Hawaii is rushing recovery gear to the Big Island after storms tore up roads and knocked out power, a costly but urgent effort for families still cut off.

• Military C-17 cargo planes flew in heavy machinery in a first-of-its-kind push, paid for by the utility HECO at a cost of $1.2 million.
• Thousands of families were still without power, and mudslides and landslides blocked roads to isolated towns like Naalehu and Pahala.
• Hundreds of homes will need rebuilding, likely including a temporary village like the one built after the 2023 Lahaina fire.
• Naalehu School was wrecked and may need a full rebuild, pushing students into distance learning or other campuses for weeks.
• The state has $100 million in emergency money already set aside, plus federal disaster aid expected to cover three quarters of the cost.

Outlook: Recovery in these rural areas will stretch on for months, with more storms expected through hurricane season.