Haleʻiwa, Kahuku, and Lāʻie continue to face ongoing recovery challenges, with debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and community support efforts still underway from recent flooding events. Debris hauling operations continue at the temporary debris storage and reduction site at Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park (CORP). On Monday, April 6, 2026, ten truck loads (approximately 90 tons) were transported to the landfill from Central O‘ahu Regional Park, while four tons of scrap metal were transported. No new loads of debris were delivered to CORP yesterday.
2026 town hall meetings postponed
Mayor Blangiardi announced Monday that the City and County of Honolulu is indefinitely postponing all scheduled 2026 town hall meetings as response and recovery efforts continue across Oʻahu following recent Kona low storms, and in anticipation of a potentially significant third Kona low storm system later this week.
For more information on storm preps and recovery, visit oneoahu.org.
