Hawaiʻi, Prepare Now: Hurricanes Lowell and Karina Demand Our Attention
Hawaiʻi is facing an unusually active and potentially consequential stretch of tropical weather.
Hurricane Lowell is rapidly strengthening southeast of Hawaiʻi and is forecast to become a major hurricane on Wednesday. Farther east, powerful Hurricane Karina continues moving westward across the Pacific. Beyond Karina, Tropical Storm Marie is another reminder of just how active the Pacific has become.
For communities still recovering from Hurricane Lala—and for families throughout our islands—the message is clear:
Prepare now. Stay informed. Check on your ʻohana and neighbors. Do not wait until a warning is issued to begin getting ready.
Current National Hurricane Center forecasts do not show Lowell or Karina making a direct strike on Hawaiʻi during the next five days. However, Hawaiʻi can experience significant effects without a hurricane making landfall, and the National Weather Service says there is significant uncertainty in the forecast beyond five days.
This is a time for preparedness—not panic.
Hurricane Lowell Is Approaching Hawaiʻi
As of the National Hurricane Center’s 11:00 a.m. HST advisory on Tuesday, September 1, Hurricane Lowell was approximately 535 miles southeast of Hilo, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.
Lowell was moving west-northwest at approximately 10 mph and strengthening quickly. Forecasters expect additional strengthening during the next day or two, with Lowell forecast to become a major hurricane on Wednesday.
The current forecast takes Lowell south of the main Hawaiian Islands late Wednesday into Thursday.
But a track south of Hawaiʻi does not mean Hawaiʻi will be unaffected.
The National Weather Service expects winds across the islands to become strong and gusty as early as Wednesday afternoon and remain strong through Friday as Lowell passes south of the state.
Moisture drawn northward by Lowell is also expected to increase showers across the entire Hawaiian Island chain Thursday and Friday, including normally drier leeward areas.
Dangerous Ocean Conditions Are Also Expected
The ocean may be one of Lowell’s earliest noticeable impacts.
The National Hurricane Center says swells generated by Lowell are likely to begin affecting portions of the Hawaiian Islands on Wednesday and could produce life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions.
South and southeast-facing shores could begin seeing energy from Lowell Wednesday. What happens later this weekend will depend heavily on Lowell’s eventual track and intensity.
At the same time, swell from Hurricane Karina is beginning to enter Hawaiian waters from the east. The National Weather Service says that swell should build through the week and could push surf along east-facing shores to advisory levels this weekend and into next week.
Please take ocean warnings seriously.
Do not enter dangerous surf to watch the waves, take photographs or retrieve property. Follow lifeguard, Ocean Safety, county and National Weather Service guidance.
Hurricane Karina Is Following Behind
Lowell is not the only storm we need to watch.
Hurricane Karina is farther east in the Pacific and remains a powerful hurricane.
Early Tuesday, Karina was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects gradual weakening as Karina continues generally westward to west-northwestward over the next several days.
There are currently no coastal watches or warnings associated with Karina.
But Hawaiʻi should continue paying attention.
The National Weather Service says that after Lowell moves away, attention will turn to Hurricane Karina through early next week.
What Happens After Lowell Is Still Uncertain
This is one of the most important parts of the current forecast.
The National Weather Service says the official five-day tracks currently keep Lowell and Karina away from Hawaiʻi.
Beyond five days, however, there is significant uncertainty.
Forecast models indicate Lowell may eventually make a northward turn after moving west of Hawaiʻi. The timing and location of that turn remain uncertain.
Most current model runs take Lowell west of the main Hawaiian Islands. The National Weather Service has also acknowledged a lower-probability scenario in which Lowell could head toward the main Hawaiian Islands, potentially around September 7 or 8.
That is not a forecast that Lowell will hit Hawaiʻi.
It is an uncertainty that deserves our attention.
Forecast tracks several days into the future can—and often do—change. That is why Hawaiʻi residents should monitor official forecasts every day rather than relying on a single map, social media post or forecast from several days earlier.
Why Hawaiʻi Should Prepare Now
Hurricane Lala has already shown us how quickly an emergency can disrupt daily life.
For some communities, particularly in Kaʻū and other areas affected by Lala, recovery is still underway.
Another period of strong winds, dangerous surf, increased rainfall or power interruptions could create additional challenges for households already dealing with damage and depleted supplies.
Preparation does not mean assuming a hurricane will make landfall.
Preparation means making sure we have options if conditions worsen.
HI-EMA emphasizes that hurricanes have a wide area of hazardous weather impacts and specifically advises residents not to wait to prepare.
Prepare Your Household Today
Use the time we have now.
Build or replenish your emergency supplies. Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency recommends that households prepare to be self-sufficient for at least two weeks because our island state depends heavily on shipping and disruptions to ports and supply chains can affect the availability of food and other necessities.
Your emergency supplies should include adequate drinking water, shelf-stable food, necessary medications, first-aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, hygiene supplies and other household necessities.
