S&P 500—Dow—NASDAQ—Russell 2000—FTSE 100—DAX—CAC 40—Nikkei—Hang Seng—ASX 200—ALEX—ALK—BOH—CPF—CYAN—FHB—HE—MATX—MLP—NVDA—AAPL—GOOGL—GOOG—MSFT—AMZN—META—AVGO—TSLA—BRK.B—WMT—LLY—JPM—V—XOM—JNJ—MA—MU—COST—BAC—ORCL—ABBV—HD—PG—CVX—NFLX—KO—AMD—GE—CAT—PEP—MRK—ADBE—DIS—UNH—CSCO—INTC—CRM—PM—MCD—ACN—TMO—NEE—BMY—DHR—HON—RTX—UPS—TXN—LIN—QCOM—AMGN—SPGI—INTU—COP—LOW—AMAT—BKNG—AXP—DE—LMT—MDT—CB—ADP—GILD—MDLZ—SYK—BLK—C—ADI—REGN—SBUX—NOW—CI—VRTX—ZTS—MMC—PLD—SO—DUK—CMCSA—APD—BSX—BDX—EOG—ICE—ISRG—SLB—LRCX—PGR—USB—SCHW—ELV—ITW—KLAC—WM—EQIX—ETN—TGT—MO—HCA—APTV—BTC—ETH—XRP—USDT—SOL—BNB—USDC—DOGE—ADA—STETH—S&P 500—Dow—NASDAQ—Russell 2000—FTSE 100—DAX—CAC 40—Nikkei—Hang Seng—ASX 200—ALEX—ALK—BOH—CPF—CYAN—FHB—HE—MATX—MLP—NVDA—AAPL—GOOGL—GOOG—MSFT—AMZN—META—AVGO—TSLA—BRK.B—WMT—LLY—JPM—V—XOM—JNJ—MA—MU—COST—BAC—ORCL—ABBV—HD—PG—CVX—NFLX—KO—AMD—GE—CAT—PEP—MRK—ADBE—DIS—UNH—CSCO—INTC—CRM—PM—MCD—ACN—TMO—NEE—BMY—DHR—HON—RTX—UPS—TXN—LIN—QCOM—AMGN—SPGI—INTU—COP—LOW—AMAT—BKNG—AXP—DE—LMT—MDT—CB—ADP—GILD—MDLZ—SYK—BLK—C—ADI—REGN—SBUX—NOW—CI—VRTX—ZTS—MMC—PLD—SO—DUK—CMCSA—APD—BSX—BDX—EOG—ICE—ISRG—SLB—LRCX—PGR—USB—SCHW—ELV—ITW—KLAC—WM—EQIX—ETN—TGT—MO—HCA—APTV—BTC—ETH—XRP—USDT—SOL—BNB—USDC—DOGE—ADA—STETH—

Upcoming Storms Threaten Business Operations with School Closures and Infrastructure Risks

·6 min read·⚡ Act Now

Executive Summary

Two approaching Kona low systems are expected to cause widespread school closures and potential infrastructure damage across the islands, disrupting workforce availability and supply chains. Businesses must enact immediate contingency plans to mitigate operational impacts.

  • Small Business Operators: Prepare for staffing shortages due to school closures and potential supply chain disruptions.
  • Real Estate Owners: Assess property vulnerability to severe weather and ensure business continuity plans are updated.
  • Entrepreneurs & Startups: Develop remote work protocols or flexible scheduling to maintain operations.
  • Agriculture & Food Producers: Secure crops and livestock, and confirm logistics routes remain open.
  • Healthcare Providers: Implement telehealth surge plans and ensure staff can access facilities.
  • Action: Review and activate business continuity plans immediately.

Action Required

High Priority

Businesses need to prepare for potential disruptions to workforce availability, supply chains, and possibly physical access to facilities if infrastructure is damaged.

Businesses must review and immediately activate their existing business continuity and disaster preparedness plans. This includes assessing staffing flexibility for potential school closures, securing supply chains against transportation disruptions, and ensuring client communication protocols are robust and proactively deployed. For healthcare providers, this means preparing telehealth surge capacity and for agriculture, it involves securing crops and livestock.

Who's Affected
Small Business OperatorsReal Estate OwnersEntrepreneurs & StartupsAgriculture & Food ProducersHealthcare Providers
Ripple Effects
  • →School closures → workforce availability reduction → decreased business operating capacity → service delays and potential revenue loss
  • →Infrastructure damage (roads, power) → supply chain bottlenecks → increased cost of goods → reduced business margins and higher consumer prices
  • →Weather-related business disruptions → reduced local economic activity → slower demand for commercial real estate → potential impact on property values
  • →Increased demand for emergency supplies and services → strain on local vendors → potential price hikes for essential goods
A stunning aerial view capturing a storm approaching an island village along the coast.
Photo by Josh Sorenson

Upcoming Storms Threaten Business Operations with School Closures and Infrastructure Risks

As Hawaii braces for a new wave of Kona low weather systems, businesses across the state must prepare for significant operational disruptions. The recent passage of severe weather has already resulted in nearly 300 damage reports at schools, a situation expected to be exacerbated by incoming storms forecast to impact the islands starting Thursday. These conditions directly translate to potential school closures, damaged infrastructure, and unreliable access, necessitating immediate strategic planning for various business sectors.

The Change

Hawaii's Department of Education is actively assessing damage to school campuses statewide following a recent powerful Kona low. This system brought heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds, impacting multiple islands. Compounding the issue, another Kona low system is expected to affect the state starting Thursday. The cumulative effect of these weather events poses a high risk of significant disruptions, including widespread school closures, potential damage to public and private infrastructure, and increased strain on critical services.

