2026-05-28 Emergency Proclamation Relating to the May 22, 2026, Kona Earthquake

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C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor William V. Brilhante, Jr. Managing Director Merrick Nishimoto Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii - Office of the �VLayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 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 MAY 22, 2026, KONA EARTHQUAKE 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 Friday, May 22, 2026, at 10:42 PM Hawaii Standard Time (HST), the United States Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS HVO) issued an Earthquake Information Statement reporting that on Friday, May 22, 2026, at approximately 9:46 PM HST, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake occurred approximately seven (7) miles south of H6naunau-Nap6`opo`o on the Island of Hawaii at a depth of approximately fourteen (14) miles below sea level; and WHEREAS, the USGS HVO reported that the earthquake registered a maximum Modified Mercalli Intensity of VII (very strong shaking) both as community -reported and as instrument -derived, with strong to very strong shaking experienced on the west side of the Island of Hawaii, and that more than 2,662 felt reports were submitted to the USGS HVO within the first hour of the event; and County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.