Hawaiʻi is facing approximately $1 billion in damage, recovery costs and future resilience needs after four major disasters struck the state within six months, according to the Office of the Governor's October 2026 newsletter.
The disasters — the March Kona Low storms, the May 22 magnitude 6.0 Hawaiʻi Island earthquake, Hurricane Lala and Hurricane Lowell — affected communities statewide and placed extraordinary pressure on homes, public infrastructure and essential services.
In his message, the governor said the season serves as a reminder of community strength. "As Halloween approaches and the season shifts into autumn, we're reminded that even when uncertainty is in the air, our communities come together with resilience and care," he said. "Together we are strong. Together we continue to build toward a better future."
The newsletter also reported that Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Hawaiʻi has joined a landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., resolving claims involving Instagram and Facebook and requiring significant new safeguards for children and teens. Under the settlement, Hawaiʻi will receive up to $76 million.
Separately, more than 1 million eggs are being delivered to communities across Hawaiʻi as a direct result of the state's participation in a nationwide antitrust enforcement action against some of the country's largest egg producers.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has launched the Kalaeloa Hybrid Reef Project to protect vulnerable coastal highways from erosion and rising seas. Developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) via its Reefense Program and the University of Hawaiʻi alongside academic, community and industry partners, the hybrid reef system integrates engineered reef structures with living coral to reduce wave energy, strengthen shorelines and improve coastal resilience.
Other items included the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity's use of state-of-the-art mapping technology against invasive species such as little fire ants, coconut rhinoceros beetles and coqui frogs, and the 49th Annual Governor's Awards honoring state employees, managers and teams.