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Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing — Thursday 2026-07-30 · Aloha Today — Your Daily Hawaii Briefing

• 0:00
  Aloha. Thursday morning. Tropical storm Fausto is pulling away, but it's leaving strong winds in its wake—they ramp up starting tomorrow. I'm Mele with what's happening in Hawaiʻi today.
• 1:50
  Light to moderate showers on the west side through mid-morning, then drying out fast. By this afternoon, trade winds pick up noticeably. Friday and Saturday, though—expect strong winds statewide, potentially reaching advisory levels, especially leeward and at lower elevations. Humidity drops as drier air moves in, which also means fire danger climbs. Be careful with any outdoor flames or heat sources this weekend. Winds ease back to normal by early next week.
• 2:13
  South shore is firing today—Waikīkī is at 3.3 feet, comfortable for swimmers, but the forecast says south shore will peak at 5 to 6 feet before the swell fades through the weekend. Kauaʻi's Hanalei is running 5.1 feet with moderate surf, so watch for shore break and rip currents there. Big Island's Hapuna is glass-calm at 1.4 feet. This is the window for south shore—enjoy it while it lasts.
• 2:32
  Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is at advisory level. Sulfur Banks Trail, the Lava Tube Bridge, Kīpukapuaulu Trail, and Kahuku Unit Roads are all closed. The main concern is volcanic ash and hazardous conditions from Kīlauea activity. If you're heading to the Big Island, check before you go.
• 2:47
  If you're planning a snorkel today, our guide on marine naturalist tours breaks down how to pick one that actually teaches. A good reef briefing tells you what you're looking at before you jump in, and there's a real difference between tours that treat it like a field trip and ones that just herd people overboard. It's worth knowing what to listen for on the phone when you're booking.
• 3:06
  Wednesday brings east-facing shores alive as distant hurricane swell arrives. Thursday stays breezy as that system works through.
• 3:13
  South shore's your best bet today. Catch you tomorrow morning.