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Tropical Storm Lala is approaching Hawaii with the potential to strengthen into a hurricane, prompting a hurricane watch for the Big Island and raising concerns over heavy rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf and major disruption to travel and tourism across the islands. If Lala reaches hurricane strength and makes landfall on the Big Island, it could become the first hurricane since at least 1900 to do so, although even a track south of the islands could bring serious weather impacts throughout the weekend.
Lala could strengthen as it moves closer to Hawaii, and its precise path will determine whether it reaches hurricane intensity and how directly its most severe conditions affect the Big Island, with forecasters warning that relatively small changes in the storm’s track could substantially alter rainfall, wind and coastal hazards.
A more southerly route over warmer waters and with less interaction with the Hawaiian Islands could support further intensification, while a track closer to the islands could reduce the likelihood of hurricane development but still expose communities, visitors and the wider travel sector to severe weather.
A hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Island, including Hilo, as residents and tourism operators prepare for deteriorating conditions, while the first bands of heavy rain and gusty winds are expected to begin affecting the island from Friday afternoon before impacts spread across other parts of Hawaii through the weekend.
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The developing situation is particularly significant for travel and tourism because Hawaii’s inter-island aviation, road networks, outdoor activities, beaches, accommodation operations and visitor excursions can all be affected when tropical weather brings flooding, strong winds and dangerous ocean conditions.
Lala is approaching Hawaii with forecasters warning that the storm could strengthen as it nears the islands, while a hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Island and significant weather impacts are expected to begin late Friday. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and hazardous surf could affect visitor movement and tourism operations, particularly if conditions force transport providers and attractions to suspend services for safety reasons.
For travellers, the most immediate risks could include changes to flight schedules, difficult road conditions and restrictions on outdoor activities, while beaches and coastal attractions may become unsafe because of large waves and dangerous rip currents. The eventual impact on travel and tourism will depend on Lala’s final track and intensity, but Hawaii’s recent severe weather provides a clear indication of how rapidly a major storm can affect the visitor economy.
Air travel is among the first parts of the tourism system to feel the effects of severe weather, particularly when strong winds, flooding and operational safety concerns affect airports or access routes. During Hawaii’s two Kona Low storms in March 2026, visitors arriving by air experienced flight delays and cancellations, directly disrupting holidays during an important spring break travel period.
The state’s official tourism data showed that 869,063 visitors arrived in Hawaii by air during March 2026, down 2.4% from the same month in 2025, although the month’s overall travel patterns were influenced by several factors. For visitors facing the Lala threat, the key lesson is that airline schedules can change quickly during severe weather, making direct communication with airlines and flexible travel planning increasingly important.
Hawaii’s tourism economy depends heavily on beaches, parks, excursions and outdoor experiences, all of which can be vulnerable to flooding, high winds and dangerous sea conditions. During the March 2026 Kona Low storms, most national and state parks and other popular visitor attractions were closed because of the severe weather, showing how a storm can affect the visitor experience even when accommodation remains available.
Lala could create similar operational challenges if flooding or damaging winds develop across affected islands, while hazardous surf could also restrict beach access, water activities and coastal excursions. This means the impact on tourism could extend well beyond transport disruption, reducing opportunities for sightseeing and spending while visitors are forced to alter or shorten planned activities.
Cruise operations are particularly exposed to rough seas, high winds and unsafe docking conditions, which can force ships to cancel scheduled calls even if a destination’s hotels and airports remain operational. Hawaii’s March 2026 storms affected cruise itineraries, with several ships cancelling calls at Nawiliwili, Hilo and Kona, while the inter-island Pride of America also cancelled Kona port calls on March 11 and March 18.
Such disruptions can affect local tourism businesses that depend on cruise passengers, including excursion companies, retailers, restaurants and transport operators. If Lala produces severe marine conditions around the islands, cruise lines may again need to adjust itineraries, demonstrating how a tropical weather event can create economic consequences far beyond the area receiving the heaviest rainfall.
