An apparent malfunction in the Hawai‘i All-Hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System caused at least one siren in central Hilo to sound in error for about 5 minutes on Saturday, January 28.  There was no emergency.

The siren was immediately reported to Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, which notified the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) State Warning Point. The HIEMA State Warning Point deactivated the siren. Neither HI-EMA nor Hawai’i County Civil Defense reported any action on their part that would have led to the siren activation. Technicians are attempting to determine whether an electrical malfunction caused the siren to sound.