2026-04-14 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards

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C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhame, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai`i -Office of the Mayor 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, Hawaii 96740 Phone (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION RELATING TO THE APRIL 2026 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT AND CONCURRENT HAZARDS 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 Hawaii, to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, hereby proclaim as follows: WHEREAS, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 127A, provides for the establishment of County of Hawaii (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 Hawaii (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 April 7, 2026, at approximately 2:42 P.M. HST, the National Weather Service Honolulu (NWS) issued a Special Weather Statement regarding Kilauea Volcano Episode 44 precursory activity, advising that an episodic fountaining eruption is expected within the Kilauea summit caldera with a potential eruption window extending through Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and that if an eruption occurs, varying levels of ash, Pele's hair, and other lightweight tephra may fall downwind of the eruption, potentially affecting communities at greater distances, with downwind direction forecast to the north and northeast of the summit for the next several days; and WHEREAS, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 7:40 P.M. HST, the NWS issued a High Surf Advisory for south -facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands, in effect until 6:00 A.M. HST County of Hawaii is an Equal opportunity Provider and Employer.