Latest news with #HNLAlert
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is an emergency alert?
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Cellphone users across the state received a test emergency alert, but the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency said that a live emergency alert went out to some users during the test, despite there not being an emergency. The test was initially sent out shortly after 11 a.m., and it appears that the test was not intended to be released to the public, but was meant for internal use. Honolulu introduces new emergency alert system This is not the first time an accidental emergency was declared, following the 2018 false ballistic missile warning. But with the prevalence of emergency alerts, it can be difficult to understand the different types of alerts and how they vary throughout the islands. According to the state, there are different regions for alerts, with each region consisting of multiple separate types of alerts. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi Counties each have their own alert system, with the state having their own system that alerts all residents. There are numerous alerts that can reach any of the islands, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather alerts, which is helpful especially during hurricane season. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Alongside those alerts, the state can send out messages relation to their Earthquake Notification Service, Maile Amber Alert and more. While most county-specific alerts require a manual registration to receive them, many statewide alerts do not require registration and will automatically be sent to mobile devices in the area. For Honolulu, there are four different types of alerts that go out to mobile devices. The most broad of them is HNL Alert, which is a recently-debuted emergency system that the state describes as 'a one stop site for all city services. Where you can stay informed about traffic situations, beach/ocean alerts, weather advisories and more.' HNL Alerts can be sent to your mobile phone, as well as your email, allowing you to customize where is the best place to receive your information. The Department of Transportation also issues their own lane closure alerts for the island of Oʻahu. TheBus also sends alerts pertaining to issues regarding routes or services to those who utilize the transit service. While not necessarily an alert, the City and County of Honolulu also offers live traffic flow information with the help of traffic cameras, which can be used in tandem with traffic and emergency alerts to better plan your Hawaiʻi Island, there is a series of outdoor warning sirens, which can be found on the county's Civil Defense Agency's website. While not a mobile alert, the in-person alert can be just as helpful. Mobile emergency alerts, also through the Civil Defense Agency, can also be received to your phone or email. Those interested in staying in-the-know can sign up online for the alerts. The Hawaiʻi Police Department also issues alerts regarding public safety on their Nixle page, where residents may sign up to receive those alerts straight to their devices. Kauaʻi County has the fewest county-specific alerts, with their main form being the Kauaʻi County Alerts system which, similarly to other islands, can go to your mobile device or email. To sign up up for alerts, fill out the online opt-in form. For Maui County, residents can sign up for the main alert system for messages directly to them. For registration instructions, visit the sign-up website. For the complete list of state and county-wide alerts, visit the State of Hawaiʻi's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Box jellyfish alert issued for Waikiki beaches
A box jellyfish advisory has been issued for Waikiki beaches today, according to HNL Alert. The advisory was issued at about 8 :50 a.m. today after box jellyfish were observed at Waikiki beaches. Lifeguards have posted warning signs. According to the Waikiki Aquarium box, there is a high likelihood of jellyfish today through Thursday. Box jellyfish, which belong to the invertebrate Phylum Cnidaria, typically appear from eight to 10 days after the full moon, which occurred last Monday. 'Always check with a lifeguard for the latest beach and ocean conditions, ' said the alert. 'In an emergency call 911.' 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Shark warning signs posted at Makaha Beach Park
A shark advisory has been issued for Makaha Beach Park, according to an alert issued this afternoon by city officials. At about 2 :17 p.m., HNL Alert sent notice that Ocean Safety lifeguards sighted a 4-to 5-foot, non-aggressive shark near the shoreline at Makaha Beach Park. Signs have been posted at the beach. Anyone who sees or encounters a shark should notify Ocean Safety or call 911 immediately. 'Always check with a lifeguard for the latest ocean and beach conditions, ' said the alert. 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Will HNL Alert work on older phones?
Question : Regarding the city's new emergency alert system (), my Android phone works great with the city's old app. However, I tried to download the new HNL Alert /Everbridge app just to find out that it supports only the past three or four versions of the Apple or Android phone operating systems. So unless you have a newer phone, you don't qualify for this free service. What ?! The city is telling people working multiple jobs just to survive and kupuna on fixed incomes with not brand-new phones to shell out $1, 600 for a new phone plus the monthly wireless fees that are ever-increasing ? The app support limitation is especially concerning because the city says 'additional city departments will be brought into the system as HNL Alert expands.' And although the app is 'free ' to consumers, I would like to know how much the city is paying in our tax dollars to Public Safety by Everbridge for this 'service.' Answer : You are one of several readers expressing similar concerns or questions, which we shared with the city. Here are responses from Molly Pierce, spokesperson for Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management, which on Monday officially unveiled HNL Alert, urging people on Oahu to sign up for timely information about severe weather, traffic accidents and other safety issues ; updates arrive via text message, push notification or email. HNL Alert replaces Alerts. Q : What are the technical specifications to be able to use the new HNL Alert app ? A : 'The app is available for the three most recent versions of mobile operating systems. For example, if the current iOS version is 15, then versions 13 to 15 would be supported. The same is true for Android. For the full technical requirements for the app and desktop versions, you can visit. Some older phones may not be able to update to newer operating systems if they do not have enough memory available. If you encounter this problem, you can either clear space in your memory to update the phone or you can use the web portal or text-to-subscribe options, which do not require any updates to your phone.' Q : What are the city's suggestions for Oahu residents who don't have devices that meet the technical specifications to use the app ? A : 'Residents who either cannot or choose not to use the Public Safety by Everbridge app can still get all the benefits of the HNL Alert notification system by registering for a customizable account on the web portal ( ) or by using the quick text to subscribe option. If folks register at hnl they are able to select what method to be notified (methods not requiring the app are text and email ). They can also customize what kind of things they would like to get alerts about on the website as well. If folks don't want to make a full profile online, they can simply text 'HNLALERT ' to 888777 to receive text alerts with the most urgent messages. These will include web links that can be opened in any phone's browser.