Hawaii received two major disaster declarations on October 7, 2026, one for each of two hurricanes that affected the islands in late summer, according to FEMA records.
The two declarations
Hurricane Lala (DR-4951) covers damage from August 14 to 16 in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties. An emergency declaration for Hawaii County had already been issued on August 25.
Hurricane Lowell (DR-4952) covers damage from September 6 to 9 in Kauai and Maui counties.
Both declarations provide Public Assistance, which pays local governments to clear debris and repair roads and public buildings. Neither currently includes Individual Assistance for households.
Tropical Storm Nolo then brought an emergency declaration for all four of Hawaii’s main counties on September 25.
An earthquake declaration too
On September 1, Hawaii County also received a major disaster declaration for an earthquake on May 22, 2026 (DR-4936). That one includes help for households.
Hawaii County, on the Big Island, sits over the active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes and has frequent earthquakes. In FEMA’s National Risk Index it has the highest expected yearly losses from inland flooding per resident of any US county with more than 100,000 people, about $924 a year.
How often hurricanes hit Hawaii
Direct hurricane landfalls in Hawaii are rare, but storms passing nearby can still bring damaging wind, heavy rain and high surf. Hurricane Iniki in 1992 was the most destructive on record, striking Kauai as a Category 4. In 2023, winds from a passing hurricane far to the south helped drive the Lahaina fire on Maui, one of the deadliest US wildfires in a century.
Questions people ask
Can households in Hawaii apply for FEMA help for Lala or Lowell? Not at the moment, since only Public Assistance is included. The state can ask for Individual Assistance to be added.
When is the central Pacific hurricane season? June 1 to November 30.
Where can I see Honolulu’s risk? See the Honolulu County page for its ratings for all 18 hazards and its full disaster history.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved November 6, 2026.