Hawaii News

Hawaiʻi is dealing with a mix of storm impacts, recovery work and public-safety concerns. Hurricane Lowell has strengthened into a Category 5 system, and partner coverage says it is expected to drive dangerous surf and rip currents across parts of the islands, with advisories already in place in some areas. On the Big Island, Hurricane Lala continues to shape daily life: water service has been restored to most customers in the Nā‘ālehu–Wai’ōhinu system, but some outages remain, and the storm also knocked out the phone system at Ka‘ū Police Station, according to Big Island Now.

Public health and safety are also front and center. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health reported a dengue-positive wastewater sample from the Hilo wastewater treatment plant, while police on Hawaiʻi Island are still dealing with missing-person cases and traffic enforcement. Big Island Now reported that Brandon Cranfield has been found, and separately that officers are searching for Gary Maggard after he was last seen in Ocean View. Another Big Island report says an 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after falling from a pickup truck and being run over by a towed food wagon.

Recovery and resilience efforts are also moving ahead. Maui Now reported a Kōkua Hawaiʻi Island Donation Drive in Kahului to support Hawaiʻi Island communities devastated by Hurricane Lala, while the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaiʻi following the May 2026 earthquake. On Maui, the Executive Office on Early Learning opened 18 new public Pre-K classrooms, and Maui-based filmmaker Stephan Boeker’s documentary won two regional Emmys for a project filmed before and after the Lahaina wildfire.