Hurricane Warning for Hawaii’s Big Island Through August 14: Move to Safe Shelter Before Winds Turn Hazardous

Hurricane Warning in Effect Now Across the Big Island

A Hurricane Warning is active for the entire Big Island of Hawaii, issued August 14, 2026 at 10:38 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time and set to expire at 6:45 p.m. HST the same day. The warning covers Big Island Southeast, Big Island South, Big Island Summit, Big Island Interior, Big Island North, Kona, Kohala, and Big Island East. Communities specifically named in the alert include Naalehu and Pahala. The warning was issued by the National Weather Service Honolulu, Hawaii office.

The latest local forecast from the National Weather Service places peak sustained winds at 55-70 mph with gusts reaching up to 85 mph. Tropical storm-force winds are expected from early Saturday morning through early Sunday morning. However, the NWS warns that forecast uncertainty in track, size, and intensity means the potential exists for winds of 74 to 110 mph, equivalent to a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane. The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous NWS assessment.

Storm surge is also a factor. The NWS advises that localized surge is possible, with peak inundation potential of 1-3 feet above ground in affected surge zones.

What NWS Is Telling Residents to Do Right Now

The official NWS instruction is direct: any remaining efforts to protect life and property should be urgently completed. If you have not yet moved to safe shelter, do so before the wind becomes hazardous. The agency is not advising preparation as a future step. The language is unambiguous: act now.

The potential impacts listed in the alert are classified as extensive. Sturdy buildings face the risk of considerable roof damage along with window, door, and garage door failures that can lead to structural damage. Mobile homes are expected to be severely damaged, with some destroyed. Airborne projectiles will amplify the danger. Some locations may be uninhabitable for weeks following the storm.

Road access is a serious concern. Large debris is expected to make some roads impassable, with greater blockage in urban or heavily wooded areas. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes may become impassable. Large areas are forecast to experience power and communications outages. Many large trees, fences, and roadway signs are expected to snap or be uprooted.

There is no language in this alert about sheltering in place as a comfortable option. The NWS instruction is to plan for life-threatening, Category 1 or 2 hurricane-force wind and to complete all protective actions immediately.

Why This Warning Matters Beyond August 14

Hawaii’s vulnerability to Pacific hurricanes is not a one-season story. Fire risk drives the majority of federal disaster declarations across the country, with fire accounting for 33 of 51 federal declarations in the past 60 days according to federal data, but coastal and island communities face a distinct and recurring threat from tropical systems that can intensify rapidly in warm Pacific waters. For Big Island residents, this event is a practical reminder of what preparedness resources consistently show: the window between a watch and a warning, and between a warning and hazardous conditions, is often shorter than expected. Reviewing your shelter plan, communications backup, and evacuation routes well before a storm is named is the preparation that actually works. For ongoing guidance on building that readiness, visit the preparedness resources available at usriskradar.com.

For the fundamentals that apply beyond this specific alert, see our Hurricane Preparedness guide.

Source: National Weather Service (NWS Honolulu HI). Active alert data retrieved 2026-08-14 22:00 UTC via api.weather.gov.