Latest / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Friday 2026-07-03

Transcript

Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Friday 2026-07-03 · Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing

• 0:00
  Aloha. Friday morning, and the long weekend is setting up nicely for leeward beaches — though the south swell's going to get rough Sunday and Monday. Mele here with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today.
• 1:48
  Today stays typical trade wind weather — moderate breezes, scattered showers on the windward side and in the hills, but the leeward coasts are dry. Humidity's dropping noticeably, which means it'll feel fresher than usual for July. If you're heading to a leeward beach this weekend, today and tomorrow are your best bet before the swell picks up.
• 2:05
  Surf is small across most islands right now — 3.8 feet at Waikiki, 2.8 feet at Kāʻanapali, just 1.4 feet at Hapuna on the Big Island. Kauaʻi's seeing 5.4 feet at Hanalei, so watch for shore break and rip currents there. A bigger south swell is already moving in and will peak Sunday through Monday, so south-facing shores will get rough. Today and tomorrow are your safer windows if you're a swimmer.
• 2:25
  At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, several trails remain closed — Kīpukapuaulu is out due to hazardous trees, and the Lava Tube Bridge is under replacement. Kahuku Unit roads are also closed. Kīlauea's at advisory level, so be prepared for volcanic particles in the air if you're heading up.
• 2:40
  If you're planning a trip for fall, our new piece on Hawaiʻi's shoulder season breaks down why September and October are the real value window — cheaper hotels, softer airfare, and fewer crowds. We've also got a guide on Kīlauea's lava glow viewing for the clear nights that fall brings. Both are worth reading if fall is in your head right now.
• 2:57
  Sunday the winds pick up and that south swell ramps up to near-advisory levels on south shores. By Monday, moisture moves in with the trade winds, so expect showers to increase again over windward areas.
• 3:07
  If today's your beach day, grab our leeward island guides — they break down which spots hold up best when the south swell runs. Talk to you tomorrow.