Hurricane Hone Impacting Travel In Hawaii

However, the Hawaiian Islands are dealing with another natural disaster that could disrupt travel.

Hurricane Hone is considered a weak Category 1 storm – the lowest rating on the scale – but it is packing enough rain and high winds to be an impactful force.

Hone is now a hurricane. It’s lashing the Big Island of Hawaii and its 200k residents with tropical storm forced winds and torrential rain all day today. They’re expecting 6-12” of rain and flash flooding. pic.twitter.com/8r3XvmODpr

— Amber Wheeler (@AmberWheelerWX) August 25, 2024
On Saturday, the state Department of Transportation said that all afternoon roundtrip flights between Honolulu and Hilo were canceled due to Hurricane Hone. Several flights were also canceled on Sunday morning.

Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines issued travel advisories and waived change fees for impacted travelers flying through Hilo (ITO), Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA) and Lihue (LIH).

To check on Southwest https://t.co/nQOWPzQ3YX To check on Hawaiian https://t.co/aeIWKAmmyu Do not come to the airport unless you have a confirmed flight. Check https://t.co/mjODm3jQzE open shelters.
HDOT will continue to update as Tropical Storm Hone progresses. (2/2)

— Hawaii DOT (@DOTHawaii) August 25, 2024
Hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been issued throughout the islands, although Hone was not expected to make a direct hit on the islands. Precipitation is expected to bring up to a foot of rain in some spots and cause flash flooding.

With a surfing advisory in place and rip currents forming, swimming in some areas is precarious. The expected winds could damage power lines and trees. To stay informed and empowered, residents and visitors are urged to check local media outlets for the latest updates and advisories.

Earlier this month, Hurricane Debby, while not necessarily considered a dangerous storm, was impactful enough to cause disturbances. This serves as a reminder of the need for preparedness and vigilance during the hurricane season.