The March 2026 experience also highlighted the financial consequences of major weather disruption, with Hawaii recording total visitor spending of $1.96 billion, down 1.6% year on year, while total visitor arrivals fell 1.7% to 888,349. The state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimated that flight delays, cancellations, disrupted trips and temporary attraction closures during the Kona Low storms resulted in more than $300 million in lost tourism revenue.
Average visitor stays also fell from 8.43 days in March 2025 to 8.14 days in March 2026, while the statewide average daily visitor census declined 5.1%, illustrating how severe weather can influence both visitor numbers and the time travellers spend in the destination. If Lala causes widespread disruption, tourism businesses could face similar challenges through cancelled activities, reduced visitor mobility and lower spending during the affected period.
The tourism impact of severe weather does not necessarily end when skies clear because travellers may postpone or reconsider trips if they remain uncertain about conditions, transport or attraction availability. Hawaii’s recent storms demonstrated the importance of restoring normal operations and communicating clearly with visitors, particularly in a destination where tourism supports airlines, hotels, restaurants, attractions and thousands of related businesses.
For now, the scale of Lala’s impact remains dependent on its final strength and track, and travellers should monitor official weather warnings alongside updates from airlines, cruise operators and accommodation providers. Hawaii’s tourism industry has already seen how severe weather can interrupt an entire visitor journey, from flights and cruises to attractions and spending, making preparedness and timely communication essential as Lala approaches.
Hawaii’s tourism industry faces significant economic exposure when severe storms disrupt flights, close attractions, interrupt cruises and force travellers to alter or cancel their plans, with official state data from the March 2026 Kona Low storms estimating more than US$300 million in lost tourism revenue. As Tropical Storm Lala raises the prospect of another major weather event affecting the Hawaiian Islands, the latest government figures provide a clear indication of how quickly extreme conditions can spread through the travel and tourism economy.Weather Event Date Location Affected Official Tourism Impact Estimated Financial Loss Official Source Kona Low Storms March 10–15 and March 19–24, 2026 Oahu, West Maui, Molokai and Hawaii Island Flight delays and cancellations, disrupted trips, attraction closures and excursion cancellations More than US$300 million in tourism revenue Hawaii DBEDT Official Report Kona Low Storms March 2026 Statewide Hawaii Total visitor spending fell to US$1.96 billion, down 1.6% year-on-year Part of broader storm-related impact Hawaii Governor Official Release Kona Low Storms March 2026 Statewide Hawaii Total visitor arrivals declined to 888,349, down 1.7% year-on-year Not separately quantified Hawaii DBEDT Official Report Kona Low Storms March 2026 Statewide Hawaii Air visitors fell to 869,063, down 2.4% year-on-year Not separately quantified Hawaii DBEDT Official Report Kona Low Storms March 2026 Statewide Hawaii Average visitor stay dropped from 8.43 to 8.14 days Reduced visitor spending potential Hawaii DBEDT Official Report Kona Low Storms March 2026 Statewide Hawaii Average daily visitor census declined 5.1% Not separately quantified Hawaii DBEDT Official Report Hurricane Iniki September 1992 Kauai Tourism activity declined alongside wider business and economic disruption No standalone official tourism loss figure identified Hawaii State Legislative Record Hurricane Iniki September 1992 Kauai Extensive damage to infrastructure and businesses affected the visitor economy US$1.6 billion in estimated property damage Hawaii State Legislative Record
The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reported that two back-to-back Kona Low storms, which affected the state from March 10 to 15 and again from March 19 to 24, 2026, caused extensive disruption across visitor travel and tourism activity. Flight delays and cancellations, interrupted holidays, temporary closures of visitor attractions and cancelled excursions combined to create an estimated tourism revenue loss exceeding $300 million, demonstrating the industry’s dependence on uninterrupted transport and access to Hawaii’s natural attractions.