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Q : How much is the city paying for this service, and to whom ? A : 'HNL Alert uses the Everbridge platform. This is an industry leading system that is used by jurisdictions around the globe and close to home. Hawaii County uses the same platform for their alerts. The yearly cost of the system is approximately $93, 000.' HNL Alert 'is used in addition to emergency warning systems that don't require sign up, such as Wireless Emergency Alerts that sound on mobile devices, sirens, and Emergency Alert System messages that interrupt radio and TV, ' a DEM news release said. HNL Alert messages can contain more details than those warning systems provide, and the messages do not disappear quickly from a mobile device. 'This means users have more time to read and understand the information or share it with others, ' it said. Find more information about the new system on the DEM website, . HNL Alert replaces notifications previously sent by Alerts, but other functions of remain on its website or app, it said.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Honolulu unveils new emergency notification system
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. 1 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system 2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ Acting city Emergency Management Director Jennifer Walter spoke Monday about the city's new notification system, HNL Alerts, during a news conference at the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center. Behind her are Fire Chief Sheldon Ham, left, Dr. Jim Ireland and Police Chief Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @ 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Mayor Rick Blangiardi Pictured above speaking at Monday's news conference unveiling the HNL Alert system Starting today, the City and County of Honolulu officially launches its new real-time, mass-notification system to inform the public about severe weather, beach and ocean safety conditions, drinking water issues, evacuations, road closures and other community updates. Called HNL Alert, the latest city Department of Emergency Management system will issue alerts as text messages, push notifications or emails during an emergency or disaster situation on behalf of the city to residents and visitors alike. These messages also will be sent in close collaboration with other first-responder agencies. Alerts about traffic, Oahu's drinking water system and ocean safety will be issued by the Honolulu Police Department, the Board of Water Supply and the Department of Ocean Safety, respectively. Additional city departments will be brought into the system as HNL Alert expands, city officials said Monday. 'HNL Alert allows the city to communicate much more detailed instructions and updates with residents and visitors, ' city Emergency Management Acting Director Jennifer Walter said in a statement. 'We want to give people as much information as we can to help empower them to make the best choices for their safety.' 'With HNL Alert, we can send you updates about developing situations so you can make the decision to leave early if you feel unsafe or need more time, ' she added. 'HNL Alert is a tool that we can use in addition to our existing emergency alert systems.' There are two ways to sign up for HNL Alert. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The first includes customized alerts whereby users can create an account at. With an account, users can select the topics they want to receive alerts about and pick any combination of text messages, email alerts or mobile push notifications from the city's public safety agencies via the Everbridge app. To use the app, residents can enter one or more addresses to receive targeted alerts about events affecting specific areas such as their neighborhood or near their workplace. Users can also make changes to preferred alert topics or methods at any time. The second way to sign up is to gain so-called urgent alerts. To receive these, text 'HNLALERT ' to 888777 to quickly subscribe and get the most important safety alerts by text. No registration is needed for this option, the city said. To receive alerts, users will need to have up-to-date contact information. If a user's contact information changes, those changes can be made on the user's profile at A user's personal information will not be shared, according to the city. The user's provided information will be used only for notification purposes and not be sold or used by another vendor or organization, city officials said. HNL Alert is used in addition to emergency warning systems that do not require sign-up. Those include wireless emergency alerts, or WEAs, that sound on mobile devices, sirens and Emergency Alert System messages that interrupt radio and TV. While these warning systems are intended for use during urgent emergencies, HNL Alert messages can keep residents and visitors informed about developing weather conditions and other situations affecting city services. HNL Alert messages can contain more details, include images and links to real-time information, and don't disappear quickly from a mobile device. This means users have more time to read and understand the information or share it with others, city officials said. HNL Alert utilizes Everbridge, the system's vendor, for what the city says is an 'industry leading public notification system used by numerous public and private entities around the globe.' The new system, which informally launched in March, replaces the city's prior system, Alerts. But other functions of Alerts are still available on the website or app. The first messages were sent to current Alert users on March 25, notifying them of the change and to receive instructions on how to transition to HNL Alert, the city said. The HNL Alert /Everbridge platform allows for additional features was not able to provide. These include automation of weather messages from the National Weather Service, geotargeting of messages, and a quick text to subscribe for event-based messages that allows the city to engage with visitors more efficiently. Everbridge also connects social media accounts to these messages. 'In times of emergency, getting accurate, timely information can make all the difference, ' Mayor Rick Blan giardi said in a statement. 'But it is not just about receiving alerts—it is about taking personal responsibility and acting on them.' 'We urge everyone to sign up, stay informed, and be prepared, ' he added. 'The more we work together as a community to stay aware and proactive, the safer we will all be.' Although HNL Alert is free, messaging and data rates could apply depending on the user's mobile provider. To unsubscribe from HNL Alert, users can follow the instructions in any HNL Alert email or remove contact information from account profiles. Those subscribed to urgent text alerts only can text 'STOP.'———For more information about HNL Alert, visit.
