List of Hawaii hurricanes

Tracks of all the tropical cyclones to affect Hawaiʻi until 2006

This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaiʻi.

1970s

Tropical Storm Maggie

• August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly 10 inches (250 mm) of rain.[10]
• January 1971: Although not having existed in the Central Pacific as a tropical cyclone, the extratropical low that was Tropical Storm Sarah in the West Pacific passed over Hawaiʻi in mid January, causing high winds and heavy rain.[11]
• July 1971: Hurricane Denise dissipated before reaching Hawaiʻi, but brought beneficial rain of over one inch to dry farms and sugarcane plantations. Denise's outer winds helped Sheila Scott while she was flying solo around the world and a boat named Winward Passage won the Transpacific Yacht Race. Both were headed to Honolulu.[11]
• August 1972: Hurricane Diana dissipated a few miles off shore of the Big Island, dropping over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain in some parts.[12]
• September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast.[12]
• August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaiʻi, dropping 1–2 inches (25–51 mm) of rain across the entire state.[13]
• July 1978: Hurricane Fico created 15 feet (4.6 m) waves, felled trees and knocked out power across the islands.[14]

1980s

Hurricane Uleki near Hawaii and peak strength

• July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage.[15]
• November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. Although it was only a category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to $250 million (a record for that time). Iwa was the most damaging hurricane to ever hit Hawaiʻi until Hurricane Iniki took over the title 10 years later.[15]
• July–August 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaiʻi as a tropical storm, causing minor damage.[16]
• October 1983: Hurricane Raymond took a path similar to Gil's, but as a depression, causing no damage.[16]
• July 1985: Hurricane Ignacio, although missing the islands, generated surf that measured from 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m) causing damage to coastal roads and structures. Only light rain was reported.[17]
• July 1986: Waves caused by Hurricane Estelle caused $2 million in damage when they destroyed five houses and damaged several others. Two people on Oʻahu drowned in rough surf.[18]
• August 1988: Tropical Storm Gilma moved through the island chain as a depression, dropping locally heavy rainfall of up to 4 inches (100 mm) in some places.[19]
• August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane.[19]
• July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaiʻi, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches (59 mm) in 24 hours. Rain was heavier elsewhere, with up to 8 inches (200 mm) falling near the North Shore.[20]

1990s

Hurricane Emilia passing by Hawaiʻi as a Category 4 hurricane.

• August 1991: Hurricane Fefa dissipated shortly before landfall. Two people were injured by lightning. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour (93 km/h) at some localities, mainly over Hawaiʻi and Maui. Some heavy downpours occurred, particularly on the Big Island. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts.[21]
• July 1992: Hurricane Georgette brought locally squally winds over the state as a depression. Several large waterspouts were sighted off Hapuna Beach in the South Kohala district.[22]
• September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaiʻi since records began. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11. Iniki caused $3.1 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai.[23] It remains the costliest East/Central Pacific hurricane on record. Six died as a result. Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour (230 km/h).[22]
• September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged the island.[22]
• July 1993: Hurricane Eugene dropped valuable rain on the state as it dissipated. Minor power outages and rain made traffic conditions hazardous. One fisherman was reported missing.[24]
• August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet (4.6 m) on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet (4.6 and 6.1 m) was reported on Kauai. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded.[24]
• July 1994: Tropical Storm Daniel dumped 5 inches (130 mm) of rain over the windward slopes of Big Island. Moderate surf of up to 6 feet (1.8 m) affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island.[25]
• July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaiʻi. Surf reached 10 feet (3.0 m) along the Puna and Kau shorelines.[25]
• July 1994: The remnants of Tropical Storm Fabio brought heavy showers to Big Island and Oahu. Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches (100 mm).[25]
• August 1994: Tropical Depression One-C passed just south of the islands, causing severe flooding in Hilo.[25]
• August 1999: Hurricane Dora caused minor wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour (93 km/h) on the southern part of Big Island as it passed south of Hawaiʻi.[26]

2000s

Radar image of Hurricane Jimena passing by south of Hawaiʻi as a tropical storm.