Who's Affected

Small Business Operators

  • Staffing Shortages: Anticipate significant staffing challenges as schools close, requiring employees to care for children. This can lead to reduced operating hours or temporary closures. Businesses that rely on local school schedules for customer traffic (e.g., family-oriented entertainment, after-school programs) will experience direct revenue loss.
  • Supply Chain Vulnerability: Roads may become impassable due to flooding or debris, delaying or preventing deliveries. Businesses dependent on just-in-time inventory, particularly restaurants and retailers, face immediate stock shortages. Increased demand for emergency supplies could also strain local distribution networks.

Real Estate Owners

  • Property Damage Risk: Properties, especially those in low-lying or coastal areas, are at increased risk of flood damage, wind damage, and power outages. Landlords need to assess the structural integrity of their buildings and communicate potential risks and preparedness measures to tenants.
  • Business Interruption Insurance: Review insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage for business interruption and property damage related to severe weather events. Understand the claims process and required documentation.

Entrepreneurs & Startups

  • Operational Continuity: Many startups rely on agile operations and a dedicated workforce. School closures can disproportionately impact smaller teams where employees have fewer childcare options. ** Entrepreneurs should pivot to remote work protocols or implement flexible scheduling immediately.**
  • Infrastructure Dependency: Businesses reliant on stable internet and power infrastructure may face outages. Critical services and cloud-based operations could be compromised, impacting scalability and client service.

Agriculture & Food Producers

  • Crop and Livestock Loss: Fields are vulnerable to severe flooding, potentially destroying crops and impacting harvest schedules. Livestock may be at risk from extreme weather conditions. Coastal aquaculture operations face severe disruption from storm surges.
  • Logistics and Transportation: Road closures and damaged infrastructure can halt the transportation of produce to local markets, processors, or export facilities. This could lead to spoilage and significant financial losses.

Healthcare Providers

  • Workforce Availability: Similar to other sectors, healthcare providers face staffing challenges if employees cannot access facilities due to school closures or road conditions. Critical services must maintain operational capacity during emergencies.
  • ** telehealth Capacity:** While storms can impair in-person access, they also increase the need for remote medical consultations. Providers should ensure their telehealth platforms are robust and that staff are prepared to manage a surge in demand.
  • Facility Preparedness: Hospitals and clinics must ensure their facilities are prepared for potential power outages, water damage, and impacts on essential services like medical gas supply.

Second-Order Effects

Severe weather events in Hawaii, an isolated island economy, create cascading impacts. Widespread school closures strain the workforce, forcing employees to choose between work and childcare. This reduction in labor availability for businesses, already facing staffing challenges, can lead to reduced service capacity and even temporary shutdowns. Simultaneously, infrastructure damage from flooding and high winds impedes transportation, disrupting supply chains and increasing the cost of goods for both consumers and businesses. This can exacerbate inflation and reduce the competitiveness of local industries. The cumulative effect is a strain on business margins and a potential increase in the cost of living for residents.

What to Do

Small Business Operators:

  • Activate Contingency Staffing: Cross-train employees, develop on-call lists, and communicate flexible work-from-home options where feasible. Implement remote work protocols for non-essential staff immediately.
  • Secure Inventory & Supplies: Assess critical inventory levels and consider increasing stock of essential goods if possible before deliveries are impacted. Confirm alternative suppliers or backup logistics routes.
  • Communicate with Customers: Proactively inform customers about potential service disruptions, altered hours, or delivery delays through every available channel (website, social media, email).

Real Estate Owners:

  • Conduct Urgent Property Assessments: Visually inspect properties for immediate vulnerabilities, particularly roofs, drainage systems, and windows. Secure outdoor property elements and clear debris from drainage pathways.
  • Notify Tenants: Inform tenants of potential risks and provide guidance on personal preparedness measures. Ensure emergency contact information is up-to-date.

Entrepreneurs & Startups:

  • Deploy Remote Work Policies: If not already in place, implement robust remote work policies and ensure employees have the necessary tools and connectivity. Schedule daily check-ins to monitor operational status and team well-being.
  • Test Redundancy: Verify backup power and internet solutions are functional for critical operations.

Agriculture & Food Producers:

  • Secure Assets: Harvest mature crops immediately if possible. Secure greenhouses, irrigation systems, and outdoor equipment against high winds. Move livestock to sheltered areas.
  • Verify Logistics: Confirm with transportation partners the status of planned shipments and potential alternative routes.

Healthcare Providers:

  • Activate Telehealth Surge Plans: Ensure telehealth platforms are fully operational and staff are trained to manage increased remote patient interaction. Communicate telehealth availability broadly to patients.
  • Staffing Contingencies: Implement emergency staffing plans, including on-call schedules and potential for extended shifts, to ensure critical services remain operational.
  • Facility Readiness: Confirm backup power, water, and communication systems are tested and ready for activation.

More from us

Related Articles

Charming BBQ corn stand surrounded by palm trees in Honolulu.
Business & Startups

Hawaii's Minimum Wage to Reach $16 in 2026: Impacts on Businesses and Economy

·4 min read
Maui Grapples with Soaring Food Insecurity: Crisis Demands Urgent Action
Business & Startups

Maui Grapples with Soaring Food Insecurity: Crisis Demands Urgent Action

·3 min read
A stunning view of Honolulu's harbor with skyscrapers and mountains in the backdrop.
Business & Startups

Why Hawaii Sticks to Standard Time: Business Implications of No Daylight Saving

·3 min read