Latest / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing / Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Friday 2026-07-31
Transcript
- 0:00Aloha. Friday morning — and it's Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, Hawaiian Restoration Day. It marks the return of Hawaiian sovereignty in 1843, when the flag came back to King Kamehameha III at Thomas Square. I'm Mele with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today.
- 1:34Winds are strong today and tomorrow. A Wind Advisory is in effect on most islands through Saturday evening — expect gusts especially in ridges and mountain gaps. Leeward coasts will stay dry and are your best bet for beach time. Windward areas might see isolated showers, but nothing significant.
- 1:49Surf is mixed. Kauaʻi's at 5.1 feet with moderate conditions — watch for rip currents. Oʻahu's south shore is moderate at 4.2 feet. The north shore and Maui sit at 3.5 and 3.1 feet respectively — comfortable for swimming. The Big Island is nearly glass at 1.2 feet. Pick a leeward spot and watch for wind chop.
- 2:04Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is under Advisory status. Several trails are closed — Sulfur Banks, Kīpukapuaulu, and the Lava Tube Bridge area are all off limits due to hazards or maintenance. The park is open, but plan your route around those closures.
- 2:17Kīlauea's Episode 52 wrapped up earlier this week after 7.4 hours. The north vent shot fountains near 500 feet before things settled down. If you're headed to the Big Island and volcanoes are on your list, our post has the details on what happened and what the current status means for park access and timing.
- 2:32Sunday winds ease back to normal summertime breezes as the high-pressure system weakens. Stick with leeward coasts if you're beach-bound today — dry, windy, but swimmable.
- 2:41The full volcano update is on the site. Catch you tomorrow morning.