Hawaii issues warnings and emergency declaration as Hurricane Lowell nears Kauai

Storm track and island alerts

The state of Hawaii has entered a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell advances north-northwest through the central Pacific. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for Kauai and Niihau, the westernmost populated islands in the archipelago. As of Sunday, Lowell was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph), situated roughly 575 miles south-southwest of Lihue and 595 miles south-southwest of Honolulu. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 50 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds reached 175 miles outward. Forecasters project that Lowell will weaken to a Category 2 system before its center passes roughly 130 miles west of Niihau and 170 miles west of Kauai between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Local preparations on Kauai

Emergency officials on Kauai responded by closing county parks and campgrounds while opening five public shelters. The annual Kauai marathon, scheduled for Sunday morning, was canceled after organizers conferred with county authorities regarding the lack of road closures and emergency support. Ava Behnen, who traveled to the island from Honolulu to run the race, accepted the decision.

Safety comes first and I totally understand.

Other islanders adjusted plans as light rain began falling on Sunday afternoon. Lehua Lanning held an outdoor baby shower on Saturday evening on Kauai's eastern shore ahead of the expected arrival of her first child.

I am worried about her coming in the middle of a storm.

In Lihue, a town of 8,000 residents that houses Kauai's primary airport, grocery store shelves emptied as residents purchased water and food supplies. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency urged the public to refill medical prescriptions, charge electronic devices, and prepare to remain indoors for several days. Property manager Lori Benkert boarded up homes on the western coast and purchased backup propane for cooking in the event of electrical outages.

Sequential Pacific storm activity

Lowell is the third tropical system to threaten the Hawaiian Islands in less than a month, following Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke. Tropical Storm Moke passed south of the islands two weeks ago, while Hurricane Lala brushed the southern coast of the Big Island in August. Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported that Lala caused at least $43 million in infrastructure destruction alongside $4.6 million in damage to residential homes on the Big Island.

The storm activity coincides with three simultaneous Pacific systems (Karina, Lowell, and Marie), forming the first triple-hurricane alignment in the region in ten years. The Pacific basin averages eight hurricanes annually. United Nations meteorological statements attributed the elevated tropical activity to an active El Niño pattern that warms ocean waters across the equatorial Pacific.

Flood potential and coastal impacts

Although Lowell's center is expected to track offshore over the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, meteorologists warned of heavy precipitation across the state. Rainfall totals between 6 and 10 inches are forecast for Kauai and Niihau, with localized maximums reaching 14 inches. Hawaii's Big Island is projected to receive 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated pockets seeing up to 12 inches. Coastal areas on Kauai also face rising water levels of up to 3 feet caused by the combination of storm surge and high tides, increasing the likelihood of flash flooding and mudslides.