The official hurricane season in Hawaii runs from June through November. This is when the Central Pacific region experiences a higher chance of tropical cyclones (also known as hurricanes, storms, and typhoons) developing. This is also when they are most likely to reach the Hawaiian Islands. Luckily, Hawaii doesn’t get hit with direct hurricanes very often. But, that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. The most important thing to remember when planning a trip to Hawaii during hurricane season is that you should always stay informed and prepared. This means keeping up with local news on the radio or TV and signing up for emergency notifications. This way you will receive automatic messages from the City and County of Honolulu, as well as individual islands like Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and more.

Most of the time, when a hurricane approaches the islands, it is downgraded to a tropical storm by dry air and cooler water temperatures. The islands are also protected by the large volcanic mountains of the Big Island, which help to break up the winds.

The worst hurricane to ever hit the state was Hurricane Iniki in September of 1992, which caused devastating damage and 6 deaths. Since then, many hurricanes have passed close to the islands but did not directly make landfall. Even so, the hurricanes that have passed nearby have left some heavy rain and flooding. It is important to check local news and follow the advice of your hotel and civil defense authorities if you are there during a hurricane.