Latest / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Saturday 2026-08-15
Transcript
- 0:00Aloha. Saturday morning, and Tropical Storm Lala is here. Life-threatening conditions across all islands through Sunday — damaging winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf statewide.
- 1:51The Big Island is feeling tropical-storm-force winds starting tonight. Maui and Molokaʻi get hit Saturday morning, Oʻahu Saturday afternoon, Kauaʻi Saturday night. Gusts are already 40 to 55 miles per hour in exposed areas, and mountainous terrain will see even stronger ones. Heavy rain starts tonight on the Big Island and spreads westward through the weekend — the windward side could see 10 to 15 inches, Maui 8 to 12, other islands 5 to 8. Even leeward areas face significant flood risk. Don't drive through flooded roads.
- 2:17The ocean is off-limits. East and southeast shores are taking the biggest swells — the Big Island's eastern side is facing storm surge up to 3 feet. Oʻahu north and south shores are running 6-foot waves, Kauaʻi at 7.3 feet. All water activities are hazardous through the weekend.
- 2:31Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is closing temporarily for storm safety. Kīlauea remains at advisory level. The park will reopen when conditions stabilize.
- 2:40If you're sheltering indoors this weekend, our recent piece on Kīlauea's Episode 53 gives you something to read — it ended after 9.6 hours of fountaining early Thursday morning, and the summit eruption is holding at advisory level. We also just published a guide to Hawaiʻi's new destination management plans, which breaks down what the islands are doing to address overcrowding and strain on parks and beaches. Both are worth your time if you're planning your next trip.
- 3:03Conditions improve early next week as the storm moves northwest. Heavy rain may linger into Monday in some areas, but the worst is Saturday and Sunday.
- 3:11Stay safe, check on neighbors, and ride this one out indoors. Talk to you Monday.