South Kohala Water Restriction Continues as County Repairs Lālāmilo Well

Customers at three South Kohala resorts and in communities stretching from Kawaihae to Puakō are still under a mandatory water-use restriction as Hawai'i County crews work to repair the Lālāmilo well, the Department of Water Supply confirmed on March 25.

The restriction, which took effect immediately and until further notice for all DWS South Kohala-Lālāmilo customers in Kawaihae, Kawaihae Harbor, Hāpuna Beach Resort, Mauna Kea Beach Resort, Puakō, and Mauna Lani Resort, has now been updated to bring irrigation users under the same threshold as residential customers. Residential customers are required to reduce water use by at least 25 percent; previously, irrigation customers had been required to cut use by at least 50 percent. The DWS updated notice places both groups at the same 25 percent minimum reduction.

The restrictions were implemented because of unexpected well and equipment malfunctions, with reducing use necessary to maintain adequate water levels in storage tanks to service all customers in the affected area. The December 2025 notice that first triggered the Lālāmilo restriction noted that the Department of Water Supply had authorized emergency work to repair one of the inoperable wells as soon as possible. Repairs remain ongoing as of March 26.

The scale of the restriction is notable: the six named areas encompass some of the island's most water-intensive properties, including the Mauna Kea Beach Resort and Mauna Lani Resort, alongside residential communities and the working harbor at Kawaihae. No timeline for completing the well repairs has been publicly announced.

The DWS is asking customers to use water wisely and not waste it. For guidance on reducing consumption, visit hawaiidws.org, call (808) 961-8050 during normal business hours, or email dws@hawaiidws.org. For after-hours emergencies, call (808) 961-8790.

DWS thanks affected customers for their understanding and kokua.