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Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Thursday 2026-10-15 · Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing

• 0:00
  Aloha. Thursday morning. Trade winds are picking up today and staying strong through the weekend—it's a leeward-side day if you're heading to the beach. I'm Mele with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today.
• 1:59
  Three separate shower bands are moving through Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday into Monday. Windward and mountain areas will catch the most rain, especially overnight. Leeward coasts should stay mostly dry with only scattered showers possible. Winds are elevated everywhere, so plan around that if you're doing any outdoor activity.
• 2:16
  Surf is moderate on the north shores—Waimea on Oʻahu is 4.9 feet, Hanalei on Kauaʻi is 5.8 feet. Watch for shore break and rip currents. South shore is smaller at 3.9 feet on Oʻahu and manageable for most swimmers. Big Island and Maui are calm to small. East-facing shores are going to be rough and choppy this weekend, so stay on the leeward side.
• 2:33
  A Small Craft Advisory is active around Maui and the Big Island through Saturday. At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, several trails are closed due to volcanic unrest and hazardous conditions—Halemaʻumaʻu Trail, part of Byron Ledge, and the Keanakākoʻi side of the crater are all off-limits. Kīpukapuaulu Trail is closed due to falling trees. If volcanic ash is in the air, it can irritate lungs and eyes, so take precautions if you're in that area.
• 2:56
  With rough conditions this weekend, boat tours and water activities are going to be prime targets for rescheduling. Our piece on backup day deadlines walks through exactly what to check when an operator calls—specifically, whether your backup day expires before you can actually use it. It sounds like a detail, but it's the kind of thing that trips up group bookings and multi-island itineraries. The worked example breaks it down so you know what questions to ask before you commit.
• 3:20
  Friday and Saturday bring moderate surf and strong winds, then the heaviest rain pulse lands Sunday into Monday. East-facing shores get the worst chop this weekend, so leeward and south-facing beaches are your call.
• 3:31
  If you're sticking to leeward beaches this weekend, grab our snorkeling guide for protected bays and coves. Talk to you in the morning.