The most significant official figure in the latest data is the state government’s estimate that the March 2026 storms caused more than $300 million in lost tourism revenue, offering a rare quantified assessment of the direct economic consequences that severe weather can create for the visitor industry. The losses reflected disruption across several stages of the tourism journey, from travellers being unable to arrive as planned to visitors already in Hawaii finding flights, excursions and attractions affected by the storms.
The impact extended across Oahu, West Maui, Molokai and Hawaii Island, underlining that tourism disruption can become a statewide economic issue even when severe weather conditions vary from one island to another. For Hawaii, where visitors frequently travel between islands and rely on aviation and maritime connections, weather-related disruption in one location can also affect accommodation bookings, transport schedules and tourism spending elsewhere.
Hawaii recorded total visitor spending of $1.96 billion in March 2026, representing a 1.6% decline compared with March 2025, according to the official tourism statistics included in the state report. While visitor spending is influenced by a range of economic and travel factors and should not all be attributed directly to the storms, the official release specifically identified the Kona Low events as having affected visitor arrivals and spending during the month.
The decline illustrates an important feature of storm-related tourism losses because the economic consequences are not limited to travellers who cancel their trips entirely, as visitors who remain in the destination may also spend less when attractions are closed and excursions are cancelled. Hotels, restaurants, retailers, transport operators and tour companies can therefore experience reduced activity even when visitors are physically present in Hawaii but cannot follow their normal holiday plans.
Total visitor arrivals to Hawaii reached 888,349 in March 2026, down 1.7% compared with the same month a year earlier, while air arrivals totalled 869,063, a decline of 2.4%. The state government directly linked severe weather disruption to flight delays and cancellations, making air transport one of the most important channels through which a major storm can affect Hawaii’s tourism industry.
For an island destination, aviation disruption can have a particularly immediate effect because visitors cannot simply divert to road or rail transport when flights are cancelled, and delays can leave travellers unable to begin or complete holidays as scheduled. This exposure means a major tropical storm or hurricane can affect tourism before the weather reaches its peak, as airlines adjust operations in anticipation of unsafe winds, flooding or airport-related difficulties.
The average length of stay for visitors fell from 8.43 days in March 2025 to 8.14 days in March 2026, according to Hawaii’s official data, suggesting that severe weather disruption can also reduce the economic value generated by individual trips. A shorter stay means fewer nights of accommodation, fewer meals purchased, fewer tours taken and potentially less spending across the wider travel and tourism supply chain.
Hawaii’s average daily visitor census also declined by 5.1% during March 2026, reinforcing the importance of looking beyond monthly arrival numbers when measuring tourism performance. A destination can experience a significant reduction in visitor-related economic activity when fewer people are present each day, even if the total number of arrivals over an entire month does not fall dramatically.
The official Hawaii data identified temporary visitor attraction closures and disrupted excursions among the key causes of the estimated tourism revenue loss, highlighting the vulnerability of a destination built around beaches, natural landscapes, outdoor activities and sightseeing. Flooding, high winds, landslides and dangerous ocean conditions can quickly make popular visitor sites inaccessible or unsafe, forcing operators to suspend activities even when hotels remain open.
The consequences can spread throughout the tourism economy because visitors who cannot take part in planned activities may cancel restaurant reservations, change transport arrangements or reduce spending on shopping and entertainment. This interconnected impact helps explain why severe weather can generate substantial economic losses without causing widespread long-term damage to every hotel or tourism facility.
Hawaii’s March 2026 storms also affected cruise tourism, with scheduled port calls disrupted as vessels avoided unsafe conditions or were unable to maintain planned itineraries. Out-of-state cruise ships were unable to visit all scheduled ports during the severe weather, while inter-island cruise operations also faced cancellations affecting calls at destinations including Kona.
Cruise passengers represent an important source of spending for shore excursions, transport services, restaurants and retailers, so missed port calls can immediately reduce revenue for businesses that depend on ships arriving on schedule. A hurricane threat therefore creates another layer of tourism risk, particularly when high waves, strong winds and rough seas prevent vessels from safely entering or leaving Hawaiian ports.
