The 2026 Pacific hurricane season has brought repeated threats across the region, with forecasters tracking several powerful systems at once. In Hawaii, that broader pattern has narrowed to Hurricane Lowell, which state and federal officials said could bring heavy rain, dangerous surf and tropical-storm-force conditions as it passes closest to the islands. The storm arrives after Hawaii’s recent encounter with Tropical Cyclone Lala and amid continued preparation for additional tropical systems nearby.
Hawaii closes Kauai facilities as Lowell nears the islands
Governor Josh Green announced on September 7 that state and county offices, public schools, Kauai Community College and Hawaii State Judiciary facilities on Kauai would close on Tuesday, September 8, because of the continuing impacts of Hurricane Lowell. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said the closure order applied as Lowell approached as a dangerous storm and as emergency officials prepared for flooding, shoreline hazards and possible outages. State officials also said public schools on Oahu, Hawaii Island and in Maui County were expected to open Tuesday unless individual campuses could not safely reopen.
The National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Lowell had earlier reached major hurricane strength and was still forecast to pass near or just west of Niihau late Monday into early Tuesday. By Monday afternoon, The Associated Press reported, Lowell was a Category 2 hurricane, though forecasters said it was expected to remain a hurricane at its closest approach. According to Hawaii Emergency Management Agency updates, tropical storm warnings were in effect for Kauai County as conditions deteriorated.
Officials also moved shelter and emergency resources into position. The governor’s office said on September 3 that an emergency proclamation covering the entire state was issued to support preparations for Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina, Tropical Storm Marie and any additional storms that could affect Hawaii. That same proclamation said high-water vehicles were being sent to Kauai and Hawaii National Guard members would be activated in advance of possible impacts.
The most immediate confirmed impacts were centered on Kauai and Niihau, where warnings were in effect first and state closures were ordered. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said residents should expect dangerous shoreline conditions, the possibility of power outages and travel disruptions, especially on Kauai. Officials also opened refuge areas, including a site at Nanakuli Elementary on Oahu, showing that preparation extended beyond the western end of the island chain.
Forecasters said the rain threat was not limited to one county. The Associated Press, citing the National Hurricane Center, reported isolated rainfall totals of up to 10 inches on Oahu and Maui and up to 12 inches in parts of Hawaii Island. The same reporting said heavy rain could produce flooding and mudslides statewide even if Lowell’s core remained west of the main islands.
What remains unconfirmed is the full extent of damage, if any, that will follow Lowell’s closest pass. State officials have not released a comprehensive list of storm-related closures beyond the facilities already named, and they had not reported a statewide count of outages or damaged roads as of the latest updates. Public schools outside Kauai were still expected to open Tuesday, subject to local conditions and campus-level safety checks.
Lowell is drawing extra attention because it follows other recent storm threats that have already strained emergency planning in Hawaii. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 2026 season summary lists Lala as a major hurricane from August 13 to August 28. State officials later said President Donald Trump approved Hawaii’s request for a federal emergency declaration following Tropical Cyclone Lala, authorizing assistance for Hawaii County, Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu after flooding, infrastructure damage and outages.
The governor’s September 3 emergency proclamation made clear that Lowell was not the only system under watch. The order covered Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Marie, reflecting how multiple tropical systems were active in the Pacific at the same time. That broader setup helps explain why Hawaii officials pre-positioned equipment and personnel before Lowell’s closest approach rather than waiting for local conditions to worsen.
For residents, the practical meaning is a period of continued disruption rather than a single isolated storm day. Officials urged people to stay away from shorelines, avoid driving through floodwaters and prepare for possible interruptions to electricity and transportation, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. As of September 7, the state’s message remained focused on readiness and monitoring official forecasts while Lowell moved past the islands and emergency crews tracked conditions county by county.