Hurricane Hunters Base At LIH

With Tropical Depression 2-C approaching the islands, three WC-130Js from the 53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters" arrived at LIH today. 96-5302 (msn 382-5453) arrived as TEAL81, 97-5305 (msn 382-5475) arrived as TEAL82, and 98-5308 (msn 382-5487) arrived as TEAL83.

21 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Depression 2-C has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Moke today.

Hurricane Lala Airport Updates

With Hurricane Lala approaching and expected to pass over Hawai‘i Island today, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has already closed ITO for the day, and will close KOA around 14:00.

Flights into and out of OGG have been canceled for latter part of today.

Further information in this HDOT news release.

If you are traveling today and tomorrow, please check with your airline for flight status.

For all of our friends in Hawai‘i, please stay safe!

16 August 2026 UPDATE

Following inspections, HDOT reopened ITO and KOA this morning.

As the now-downgraded Tropical Storm Lala is now south of Kaua‘i, please check with your airline about your flight status. Some airlines have reported cancellations for today.

17 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lala is now west of the main Hawaiian Islands, and continuing toward the International Date Line.

Tropical Invest 93C

To get a handle of the storm systems southeast of Hawai‘i, NOAA has dispatched its G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), and one of its WP-3Ds, N42RF "Kermit" (msn 285A-5266) to the islands to monitor the storm. N49RF arrived yesterday as NOAA49, and N42RF will arrive later today as NOAA42. Both aircraft will be based out of JRF for this deployment.

The US Air Force is sending 97-5305 (msn 382-5475) from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. This WC-130J Weatherbird is flying from MHR to KOA as TEAL83. 

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Invest 93C, a system southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Invest is the NHC term for Investigating for potential tropical development, 93C is the location designator, and would be named Lala in the event of it developing into a tropical depression.

National coverage with this Fox Weather report; and local coverage with this KHON2 report.

12 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Invest 93C has been upgraded to Tropical Cyclone 1C. Two more WC-130Js arrived, 96-5302 (msn 382-5453) and 97-5303 (msn 382-5473) to fly into the storm.

13 August 2026 UPDATE
Tropical Cyclone 1C has now been upgraded to Tropical Storm Lala.

Follow updates on the National Hurricane Center advisory.

15 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lala has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane.

Both N42RF and N49RF departed JRF this morning for SDM [Brown Field, San Diego, CA]. 

Hurricane Fausto

With Hurricane Fausto approaching the Hawaiian Islands, four US Air Force WC-130Js from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, and NOAA's G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo", have made their trips to Hawai‘i to gather storm information. KOA's Big Island Jet Center posted on their Instagram page that they are handling the "Hurricane Hunters". Usually the WC-130Js will position at JRF when deployed to Hawai‘i.

N49RF has been positioned at OGG for this storm gathering flights. Normally, "Gonzo" is handled by Castle & Cooke Aviation at HNL.

HDOT-A Suspends KOA Ops

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports has issued a ground stop at KOA due to severe weather in the vicinity, that includes thunderstorm cells. KOA will reopen once the storm cells clear out.

23 March 2026 - 11:15 UPDATE

HDOT-A has reopened KOA.

HDOT-A Closes HDH

Due to the second  "Kona Low" storm in a week, and the closure of access to Waialua, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports has closed the Kawaihāpai Airfield (HDH) from today, until 24 March. The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) has closed access to the northwest coastline of Waialua, Mokulē‘ia, and Ka‘ena Point, as it has been flooded from the heavy rains, as well as potential flash floods, and the potential spillover from the Wahaiwā Reservoir Dam.

Kona Low Storm Impacts Flights And Operations

The "Kona Low" storm that is bringing heavy rain, high southerly winds, and thunderstorms, is impacting airlines and airport operations. Both Kamaka Air and Lāna‘i Air suspended operations today. Air traffic was put on ground holds and holding patterns for periods as storm cells sat over the state's airports. Some flights are delayed, and others face cancellation. Departing and arriving traffic patterns are also in flux, as the winds are causing the FAA to reverse, and revert, the traffic patterns.

Kīlauea Eruption Closes ITO

Due to eruption episode 43 at the Kīlauea Volcano, ash fallout, and southwesterly winds, the FAA and HDOT-A is suspending operations at ITO. The US Geological Service said that with this eruption episode, combined with winds blowing ash fall toward the eastern side of Hawai‘i, will affect air traffic, as ash will damage jet engines.

11 March 2026 UPDATE

Eruption episode 43 ended in the evening hours yesterday, and ITO was opened early this morning.

Tsunami Effects On Hawai‘i Flights

A Pacific Rim-wide tsunami alert was generated from today's earthquake off of the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia. The National Weather Service put the state of Hawai‘i was put on a tsunami warning this afternoon at 14:44HAST. The estimated impact time is 19:17HAST, with Hanalei expecting impact seven minutes earlier.

As a result, ITO halted operations a couple of hours later. No other airports have halted operations since the subsequent NWS warnings and alerts went out.

At HNL, Mokulele Airlines moved five of their C208Bs over to the Mauka Extension gates.

The US Coast Guard has HC-130J 2011 is orbiting the island of Kaua‘i.

