Hawaii Weather & Current Access

Current forecasts first, destination access second

Current weather

Check the latest forecast before outdoor plans

October 25 weather check: NWS Honolulu’s discussion forecasts increasing heavy-rain potential beginning Monday night, October 26, into the week. Timing and location remain uncertain. Recheck current NWS outlooks and alerts before travel; a forecast for possible flooding is not confirmation that flooding is occurring.

Use our local weather forecast and Ocean Report for current planning. Avoid flooded roads and rising streams, follow posted closures and local instructions, and keep an alternate outdoor plan.

Current access and closures — Kauaʻi

Place-specific access notices; Hāʻena shuttle notice dated November 2, 2026. Access is specific to the destination; these updates do not establish an islandwide all-clear.

North Shore and Hāʻena: Kauaʻi County’s November 1 update says Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei Bridge is open to alternating traffic only; expect delays. Go Hāʻena’s November 2 notice schedules shuttle service to Hāʻena State Park to resume November 2, 2026. Confirm current Hāʻena day-use, shuttle, parking, and reservation arrangements before going; the coastal Kalalau Trail beyond two miles and overnight camping remain closed. Check posted controls; park access does not establish safe swimming.

Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe: DLNR reopened only the first Waimea Canyon Lookout October 24, during daylight hours unless an emergency closure applies. Kōkeʻe State Park, the remainder of Waimea Canyon State Park, and Puʻu Hinahina, Puʻu Ka Pele and Puʻu o Kila lookouts remain closed. Do not extend a lookout visit into closed roads, trails or park areas.

Waimea approach remains unconfirmed: HDOT’s table still lists local-only traffic beyond the Kōkeʻe/Waimea Canyon Drive junction, and DLNR’s park notices retain a Kōkeʻe Road closure. The first-lookout opening does not resolve those road controls. Confirm a permitted approach with HDOT/DLNR before driving.

Wailua River: The same DLNR notice permits river, designated landing and trailhead access. Hiking beyond the trailhead and Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) remain closed. Individual kayakers may not enter Fern Grotto; Smith’s Motor Boat Tours may use its landing.

County facilities: The County Parks list updated October 23 keeps Salt Pond Park, Waimea swimming pool, the Wailua Golf Course driving range, Kaumakani/Kōloa/Hanalei neighborhood centers, Hanapēpē Stadium football field and tennis courts, Hanapēpē and Salt Pond pavilions, and comfort stations at Kukuiʻula Harbor Park, Hanapēpē Pavilion and Poʻipū Beach Park’s west end closed. Check the exact facility before leaving.

Ocean checks are separate: The October 20 County advisory said no ocean activities at Hāʻena Beach Park until further notice. Follow that advisory until the County or a lifeguard confirms clearance. Hāʻena State Park’s day-use reopening does not establish clearance at the beach named in the ocean advisory. Check DOH’s current water-quality map and lifeguards before swimming; do not infer today’s water quality from this recovery summary. Stay out of brown or murky water.

Use Trail & Road Status and Travel Alerts for the connected access checks. Confirm lodging and individual tour availability directly.

Storm status

Current Hurricane Brief

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Brief and narration created with AI from the latest source data. Confirm urgent decisions with NWS Honolulu.

Live observations

Live Hawaii Satellite & Radar

Satellite imagery shows cloud cover and motion across the island chain; radar shows recent precipitation. Use the official outlook and advisories—not imagery alone—to identify tropical threats.

Open NOAA's animated GOES-West GeoColor satellite loop for Hawaii Latest NOAA GOES-West GeoColor satellite image centered on the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiʻi satellite view. NOAA's GOES-West GeoColor image provides the current cloud overview. Reload this page for the newest still image.
Open animated satellite loop Open wider Tropical Pacific view
Open the interactive National Weather Service radar for all Hawaiian islands Live National Weather Service precipitation radar loop for the Hawaiian Islands
All-islands radar loop. Open the image for the interactive statewide NWS radar.
Open interactive National Weather Service radar National Weather Service South Point PHWA radar loop on Hawaiʻi Island
Big Island radar. South Point (PHWA) radar loop from NWS Honolulu.

Sources: NOAA/NESDIS GOES-West, the NHC satellite directory, NOAA/National Weather Service radar, and the NWS Honolulu radar directory. Reload for the newest frames. For historical context, compare Lowell with past storms near Hawaiʻi.

Earlier storm reporting — September and October 2026

These reports describe earlier conditions. Use the dated current access guidance above and the newest agency notices for travel decisions.

The County’s September 28 recovery report described power restored to most of Kauaʻi with repairs still needed in some areas. It does not establish current utility service at an individual property; confirm directly with your host.

Read our Kauaʻi visitor and business recovery reporting, or use the County’s current notices for recovery resources and services.

Historical context: Lowell’s preliminary center track remains in our interactive Hawaiʻi storm-history map. A center track does not show the extent of damage or where services have returned. Use the current access guidance above for travel decisions.

Official Hawaii storm sources

For weather enthusiasts: Tropical Tidbits’ Central Pacific GFS model viewer visualizes one numerical model’s sea-level pressure and precipitation guidance. It can help you watch how model scenarios change between runs, but it is not an official forecast and individual runs can change substantially. Use CPHC/NHC forecasts, watches, and warnings—not this viewer—to make safety or travel decisions.

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If a watch or warning is issued

A watch means tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible; a warning means they are expected. Read the official NHC definitions, then follow county emergency managers and instructions from your lodging provider and airline.

Do not drive, hike, boat, or enter the ocean to watch worsening conditions. Hawaii hazards can develop before a storm center reaches its closest point.

Additional Resources

Information disclaimer: Tropical cyclone forecasts can change with every advisory. HawaiiGuide summarizes official information for visitor planning, but NOAA, NWS Honolulu, and county emergency officials are the authorities for forecasts and protective instructions. Check the Central Pacific Hurricane Center before making a weather-sensitive travel decision.

John C. Derrick

Published by: John C. Derrick

Founder & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 20+ years in Hawai'i tourism, University of South Carolina climate-research training, and NOAA weather-station experience.
Tori C. Derrick

Published by: Tori C. Derrick

President & certified Hawai'i travel expert with 15+ years of experience in Hawai'i tourism.

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