“As Jamie and I were talking about this morning, it has rained, and those rainy day funds will be utilized significantly with the partners that I have in the Legislature.” That was Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday, explaining why he wants $300 million out of Hawaiʻi’s $1.7 billion rainy day fund.
He spoke at the State Capitol while another storm closed in on the islands. The list of what the state has already absorbed since March is long: two Kona low storms that caused heavy devastation, Hurricane Lala in August, an earthquake in May, and last week Hurricane Lowell, which struck Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. Several deaths have been linked to the storms.
The administration counts 1,290 homes affected. Of those, 74 were destroyed, 451 suffered major damage and 514 minor damage. Another 251 were “otherwise affected.”
The money
Green put recovery and resilience needs at $1 billion, and warned the number is preliminary. It could move as new damage assessments come in and as officials work out which costs qualify for federal funds. His administration has so far identified $686 million in current damage and recovery costs. Future resilience and mitigation projects add $319 million, among them $80 million to modernize the State Emergency Operations Center, $20 million to study an alternate port and $20 million for community resilience hubs.
The $300 million would come on top of the $170 million lawmakers appropriated earlier this year for storm assistance. Green said the state has benefited from federal help so far, with other requests pending. “So we will take hundreds of millions of dollars from the rainy day fund,” he said, covering whatever federal money and earlier appropriations do not. He did not rule out asking for more. Hurricane season, driven by the Super El Niño, runs to the end of November, and the administration’s biennial budget reaches the Legislature in mid-December. Revenue from the Green Fee could also fund additional appropriations.
Nolo
The more pressing problem was Tropical Storm Nolo. It is forecast to drop up to 30 inches of rain on the Big Island, which is still recovering from Lala and the earthquake. Forecasters expect it to reach major hurricane strength in the coming days and pass just south of Hawaiʻi island on Saturday, though the track remains uncertain.
“You need to take action now,” said John Bravender, the National Weather Service’s Warning Coordination Meteorologist. “Everybody across the state needs to pay attention to this and be ready in case this forecast does change.” Hawaiʻi Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan was blunter about the storm itself: “This seems like it’s going to be a very strong hurricane.” He pointed residents and visitors to ready.hawaii.gov, which links to the counties, the National Weather Service and FEMA.
By Wednesday evening the closures had started to stack up. All Big Island schools will close Thursday and Friday, the Department of Education said, citing possible effects on student transportation and campus safety. Maui County schools close Friday. State courts on the Big Island and Maui, plus Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, will shut as well. So will state and county offices and University of Hawaiʻi campuses on Hawaiʻi island on Thursday and Friday, and in Maui County on Friday.
Longer-range ideas
Much of the 90-minute press conference was a damage and recovery update, with several state officials at the podium. Green also raised two bigger projects. He wants to move the aging Emergency Operations Center out of Diamond Head Crater on Oʻahu, working with legislators and county officials. The University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa campus and Wahiawā are under consideration, and the new facilities could include a biosecurity hub.
He also wants a second deepwater port. Honolulu Harbor, experts say, is vulnerable to a hurricane or other catastrophe. Green suggested the Big Island, perhaps Hilo, the state’s second largest city.
