Gov. Green announces closure of schools, state offices due to severe weather

Council Member Tom Cook’s Open House at the South Maui Residency Area Office scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026 has been canceled due to the approaching kona storm.

As future eruptive episodes approach, monitor the weather forecast and follow guidance from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense so you can prepare for these events if you live in an area that could experience tephra fallout.

Crews have begun stabilization work on the historic Baldwin Home gutted in the Lahaina wildfire in August 2023. The work marks the first major physical step toward rebuilding the landmark since the disaster, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation announced this week.

Hawai‘i residents can expect a steady but slower economic climb this year as high construction demand and robust visitor spending help shield the islands from broader global headwinds.

A powerful kona storm is producing periods of hazardous weather impacts across the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend. Threats range from significant flash flooding, damaging winds, strong to severe thunderstorms, and snow and ice over the highest Big Island summits. Maui is under a High Wind Warning through Sunday morning and a Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon.

Due to continuing severe weather, all DLNR Division of State Parks properties on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island are closed until further notice. This includes ʻIolani Palace, the Queen Emma Summer Palace and Mauna ‘Ala (the Royal Mausoleum) on O‘ahu. Closures will remain in effect until state and county emergency management agencies have determined it is safe to resume normal operations. 

Visitor Tyler Gentry captured this picturesque time lapse video of West Maui while vacationing on Maui from Arizona. The imagery comes as Maui braces for severe weather impacts from a kona storm.

There is no tsunami expected after a 4.2 earthquake reported at 5:16 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, located off the Kaʻū Coast of Hawaiʻi Island.

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to prepare for extended power outages as a powerful kona storm system makes its way across the islands. While the company is monitoring conditions and preparing for storm-related outages, it does not anticipate implementing its Public Safety Power Shutoff Program despite false claims online.  

In coordination with the Maui Emergency Management Agency and County of Maui Department of Human Concerns, the American Red Cross opened shelters at Maui County Kaunakakai Gym on Molokaʻi, Lahaina Civic Center in West Maui, the South Maui Community Park gym and the Maui High School gym in Kahului.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is reminding people not to click on links in unsolicited text messages. Several scam text messages have been making the rounds claiming to be from a “Hawaiʻi Department of Motor Vehicles” regarding unpaid traffic violations or tolls.

Due to severe weather, the 106th Annual Kamehameha Song Contest has been postponed to Friday, May 1, 2026, when our students will take the stage to share this year’s mele honoring Ke Aliʻi Pauahi.