If you have a Hawaii trip coming up and you are counting on Hana Highway, Haleakala, or Oahu’s North Shore working normally, that is not the trip you should be planning around. After two back-to-back Kona storms, some of Hawaii’s most important roads are still closed or restricted, and recovery will take far longer than officials are letting on.
Editors’ Note, March 23, 2026: As of Monday morning, Maui remains under a Flood Advisory until 11 a.m. with heavy rain falling at 1 to 2 inches per hour over windward locations. The Big Island is under a Flood Watch through this afternoon as unstable moisture from the departing Kona low continues to bring the threat of isolated thunderstorms and additional heavy rain. The situation across the islands is still active.
In addition, at 10am Monday, we received notice that a line of thunderstorms is now approaching the Kona Coast of the Big Island, with the National Weather Service issuing a Special Weather Statement. Strong gusty winds up to 50 mph, heavy rain, and lightning are expected in the North and South Kohala and North Kona districts. Anyone outdoors in those areas should move inside a building or vehicle immediately.
What happened and why this is still unfolding.
The Kona Storms left no time to regroup. State crews are now dealing with washouts, debris, drainage failures, and roadbed damage, all at once. Full assessments are still ongoing, with clearing weather just happening on most islands as of Sunday, which means closures and partial reopenings are shifting day to day as new damage is found or conditions change.
Kauai: the one island that cleared early.
Kauai came through this in better shape than the other islands. The island advisory was lifted earlier, and conditions have turned drier and faster. Most roads are open, and cleanup has been moving quickly. That does not mean there are no issues, but compared to the rest of the state, Kauai is the closest thing to normal right now for visitors with upcoming trips.
Oahu: North Shore and windward roads are still affected.
Oahu still has active disruptions, especially on the North Shore and windward side. Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay is down to a single lane from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and fully closed overnight, with HDOT saying that schedule is expected to continue for about three more weeks while slope stabilization work above the jumping rock area is completed.
Kalaniana’ole Highway remains partially closed with right lanes blocked in sections. Other roads across the windward side and North Shore remain under repair or restricted, with conditions still changing daily.
There is also a boil water notice in place for the entire Oahu North Shore water system from Mokuleia through Turtle Bay. That affects homes, businesses, and visitors staying in that area too, and even where roads are open, conditions are not fully normal.
Maui: the island with the longest road back.
Maui is dealing with the most disruption. Hana Highway remains closed to visitors, with police checkpoints in place, and Honoapiilani Highway had slides cleared Saturday, but broader access problems remain.
The Haleakala route remains closed from mile marker 2.5 to Haleakala National Park due to damage from the earlier March 13 to 15 storm, with only essential traffic allowed, and repaving depends on weather conditions. Maui County also issued sinkhole-related evacuation warnings in Lahaina on March 22.
During the storm, approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater overflowed at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility and likely reached the ocean, with warning signs posted in the impacted area. Travelers with Maui plans should expect itinerary changes, not just minor road delays.
Molokai: the forgotten island in this story.
Molokai is still dealing with active impacts. Kamehameha V Highway has closures, and flash flooding was reported Sunday morning, with evacuation warnings still active. HDOT reported the highway was impassable between mile markers 0.5 and 12.5, with a major rockslide and debris near mile marker 7.5 and a damaged culvert at mile marker 12.5, while crews continued assessing conditions beyond that point.
There is very little centralized information for Molokai compared with the other islands, which makes it harder for travelers to track. If you have plans there, you need to check directly with local sources before traveling.
What travelers with upcoming bookings should actually do.
Do not assume that because Hawaii flights are operating normally, your entire trip will run normally. Check the Hawaii Department of Transportation and county road closure pages before you go and again right before you head out each day, because conditions are shifting as repairs progress, and a road expected to reopen in a week can slip if more damage is subsequently uncovered. Build flexibility into your plans while this gets worked out.
Brown water advisories are in effect statewide across Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Kona coast. On Oahu, wastewater spills were confirmed at facilities serving the Kailua and Kaneohe areas in addition to broader storm runoff, and the ocean safety chief advised all beachgoers to stay out of the water for at least 72 hours. Conditions on the other islands are similar enough that the same caution applies.
There is also a gap between official messaging and on-the-ground conditions. The state has said there is no reason to cancel trips, even as hotels have been used to house evacuees and key roads remain restricted. We covered that disconnect in Visitors Are Told No Reason To Cancel As The Royal Hawaiian And Moana Surfrider Welcome Flood Evacuees, and it is part of what travelers are trying to sort out right now.
