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Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Thursday 2026-08-27 · Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing

• 0:00
  Aloha. Thursday morning in Hawaiʻi. I'm Mele with what's happening today across the islands.
• 1:57
  Sunny and dry through the weekend. Moderate trade winds are steady, with occasional gusts near 25 to 30 miles per hour on ridges and in valleys. Windward slopes—especially Hilo, Puna, and Haleakalā—might see a few brief showers, mostly nocturnal and at higher elevations, but they'll pass quickly. The leeward side is your best bet for a clear beach day. Humidity is lower than usual, so it'll feel comfortable despite the warmth.
• 2:18
  South-facing shores have the bigger swells right now—4.4 feet on Oʻahu south shore, 4.1 feet on Kauaʻi. That's moderate surf with shore break and rip currents, so watch conditions if you're swimming. Oʻahu north shore and Maui sit at 3.7 and 3 feet respectively—comfortable for most swimmers. Big Island's Hapuna is nearly flat at 1.5 feet, ideal for families and snorkelers.
• 2:37
  Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is mostly open. The Sulphur Banks Bridge is closed and the Kahuku Unit remains off-limits. Kīlauea is under an advisory with an active eruption—if you're heading to higher elevations, protect yourself from volcanic ash in these windy conditions. Boating around Maui and the Big Island leeward is choppy through at least Friday due to trade wind swell.
• 2:56
  Kīlauea Episode 54 ended last night after nine hours of lava fountaining. Our post on the eruption covers what the fountains looked like at peak, the volcanic ash report, and which park areas are safe to visit right now. If you're planning a volcano stop this week, that's the resource to check before you head up.
• 3:12
  Friday stays sunny with trade winds steady. Saturday and Sunday the pattern holds—dry days, choppy seas on the windward side, moderate fire weather risk from strong winds and dry air. By early next week, expect the same setup to continue.
• 3:24
  Full eruption details are on the site. Talk to you tomorrow.