Hawaii News

Hurricane Nolo is the dominant statewide story, with partner coverage showing the storm strengthening and prompting preparations across Hawaiʻi Island, Maui County and beyond. Maui Now reported Nolo was moving north-northwest toward Hawaiʻi Island, while Big Island Now said the storm had strengthened to Category 2 and could bring 10 to 15 inches of rain to the eastern and southern portions of the island, with maximum amounts of 25 inches. Kauaʻi Now said the storm is expected to pass south of Kauaʻi, and a separate Kauaʻi forecast calls for a wind advisory on the Garden Island and Niʻihau. Across the islands, agencies and nonprofits are responding: the University of Hawaiʻi launched rainfall and wind trackers, the Salvation Army readied disaster response, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation deployed Stronger Hawaiʻi funding for preparedness outreach on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

The storm is already affecting daily life and business operations. Bank of Hawaiʻi will temporarily close all branch operations on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County today, and Big Island Now said Hawaiʻi County is opening additional public shelters. On the agricultural side, Maui County officials are urging farmers and ranchers to prepare, and Big Island coverage says coffee producers are facing another round of severe weather after a year already marked by major storms. Kauaʻi is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, with recovery continuing and officials warning residents to prevent wildfires during cleanup.

Beyond weather, the material points to broader economic strain and preparedness efforts. Maui Now says Hawaiʻi’s economy has slowed under higher war-driven oil prices and an unusually active storm season, while AAA Hawaiʻi reports gas prices rose 9 cents over the past week. Maui also has local transportation and infrastructure updates, including a Maui Bus reroute for the Maui County Fair Parade and a draft environmental assessment for rockfall netting in Kīpahulu. On Kauaʻi, a federal waiver is offering temporary relief for commercial drivers during a DMV outage, and Verizon customers have reported trouble reaching the non-emergency police dispatch line.