If your plans depend on specific drives or access points, check those first, because if they are not open, the rest of the trip needs to adjust around that change.
Do you have a trip to Hawaii coming up in the next few weeks? Tell us which island. Many of our readers may be able to give you the most current road and access information available.
Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at Kualoa Beach on North Shore Oahu, February 2026.
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What is currently open in Maui? What wasn’t damaged?
We are coming to O’ahu from 3/31/26 thru 4/24 – we will be staying in Kahala. 1. Will this area be affected from the storms?
2. Will the roads to the Kualoa Ranch and Polynesian Cultural Center be affected?
3. Is Sea Life Park worth a visit? It looked nice in the movie “50 First Dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
4. Can anyone recommend any can’t miss items for people staying for 24 days in O’ahu. (This is not our first visit to O’ahu)
We are traveling to Maui April 12-24. Should we cancel?
We live across the street from Kamaole Beach II on Maui, which suffered some of the worst damage on Maui from the first hit of the Kona Low storm. Currently there is a brown water advisory sign posted, although there are many people on the beach and a few (stupid) people in the water.
I just spoke to the lifeguard and she said that from what she knows, they test the water just once per week or so and that we can type in “Brown Water Maui” to see updates. However, all I can see there is that it Looks Like the brown water advisory has not yet been lifted.
Hope this is helpful to some, and let me know if you have additional info on brown water updates.
Going to Grand Wailea on Maui March 29 – April 4. Should I cancel ? What problems can I expect to encounter ?
You can expect sunny skies, warm water, short lines at the best restaurants and easy access to the bar. It those are problems, you should definitely cancel!
we have a trip planned to Maui, Lahaina on april 9-18. as of now it looks like there is sinkhole evacuations also brown water issues. we are not able to cancel or move our house reservation what are we to do
We are coming May 10 thru 19. Will RYH be open by then?
Went to Baldwin Beach and Pa’ia today. The parking lot at Baldwin wasn’t in very good condition. It’s not the best in normal conditions. We still had a nice time.
We have a trip scheduled arriving in Ohanu April 2nd, fly to Maui April 3rd for 4 days. Will it be possible to tour the island, go hiking and swimming in beaches with all the rain from recent storm along with continued forecast for rain over the next 10 days?
Hi my family of 3 have plans for the Big Island of Hawaii 4/15-4/25. We are flying into Kona then driving to Hilo staying 4 days plan on doing volcano national park and other things in the area. Then driving to Wiakoloa village and staying for 6 days. Wanted to go for manta ray night snorkel and want to snorkel at some of the other beaches in the area. Are we going to be able do the things or should we cancel and reschedule? I’m so up in the air what to do.
Janet
From Illinois
Aloha
We are due to arrive April 9th thru the 15th on Maui. We have reservations at Napili Bay. We, too, are not sure if it will be too soon, mostly because of the cleanup and road repairs that need to happen.
Please keep all of those planning a trip in the loop, as recovery for the Islands is far more important than a vacation at this point.
Thanks
We have a trip planned April 18th through May 3rd. The plan was to spend the 19th – 23rd on the Big Island mostly to do the Volcano National Park but also possibly explore Kona. Then we plan to spend the remaining time on Oahu staying at the Hale Koa and explore the Island. We are worried about contaminated waters. We want to go fishing and swimming. This is a big trip for us and would rater reschedule if the Island is under hardships. We also live on an island and wouldn’t love a bunch of tourists while trying to recover on our Island.
I just want to point out, as a local family owned bed and breakfast in Hana, if you show the people at the road closures your reservation papers, they will generally let you through on the Hana Highway (providing the damage on the road isn’t catastrophic).
We encourage guests to call us if they have any problem so we can talk to whoever is in charge and whether or not we need to call their mother.
That said, the amount of travelers who don’t bring copies of their itineraries and reservations is astounding. We’ve had guests claiming that they couldn’t find us, then admitting they never read the directions or even the confirmation email!
We do have a trip booked for July 12 – 19 on the North Shore (Oahu) Sunset beach area. We are hopeful things will be somewhat recovered by that time.
