Hurricane Lala Situation Report

August 18, 2026  /  TLP:CLEAR 

Healthcare Ready is ENGAGED for this event. We are monitoring potential concerns for supply chain disruptions and impacts on healthcare services on our Alert Hub. This situation is evolving rapidly, and Healthcare Ready will provide major updates as needed. 

Contents

• Situation Overview
• Impacts to Healthcare
• Impacts to Supply Chain

Situation Overview

• This past weekend, Hurricane Lala brought heavy rain, winds, and flooding as it passed by the Hawaiian Islands, and since then, the state has transitioned to infrastructure recovery efforts.
  • The Kau District in Hawaii County was one of the hardest hit areas by Lala.
  • All state and county offices, public schools, and judiciary facilities in Hawaii County will remain closed through Tuesday as they assess damages. Oahu, Maui, and Kauai County are reopening offices and facilities on Tuesday as they were not hit as hard as Hawaii County.
• Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency for Hawaii on August 13 which activated Major Disaster Fund.
  • The Hawaii National Guard is still supporting Hawaii County in response and recovery efforts. They have concluded operations in Maui and Oahu and will be ready to support.

Impacts to Healthcare

• As of August 18, roughly 30% of Hawaii County residents are impacted by power outages. The Hawaiian Electric Company is working diligently to get power back online.
  • More than 200,000 households reportedly lost electricity at the peak; later reporting indicated thousands still without power.
• As of August 18, there is only one dialysis center, in Hawaii County, closed due to the impacts of Lala. All other dialysis centers across the islands are now open.
• There is only one reported pharmacy closure in Hawaii County. Please visit Rx Open for more information.
• Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is prioritizing Route 11 at Pahala Hospital in Hawaii County to restore critical access to residents.
  • Pahala is a small coastal town in Hawaii County which was cut off from the rest of the island after flooding caused major closures to roadways and bridges. Pahala has the only hospital on the southeastern side of the island.
  • As of August 18, Hawaii County Mayor Alameda provided an update clarifying that key bridge infrastructure appears structurally sound. Engineering tests still need to be conducted, however the Kau District and Pahala will likely become accessible in the coming days; instead of weeks or months which was the initial concern.
• At least three hospitals shifted to generator power during widespread outages. Although hospital and emergency-department capacity was initially reported as within normal limits, some facilities experienced elevated volumes and state health officials monitored patient-transfer disruptions.
• A statewide Brown Water Advisory remains in effect due to heavy rainfall and storm runoff.
  • Two rural public water systems in Hawaii County sustained heavy damage and the Hawaii Department of Health is assisting them with precautionary boil-water advisories.
• Most pediatric impacts are temporary due to school closures and power outages. Children in the Kau district may experience more severe impacts from housing loss and extended service disruptions.
• Maui County Emergency Management Agency in partnership with American Red Cross have opened a charging station and shelter equipped with WiFi at Eddie Tam Memorial Center in Makawao.
  • Information on current shelters in Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai can be found here.
• Individuals and families seeking food assistance can visit the Hawaii Food Bank website to view food distribution locations:
  • Hawaii County
  • Maui County
  • Oahu County
  • Kauai County
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders are able to start a claim here.
• Individuals can seek mental health support through Hawaii CARES by calling or texting 988.

Impacts to Supply Chain

• As of August 17, there are 17 road closures across Hawaii County. Those road closures can be monitored here.
• All commercial airports and harbors are open. There are no major fuel-supply issues, however, last-mile delivery can still be affected by road closures.
• Retailers on neighboring islands reported difficulty receiving replenishment shipments from Oahu, including water and recovery essentials—an early indicator that similar constraints can affect healthcare replenishment.

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