2026-03-20 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the Second Kona Low Weather Event in March 2026

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C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai'i -Office of the J'vlayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • Phone (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION RELATING TO THE SECOND KONA LOW WEATHER EVENT IN MARCH 2O26 By the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the County of Hawaii by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawaii, and by the Charter and ordinances of the County of Hawai'i, tc prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawai'i, hereby proclaim as follows: WHEREAS, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 127A, provides for the establishment of County of Hawai'i (County) organizations for emergency management with the Mayor having direct responsibility and authority over emergency management within the County; and WHEREAS, HRS Chapter 127A, and Hawaii County Code (HCC) Chapter 7, establish a Civil Defense Agency within the County and prescribe its powers, duties, and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, HRS § 127A-14(b) empowers the Mayor to declare the existence of a local state of emergency in the County by proclamation if the Mayor finds that an emergency or a disaster has occurred or that there is imminent danger or threat of an emergency or a disaster in any portion of the County, as those terms are defined in HRS § 127A-2; and WHEREAS, the Charter of the County of Hawai'i (CCH) § 13-23 and HCC § 7-1-7(a) also empower the Mayor to declare a state of disaster or emergency by proclamation; and WHEREAS, on March 20, 2026, at approximately 3:39 A.M. HST, -the National Weather Service Honolulu (NWS) issued a Flood Watch for all islands in the State of Hawaii in effect through 6:00 P.M. HST on Sunday, March 22, 2026; and WHEREAS, the NWS Flood Watch warns that flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible across Hawaii Island, with several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms expected as moisture streams northward; the heaviest rain is expected to last through Saturday, March 21, 2026, for most of the State, except for Hawai'i Island, where the heaviest rain is expected on Sunday, March 22, 2026; and WHEREAS, I issued the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the March 2026 Kona Low Weather Event on March 12, 2026, which declared a local state of emergency based on a County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.