Latest / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Monday 2026-07-20
Transcript
- 0:00Aloha. It's Monday morning. I'm Mele with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today. A long-period south swell is building and will peak tonight into Wednesday — good day to hit the south and west shores before moisture moves in.
- 1:51Monday stays mostly dry and quiet, but clouds and scattered showers will develop this evening, especially on windward slopes and higher elevations. Winds stay light to moderate through today. If you're heading out this afternoon, the timing is still in your favor — catch it before the evening shift.
- 2:06South shore surf is moderate — Waikiki at 4.6 feet, Kauaʻi's Hanalei at 4.7 feet. Watch for shore break and rip currents. The Big Island and Maui are gentler — Hapuna is glass-smooth at 1.3 feet, Kāʻanapali at 3.3 feet. Good snorkeling on the protected beaches if you're picking your spot.
- 2:20Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open, but the Kahuku Unit roads, Kīpukapuaulu Trail, and Lava Tube Bridge are all closed due to hazardous trees and bridge work. Kīlauea remains under advisory — protect yourself from volcanic ash if you're in the park. Check the NPS website before you drive up.
- 2:35If you're thinking ahead to fall — September through November — our new piece on Hawaiʻi's fall waterfall season walks through where windward falls come back to life on each island. As the trade winds shift and windward slopes get more moisture, those hikes that are bone-dry right now will be flowing again. It's worth planning around if you're a waterfall person.
- 2:53Tuesday and Wednesday bring the heaviest showers, especially windward and mauka. By Thursday a new south swell arrives, keeping south shore conditions elevated through the weekend. Winds pick up Wednesday onward, so plan water activities early in the day.
- 3:06Grab our Oʻahu or Kauaʻi guide if you're heading to the south shore today. Catch you tomorrow.