NEWS RELEASES
For Immediate Release
March 23, 2026
Boil Water Notice Issued for North Shore – 3/23 12:00 PM Update
Estimated return of water service cannot be determined at this time
HONOLULU – Due to potential damage to the water system caused by March 2026 Kona Low 2, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) continues to remind all water users on the North Shore from Mokulēʻia to Turtle Bay to boil any water pulled from the tap prior to consumption as a precaution. This boil water notice is in effect until further notice. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for three minutes. The BWS will announce when it is no longer necessary to boil the water.
Currently, the BWS is gradually restoring water service to the North Shore system, as electricity becomes available to power the pumps that transport water through its pipelines and eventually to BWS customers.
However, before the water can be safely consumed by the public, it must be first be tested and the results must meet or exceed State and Federal safe drinking water standards. Some tests can take as long as 24 hours to complete and get results. If the water quality tests conducted do not meet these standards, the BWS will not serve that water until it does.
Protecting the health of the community and ensuring the safety of BWS customers is of utmost importance, so at this time, the BWS is unable to estimate when it can lift the boil water notice. Meanwhile, the patience and understanding of the community is appreciated and the BWS will continue to issue updates on this matter as they become available.
Until water from the BWS system can be safely consumed, water tankers are available at the following locations for customers who need water.
- Waialua Community Association at 66-434 Kamehameha Hwy.
- Banzai SkatePark at 59-460 Kamehameha Hwy.
- Waialua District Park Recreation Center at 67-180 Goodale Ave.
Residents should stay tuned to news reports and consider signing up to receive email, text message or push notification alerts from BWS and other emergency response agencies through the HNLAlert app. Sign up at hnlalert.gov.
Please go to our website at boardofwatersupply.com/storm for updates and frequently asked questions, or call 808-748-5000, if you have any questions.
For more information, please call (808) 748-5041 or send an email to contactus@hbws.org.
About the Board of Water Supply
The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oʻahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system. As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oʻahu. The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future. Uwē ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.” For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.
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Contact:
Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Public Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319