18:00 UPDATE

The Airline Videos Instagram account posted two flights returning to LAX. Southwest Airlines' SWA3495 to HNL, 737-8, N8718Q and Delta Air Lines' DAL311 to KOA, A321-271NX, N509DT were two of the flights that were posted. Over a dozen flights turned back to their origin. OGG has also suspended operations for the evening. Several flights out of HNL were canceled.

Weather Causes Delays And Groundstops

With the winter storm hitting the Hawaiian Islands, inbound flights to HNL were diverted to OGG an KOA, and at some points in the worst part of the storm cells, all of Hawaii's airports issued ground stops to ride out the heavy rain and winds. Some arriving flights to HNL had to circle to wait out the weather before landing on Runway 26L.

Winds Cause Two Bizjets To Collide At OGG

Hawaii News Now reports that recent high winds caused a Dassault Falcon 8X to collide with a Bombardier Global 7500 on the OGG FBO ramp, across from the main terminal. 

HDOT-A announced that there were no commercial service affected by this collision.

After scouring OpenADSB, we were unable to find the two aircraft involved. If anyone knows, please email us the info.

HDOT Closes ITO For Hurricane Hone

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation suspended operations at ITO in anticipation of Hurricane Hone from tonight. The airport is schedule resume operations on Monday.

26 August 2024 UPDATE

ITO reopened today with Hawaiian Airlines adding extra flights to accommodate the cancellations.

"Hurricane Hunters" Arrive

In the midst of Tropical Storm Hone nearing Hawai‘i Island, four WC-130Js from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron / 403rd Wing arrived at JRF from BIX [Kessler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS], via SUU today.

These are the  four Hercules, that will base at JRF, will be flying under the TEAL call sign and flight code.

96-5300 (msn 382-5451)

96-5302 (msn 382-5453)

97-5308 (msn 382-5478)

99-5309 (msn 382-5501)

NOAA is sending N49RF "Gonzo" as well to fly into the tropical storm.

24 August 2024 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Hone has been updated to a Category 1 Hurricane.

27 August 2024 UPDATE

The four WC-130Js will return to BIX today.

Typhoon Mawar Relief Flights

Following Typhoon Mawar's pass over Guam, several relief flights were flown from Hawai‘i airports. Two HC-130Js from the US Coast Guard's 14th District based at JRF were dispatched to GUM. Kalitta Air's N767CK flew their weekly GUM flight, CKS370, with emergency generators from FEMA. Antonov Airlines' UR-82008 used KOA as a stop from SBD to GUM. The An-124 flew as ADB3558. United Airlines also brought supplies in their 777s that normally service GUM. Asia Pacific's N888LT flew as MGE400 to GUM. The airport sustained damage to some of their jet bridges , and is open for limited operations.

Hawaiian Airlines' N393HA Hit By Severe Turbulence

Hawaiian Airlines' N393HA "Lehuakona" (msn 1422, f/n 393) was hit by severe turbulence about 30 minutes out of HNL as it was en route from PHX as HAL35. A total of 36 passengers were injured, including eleven that were seriously injured, aboard this A330-243.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now report.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82029

Antonov Airlines' UR-82029 (c/n 19530502630, l/n 02-10), an An-124-100, has brought in relief supplies for Hurricane Lane from DFW (via LAX), as ADB2574. It will depart for OAK as ADB274F, later this morning.

Hurricane Lane Aircraft Evacuations

As Hurricane Lane pushes slowly northward, and has cleared the east side of Hawai‘i Island, airlines in Honolulu have ferried their aircraft to JRF and ITO to ride out the storm.

Going to Hilo, Hawaiian Airlines ferried some of their 717-200 fleet; ‘Ohana by Hawaiian ferried their ATR42 and ATR72 fleet; Aloha Air Cargo ferried their 737-300 fleet; and TransAir ferried their 737-200.

Going to Kalaleloa Airport, Kamaka Air and Makani Kai Air moved their C208s; and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters moved their EC-130 fleet; where they were placed into Hangar 111.

Canadians Add Extra Flights

Both Air Canada and WestJet Airlines are adding an extra flight each to aid in tourists from Canada wishing to return in advance of Hurricane Lane.

Air Canada is bringing in C-FRSI (c/n 37176, l/n 527), a 787-9, as ACA7071 from YVR. It will return to YVR as ACA2112.

WestJet is bringing in C-FRAX (c/n 60510, l/n 6384), a 737 MAX 8, as WJA8977 from YYC. It will return to YYC as WJA4361.

Hurricane Tracking Aircraft

With Hurricane Lane making a close path near the Hawaiian Islands, NOAA has dispatched both their WP-3D, N42RF and Gulfstream IV, N49RF, along with two WC-130Js from the US Air Force to fly into the hurricane to take measurements.

Storm Causes Diversions

Valentine's Day 2015 was a stormy one over the Hawaiian Islands as a fast-moving winter storm front made its way down the island chain. Its effects were felt by passengers and crew of inbound and outbound flights.

The Aviation Herald reports that United's Flight 15 [EWR-HNL] encountered turbulence that resulted in seven injuries, as the 767-424ER approached the islands.

KHON News reports that a total of seven Maui-bound flights were diverted to HNL, and one to KOA.