Understanding when is hurricane season in Hawaii has taken on new urgency this week as Tropical Storm Lala barrels toward the islands and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday, August 15, 2026. For anyone living in or planning a trip to the islands, knowing the official timeline, peak risk months, and what to do when a storm approaches can make all the difference in staying safe and prepared.
When Is Hurricane Season in Hawaii, Officially?
The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. This window is set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and covers the region managed by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu, which spans the ocean north of the equator between 140 degrees West longitude and the International Date Line.
While these dates mark the official season, tropical cyclones can technically form at any time of year. Warmer ocean water and reduced wind shear during the official season simply make cyclone development far more likely between June and November, which is why forecasters and emergency officials focus preparedness campaigns on this stretch of the calendar.
Within that six-month window, activity is not evenly spread out. August and September consistently mark the peak of Hawaii’s hurricane season, when ocean temperatures are warmest and atmospheric conditions are most favorable for storm development. Historically, the first named storm of the central Pacific season tends to form in mid to late June, the first hurricane typically develops in early to mid-August, and the first major hurricane usually forms in late August or early September. That climatological pattern lines up almost exactly with what Hawaii is experiencing right now, as Lala approaches during the second week of August.
Why Hawaii Doesn’t Get Hit as Often as Other Regions
Despite sitting in an active hurricane basin, Hawaii is struck directly by hurricanes far less frequently than states along the Gulf Coast or Atlantic seaboard. A persistent area of high pressure to the north of the islands often steers storms away before they make landfall, and the relatively small landmass of the Hawaiian Islands compared to the vastness of the surrounding ocean means many systems simply pass by without a direct hit.
That protective pattern is part of why a direct hurricane landfall in Hawaii is historically rare. The last hurricane to make landfall in the state was Iniki in 1992, a Category 4 storm that struck Kauai and remains the strongest storm to directly hit Hawaii on record. If Lala’s core comes ashore on the Big Island this weekend, it may become the first hurricane landfall in the state in more than three decades, according to meteorologists tracking the storm.
Even so, a lack of frequent direct hits doesn’t mean the islands are immune to impacts. Outer rain bands, high surf, and strong winds from storms that pass nearby have repeatedly caused significant damage and flooding in Hawaii, even when the storm’s center stays offshore.
Tropical Storm Lala: The Latest Update
As of Friday, August 14, Tropical Storm Lala was tracking roughly 320 to 340 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west-northwest at around 12 to 14 mph with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph. Forecasters expect Lala to strengthen into a low-end Category 1 hurricane as it approaches the Big Island, with hurricane conditions expected there by early Saturday morning local time.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, warning that Lala poses a serious threat to Hawaii Island in particular. In response, the National Hurricane Center has issued the following watches and warnings across the state:
- A hurricane warning for Hawaii County, covering the Big Island
- A tropical storm warning for Maui County, including Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe
- A tropical storm watch for Oahu and Kauai counties, including Kauai and Niihau
The storm’s most serious threat is extreme rainfall rather than wind alone. The National Hurricane Center has warned of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas of steep terrain. Forecasters expect 8 to 12 inches of rain across Maui and the Big Island, with isolated totals as high as 25 inches possible in the higher elevations of the Big Island. Rainfall on other islands is expected to be lighter, generally in the range of 4 to 8 inches.
Heavy rain began affecting the Big Island on Friday and is expected to spread to Maui by Saturday, then reach Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai by Sunday. Drenching rainfall is expected to continue across the islands from Friday through Monday. In addition to flooding, Lala may generate a storm surge of up to three feet along parts of the coast, along with large waves and life-threatening rip currents. Winds strong enough to down trees and power lines are possible on the Big Island, a risk that officials note is heightened by rain-saturated soil that makes trees easier to topple.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda told reporters Friday that threats vary depending on location. Coastal residents face the greatest danger from high surf, while others may be more exposed to high winds or inland flooding. Emergency messages have already gone out across the county, and residents are being urged to finalize preparations before conditions deteriorate.
Lala is expected to weaken somewhat as it interacts with the Big Island’s mountainous terrain, and its forward motion may slow during that interaction. After passing the islands, the storm is forecast to move west of Hawaii by Monday and could persist over the central and western Pacific as either a hurricane or typhoon for more than a week, though it would be far from any populated landmass by that point.
Separately, Tropical Storm Hernan also formed in the Pacific this week, but it is not threatening land and has been weakening as it moves south, away from the islands.
The 2026 Season Outlook
This weekend’s storm arrives during a season that NOAA had already flagged as likely to be more active than usual. The agency’s 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season outlook, issued ahead of the June 1 start date, predicted a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 20 percent chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10 percent chance of below-normal activity. Forecasters projected a total of five to 13 tropical cyclones across the central Pacific this year, compared with four or five in an average season.
That elevated outlook was tied in part to developing El Niño conditions, which tend to increase tropical cyclone activity across the central Pacific. Meteorologists cautioned at the time that a more active season doesn’t necessarily mean a particular storm will strike Hawaii directly, but it does raise the overall odds of tropical systems affecting the islands at some point between June and November. Lala’s emergence as a hurricane threat in mid-August fits within that broader pattern of increased activity.
How to Prepare During Hawaii’s Hurricane Season
Whether or not a specific storm is approaching, health and emergency management officials in Hawaii consistently recommend having supplies ready well before the peak months of August and September arrive. Recommended preparations include:
- Building an emergency kit with enough food, water, and medicine to last at least two weeks
- Keeping important documents, flashlights, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio on hand
- Reviewing evacuation routes and identifying a safe location away from flood-prone or coastal areas
- Monitoring official updates from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and local emergency management agencies during active storms
- Never driving, walking, or riding through flooded roadways, since floodwater can hide dangerous debris, strong currents, and contamination
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane or tropical storm watch when related winds are possible within 48 hours, and a warning when those conditions are expected within 36 hours. Residents and visitors are advised to treat both alerts seriously and follow instructions from local authorities rather than waiting to see how a storm develops.
Final Thoughts
Hurricane season in Hawaii officially spans June through November, with the greatest risk concentrated in August and September, exactly when Tropical Storm Lala is now approaching the islands. While Hawaii’s geography has historically spared it from frequent direct hurricane strikes, Lala’s forecast track and the potential for life-threatening flooding are a reminder that outer bands and near-misses can be just as dangerous as a direct landfall. With a state of emergency in effect and warnings covering the entire island chain, residents and travelers alike are being urged to stay alert, follow official guidance, and take rainfall and flood risks seriously through the weekend.
Stay safe out there, and check back for the latest updates as Tropical Storm Lala’s track and impact on Hawaii continue to develop — feel free to share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.