‘Stay home’: Emergency officials urge vigilance as Tropical Storm Moke nears Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii emergency officials and the Hawaii National Guard are rapidly positioning assets and clearing critical roadways as they prepare for the potential arrival of Tropical Storm Moke, less than a week after Hurricane Lala battered the islands.

Read more Honolulu overdoses prompt state warning over fentanyl-laced cocaine

Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), confirmed Sunday that the state is postured to respond to Moke’s impacts.

Governor Josh Green has requested an emergency disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bring in direct federal assistance as the state braces for another round of severe weather.

“Our National Guard and Department of Defense are postured extremely well,” Logan said during an interview on HNN Sunrise. “They’ve been actively getting ready for the next system moving in.”

Guard Troops and High-Water Teams Positioned Statewide

With Tropical Storm Moke tracking south of the islands, heavy rain, flooding, and high winds are expected to hit the Big Island’s windward and southeast slopes first. In response, emergency management officials have activated and strategically placed personnel across the state.

Over 250 National Guard personnel are stationed across the state.

On Hawaii Island, 87 National Guard personnel are on active duty, with additional crews stationed on Maui and Oahu. Among the deployed assets are 10 specialized high-water vehicle teams.

These teams utilize converted military dump trucks capable of carrying first responders and extracting residents from heavily flooded areas. Once floodwaters recede, the vehicles rapidly transition to clear roads of debris.

“If you were in an area that was challenged by weather during the recent Kona Low storms, chances are it might happen again,” Logan warned. “We urge residents to stay home once the storm’s effects begin to keep the roadways clear for first responders and utility crews.”

To prepare roadways for potential emergency access, National Guard troops working with state and county transportation departments have already cleared over 7,100 meters (approx. 4.4 miles) of roadway and removed debris from 22 homes. Liaison officers have also been embedded within every county Emergency Operations Center across the state to streamline the response.

Urgency in Naalehu and Cemetery Recovery

Preparing for Moke has brought added urgency to the district of Kau, particularly Naalehu, which suffered severe damage from Hurricane Lala.

Read more Driveway accident in Mountain View leaves 3-year-old girl in critical condition

Crews are working against the clock at the Naalehu cemetery, where severe flooding from the previous storm uncovered remains. Guard members have methodically recovered 72 remains in a culturally sensitive operation.

Logan expressed deep concern over the lack of reliable electricity to safely secure the remains before Moke’s heavy rains and winds disrupt local grids further. Direct federal assistance from the requested FEMA declaration is slated to support this specific, high-priority mission.

Historic Airlift Planned for Power Grid Reinforcements

As part of the preparation efforts, HIEMA and the Hawaii National Guard are coordinating an unprecedented military airlift to bolster the state’s vulnerable power grid.

In a historic coordination approved by Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, military C-17 Globemaster cargo planes will fly heavy equipment and dump trucks from Southern California to Hilo. The equipment is being provided by Southern California Edison, which has also flown in more than 100 utility workers to assist Hawaiian Electric.

The extra heavy machinery will allow crews to work on multiple areas simultaneously, both restoring the remaining 11,000 customers still without power from Lala and preparing to address new outages caused by Moke.

Public Urged to Prepare and Stay Vigilant

Logan emphasized that Hawaii’s emergency operations are fully prepared, supported by an additional $100 million allocated by the state legislature to the major disaster fund earlier this year.

State officials are urging the public to visit ready.hawaii.gov for emergency tools and information on public assistance. Logan advised residents to ensure they have 14 days of essential supplies—including food, water, medicine, and pet food—and to secure loose outdoor objects.

“Stay vigilant, remain informed, and if you need to evacuate to a family member’s home, do so before the storm hits,” Logan said.

Read more How to help Hawaii after Lala: Where to donate to support relief efforts