Coast Guard Raises Port Conditions Across Hawaii for Tropical Storm Lala

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Honolulu scheduled progressive increases in port heavy weather conditions for commercial ports across Hawaii, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai counties effective 8:00 a.m. HST on Aug. 14 due to Tropical Storm Lala.

Update 3 of Aug. 14 scheduled Zulu for Hawaii County ports, Yankee for Maui and Honolulu County ports, and X-ray for Kauai County ports.

Live Navigation Center port status under Sector Honolulu MSIB 26-009, last changed Aug. 14, shows Hilo Harbor and Kawaihae Harbor Closed / YANKEE (closed to incoming traffic).

Honolulu Harbor, Kahului Harbor, Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, Kaumalapau Harbor, and Kaunakakai Harbor stand Open / X-RAY. Nawiliwili Harbor and Port Allen stand Open / WHISKEY.

Operators of vessels 200 gross tons and greater remain under direction to plan departures or obtain written remain-in-port permission from the Captain of the Port and the Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division.

Tropical Storm Lala, as of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center Intermediate Advisory Number 8A issued at 2:00 a.m. HST Aug. 14, was centered near 16.6N 149.3W, approximately 435 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 650 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph moving west-northwest at 10 mph.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Hawaii County. A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Maui County, including Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe. Steady strengthening is forecast, with Lala expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii by early Saturday.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation on Aug. 13 relating to Tropical Storm Lala. The disaster emergency relief period runs through Aug. 27 unless terminated or superseded. Agency pages list the same impact sequence and state the next scheduled update for Aug. 14 at 9 a.m.

Latest Developments

Update 3 scheduled Zulu for Hawaii County commercial ports, Yankee for Maui and Honolulu County ports, and X-ray for Kauai County ports effective 8:00 a.m. HST Aug. 14.

Navigation Center status under MSIB 26-009 shows the implemented levels as YANKEE (closed to incoming) for Hilo and Kawaihae, X-RAY for Honolulu, Kahului, Barbers Point, Kaumalapau, and Kaunakakai, and WHISKEY for Nawiliwili and Port Allen.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center Intermediate Advisory Number 8A at 2:00 a.m. HST Aug. 14 located Lala near 16.6N 149.3W with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.

Governor Josh Green signed the emergency proclamation on Aug. 13, activating the Major Disaster Fund and authorizing National Guard activation if needed.

Agency key messages, last updated Aug. 13 at 1:45 p.m., state that impacts will begin on Hawaiʻi Island between Friday night and Saturday morning, progressing to Maui Nui on Saturday morning, Oʻahu on Saturday afternoon and evening, and Kauaʻi on Saturday night.

Hawaii County Port Status and Operational Requirements

Hilo Harbor and Kawaihae Harbor are Closed under YANKEE. Incoming traffic is prohibited without specific Captain of the Port approval.

Cargo operations must cease within the next 12 hours; lightering and bunkering are to cease. All cargo operations within the affected port will be prohibited if Zulu is later set.

At YANKEE, sustained tropical storm force winds of 39 mph are expected within 24 hours. Vessels remaining in port must continue to monitor and attend to their vessels.

Requests to remain in port are directed to the Maritime Transportation System Recovery Unit and the appropriate Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors email. The Captain of the Port may restrict or deny entry to vessels transporting oil or certain hazardous materials.

Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai County Port Status

Facilities in the central and western counties remain open under the lower conditions. Sustained tropical storm force winds are predicted within 48 hours for X-RAY ports and within 72 hours for WHISKEY ports.

All vessels should prepare to complete cargo operations and depart within the stated windows. Pleasure craft must seek sheltered waters. Operators of vessels 200 gross tons and greater should plan to depart.

Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches are expected across Maui and the Big Island, with maximum amounts of 25 inches possible on the Big Island, according to Intermediate Advisory 8A.

Totals of 4 to 6 inches, with local maxima of 8 inches, are forecast across the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall may produce flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain.

Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible on Hawaii, according to Intermediate Advisory 8A. Swells generated by Lala are expected to reach east-facing shores on Friday and build through the weekend, producing high surf and strong current conditions.

The Key Messages issued with Advisory 8 at 11:00 p.m. HST Aug. 13 state that large waves, especially on the Big Island, are expected this weekend, with the greatest impacts along exposed windward and southern shores, and that interests elsewhere in Hawaii should monitor the progress of Lala because Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be required on Friday.

Vessels transiting near the Hawaiian Islands are advised to seek sheltered waters and anticipate additional restrictions and possible port closures as conditions progress.

Official Statements

• U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Honolulu, Aug. 14, 2026: “The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu is scheduled to increase port heavy weather conditions for all commercial ports of Hawaii, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai counties at 8 a.m. Aug. 14., due to Tropical Storm Lala. The current port heavy weather conditions are in effect as follows: Hawaii County: Yankee; Maui County: X-ray; Honolulu County: X-ray; Kauai County: Whiskey. The following changes are scheduled to take place effective August 14, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. HST: Zulu for the commercial ports of Hawaii County; Yankee for the commercial ports of Maui County; Yankee for the commercial ports of Honolulu County; X-ray for the commercial ports of Kauai County.”

• Central Pacific Hurricane Center Intermediate Advisory Number 8A, 2:00 a.m. HST Aug. 14, 2026: “LALA FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE AS IT APPROACHES THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII... CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO DETERIORATE THERE EARLY SATURDAY...”

• Central Pacific Hurricane Center Key Messages, Advisory 8, 11:00 p.m. HST Aug. 13, 2026: “1. Lala is forecast to strengthen and become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii by early Saturday. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Big Island and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County. Winds are expected to be the strongest in areas of higher terrain. 2. Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lala will begin to impact the Big Island Friday, spreading westward across the remainder of the island chain during the weekend. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. 3. Large and dangerous waves, especially on the Big Island, are expected this weekend, with the greatest impacts along exposed windward and southern shores. This prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion. 4. Interests elsewhere in Hawaii should monitor the progress of Lala, and Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be required on Friday.”

• Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, Aug. 13, 2026: “Tropical Storm Lala is approaching the Hawaiian Islands and is forecast to impact Hawaiʻi Island between Friday night and Saturday morning, August 13-14, with tropical force winds, heavy rain, storm surge and rough surf. These storm impacts will likely progress to Maui Nui on Saturday morning; Oʻahu on Saturday afternoon and evening; and Kauaʻi on Saturday night. Rain, wind and rough surf could persist for all islands for many hours after onset, into Sunday.”

• Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Aug. 13, 2026: “Tropical Storm Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly Hawaii Island — and we are taking action now to ensure resources are available where they are needed.”