Hurricane Special

First Alert Hurricane Season 2026: Lessons from the Kona lows

Not long ago at Otake Camp on the North Shore, three homes that once stood on dry land ended up in the river after a historic wet season and record rain. While the mud has dried, families are still picking up the pieces, and recovery from the flooding is far from over.

Now, attention is shifting to what could come next. Forecasters say the atmosphere is changing in a way that could set up a very active hurricane season. NOAA’s outlook for the Central Pacific calls for 5 to 13 tropical cyclones this year — compared with an average season of four or five — meaning activity could be significantly higher than normal.

In this Hawaii News Now special, we want to help keep you and your family safe — and show you how you can be better prepared for the season ahead. Watch the show above or explore each segment in depth with extended videos below.