Tourism officials report most visitor services operating, most areas and attractions reopen

Hawaiʻi tourism officials reported later Tuesday afternoon, March 24, that conditions continue to improve throughout islands, with most visitor services operating and most areas and attractions are either reopen or in the process of reopening.

Visitors are advised, however, to continue checking official county and state resources while confirming ahead of time directly with activity providers.

What to know

• Visitors and tour operators on Oʻahu should avoid Waialua and Mokulēʻia, where flooding impacts have been most significant.
• Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation also was reporting contraflow traffic in Haleʻiwa, Kahana, Waimea and Waiāhole. Visitors should avoid driving through those areas if possible.
• Hāna Highway on Maui remains open only to residents and authorized personnel, including emergency and road crews.

If the water is brown, turn around

Brown water advisories were in effect for O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and parts of Hawai‘i Island.

Nearshore ocean waters could be contaminated after heavy rain, when runoff carries soil, debris, bacteria and other pollutants from land into the ocean.

Because it would not be possible to post brown water advisories at every physical point of ocean entry affected, be sure to check ocean conditions at the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch website.

State parks

State parks can be affected in various ways depending on their location, topography and severity of the storm.

Check the red announcer banner at the top of the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division website for the latest information about what state parks are open and those closed for repairs.

Beaches and swimming

• Hidden hazards can remain after a storm — including polluted runoff, strong currents, rough shore breaks and debris in the water — even though a beach might look clear and sunny
• Never swim at closed beaches. Beach warnings and closures are issued for safety, even when the weather appears nice.
• Check wind, surf and water hazards at the Safe Beach Day website before heading out to the beach.
• Check in with lifeguards or ocean safety personnel when you arrive at the beach for the latest information about ocean conditions and potential hazards in the area.

Departing from Hawai‘i airports

• All Hawai‘i airports are operating normally. Delays and cancellations are possible. The airlines are the best source of information about flight changes, so travelers should stay connected and keep their contact information updated with the airline.
• Log in to the airline’s website or app to confirm it has your current mobile number if you did not book directly with the airline.
• Download your airline’s mobile app and enable alerts. If your airline offers SMS notifications, sign up for those, too.
• Check your flight status before going to the airport. It might be easier to request an extension or revised checkout time while you are still at your hotel or accommodation if your flight is delayed or canceled.
• Leave early for the airport. Allow extra time for weather-related delays, check in and security screening — at least 3 hours for trans-Pacific flights and 90 minutes for interisland flights.
• Check estimated security wait times and Federal Aviation Administration delays to by downloading the MyTSA app or clicking here.

Resources

• Visit the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website for the latest weather information.
• Click here, download the GoHawaii app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, call 1-800-GOHAWAII (available 24 hours a day) for visitor information.
• A dedicated GoHawaii landing page with island-specific conditions and closures is available.
• Visitors can also refer to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Visitor’s Guide to Kona Low Storms and Visitor’s Guide to TV News, Radio and Weather Updates for additional information.
• Visit the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation website and follow the department on Instagram for updates about road closures.
• Click here for updates about state trail closures and visit the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division website to check the status of state parks.