Hurricane Fausto Monday Update: Fausto downgrades to tropical storm, East Hawaiʻi beaches close due to high surf warning

Editor’s note: This story was updated on July 27, 2026, at 5:20 p.m.

Significant surf is expected for Hawaiʻi as the National Weather Service downgrades Fausto to a tropical storm.

Although data from an Air Force Reconnaissance aircraft found Hurricane Fausto is weakening, the National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning for east-facing shores of Hawai‘i Island, for North Kohala, Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo and Puna Districts through Wednesday.

Fausto is now about 425 miles of Hilo as of 5 p.m.

The hurricane is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, and a general westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to continue for the next several days, along with maximum sustained winds remaining near 70 mph with higher gusts, which is down from 75 mph at 11 a.m.

But hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Surf generated by Fausto will continue to build westward across Hawai‘i along exposed east-facing shores through Tuesday as the storm approaches and begins to pass north of the islands, according to the National Weather Service. Large surf and strong currents will lead to dangerous conditions along exposed shores.

Hawaiʻi County

Due to high surf warning conditions, the County of Hawaiʻi has closed the following Keaukaha beach parks in Hilo:

• Onekahakaha Beach Park
• Kealoha Beach Park
• Carl Smith Beach Park
• Leleiwi Beach Park
• Waiʻōlena Beach Park
• Waiuli Beach Park
• Richardson’s Ocean Park
• Lehia Beach Park
• Lālākēa Beach Park

The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency will update the county as conditions change. For more information, visit the County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map.

Be prepared

The National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu and Hawai‘i County officials urge the public to prepare regardless of potential impacts and storm track.

They offered several preparation pointers:

• Check your emergency kits and fill up on supplies — 14 days of food, water and medications.
• Check in with family and friends: How you will get in contact and where you will go during an emergency or evacuation?
• Know your zone: Check if you are in a flood prone area or exposed to strong winds.
• Prepare your home: Trim trees, clean gutters, seal gaps and bring in loose outdoor items.
• Check insurance policy and have information handy.

The Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply and Hawaiian Electric also urged its customers to review emergency plans and ensure they have supplies they need and keep close watch on the storm’s development.

Shipping firm Young Brothers is keeping a close eye on Fausto, reporting Saturday afternoon it had not changed any shipping schedules. However, it anticipates increased harbor surge caused by Fausto could cause potential delays or impede the company’s ability to safely berth, ramp or discharge barges.

Marine information

The U.S. Coast Guard also set Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey for all commercial ports throughout Hawaiʻi, which went into effect on Friday because of possible gale force winds generated by Fausto during the next several days.

Port facilities are open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations can continue, however all pleasure craft should seek sheltered waters. Operators of vessels 200 gross tons and greater should plan to depart port. The ports captain might direct departures to reduce the number of vessels in port.

Vessels that desire to remain in port must submit a safe mooring plan and receive written permission from the ports captain and Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Harbors Division.
Requests should be submitted immediately. Requests received after Port Condition X-Ray might not be considered. Send requests to D14-DG-SH-SecHono-MTSRU@uscg.mil and HawaiiDistrict.heavyweather.request@hawaii.gov.

Vessels transiting within the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands should seek sheltered waters and anticipate additional restrictions and possible port closures as conditions progress. The ports captain can restrict operations of or deny port entry to vessels transporting oil or certain hazardous materials.

If and when Port Condition Yankee is set because sustained tropical storm force winds of 39 mph are expected within 24 hours, ports are closed to incoming traffic without specific approval from the ports captain.

Contact the Maritime Transportation System Recovery Unit via email at D14-DG-SH-SecHono-MTSRU@uscg.mil or U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 1-800-552 6458 for additional information and questions about port services and closings.

The shipping company Young Brothers anticipates no changes to all regularly scheduled sailings for the remainder of the week.  However, the company does anticipate that there may be increased harbor surge that may potentially delay or impede their ability to safely berth, ramp, or discharge the barge.  

Because of this, they ask customers for patience as employees work to safely deliver cargo.