Hawaii under state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Kiko

Hawaii’s acting governor, Sylvia Luke, issued the emergency proclamation on Friday afternoon, declaring a state of emergency across the entire state.

“The proclamation activates emergency measures and resources to protect public health, safety and welfare. Tropical storm-force winds, heavy rainfall and high surf associated with Hurricane Kiko could begin affecting portions of the state as early as Monday, September 8, 2025,” the governor’s office said in a press release.

As of Saturday afternoon, Hurricane Kiko weakened slightly to a Category 3 hurricane churning across the eastern Pacific, about 1,000 miles away from Hawaii.

The storm will continue to gradually weaken over the next 24-48 hours as it moves in a general northwest direction. As it tracks closer to the Hawaiian Islands, rapid weakening will occur as it encounters unfavorable conditions, including cooler ocean temperatures and dry air.

The forecast indicates it's more likely that the storm will pass far enough north of Hawaii next week to limit many impacts with it weakening to a tropical storm by then.

Indirect impacts, like rough surf, will probably be the main concern from Kiko with swells from the storm beginning to reach the Big Island and Maui later Sunday. These swells will gradually build and are forecast to peak along east-facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands during the early to middle part of next week, potentially producing dangerous surf and rip currents.