HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-15 Proclamation Terminating the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and Concurrent HazardsC. Kimo Alameda, Ph. D
Mayor
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
Renee N.C. Schoen
Corporation Counsel
J S. Yoshimoto
Assistant Corporation
Counsel
OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL
101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8251 Fax (808)961-8622
TRANSMITTAL LETTER
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DATE:
April 15, 2026
TO:
County Clerks
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25 Aupuni Street
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Hilo, HI 96720
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FROM:
%Tracey Kameda, Legal Clerk III to s
Cameron Takamura, Deputy Corporation Counsel
RE:
Proclamation Terminating the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026
Severe Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards
COPIES/ITEMS DATE DESCRIPTION
1 - Original 04-15-2026 Proclamation Terminating the Emergency
Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe
Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards
TRANSMITTED FOR:
® Information and Files ❑ Approval
❑ Signature ❑ Review and Comments
❑ Signature and Forwarding As Noted Below ❑ See Remarks Below
❑ Pursuant to Your Request ❑ Return Envelope Enclosed
REMARKS: Please contact our office if you should have any questions. Thank you!
Enclosures
Received by:
Print Name:
Date: APR 1 5 2026
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D.
Mayor
William V. Brilhante, Jr.
Managing Director
Merrick Nishimoto
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawaii - Office of the _Mayor
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, Hawaii 96740
Phone (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
PROCLAMATION TERMINATING THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
RELATING TO THE APRIL 2026 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT AND CONCURRENT
HAZARDS
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 127A-
14(b), the Charter of the County of Hawaii § 13-23, Hawai`i County Code § 7-1-7(a), and based
on the available data, I issued the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe
Weather Event and Concurrent Hazards; and
WHEREAS, when the emergency proclamation was issued, there was an active National
Weather Service Honolulu (NWS) Flood Watch for the entire State of Hawaii, in effect through
6:00 P.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026, and a Winter Weather Advisory for Hawaii Island
summits above 12,500 feet, in effect through 6:00 A.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, there was also an active NWS High Surf Advisory for south -facing shores
of all Hawaiian Islands, which was in effect until 6:00 A.M. HST Thursday, April 9, 2026; and
WHEREAS, there was also an active NWS 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
WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts to the County of Hawaii during this period included
heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts, thunderstorms, flash floods, dangerous ocean conditions, ice
accumulation and snow accumulations on the Hawaii Island summits, and a potential volcanic
eruption likely to result in ashfall, Pele's hair, and tephra; and
WHEREAS, the forecasted impacts would be compounded by the already -saturated
ground conditions resulting from the two recent successive Kona Low weather events; and
WHEREAS, the Winter Weather Advisory has expired; the High Surf Advisory has
expired; the NWS Special Weather Statement regarding Kilauea Volcano Episode 44 precursory
activity is no longer in effect, as Episode 44 occurred on April 9, 2026, and the U.S. Geological
Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has lowered the alert level to Advisory (Yellow) with the
eruption currently paused; and
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
WHEREAS, while the flood -prone conditions continue to exist statewide and the NWS
Flood Watch that was in effect at the time of the emergency proclamation had been extended,
NWS cancelled the Flood Watch for Hawaii Island on the afternoon of April 12, 2026, as
flooding no longer posed a sufficient threat to Hawaii Island, and NWS subsequently cancelled
the remaining Flood Watch for the rest of the State in the early morning of April 13, 2026; and
WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, and pursuant to my authority as sole judge of the
existence of the danger, threat, or circumstances giving rise to a termination of a local state of
emergency in the County of Hawaii under HRS § 127A-14(c), I find that the dangers, threats,
and circumstances supporting the emergency proclamation have sufficiently waned such that the
emergency measures authorized under the emergency proclamation are no longer reasonably
necessary to address the emergency or disaster or imminent danger or threat thereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, C. KIMO ALAMEDA, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, hereby
terminate the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the April 2026 Severe Weather Event and
Concurrent Hazards dated April 8, 2026, pursuant to HRS § 127A-14(c) and (d), immediately
effective upon promulgation of this proclamation pursuant to HRS § 127A-15, as I find that the
local state of emergency is no longer necessary.
Done at the County of Hawaii,
this 10day of April 2026
V r C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D.
Mavor
County of Hawaii
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND L ALITY:
Renee N.C. Schoen
Corporation Counsel
County of Hawaii