Hurricane Warning. 65 Hawaii Flights Gone And More Coming.

Sixty-five Hawaiian and Alaska flights are canceled across Hawaii today as Tropical Storm Lala approaches. Our Kauai-to-Maui flight Sunday, the one that gets us to Maui for work next week, is still scheduled.

Our thoughts are first with people on the Big Island and elsewhere facing the storm’s most serious impacts, especially the risks of flooding, high winds, and dangerous surf up to 30 feet. For thousands of other travelers and us, Saturday’s question isn’t what Lala might do to Hawaii travel. The cancellations are arriving, and they now stretch across the state from the Big Island to Kauai.

65 Alaska and Hawaiian flights are canceled so far today.

Alaska and Hawaiian say 54 Neighbor Island and 11 transpacific flights are canceled Saturday, following five Neighbor Island cancellations Friday. Hilo takes the biggest hit as expected, with all service suspended today, accounting for 25 canceled flights.

At Kona, all Neighbor Island service after 2 p.m. and through the evening is canceled, along with five transpacific flights. Alaska and Hawaiian have also reduced both Neighbor Island and transpacific service at Kahului, while four Neighbor Island flights to and from Lihue have been canceled.

Southwest has also canceled some Hawaii flights and is evaluating the rest of its schedule as conditions evolve.

We’re due to fly from Lihue to Maui Sunday before setting up shop at Kaanapali for BOH work. Today’s cancellations now include both airports we’ll use, putting tomorrow’s flight squarely on the radar as questionable.

Hilo shuts down while other Hawaii airports keep flying for now.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Hawaii Island, and the airline response reflects where Lala’s effects are arriving first. Hilo goes first, with Kona contracting later today, and Maui, Oahu, and Kauai are seeing selective cancellations and reductions thus far rather than larger shutdowns.

All the airlines are continuing to monitor conditions for the possibility of additional weekend changes. The Hawaiian/Alaska travel waiver covers passengers scheduled to fly through Sunday, and travelers whose flights are canceled are being accommodated on later flights.

Maui and Kauai attractions are closing too.

The disruption extends beyond airports. On Maui, both districts of Haleakalā National Park closed Friday evening, and Saturday sunrise reservations were canceled. Maui forestry and wildlife lands also closed Friday, although Maui state parks remained open Saturday morning, subject to change.

On Kauai, Napali Coast State Wilderness Park and the Kalalau Trail closed at 4 a.m. Saturday, while Polihale State Park closed Friday afternoon. On Oahu, the City and County of Honolulu is opening eight hurricane refuge areas Saturday, with free bus transportation available for people who need temporary protection from the storm. Statewide, camping and lodging in state parks and on state lands have been suspended through at least the weekend, and for travelers already in Hawaii, getting to an island doesn’t necessarily mean the park, trail or activity they planned will be available once they arrive.

Lala is still a tropical storm, for now.

As of 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Lala was within 100 miles of South Point, with the storm still expected to strengthen into a hurricane initially as it approaches the Big Island today, which remains under a Hurricane Warning. Maui County, Oahu, and Kauai remain under Tropical Storm Warnings.

Maui could receive 8 to 12 inches of rain as Lala moves west, with tropical storm conditions expected there today and tonight. That leaves plenty still capable of changing before Sunday, including airline schedules.

Are your Hawaii travel plans changing because of Lala, or are you still planning to go if your flight is operating?

Lead Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at Hilo, Big Island.

By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.

Some of the most meaningful parts of Hawaii are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →