Dangerous conditions expected for Niʻihau, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu as Lowell brings flooding, waves, high winds

The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency has sounded the outdoor warning siren on Niʻihau this evening as hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Lowell move toward the island.

(Update: 5 p.m. HST Monday, Sept. 7, 2026) Dangerous conditions are expected on Niʻihau, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu as Hurricane Lowell brings flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds.

All University of Hawaiʻi campuses and facilities on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi Community College will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, as a precautionary measure due to the possible impacts of Hurricane Lowell.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has conditionally approved the reactivation of the Navy’s ʻAiea Hālawa Shaft as a water source for the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Water System.

Precursory low-level eruptive activity before episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 12:45 p.m. HST on Sept. 7, 2026, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports. This activity was marked with a sluggish overflow from the north vent.

The Friends of ʻIolani Palace is marking 60 years of stewardship with a special-edition Aloha de Mele collaboration by Native Hawaiian artist JT Ojerio honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and her beloved pua kalaunu, or crown flower.

As Hurricane Lowell approaches the westernmost of the main Hawaiian Islands, heavy rainfall and strong winds are a major concern. In response, the Hawaiʻi Mesonet and Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal (HCDP) team at the University of Hawaiʻi created a new website to enable access to the most recent rainfall and wind speed data from Hawaiʻi Mesonet stations.

The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency is urging residents and visitors at exposed oceanfront properties along Kauaʻi’s south and west shores to move to a safer location as soon as possible, before wind, rain, and ocean conditions make travel unsafe.

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the workforce and daily life, the University of Hawaiʻi is making AI education available to everyone with a new, free online course designed for the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

The closures include all public schools on Oʻahu, all public schools on Kauaʻi, Niʻihau High & Elementary School, and Department offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County.

Alaska Airlines is commemorating 40 years in San Diego with a major milestone: the launch of the carrier’s 50th nonstop from San Diego International Airport. The new seasonal route to Loreto, Mexico, takes off Dec. 19, just in time for a warm winter escape. Tickets are available now on alaskaair.com.

Update: 2:52 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026) Conditions are deteriorating for Niʻihau, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu with flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds expected from Lowell.