A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii lies in the central Pacific, where about four or five tropical cyclones appear each year, although as many as fifteen have occurred, such as in the 2015 season; rarely do these storms actually affect Hawaii. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes.

Climatology

The islands of Hawaii, with Kauai as the notable exception, appear to be remarkably immune from direct hurricane hits. The USGS states that "more commonly, near-misses that generate large swell and moderately high winds causing varying degrees of damage are the hallmark of hurricanes passing close to the islands." This has also drawn media attention.Hurricanes rarely hit Hawaii By Jack Williams Posted January 9, 2003 USA TodayHawaii escaping hurricanes Posted November 17, 2009 Associated Press, USA Today One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms.Maui not ’immune’ to hurricane strike published by Maui News, May 22, 2007

Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. Data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center show no hurricane-strength winds on any Hawaii Islands with the exception of Kauai. Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region".

List of tropical cyclones

This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaii.

Pre-1950 September 1843: The earliest report of a tropical cyclone that could have affected Hawaii was made in 1843. On September 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the "Cyclone of the Lark") near 17°N and 141°W. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. August 9, 1871: Indigenous newspapers record a major category 3 hurricane causing significant damage across the islands of Hawai'i and Maui. November 1874: In November, a possible tropical cyclone may have dropped over of rain on Honolulu, and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. December 1902–03: A low-pressure system (known later as "The Froc Cyclone") that took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passed through Kaulakahi Channel in late December 1902. No records of unusual weather were recorded, so the storm was likely still forming as it crossed Hawaii. October 1906: In October a tropical cyclone passed about south of South Point. Heavy rains were recorded; "the heaviest in years". A little over fell in 4½ hours. November 1906: south of Honolulu on November 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. This cyclone must have been abnormally small or very weak, because climatological records show no unusual rainfall, wind, surge, or low pressure. The storm dissipated near British Columbia. August 1925: In August high seas and gusty winds were recorded in Hawaii from a nearby tropical cyclone. August 1938: Again in August a possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain in the state.

1950s August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. winds were recorded in Kauai. Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. One person died from Hiki. July 1957: Hurricane Kanoa, after taking a long journey across the eastern Pacific, became a non-tropical circulation a few miles east of Hawaii. The remnants of Kanoa brought welcomed rain. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about southwest of Kauai. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over of rain in 14 hours. Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: . Nina killed four people throughout the islands. August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage, before dissipating. August 1959: Hurricane Dot was another powerful August arrival. Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. On August 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. On the 6th, Dot began weakening, and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only a Category 1 hurricane. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over . In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally over . Damages from Dot cost no more than a few million dollars, and rainfall was relatively light; around . No Dot-related deaths were recorded.

1960s September 1963: Tropical Storm Irah crossed the islands as a tropical depression, bringing winds, but caused little damage. August 1966: Hurricane Connie brought heavy rain to Big Island and Maui without making landfall.

1970s

August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly of rain. January 1971: Although not having existed in the Central Pacific as a tropical cyclone, the extratropical low that was Tropical Storm Sarah in the West Pacific passed over Hawaii in mid January, causing high winds and heavy rain. July 1971: Hurricane Denise dissipated before reaching Hawaii, but brought beneficial rain of over one inch to dry farms and sugarcane plantations. Denise's outer winds helped Sheila Scott while she was flying solo around the world and a boat named Winward Passage won the Transpacific Yacht Race. Both were headed to Honolulu. August 1972: Hurricane Diana dissipated a few miles off shore of the Big Island, dropping over of rain in some parts. September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaii, dropping of rain across the entire state. July 1978: Hurricane Fico created waves, felled trees and knocked out power across the islands.

1980s

July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. Although it was only a category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly . Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to (a record for that time). Iwa was the most damaging hurricane to ever hit Hawaii until Hurricane Iniki took over the title 10 years later. July–August 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. September 1983: Tropical Storm Narda passes south of the Big Island of Hawaii, bringing heavy rain and high surf. October 1983: Hurricane Raymond took a path similar to Gil's, but as a depression, causing no damage. July 1984: Remnant moisture from Hurricane Douglas brings heavy rain to Hawaii. August 1984: The remnants of Tropical Storm Kenna bring heavy rain to Big Island of Hawaii. July 1985: Hurricane Ignacio, although missing the islands, generated surf that measured from causing damage to coastal roads and structures. Only light rain was reported. July 1986: Waves caused by Hurricane Estelle caused in damage when they destroyed five houses and damaged several others. Two people on Oahu drowned in rough surf. August 1988: Hurricane Fabio passes south of the Big Island of Hawaii as a tropical depression, dropping heavy rainfall up to . August 1988: Tropical Storm Gilma moved through the island chain as a depression, dropping locally heavy rainfall of up to in some places. August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane. July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, in 24 hours. Rain was heavier elsewhere, with up to falling near the North Shore.

1990s

August 1991: Hurricane Fefa dissipated shortly before landfall. Two people were injured by lightning. Locally strong wind gusts reached at some localities, mainly over Hawaii and Maui. Some heavy downpours occurred, particularly on the Big Island. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. July 1992: Hurricane Georgette brought locally squally winds over the state as a depression. Several large waterspouts were sighted off Hapuna Beach in the South Kohala district. August 1992: Hurricane Javier passes south of Hawaii as a weakening tropical depression, bringing some heavy rainfall to the state. September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11. Iniki caused $3.1 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai. Not accounting for inflation, it remains the third-costliest east or central Pacific hurricane on record, behind Hurricane Manuel in 2013 and Hurricane Otis in 2023. Six died as a result. Iniki brought winds of . Before Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a standard homeowner's insurance policy with extended coverage provided hurricane coverage. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged the island. July 1993: Hurricane Eugene dropped valuable rain on the state as it dissipated. Minor power outages and rain made traffic conditions hazardous. One fisherman was reported missing. August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. Wave heights between was reported on Kauai. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. July 1994: Tropical Storm Daniel dumped of rain over the windward slopes of Big Island. Moderate surf of up to affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island. July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. Surf reached along the Puna and Kau shorelines. July 1994: The remnants of Tropical Storm Fabio brought heavy showers to Big Island and Oahu. Rainfall accumulated to . August 1994: Tropical Depression One-C passed just south of the islands, causing severe flooding in Hilo. August 1994: The outer rain bands of Hurricane John cause minor flooding on the Big Island of Hawaii. (Note that this report does not reflect changes made in post-season analysis.) August 1998: Remnant moisture from Hurricane Estelle brings heavy rain and gusty winds to portions of Kauai and Oahu. August 1999: Hurricane Dora caused minor wind gusts of up to on the southern part of Big Island as it passed south of Hawaii.

2000s

August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. High surf with waves of up to impacted the eastern side of the island of Hawaii. August 2000: The remnants of Hurricane Hector brought heavy rain to Hawaii. November 2000: The remnants of Tropical Storm Paul cause significant flooding across the island chain, with rainfall peaking at in Kapapala Ranch. August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to of rain as it passed the Big Island. High surf with heights of up to were reported on the windward sections of Big Island. A gust of was recorded at South Point.