ELI5: Does Hawaii get hurricanes?

Yes, Hawaii can get hurricanes, but it does not get them very often.

• Think of Hawaii like a house in the ocean that usually has a strong “shield” around it.
• The water near the islands is often cooler, and the winds high up in the air can break up storms, so many hurricanes weaken before they reach the islands.
• That means Hawaii is more likely to get a nearby storm, heavy rain, big waves, or strong wind than a direct hurricane hit.

• Still, hurricanes can sometimes come close or make landfall.
• The last major hurricane to directly hit Hawaii was Iniki in 1992, and hurricane strikes are considered rare.
• In recent years, some storms have still caused trouble even without a direct hit, like Lane in 2018 and Hone in 2024, which brought heavy rain and rough weather.

• During some years, especially when El Niño is happening, the chance of storms near Hawaii can go up.
• So the simple answer is: yes, Hawaii gets hurricanes, but usually not as often as places like Florida or the Gulf Coast.

• For everyday life, that means people in Hawaii still watch storm news, keep emergency supplies ready, and pay attention during hurricane season.