Updated March 24, 2026 12:27PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
When it comes to spring break destinations, Hawai\u2019i is a perennial favorite. But over the past weeks, the islands have suffered historic flooding. Photos\u00a0showing neighborhoods floating in dark brown waters<\/a> and cars swallowed by sinkholes<\/a> have left many travelers wondering if they should rethink their trips.<\/p>\n My partner had planned to take his twin teenagers to Maui to surf, scuba dive, and hike. When he told me he was thinking of rebooking to the Caribbean, I was devastated. I consider Maui a second home. I\u2019ve seen firsthand\u2014initially\u00a0during Covid, then after the tragic Lahaina fires\u2014how the islands suffer when tourists stop visiting.<\/p>\n Tourism accounts for more than 20 percent of Hawai\u2019i \u2019s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)\u00a0and supports more than 200,000 jobs<\/a>. The number of visitors still hasn\u2019t rebounded<\/a> from the pandemic, and as a result, many islanders are leaving to seek jobs and more affordable housing on the mainland. The flooding is just one more devastating blow for Hawai\u2019i, and underscores why in recent years many Hawaiians have\u00a0urged the state to diversify its economy.<\/p>\n The storm that battered Hawaii is known as a Kona storm or Kona low. This is an area of low pressure that forms west to northwest of Hawai\u2019i during the cool season (November through March) and often taps into subtropical moisture. The first Kona low swept through Hawai\u2019i March 10th through the 16th, dropping at least a foot of rain on every major island and more than 50 inches in some areas. A second Kona low hit Hawai\u2019i March 19 and is progressing down the island chain. The double whammy has wreaked havoc on many parts of the islands. Governor Josh Green estimates storm damage has already hit $1 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n My partner told me he was worried about the island\u2019s infrastructure,\u00a0and also whether he and his teenagers would even be able to swim in the ocean. Fair points. The Hawai\u2019i Tourism Authority has been regularly posting updates on how the Kona low pressure system is impacting travel on its website<\/a>. As of Monday, March 23, it advised, \u201cThere is no reason to cancel or postpone upcoming travel.\u201d All airports remain open and the flash flood warnings that were previously in effect for Oahu and the Big Island have been lifted. Maui is still receiving heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n \u201cCertain communities in Hawai\u2019i are still recovering from the recent Kona Low storm, and we appreciate the care visitors have shown,\u201d said Caroline Anderson, Hawai\u2019i Tourism Authority\u2019s interim president and CEO. \u201cAt the same time, much of the state remains open and welcomes visitors. By choosing to visit\u2014staying in our hotels, dining in local restaurants, supporting small businesses, and hiring local guides\u2014visitors help sustain jobs and help boost recovery. We simply ask that visitors travel with respect and stay aware of local conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Weather conditions and closures vary by island and neighborhood. On Oahu, the North Shore and areas of M\u0101noa suffered extreme damage and should be avoided by visitors, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Most of Honolulu and Waikiki remain open and are largely unaffected. A spokesperson for Jamie O\u2019Brien Surf Experience<\/a>, which offers surf lessons at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore and in Waikiki, said the company\u00a0still held a few surf lessons for hotel guests this week, even though the water was brown, which is typically a sign of contamination after heavy rain. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to discourage your experience with us and we do have a Waikiki location as well, where the water should be more clear this week,\u201d said the spokesperson.<\/p>\n On the Big Island, Hawai\u2019i Volcanoes National Park has been partially reopened, <\/a>and access to the K\u012blauea summit area and Chain of Craters Road restored. Conditions in Kauai have improved significantly, but authorities encourage people to exercise caution near streams and low-lying areas as grounds remain saturated.<\/p>\n Heavy rain continue to fall\u00a0on Maui. Visitors are being asked to avoid Lahaina and East Maui, including the Road to H\u0101na, which is limited to local traffic. Both districts of Haleakal\u0101 National Park, Wai\u02bb\u0101napanapa State Park and \u02bb\u012aao Valley State Monument remain closed.<\/p>\n Brown water advisories<\/a> are in effect for much of the state. Storm water can contain harmful pathogens and pollutants from overflowing sewage systems and animal feces flowing into storm drains. The Hawaii Department of Health<\/a> advises people to avoid swimming, wading, or other water contact when the water looks brown, murky or cloudy. It\u2019s typically advisable to wait 48 to 72 hours after rain stops before swimming in the ocean. Brett Sheerin, owner of Maui True North, which offers surf and kitesurfing lessons, encourages visitors to check water quality advisories<\/a> before going into the ocean, noting many popular surf spots on Maui are registering high bacteria counts.<\/p>\n If you plan to hike, be extra cautious. Last year I reported a piece for Outside <\/i>on why so many hikers get in trouble in Hawai\u2019i. Chris Berquist, founder of Maui-based Search Tech Advisory Team, said flash floods pose one of the biggest dangers to hikers, likening the phenomena to an avalanche.\u00a0and likened them to an avalanche. The recent rains mean the islands\u2019 famed waterfalls are flowing full force. This isn\u2019t the time to try to get that perfect selfie. Areas around the falls are likely slippery so observe from afar. Charity organizations such as the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and Stronger Hawai\u2019i <\/a>\u00a0are accepting financial donations. But tourism dollars make the biggest impact. Spending money in the islands, particularly with local businesses, is invaluable. \u201cThis feels like the pandemic and the fires,\u201d says Sheerin. \u201cIt\u2019s truly a perfect storm. January and February are generally my slowest months. I count on March spring break. All my surf lessons and kiteboarding lessons just washed away.\u201d<\/p>\n Cancelling a trip to Hawaii hurts Hawaiians. \u201cThis storm was significant, and I don\u2019t want to downplay that,\u201d says Riley Coon, director of sustainable tourism for Sail Trilogy<\/a> on Maui. \u201cAt the same time, I think it\u2019s important to add some perspective. The news tends to focus on the hardest-hit areas, which can make it seem like all of Hawai\u02bbi is impacted. The reality is, much of Maui is open, safe, and operating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat our community needs most is a steady, year-round visitor base,\u201d Coon adds. \u201cThis rain event is clearing, but unfortunately many people will continue to think it\u2019s 100 percent rain on Maui for the coming weeks ahead as these stories continue to circulate. The ocean has a way of healing faster than you\u2019d expect, and we do everything in our power to mitigate negative impacts within our control.\u201d<\/p>\n People have houses to clean and fix and bills to pay, and a significant dip in normal visitor spending will just add to many people\u2019s financial hardship, shares Coon. \u201cOur resilience depends on people continuing to visit, to show up, and to support local families and businesses,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you\u2019re considering coming, know that you\u2019re not just welcome\u2014you\u2019re helping in a very real way.\u201d<\/p>\nIs It Safe to Visit Hawai\u2019i Right Now?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Closed on the Hawai\u2019ian Islands<\/h2>\n
Precautions to Take<\/h2>\n
<\/b><\/p>\nShould You Cancel Your Trip?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
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