Five-minute Hawaii conditions digest. Every Friday morning.
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Every Friday morning, Aloha Friday lands in your inbox with one quick read on conditions across the islands — surf heights, jellyfish risk, which trails are open, what's happening this weekend, and any new posts worth your time. No daily clutter. No main newsletter. Just Fridays.
It's a separate list from the Aloha Today podcast — subscribe to one, both, or neither. The digest is written for travelers in the planning window: people still 3–12 weeks out who want a weekly pulse on what Hawaii is doing right now.
Surf & Swell
Wave heights and swell direction for all four islands. Good weeks vs. gnarly ones.
Jellyfish Risk
Box jellyfish warning dates for the week ahead — calculated from the lunar cycle.
Trail Status
Open, closed, or permit-required — current status for the most-visited trails.
Events & New Posts
What's on this weekend plus the one or two new posts most relevant to your trip.
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What a Typical Digest Looks Like
Aloha Friday — May 23, 2026
Your 5-minute Hawaii conditions briefing
Surf · All IslandsSouth Shore Oahu 2–4 ft, building to 3–5 ft by Sunday. Maui north shore flat. Big Island east side choppy. Kauai south calm — good week for beginners.
Jellyfish RiskClear this week. Next warning window: June 10–12 on south shore beaches. Hanauma Bay and Ala Moana will be calm through Sunday.
Trail StatusDiamond Head open, no wait. Kalalau Trail fully open — overnight permits required. Waimea Canyon Drive clear. No active storm closures.
Coming UpKing Kamehameha Day (June 11) — free floral parades on all islands. Ukulele Festival at Kapiʻolani Park July 19–20. Pan-Pacific Festival Honolulu June 6–8.
New This WeekHawaii Accommodations Guide — live hotel and vacation rental rates by island, plus which type fits your trip. Also: updated reef-safe sunscreen rules for 2026.
Dry conditions on Oʻahu today, with breezy wind in exposed areas. Drier weather continues through Wednesday as moisture clears out.
A medium-sized northwest swell will bring elevated surf to north and west-facing shores tonight through Sunday morning—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. Winds remain breezy through Sunday, easing slightly Monday and Tuesday before picking up again Wednesday. A Small Craft Advisory is active through Monday morning for most coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Scattered showers arrive Thursday into Friday.
South and west shore beaches work well through Sunday for calmer conditions. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're drawn to bigger waves.
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Skies are drying out across Maui today through Wednesday as moisture clears. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed and terrain-favored spots.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell moves in—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then strengthen again Wednesday. The next chance of scattered showers arrives Thursday through Friday.
If you're heading to the beach, south and west shores are your best bet through Sunday. North shore is worth watching tonight and Sunday morning if you're into bigger waves.
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Mostly clear and dry today on the Big Island, with noticeably breezy winds in exposed areas and terrain-favored spots. That breeze continues through Sunday.
North and west-facing shores will see elevated surf tonight into Sunday morning as a medium-sized northwest swell arrives—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. South shores stay small. A Small Craft Advisory covers most coastal waters through Monday morning due to wind and sea conditions. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive statewide Thursday to Friday.
Head to the south and west shores for beach and snorkeling through Sunday. If bigger waves interest you, the north shore has surf to watch tonight into Sunday morning.
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Drier air is moving in through Wednesday. Winds will be noticeably breezy, especially in exposed areas.
Tonight into Sunday morning, a medium-sized northwest swell will push elevated surf onto the north and west shores—conditions may briefly reach advisory levels. East-facing shores stay rough through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Monday morning for coastal waters due to wind and sea state. Winds ease slightly late Monday and Tuesday, then pick up again Wednesday. Scattered showers arrive Thursday or Friday.
Hit the south and west shores for swimming and snorkeling through Sunday. If you want to watch big waves, the north shore is worth a look tonight into Sunday morning.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