Hawaii’s history also demonstrates the potentially devastating consequences of powerful tropical cyclones, with Hurricane Iniki striking Kauai in September 1992 and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in property damage on the island according to Hawaii legislative records. The available official records also documented a decline in tourism activity and wider effects on business production, employment and government revenues, although no single official figure was identified that isolated the exact tourism revenue loss caused by Iniki.
The distinction is important because property damage should not be presented as tourism loss, yet the Iniki experience shows how a hurricane can damage the infrastructure and businesses on which the visitor economy depends. Recovery can consequently take longer than the weather event itself, as tourism requires not only safe conditions but also functioning airports, roads, accommodation, utilities and attractions.
The March 2026 government estimate of more than $300 million in lost tourism revenue provides the clearest recent official benchmark for understanding the potential economic consequences of severe weather in Hawaii, although it does not predict what losses Lala will cause. The actual impact of Lala will depend on its eventual strength, track, rainfall, wind intensity and duration, as well as the islands and tourism infrastructure exposed to the most severe conditions.
If Lala disrupts flights, forces attraction closures, interrupts excursions or affects cruise operations, Hawaii’s travel and tourism sector could face many of the same pressure points documented during the March 2026 storms. The experience also shows why the industry must focus on rapid operational updates, visitor safety and clear communication, because uncertainty about transport and destination conditions can affect bookings and travel decisions before, during and after a major storm.
Hawaii’s official figures reveal that severe weather can create a chain reaction across the tourism economy, beginning with cancelled flights and unsafe conditions but extending to lower visitor numbers, shorter stays, disrupted activities and reduced spending. The more than $300 million estimated tourism revenue loss during the March 2026 Kona Low storms demonstrates that even weather events that are not hurricanes can impose substantial costs on one of Hawaii’s most important industries.
As Lala approaches, the central issue for travel and tourism is not simply whether the storm becomes a hurricane or makes direct landfall, because significant disruption can occur from heavy rain, high winds and dangerous seas even when a storm’s centre remains offshore. Hawaii’s recent and historical experience shows that protecting travellers, maintaining accurate communication and restoring transport and visitor services quickly will be critical to limiting the economic consequences of any major tropical weather event.
The greatest immediate concern is potentially extreme rainfall, with widespread totals of around 4 to 8 inches possible across Maui and the Big Island and between 8 and 12 inches forecast for northern and eastern parts of the Big Island, while isolated locations could receive considerably higher amounts. Some projections indicate that local rainfall could reach as much as 24 inches, creating a serious risk of flash flooding and mudslides, particularly across mountainous terrain and areas where intense rain falls repeatedly over the same location.
For the travel and tourism industry, prolonged or torrential rainfall could lead to hazardous roads, temporary closures, disrupted sightseeing and difficult conditions for travellers moving between resorts, airports and popular attractions, especially in areas exposed to steep terrain and fast-rising water. Visitors are therefore likely to face changing conditions and should follow official weather and emergency guidance, review transport arrangements and avoid assuming that clear weather at one location means conditions are safe elsewhere on the same island.
Winds are expected to strengthen significantly as Lala approaches, with widespread gusts of 40 to 60 mph possible and parts of the Big Island potentially experiencing gusts between 60 and 80 mph, while isolated peak gusts could be even stronger in particularly exposed locations. Such conditions could affect flights, maritime services, power supplies and outdoor tourism activities, while falling trees, debris and damaged infrastructure may also create localised transport problems.
