HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Hone strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it continued its steady approach toward Hawaii late Saturday, according to forecasters.
As of the 11 p.m. advisory from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Hone (pronounced hoe-NEH) had maximum winds of 75 mph (120 kph). The threshold for hurricane status is 74 mph (119 kph).
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Big Island as Hone moves west at 12 mph (19 kph), about 105 miles (170 kilometers) south of Hilo and roughly 275 miles (440 kilometers) southeast of Honolulu.
Earlier forecasts from the hurricane center, which is part of the National Weather Service, had anticipated that Hone would stay just below hurricane strength through Sunday and Monday.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Gilma, located about 1,480 miles (2,380 kilometers) east of Hilo, reached Category 4 status Saturday night.
Hone, which means "sweet and soft" in Hawaiian, approached the islands with winds that are expected to intensify, raising wildfire risks in drier regions of the state. This comes as Hawaii still grapples with the aftermath of last year’s devastating fires on Maui. A red flag fire warning was issued for the leeward sides of all islands until 6 p.m. Saturday. This warning, issued by the National Weather Service, signals heightened fire dangers due to warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds.
“They gotta take this thing seriously,” said Calvin Endo, a Waianae Coast neighborhood board member living in Makaha, a leeward Oahu area susceptible to wildfires.
Most of the archipelago is either abnormally dry or in drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The strongest winds are expected where they descend from higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes, as noted by the hurricane center.
While Hone poses a high risk for fires, it is not expected to reach the intensity of the previous year’s wildfires, according to weather service meteorologist Derek Wroe in Honolulu.
The Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that devastated the historic town of Lahaina remains the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century, claiming 102 lives. The blaze was fueled by dry, overgrown grasses and persistent drought conditions.
Calvin Endo, a Waianae Coast neighborhood board member, has long been concerned about dry brush on private property behind his home. He has taken proactive measures by clearing the brush himself, but he remains worried about nearby homes that are bordered by overgrown vegetation.
“All you need is fire and wind and we’ll have another Lahaina,” Endo said, noting that the wind had already begun to pick up.
The cause of the Lahaina fire is still under investigation, with speculation that it may have been sparked by bare electrical wires and leaning power poles knocked down by strong winds.
In response, Hawaii’s two power companies, Hawaiian Electric and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, are monitoring conditions closely and are prepared to shut off power if necessary to prevent damaged power lines from starting new fires.
Firefighters continued to battle a small blaze that ignited Friday night in Waikoloa on the Big Island’s dry side. According to Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth, the fire was under control and caused no injuries or damage.
“We’re expecting bands of rain throughout the day,” Roth said from Hilo, where it was raining. Later Saturday, enough rain had fallen on the Big Island to lift the red flag warning, though a warning remained in effect for other islands, according to Ian Morrison, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu.
Officials are closing some Big Island beach parks in anticipation of dangerous surf and are preparing to open shelters if necessary. The Hawaii Tourism Authority advised travelers that it is still safe to visit the islands but recommended postponing outdoor activities.
The eastern and southeastern parts of the Big Island are expected to receive 5 to 10 inches (11 to 25 centimeters) of rain, with sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph (32 to 64 kph) and gusts near 60 mph (97 kph).
Meanwhile, Hurricane Gilma, moving westward across the Pacific behind Hone, has reached Category 4 status with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph). An 11 p.m. Saturday advisory noted that Gilma’s intensification rate had slowed. Forecasters expect the storm to gradually weaken as it moves over cooler sea-surface temperatures and into a drier, more stable airmass.
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