I’ll be staying in Lihue Kauai beginning April 1st 2026. Is there anything in particular I need to know about the conditions in Kauai right now? Road closures etc… Really hoping all the folks in Hawaiian islands are ok 🙏🙏🙏
If you have Hawaii travel plans for mid April or beyond and there’s no other weather issues you should be good to travel to the islands.
There’s several island webcams that you can access from your phone or laptop that will give you good view of the beaches. I just looked at Hapuna Beach and Wailea Beach water looks good resorts are setting up beach chairs and umbrellas.
It’s always sad to read such cynical and resentful comments implying people deserve the disasters. The local people’s complaint is legit, and they don’t need such an attitude at this difficult time.
Bitter comments often reveal personal issues, such as unresolved emotions, or past traumas. Recognizing and addressing these underlying issues is crucial for personal growth and emotional resilience.
Is it safe to visit Honolulu in May
Absolutely
It’s safe to visit today
Coming from Australia to the Big Island, staying in Kona from April 18 to April 22 (booked an all day tour on one day to go to various tourist spots around the island) then on to Honolulu (Waikiki) for 10 days relaxing at the Hilton Village until May 2. Anyone able to give an idea of what the situation may be by then.
I have reservations to visit Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii. The plans are from 4/15/2026 – 05/01/2026. I have also reserved a car at both islands.
My plans are to see all of both islands. Should I cancel my reservations?
We have a trip to the West Side from 5/10-25. It appears like most storm related damage will be under control by then, but any news about the West Side in May would be appreciated
If at all possible-Cancel your Hawaii trip!
Read the comments and it is obvious tourists have no idea how bad things are and if things will be normal. The Lahaina Fire was 2 1/2 years ago and little has been repaired, expect more of the same now. California beaches are 80 degrees, hotels are under $200, and many visitors can drive here without the risk of air travel at this time. No brainer- Cancel Hawaii this year.
This is fear mongering at its best
Aloha J,
The title of this article is- “Hawaii Roads And Beaches Will Take Far Longer To Recover Than Anyone Is Saying.”
Is Beat of Hawaii Fear-Mongering???
Deal with it.
Yes Rob, both you and the BOH article are leaning a bit into fear-mongering. Even without the storms, the roads and infrastructure here are always under repair—it’s just part of living here, and it never really ends (but way better than California traffic!). Despite the inconvenience, life here is still great, and we’re dealing with it just fine. I hope you’re doing okay.
We just got back from Kauai. They had very little impact and have no closed roads on the island. Recommend looking into changing trips to Kauai for next month or more.
We have a trip planned to Ohau April 18-21 and then to Maui 21-25. Any information would be appreciated and we will be keeping up to date on the news out there. 🙂
Coming to kahului 5/2 /26. Want to drive to hana.
We are scheduled to fly into Oahu on Sunday and staying for 2 weeks. I’ve seen varying posts on other platforms with varying opinions about cancelling. Some indicating that the tourism will help financially, while others saying it will only add to the current burden that residents are feeling.
Thoughts?
Traveling on 3/25 to a condo at Kamaole Beach II. I’ve seen the sink hole at the intersection on social media. Please tell me I can get an Uber from OGG to those condos.
Jenny, I live across the street from that sinkhole. The road is open, just closed off at one point, but you can get anywhere with at most a very small detour. So yes, you can get to your condo by car, definitely.
Hi..
We are coming to Waikiki on May 1. What has been the effect of the storms on Waikiki and the Honolulu area?
Thanks
Greg.
We are flying into Oahu on April 6th and staying up in turtle bay. The family is freaking out as to what’s going to happen. How are the conditions in that area?
Call the hotel! They should be able to provide current info.
We head to Oahu 4/9, Maui 4/15 and the Big Island 4/20.
I am not worried about Oahu, but I am about Maui- Haleakala and the Road to Hana. Big Island I want to the the National Historic sites, one is currently closed and Volcanoes NP, which is partially open.
Very devastating for the state, but I don’t want to fly there and not be able to do the trip we planned.
Thoughts?
Yes, we have a trip Maui from May 10-20. I would love any updates. We had thought of doing the Road to Hana but I think we will pass on that. We are staying in Kaanapali so would love to know if the beach and water are open to use. Thanks in advance for any information.
Get a hold of Lahaina String… see what they think tourists should do…
If you talk to Lahaina Strong they will tell you to stay home but feel free to send donations. (They don’t want visitors, period end of story)
Lahaina Strong is not a reliable source. Find another source. Lahaina Strong will just want a donation. There is no accountability where the donations go.
