COUNTY CLEARS ROADS IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Honokaʻa shelter to close, ice available for affected households
Hawaiʻi County has cleared and opened all roadways known to be affected by the Kona Low weather system that impacted various areas of Hawaiʻi Island earlier this week. Over a dozen roads were at least partially closed due to the weather, and crews worked around the clock to clear and return access to them.
As a result of Hawaiian Electric’s swift action, the shelter at the Honokaʻa Gymnasium will close at 7 pm this evening as residents in the Ahualoa and Kukuihaele area begin to regain power. “The fact that hundreds of folks can be without power for days, and yet no one needed to take advantage of our shelter is a true reflection of this community’s aloha and their willingness to help each other out through thick and thin,” said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Additionally, the County of Hawaiʻi has partnered with Aliʻi Ice to deliver pallets of ice for residents experiencing loss of refrigeration. The ice will be available at the Honokaʻa Gymnasium after 3:30 pm and is free for all in need on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“We’re humbled to be able to work alongside such great public servants that have gone above and beyond to restore our roadways and utilities ahead of the Christmas weekend,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “There are so many families that can sleep easier tonight, knowing that they have access to other homes, power, and other basic needs. It’s one thing to identify an issue and it’s another to act swiftly to meet the needs of that issue — fortunately, thanks to the help of the community, HELCO, Aliʻi Ice, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, other community partners, and our staff, we’ve been able to do both.”
Residents impacted by the Kona Low weather system are asked to fill out the Civil Defenses Damage Assessment: https://arcg.is/1b8CS1
