Hawai‘i County Downgrades South Kohala Water Restriction After Waikōloa Reservoirs Refill

After recent rainfall filled Waikōloa reservoirs to a “satisfactory level,” the Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply downgraded a South Kohala Water Restriction Notice to a Water Conservation Notice, asking customers in Āhualoa to Waiemi Subdivision, Honokaia, Puʻukapu, Nienie, Waimea Town, Lālāmilo Farm Lots, portions of Mana Road and Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 19), Anekona Estates and Kānehoa Subdivision to reduce water use by at least 10 percent, HNN and Big Island Now report.

The shift follows a sequence of notices this winter. Big Island Video News reported on Feb. 4, 2026 that a Water Restriction Notice had been issued for the same South Kohala areas “due to ‘a prolonged lack of rainfall and ongoing dry conditions,’” a restriction that required affected customers to cut water use by at least 25 percent and required irrigation customers to reduce use by at least 50 percent. BIVN also noted that a Water Conservation Notice had been in effect since the end of April 2025 before the February restriction.

Operational details in recent coverage show multiple pressures on the system. HNN and Big Island Now say Waikōloa reservoirs are now filled to a satisfactory level after the rain, but Big Island Now reports the Waimea well remains under repair and offline. KHON2’s video coverage, posted Feb. 16, 2026, attributes the initial restriction in part to “unexpected well and equipment malfunctions,” language that differs from the DWS statement tying the restriction to dry conditions.

The differing accounts leave multiple factors in play: the official DWS notice frames the need for a Water Restriction as stemming from “a prolonged lack of rainfall and ongoing dry conditions in the affected areas,” while local broadcast and digital reports point to an offline Waimea well and equipment faults. BIVN added a regional drought context, quoting the U.S. Drought Monitor: “Last week, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported the South Kohala area was experiencing D1 Moderate Drought and d2 Severe Drought conditions. Maunakea is under D3 Extreme Drought.”

DWS continues to urge conservation with specific actions listed on its public notice, including: “Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes; Check faucets and pipes for leaks; Do not let water run when washing hands, shaving, or brushing teeth; Reduce showering times.” The department provides phone contacts for customers: (808) 961-8050 during normal business hours and (808) 961-8790 for after-hours emergencies.

HNN and Big Island Now say the downgrade followed the recent rains but did not publish an exact calendar date for the change; the earlier Water Restriction was reported Feb. 4, 2026 by BIVN and KHON2 posted related operational details on Feb. 16, 2026. The Department of Water Supply says status updates will be issued as necessary and made available on its website; DWS also “asks customers to continue to conserve drinking water, use it wisely, and not waste it.”