Hawaii News

Hurricane Lowell is the dominant story across the islands, with Maui Now reporting the storm passing just west of Niʻihau and bringing damaging winds, rain and waves to Kauaʻi and Kauaʻi Now warning of dangerous conditions, flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds for Kauaʻi County. Kauaʻi officials have already sounded the outdoor warning siren on Niʻihau, and the county is urging residents and visitors in exposed oceanfront areas on the south and west shores to move to safer locations. The material also says the Līhuʻe Airport closed Monday afternoon, while state, county, Department of Education and Judiciary operations were set to close Tuesday.

The storm’s reach is broader than Kauaʻi. Maui Now says dangerous conditions are expected for Niʻihau, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, and that public schools and offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County will close Tuesday because of Lowell. Big Island Now says Lowell remains far west of Hawaiʻi Island but is still expected to bring high surf and possibly heavy rain and flooding there. Separate Big Island weather coverage points to frequent showers, isolated thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall possible, along with high surf warnings for south and west shores.

On Hawaiʻi Island, another weather-related thread is the impact of Hurricane Lala on agriculture. Big Island Now reports Kaʻū farmers are grappling with losses of trees, crops and infrastructure, with the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union saying reported losses top $3 million across 79 types of farms. The same island also has a separate development in agriculture policy: funding has been released toward the Tropical AgTech Center project in Hilo, which is intended to expand agricultural technology resources for Hawaiʻi Island farmers.

Elsewhere, Maui Now reports the University of Hawaiʻi is offering real-time access to Hawaiʻi Mesonet rainfall and wind data as Lowell approaches, and that UH has launched a free “AI for Hawaiʻi” course for everyone. Maui Now also notes precursory low-level activity before episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea, though the excerpt does not provide further detail on timing or impacts.