HI-EMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day, or 14 gallons per person for a two-week emergency supply.
Remember the individual needs of kūpuna, keiki, people with disabilities or medical needs, and your pets.
Prepare for possible power outages. Charge phones, portable battery banks and essential devices. Locate flashlights and batteries. If someone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment, review your backup power plan now.
Prepare your property. Secure or bring inside outdoor furniture, tents, canopies, tools, rubbish containers and other objects that could become airborne. Clear gutters and drains where it is safe to do so, and inspect trees for damaged or weakened branches.
Prepare a Go Bag. Have essential medications, identification, important documents, clothing, water, food and other necessities ready in case your household needs to leave quickly.
Know where you would go. Review evacuation routes and potential shelter information before you need them.
Fuel vehicles and necessary equipment. Avoid waiting until conditions deteriorate or demand for supplies increases.
Sign up for emergency alerts. Make sure your household receives your county’s official emergency notifications.
If You Are Still Recovering From Hurricane Lala
Preparation may look very different for families whose homes, farms, businesses, vehicles or supplies were damaged during Hurricane Lala.
If you are still recovering, focus first on immediate safety.
Check temporary roof repairs and tarps. Secure loose materials. Protect important documents, medications and emergency supplies from water. Pay particular attention to weakened trees, damaged structures, unstable slopes and drainage problems around your property.
If you do not have the resources to prepare adequately, please reach out for help.
Preparedness cannot be limited to those who can afford to buy another two weeks of supplies.
This is where community stewardship matters.
Check on Your Neighbors
If your household is prepared, ask yourself:
Who around me might not be?
Check on kūpuna.
Check on neighbors who live alone.
Check on families with young children.
Check on people with disabilities, medical needs or limited transportation.
Ask whether they have water, food, medications, batteries and a safe place to shelter.
Help someone secure an outdoor item if they cannot safely do it themselves.
Share verified information with people who may not have easy access to emergency updates.
Prepared households create stronger neighborhoods—and stronger neighborhoods allow emergency responders and community organizations to focus limited resources on those who need help most.
Community Organizations: Prepare Now Too
Churches, nonprofits, businesses, farms, community associations, hui and other local organizations should also use this time to prepare.
Identify what resources you may be able to provide if conditions worsen.
Confirm contact information for your team.
Protect supplies and equipment.
Determine who can safely respond and who should remain home.
Think now about the people your organization serves who may need additional assistance.
And please do not put volunteers in danger during hazardous conditions.
The safest and strongest community response begins before the emergency.
Follow Official Information—Not Rumors
Conditions can change quickly.
Please be especially careful with hurricane maps and forecasts circulating on social media. A model projection is not necessarily an official forecast, and an image that was accurate yesterday may no longer represent today’s conditions.
For tropical cyclone tracks and official hurricane information, follow the National Hurricane Center.
For Hawaiʻi weather forecasts, watches, warnings, wind, rain and surf information, follow National Weather Service Honolulu.
For statewide preparedness information, follow the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and your county emergency management or civil defense agency.
Support Local Hawaii’s Hawaiʻi Emergency Stewardship initiative will continue helping connect our communities with trusted information, verified needs, community response efforts, resources and ways to kōkua.
Official emergency agencies remain the authoritative source for evacuation orders, watches, warnings and other life-safety instructions.
Hawaiʻi: Prepare Now
We have already been through a great deal this year.
For communities still recovering from Hurricane Lala, seeing Lowell, Karina and another tropical system lined up across the Pacific is understandably concerning.
But right now, we have something extremely valuable:
Time.
Time to prepare.
Time to replenish supplies.
Time to secure our homes.
Time to make a plan.
Time to check on our kūpuna.
Time to help neighbors who may not be able to prepare on their own.
Time to make sure our communities are ready if conditions change.
Please use that time.
Stay alert. Follow official forecasts. Prepare your household. Check on your neighbors.
And, as always, take care of one another.
Mālama kekahi i kekahi.
Current Status — September 1, 2026
Hurricane Lowell: Strengthening rapidly southeast of Hawaiʻi; 90 mph sustained winds as of 11 a.m. HST; forecast to become a major hurricane Wednesday. Lowell is currently forecast to pass south of Hawaiʻi, but strong winds, increased showers and dangerous ocean conditions can affect the islands without landfall.
Hurricane Karina: A powerful hurricane farther east in the Pacific. Karina was a Category 4 hurricane early Tuesday and is forecast to gradually weaken while continuing generally westward. Hawaiʻi should continue monitoring its progress into the weekend and early next week.
Long-range outlook: The official tracks keep Lowell and Karina away from Hawaiʻi during the next five days, but the National Weather Service emphasizes significant uncertainty beyond that period.
Last updated: September 1, 2026. Tropical cyclone forecasts can change rapidly. This page provides community preparedness information and does not replace official emergency instructions. Always follow the latest National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management guidance.
