Trump approves federal disaster declaration for Hawaii County after Hurricane Lala

# What happened President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for Hawaii County after Hurricane Lala struck near the Big Island Aug. 15–16. The approval allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate federal support for cleanup, repairs and short-term recovery work on the Big Island.

# Why the declaration matters The presidential declaration opens access to federal personnel, equipment and technical support that local and state agencies can use to restore essential services and address urgent needs created by the storm. FEMA officials will coordinate the federal response to damage identified during continuing assessments.

# The storm and immediate damage Lala passed just off the southern end of Hawaii Island as a Category 1 hurricane, then tracked farther south as a strong tropical storm for the smaller islands. The state estimates total damage at about $81.4 million, mostly on the Big Island, with additional impacts on Oahu and Maui.

Two people were killed. Hundreds of structures in the Kaʻu district were damaged or destroyed. Hawaii Island has so far estimated $49.3 million in damage to public and private structures, followed by Oahu at $25.6 million and Maui County at $6.4 million. Damage assessments are continuing and costs are expected to grow as crews receive more reports.

# Agriculture and infrastructure losses

# State and emergency management response Governor Josh Green issued the state request for federal assistance and issued a statement thanking the president and federal partners for acting quickly. He said the approval gives Hawai'i access to specialized personnel, equipment and technical support to protect communities and restore essential services.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency teams are expected to remain on Hawaii Island at least through Sept. 1, tentatively. HI-EMA noted the Kaʻu region may require more time to assess because of significant damages and access challenges following flooding and landslides.

# How FEMA classifies damage

# Immediate priorities and next steps The federal declaration enables coordination of debris removal, emergency protective measures, temporary repairs to infrastructure and technical assessments to guide recovery. Local crews will continue damage assessments to refine cost estimates and identify areas eligible for federal programs. Officials have warned that total costs may rise as more detailed assessments are completed and as access improves in heavily damaged areas.

# Takeaway