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.
Trades are breezy right now with scattered showers on the windward side and mountains; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Tomorrow stays breezy with the same pattern.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is still uncertain. If it comes closer, expect heavier rain over a longer stretch; if it stays farther out, impacts will be shorter and lighter. Winds will increase late this week, with potential gusts over 70 miles per hour on the highest summits.
Plan your leeward beach time and snorkeling for today through Tuesday. Save summit drives and offshore water sports for after Saturday, and check updates daily as this develops.
0:000:53
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Trade winds are pushing across Maui right now and staying breezy through tomorrow. Windward slopes and peaks will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. Rough seas mean a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain. Late this week, winds will increase across Maui, with summit gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph on Haleakala. The Big Island—especially Hilo and Puna—faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding if the storm tracks close.
Leeward beaches and snorkeling work best today through Tuesday. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday.
0:000:55
Voice
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Trades are kicking today with moderate wind and rough seas. Windward slopes will see scattered showers; the leeward side stays mostly dry. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The track remains uncertain, but the Big Island faces the highest risk of heavy rain and flooding, especially in the Hilo and Puna areas. Summit winds could exceed 70 mph late in the week. Check forecasts daily as the situation develops.
Leeward snorkeling and beach time work well through Tuesday. Save summit drives and windward hikes for today or tomorrow, and avoid offshore water sports and high elevations Thursday through Saturday.
0:000:58
Voice
Read the transcript
Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
