Hawaii Island’s Hurricane Lala damage estimate nears $100M with housing top priority

News admin September 3, 2026 0 Comments

Hawaii Island’s Hurricane Lala damage estimate nears $100M with housing top priority

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – There are still struggles, but also definite progress on Hawaii Island after Hurricane Lala.

Outside of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency building in Hilo, Mayor Kimo Alameda said the island is in the recovery phase, with officials assessing the needs of residents and preparing for potential next storms.

“Housing is the biggest,” Alameda said. “Some people lost their jobs because the businesses got damaged as well, so we’re keeping an eye on that.”

Two recovery centers are open in Pahala and Nāʻālehu. Alameda said officials are working with nonprofits to meet residents’ basic needs.

Alameda said a preliminary accounting of the damage conducted about five days earlier put the cost at nearly $50 million. He said an updated estimate could approach $100 million.

Alameda also discussed the damage at Nāʻālehu Cemetery and the small cemetery in Waiohinu, where some families are relocating the remains of loved ones.

“First, it’s so sad. You know, it’s like a double death for a lot of these families and I feel for them,” Alameda said.

He said officials held a meeting with the community last Wednesday and are working to proceed in a culturally respectful way while accounting for different religious beliefs.

“We told the community right now we’re in the collection and preservation phase,” Alameda said. “Once we finish that, then we’re going to be into the identification and then reunification with the families. And then we got to decide what we’re going to do with the cemetery.”

Alameda said one section was damaged, while four others may be preserved.

“We’re trying to do this all simultaneously while working with the community as best as we can,” he said.