• August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. High surf with waves of up to 10 feet (3.0 m) impacted the eastern side of the island of Hawaiʻi.[27]
• August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches (250 mm) of rain as it passed the Big Island. High surf with heights of up to 15 feet (4.6 m) were reported on the windward sections of Big Island. A gust of 53 miles per hour (85 km/h) was recorded at South Point.[28]
• August 2004: The remnants of Hurricane Darby passed over the islands and combined with an upper level trough to create unstable moisture, dropping up to 5 inches (130 mm) of rain in a few hours on the Big Island, causing flooding and road closures. Rainfall up to 5 inches (130 mm) was also reported in Oahu.[29]
• September 2005: An upper level trough which had resulted in the remnants of Hurricane Jova brought unstable conditions to Hawaiʻi, allowing locally heavy rainfall to occur.[30]
• September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches (300 mm) falling on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. Flash floods occurred on Hanalei River forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway.[30]
• August 2007: Hurricane Flossie passed within 100 miles (160 km) of the Big Island of Hawaii bringing rain and tropical storm-force winds to the island.
• August 2008: The remnants of Hurricane Hernan brought moisture to the island of Hawaii causing cloud and shower activity.
• August 2009: The remnants of Hurricane Felicia brought light rainfall to the northern islands.[31]
• October 2009: Hurricane Neki caused minor damage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, striking the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a tropical storm.

2010s

Hurricane Iselle approaching Hawaii as a minimal hurricane.

• December 2010: Tropical Storm Omeka brushed Lisianski Island as a weak tropical storm, although no damage was reported.
• July 2013: Tropical Storm Flossie passed just north of the Hawaiian Islands before dissipated.
• August 2014: Hurricane Iselle made landfall in the southeastern part of the Island of Hawaiʻi as a moderate tropical storm. Hurricane warnings were issued on the island, the first occurrence since 1992.[32] Upon landfall, Iselle brought heavy rain, flooding and minor structural damage. Overall, Iselle caused $148 million (2014 USD) in damage, mainly to the papaya crop. One person was killed indirectly having been swept away by a stream engorged with heavy rain from the storm.[33]
• October 2014: Hurricane Ana skirted just south of the Hawaiian islands, passing 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Kauai as a category 1 hurricane. Damage was limited to a few downed trees.
• August 2015: Hurricane Hilda passed within 200 miles (320 km) southeast of Island of Hawaiʻi as a tropical depression.
• August 2015: Hurricane Kilo passed well south of Island of Hawaiʻi as a tropical depression, it brought enhanced moisture into Hawaii, leading to locally heavy rainfall in that state.
• August 2015: Hurricane Loke brushed Pearl and Hermes Atoll as a minimal hurricane, although no damage was reported.
• August–September 2015: Hurricane Ignacio passed about 230 miles (370 km) northeast of Maui and Molokai as a category 1 hurricane, causing only minimal impacts.
• September 2015: Hurricane Jimena passed well north of the Hawaiian islands before dissipated, it brought scattered heavy rains to Hawaii.
• September 2015: Tropical Storm Malia brushed Maro Reef as a weak tropical storm, although no damage was reported.
• September 2015: Tropical Storm Niala passes to the southeast of the Big Island, bringing tropical storm force winds to the island. Flood and High Wind Advisories were released.
• July 2016: Moisture associated with the remnants of Hurricane Blas brought showers to Hawaii. Peak daily rainfall totals primarily ranged between 1 and 2 in (25 to 50 mm) and did not cause any serious flooding.
• July 2016: Large swells as high as 15 ft (4.6 m) generated by the remnants of Hurricane Celia affected the east-facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands. These swells produced rough surf that caused two drowning deaths on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu on July 16.
• July 2016: Hurricane Darby made landfall in southeast Island of Hawaiʻi as a minimal tropical storm. Darby brought heavy rain and widespread flash floods to the windward sides of the Hawaiian Islands, however, overall damage was minor.
• July 2016: Remnant moisture from Hurricane Georgette brought heavy rain to Oahu on July 31 but caused only minor flooding.
• August 2016: The remnants of Tropical Storm Howard moved across the main Hawaiian Island group on August 7, dropping up to 2 in (51 mm) of rain over portions of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, with minor flooding occurring on northwestern Oahu and northern sections of Maui.
• September 2016: Hurricane Madeline passes to the southeast of the Big Island as a weakening tropical storm, producing heavy rain and gusty winds. Total rainfall accumulations amounted up to 5–11 inches (13–28 cm) across the Big Island.
• September 2016: Hurricane Lester passed slowly to the northeast of the islands as a category 1 hurricane. Its outer rainbands produced heavy showers and minor flooding over the leeward slopes of the Big Island and portions of east Maui.
• July 2017: The remnants of Hurricane Fernanda passed to the north of the islands on July 24, producing thunderstorms and heavy showers in the region.[34]
• August 2018: Hurricane Hector passed about 200 miles (320 km) south of the Island of Hawaiʻi as a Category 3 hurricane, generating 20 foot high surf along the southern side of the island. At least 90 people had to be rescued off the shores of Oahu due to dangerous swells generated by the cyclone.[35]
• August 2018: Hurricane Lane slowly approached the islands from the southeast, peaking as a powerful Category 5 hurricane (one of only two recorded within 350 miles of the state), prompting the issuance of hurricane watches and warnings for every island in Hawaii and becoming the first major threat to the state since Hurricane Iniki. Lane weakened significantly as it moved towards the islands, however its outer rainbands caused severe mudslides and flash flooding especially in the Island of Hawaiʻi, where a maximum of 52.02 inches (1,321 mm) of rain was recorded at Mountainview, Hawaii on August 27.[36] In Koloa, a man drowned after jumping in a river to save a dog.[37]
• September 2018: Hurricane Norman passed about 300 miles (480 km) to the northeast of the main Hawaiian islands as a weakening Category 1 hurricane. A high surf warning was issued for the eastern shores of Maui and the Island of Hawaiʻi, although no damage was reported.
• September 2018 Hurricane Walaka struck the French Frigate Shoals as a category 3 hurricane completely destroying the uninhabited East Island in the atoll.
• September 2018: Hurricane Olivia made landfall in northwest Maui as a minimal tropical storm, becoming the first storm on record to make landfall on the island since reliable records began. As Olivia continued towards the west, it then made a second landfall on the northeast coast of Lanai with heavy rains and gusty winds. Several homes were evacuated in Maui due to the threat of flooding, though overall damage was relatively minor, with some reports of downed trees and flooded roads.
• July 2019: The remnants of Hurricane Barbara passed 120 mi (190 km) south of Hawai'i on July 8, producing showers over the windward regions of the island and nearby Maui.[38] The storms generated by Barbara's remnants were cited by Hawaiian Electric Industries as the likely cause of power outages affecting 45,000 electricity customers.[39]
• August 2019: Hurricane Erick passed about 230 miles (370 km) south of the island of Hawaiʻi as a tropical storm, bringing swells and rainfall to the island.[40] Subsequently, Hurricane Flossie approaches Hawaii as a weakening tropical depression, before passing northeast of the Big Island and dissipated.