The coastal threat will add another major challenge, as dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to develop from late in the week and continue through the weekend, with storm surge potentially reaching 1 to 3 feet along parts of the Big Island and higher local impacts possible. Beaches and coastal attractions are among Hawaii’s most important tourism assets, but visitors should not enter rough water or rely on normal beach conditions during the storm because powerful waves and rip currents can remain dangerous even when rainfall or winds temporarily weaken.
| Storm Name | Year | Dates | What Happened in Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Dot | 1959 | August 1–9, 1959 | One of the earliest major hurricanes to significantly affect Hawaii |
| Hurricane Iwa | 1982 | November 19–24, 1982 | Caused major damage, particularly across Kauai and Oahu |
| Hurricane Iniki | 1992 | September 5–13, 1992 | Made devastating landfall on Kauai as a major hurricane |
| Tropical Storm Iselle | 2014 | July 31–August 9, 2014 | Made landfall on the Big Island on August 8 as a tropical storm |
| Tropical Storm Darby | 2016 | July 11–25, 2016 | Made Big Island landfall near Pahala around July 23–24 |
| Hurricane Hone | 2024 | August 22–27, 2024 | Passed south of the Big Island; caused major rain and strong winds but no landfall |
Direct tropical storm landfalls on the Big Island are exceptionally rare, with Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014 and Tropical Storm Darby in 2016 identified among the very limited examples of tropical storms making landfall there, while no hurricane is known to have made landfall on the island since records began. That history makes Lala an important storm to watch, although a hurricane does not need to make direct landfall to produce destructive consequences for Hawaii’s communities, travel networks and tourism economy.
Hurricane Hone in August 2024 demonstrated this risk when it passed south of the Big Island as a Category 1 hurricane without making landfall, yet still produced more than two feet of rain in some areas, significant flooding and wind gusts exceeding 70 mph. Lala could create comparable or different impacts depending on its eventual route and strength, meaning residents and travellers should focus on the hazards expected at their specific location rather than concentrating solely on whether the storm’s centre crosses land.
Travellers with plans to visit Hawaii or move between islands should monitor their airline, airport, accommodation provider and local authorities for operational changes, as weather-related disruptions can develop quickly and individual flights or services may be affected differently. Travel and tourism businesses should also maintain flexible communication with guests, provide practical updates on local conditions and ensure visitors understand any restrictions affecting beaches, tours, roads, harbours or other facilities.
Those already in Hawaii should avoid floodwaters, unstable slopes and hazardous coastal areas, secure outdoor belongings where appropriate and keep mobile devices charged in case of power interruptions, while tourists should not attempt to continue sightseeing through areas subject to official warnings or closure notices. The most important preparation is to act before conditions deteriorate, because heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas can make movement increasingly difficult once the storm begins to affect the islands.
The storm arrives during an important period for Hawaii’s travel and tourism economy, and any prolonged disruption could affect holidaymakers, hotels, airlines, tour operators, cruise activity and businesses dependent on visitor spending, particularly if flooding or infrastructure damage continues after Lala has passed. However, the eventual scale of disruption will depend heavily on the storm’s track, intensity and speed, and it remains too early to determine precisely which destinations, airports and tourism facilities will experience the most severe consequences.
Hawaii’s geography means weather impacts can vary sharply between islands and even within different parts of the same island, so travel decisions should be based on current official information rather than broad assumptions about conditions across the entire state. As Lala approaches, the priority for the tourism industry and visitors alike will be safety, clear communication and flexibility, with normal travel plans taking second place wherever official warnings indicate a risk from flooding, wind or dangerous coastal conditions.
Yes. Lala could strengthen into a hurricane depending largely on its exact track, particularly whether it remains over warmer waters south of Hawaii and avoids greater interaction with the islands.
Yes, it has the potential to do so, according to the forecast scenario described, although the exact track remains uncertain and a shift in its path could keep the centre offshore.
Several inches of rain are possible across Maui and the Big Island, with higher totals expected in northern and eastern parts of the Big Island and isolated areas potentially receiving extreme rainfall.
They could be. Strong winds, flooding, dangerous surf and operational safety decisions may affect flights, road travel, boat services, beaches, tours and other tourism activities.
Visitors should closely follow official weather and emergency updates, check directly with airlines and accommodation providers, avoid hazardous beaches and flood-prone areas, and remain flexible with travel plans until conditions improve.
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