Latest / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Friday 2026-08-28
Transcript
- 0:00Aloha. Friday morning. I'm Mele with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today. Trades are steady and strong, and Tropical Storm Lowell is spinning closer out in the Pacific.
- 1:37Today stays dry and warm across the islands, though windward slopes may see a quick shower or two early on. Trade winds are gusting near 25 to 30 miles per hour on ridgetops and through valleys — if you're driving a high mountain pass today, brace for it. South-facing beaches stay calm and sunny.
- 1:52East-facing waters are rough right now. Oʻahu's south shore is seeing 4.7-foot moderate surf with rip currents, so be cautious if you're heading to Waikīkī. Big Island's Hapuna is glassy at 1.5 feet — safe for most swimmers. A Small Craft Advisory is up around Maui and the Big Island through at least tomorrow evening.
- 2:08Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is mostly open today, though the Sulphur Banks Bridge is closed and the Kahuku Unit remains off-limits. Kīlauea had a brief eruption episode Tuesday that wrapped after 9 hours — if you're heading to the park, watch for volcanic ash exposure.
- 2:21If you're planning a Big Island stop this weekend, our volcano piece from earlier this week walks through what Episode 54 looked like and what that means for park access. The eruption finished fast, but it's a solid reminder that activity on the island can shift quickly. Full piece is on the site if you want the details.
- 2:38The real story this week is Tropical Storm Lowell. Models are still uncertain about how close it'll track, but the system is expected to turn westward this weekend and could approach the islands by early next week. Moisture and rain will likely build mid-to-late next week if it gets near.
- 2:52If you're a south-shore swimmer today, enjoy it while the trades blow. Catch you tomorrow.