In total, 66 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaiʻi since official record-keeping began in 1949.

At least 29 people have died in Hawaiʻi as a result of tropical cyclones since 1949.

Hurricanes in the Central Pacific (140° W to 180 ° W) generally travel from east to west, however, some including Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Iniki (1992) track in a northerly direction

Snow on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea after storm passes Hawaii Island.

The islands of Hawaii, with Kauai as the notable exception, appear to be remarkably immune from direct hurricane hits. The USGS states that "more commonly, near-misses that generate large swell and moderately high winds causing varying degrees of damage are the hallmark of hurricanes passing close to the islands."[42] This has also drawn media attention.[43][44] One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms.[45]

A partial source of this idea may be the long list of hurricanes in the above paragraphs that dissipated into tropical storms or depressions upon approaching the islands. Satellite images of Hurricane Flossie's breakup when approaching Hawaii Island fueled this idea.[46] Another example may be Hurricane Felicia which dropped from Category 4 down to a tropical depression with residual winds predicted at only 35 miles per hour (56 km/h).[47] Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Both mountains rise to elevations in excess of 13,000 feet above sea level, and as Flossie approached the island, its track shifted abruptly overnight and assumed a more northerly alignment, heading instead to the island of Maui on July 29.[48]

Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. Data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center show no hurricane-strength winds on any Hawaii Islands with the exception of Kauai.[49] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region".[50][51][52]

Before Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a standard homeowner's insurance policy with extended coverage provided hurricane coverage. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage.

• Central Pacific Hurricane Center
• List of Pacific hurricanes
• Pacific hurricane season
• List of wettest tropical cyclones to affect Hawaii
• Tropical cyclone
• Kona storm
• List of Hawaii tornadoes

• Eastern Pacific hurricane tracks
• Central Pacific hurricane climatology
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center archive
• History of Hurricanes in Hawaii, University of Hawaii
• Hawaii Hurricanes
• CPAC Hurricane Widget (current)