HONOLULU — Less than 80 percent of the state’s 418 alert and warning sirens are fully operational, according to a new interactive map posted by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The map is updated with data from monthly tests

  • Based on testing from Oct. 2, 326 (78%) of the sirens were fully operational, 29 (6.95) were in need of maintenance, 37 (8.9%) require maintenance with contracting support and 26 (6.2%) are inoperable and beyond repair

  • The All-Hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System as one of the tools HI-EMA uses uses to alert the public in the event of an emergency.

  • The system and how and when it can be used was the topic if intense scrutiny in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires

The map is updated with data from monthly tests.

According to the data posted, based on testing from Oct. 2, 326 (78%) of the sirens were fully operational, 29 (6.95) were in need of maintenance, 37 (8.9%) require maintenance with contracting support and 26 (6.2%) are inoperable and beyond repair.

The interactive map displays fully operational sirens in green. Sirens that require maintenance which HI-EMA can perform unassisted are shown in yellow. Sirens which need maintenance that must be performed with contracted assistance are shown in red. Sirens which are beyond repair are shown in black.

“Some of those blacked-out sirens are close to 60 years old and they need to be replaced, but because of development in the area the sites are no longer suitable,” said HI-EMA administrator James Barros, in a release issued on Thursday. “Others have been destroyed by lightning, vandalism or drunk drivers, and at least three burned in the Maui wildfires. This new tool will enable the public to check on the operational status of all the sirens in their communities.”

The All-Hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System is one of the tools HI-EMA uses to alert the public in the event of an emergency.

The system and how and when it can be used was the topic if intense scrutiny in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires.

As HI-EMA reiterated in the Thursday release, the system may be used in the event of any type of imminent hazard to alert the public to seek additional information. That additional information may also come through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which sends alerts to mobile devices, or the Emergency Alert System, which is sent via televisions and radios.

The interactive map may be viewed on the HI-EMA website by selecting “Siren Status Map” under the “Get Ready” tab. 

“It’s a challenge to keep a complex system such as our siren network running in perfect condition, but this new tool will help to give the public transparency into the system,” Barros said. “That will be vital as we work to improve all our alert and warning systems to improve protection for the people of Hawaii.”

HI-EMA said it plans to add additional information and features to the map over time to make it more detailed and useful.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.