Hawaii Senate postpones public events and stands adjourned as governor readies storm closures
March 13, 2026 | Senate, Legislative , Hawaii
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The Hawaii Senate announced event postponements and stood adjourned on March 12 as state leaders prepared for an approaching storm that prompted closures of state offices and schools.
Senator DeCoite told the Senate that, "due to the declared weather emergency, we postpone Innovation and Manufacturing Day, which had originally been scheduled for today, 03/12/2026." She said the event was rescheduled for April 1, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth floor and noted that Tourism Day scheduled for March 13, 2026, would also be postponed with a new date to be announced.
The Senate president said the governor would announce at 1 p.m. that "all state offices, Judiciary, University of Hawaii public schools will be closed on Oahu and Maui tomorrow." He added that closures for the Big Island and other islands would be subject to mayors' decisions. The legislature would be closed the following day and the deadline for filing resolutions was extended to Monday; committee chairs were urged to schedule hearings electronically if power outages prevented in‑person business.
The Senate moved to adjourn on a motion by Senator Wakai, seconded by Senator deCorte; with no objections the Senate stood adjourned. The transcript contains an inconsistency in the return date: the president first said the Senate would reconvene at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 16, and later the transcript records a reference to Monday, May 16 at 11:30 a.m.; that discrepancy is noted in this report pending confirmation from the clerk's official minutes.
Why it matters: The announced closures affect state employees, students and families on Oahu and Maui and may disrupt scheduled hearings and filings. Lawmakers and committee chairs were instructed to adapt scheduling and filing practices to the evolving weather situation.
What's next: The governor's formal announcement and the clerk's official calendar should be consulted for the definitive adjournment return date and for updated event scheduling.
Senator DeCoite told the Senate that, "due to the declared weather emergency, we postpone Innovation and Manufacturing Day, which had originally been scheduled for today, 03/12/2026." She said the event was rescheduled for April 1, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth floor and noted that Tourism Day scheduled for March 13, 2026, would also be postponed with a new date to be announced.
The Senate president said the governor would announce at 1 p.m. that "all state offices, Judiciary, University of Hawaii public schools will be closed on Oahu and Maui tomorrow." He added that closures for the Big Island and other islands would be subject to mayors' decisions. The legislature would be closed the following day and the deadline for filing resolutions was extended to Monday; committee chairs were urged to schedule hearings electronically if power outages prevented in‑person business.
The Senate moved to adjourn on a motion by Senator Wakai, seconded by Senator deCorte; with no objections the Senate stood adjourned. The transcript contains an inconsistency in the return date: the president first said the Senate would reconvene at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 16, and later the transcript records a reference to Monday, May 16 at 11:30 a.m.; that discrepancy is noted in this report pending confirmation from the clerk's official minutes.
Why it matters: The announced closures affect state employees, students and families on Oahu and Maui and may disrupt scheduled hearings and filings. Lawmakers and committee chairs were instructed to adapt scheduling and filing practices to the evolving weather situation.
What's next: The governor's formal announcement and the clerk's official calendar should be consulted for the definitive adjournment return date and for updated event scheduling.
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