Hawaii complained that tourists were consuming all the water and left residents with little to none. Well watch what you ask for because in all regards now you got it. Plenty of water so quit complaining.
Completely unnecessary comment. Do better.
Aloha, this is a misguided comment based on false assumptions and is negatively biased to say the least. Yes, some of the islands may have some water supply and resource issues based on water usage. However, this is not the complete story. One of the primary reasons Hawaii has water shortages has to do with who manages and owns the water rights on each island as opposed to tourists or residents over-consuming water resources. In fact, do a search on who controls a the majority of Maui’s water resources and you’ll be surprised what you’ll find out. Spoiler alert, it’s not the tourists or the residents. Besides, most of the rain water from the storm will not help replenish water supply because it’s contaminated flood water and runoff!
Sounds about right to me.
They will never quit complaining. Cradle to grave victimhood and welfare.
We Reserved a family trip to Kauai April 3-9. Any problems that I should know about?
Thank you.
I just came back from Kauai. All good there. Stayed in Princeville and Po’ipu.
Family of 5 going to Ka’anapali 3/28 to 4/4, with a couple days in Hana, too. I am hearing the road to Hana will potentially take at least a week to clear for non-essential traffic, and that assumes that the weather cooperates. Waiʻānapanapa State Park is closed until at least 3/30, and I believe they still don’t have power at this point.
I am hearing that the roads to Lahaina are passable but not necessarily “OK” and lots of erosion issues for the roads and beaches, as mentioned in this article. It broke my heart, but we chose to cancel given that we could get a full refund on flights, hotel. Hopefully the weather allows for speedy repairs and the island will be much more accessible in the near future.
Check out the back road to Hana via Piilani Hwy 31, it may be open? This is the road that goes through Kula and south of Mt. Haleakala instead of the typical road to Hana along the coast.
The road to Lahaina is fine. Drove from Lahaina to Pa’ia today. Had a nice time. There are still big puddles and debris along the side of some parts of the road, but things are improving.
Hi,
I have plans to visit Princeville with my daughter, we girls are a little apprehensive about traveling and exploring the island after the severe storms.
This is a major trip and expenditure for us and we might cancel and come another time. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks and I wish all the residents of the islands all the very best.
Michelle
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. There will be repairs going on and planned activities you’ve paid for may not be possible. I’d give them a chance to clean up and go another time.
We just got back from Princeville. It is running as normal. Do not cancel.
We land in Maui in May and I see now that what we are actually walking into might be worse than I thought. Losing Hana and Haleakala would change two of the reasons we picked Maui. Any idea yet what we should expect?
We are heading to Oahu and were planning a North Shore day. The unclear situation there changes our thinking in a big way and unless there is further guidance, I think we’ll skip that part entirely.
Good call to skip. As of now, tourists are not welcome on North Shore. If you follow local businesses in Haleiwa they will update when they’re ready for people to return
We were planning Hana Highway and Haleakala on our upcoming trip in April. At this point I am wondering if we should just save Maui for another time instead of forcing a vacation that is not going to be like the one we booked or whether things might all be working more normally by then.
I would wait on Maui – April will be too soon to visit with expecting the major day trips to be operating easily.
Thanks for the heads up as we arrive on Maui next week and this helped me understand what is going on. The official come anyway update made it sound like everything was basically fine, and clearly it is not. I’m doing to start digging and see what we need to adjust.
Yeah, it’s a mess here right now. I am telling everybody that’s planning to come especially though going to Maui is to try and reschedule your trip. Yes she will probably incur the expenses of changing, but you’re going to get here and find that traffic is going to be challenging, the weather is likely going to be uncooperative, there’s going to be road closures and delays, there’s so many displaced people right now. We really don’t need to add tourists into the mix.
family of 4 are travelling to Maui next week 3/30-4/5. we had planned to drive to Hana and spend two nights there and then stay near Haleakalā for a night to see the upcountry before heading to Ka’anapali for a few nights. Is this itinerary going to make sense now or should be pivot away from upcountry and the east coast. those were obviously big highlights for the trip and would make one consider whether to cancel all together and come back at another date. appreciate any on the ground advice you can offer.
Best to call your accommodations in Hana + ask advice, for starters. I got a message that the food bank was delivering to Hana so supplies may be scarce for residents.