Hawaii Plans C-17 Airlift for Grid Repairs as 11,000 Customers Still Lack Power

Q: How will crews secure the unearthed Naalehu cemetery remains before Moke's floodwaters wash the site away?

Crews are trying to secure the Naalehu cemetery remains by recovering, documenting and protecting them before Tropical Storm Moke arrives, not by trying to hold the flood site in place. Hawaii County, the National Guard, state agencies and specialist teams are restricting access to the cemetery, blocking off the area and preventing nearby debris removal so evidence and remains are not disturbed. Cultural practitioners, archaeologists, forensic anthropologists, osteologists and Guard recovery teams are collecting remains carefully, recording where they were found, and moving them into protected storage for later identification and reinterment. Officials say at least 72 remains have been recovered so far. Acting Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said the goal is to complete as much recovery as possible before the next storm, then work with families and spiritual representatives so reburial happens respectfully and according to their wishes. The county has also asked anyone who finds remains to leave them in place and contact Civil Defense immediately. So the practical answer is that crews are securing the remains by rapid recovery and controlled handling: closing the site, using forensic and cultural experts to document and collect what they can, storing remains safely, and coordinating with families for eventual reinterment before Moke’s rain can scatter more of the site.

3 articles · Updated · Hawaii News Now · Aug 23

C-17 Globemaster cargo planes will fly heavy equipment and dump trucks from Southern California to Hilo, an unusual military lift aimed at reinforcing Hawaii’s fragile power grid before Tropical Storm Moke arrives.
More than 100 Southern California Edison utility workers are already assisting Hawaiian Electric, and the added machinery is meant to speed both restoration for 11,000 customers still without power from Hurricane Lala and response to new outages.
Over 250 National Guard personnel, including 10 high-water vehicle teams, have been positioned statewide as Moke is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and high winds first to the Big Island’s windward and southeast slopes.
Crews have already cleared 7,100 meters of roadway and debris from 22 homes, while Guard members in Naalehu race to secure 72 recovered remains from a cemetery flooded during Lala.
Governor Josh Green has requested a FEMA emergency declaration for direct federal help, as officials urge residents to keep 14 days of supplies and stay off roads once storm conditions begin.