Second-largest Hawaiian island; tourism hub and cultural heart of Maui County
Meteorological agencies and the UN have reported a very strong El Niño that has continued to intensify in August 2026. Forecasts show record-warm Pacific sea-surface temperatures, rising global heat and an elevated risk of droughts, floods and food insecurity that will push tens of millions more people into acute hunger this year and next.
Law enforcement has arrested 38‑year‑old Jeanine John Taele at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes after agents say they found a loaded 9mm pistol, a 16‑round magazine with hollow‑point rounds and photos of security‑planning activity. Investigators have searched Taele’s Downey home and recovered an illegally modified AR‑style rifle, body armour, radio devices and notebooks with "concerning statements."
Scientists have captured the Sun’s surface at unprecedented resolution with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and other instruments and have identified widespread Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices—500–2,000km spirals of magnetised plasma. The team has linked these instabilities to how magnetic energy cascades to smaller scales and feeds flares and coronal mass ejections that produce space weather.
Southwest Airlines has updated its Customer of Size policy after a period of controversy, returning to a model that allows complimentary seats when available and permitting upfront or post-flight adjustments. The airline says it is reviewing the process to create a more consistent travel experience for customers needing an extra seat.
Hurricane Lala has strengthened to Category 1 and has battered Hawaii’s Big Island with heavy rain and strong winds, causing at least one death, widespread power outages and multiple homes damaged; tropical-storm warnings have affected Maui, Oahu and Kauai while forecasts predict the storm should clear the islands by Monday morning HST.
Hurricane Lala has been upgraded to Category 1 with 75 mph winds. The eyewall could pass near the Big Island’s southern tip this evening, threatening heavy rain and mudslides at high elevations. Officials warn of life-threatening floods, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching Oahu and Kauai by Sunday. Shelters have opened and advisories issued across Maui, Oahu, Kauai and neighboring islands.
Shoulder-season savings are shrinking as travel costs edge upward. Industry data shows fall demand is returning to peak levels, with luxury travelers leading the charge toward October and November bookings.
Hurricane Lowell has damaged coastal resorts, damaged roads and cut power on Kauai. Officials say thousands remain without power; travel disruption persists while locals and volunteers provide aid and communities begin to rebuild.
Boutique fitness and luxury hotels are pivoting toward wellness, offering cross-training programs, advanced sleep aids, and nutrition-driven stays. Brands are expanding beyond single-activity niches to attract health-conscious guests who track metrics and seek long-term well-being.
A hurricane is tracking toward southwestern Mexico as it fuels on record-strong El Niño waters. NOAA says Polo remains an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm, with potential for heavy rain, flooding and dangerous surf along the Pacific coast; no landfall is expected but residents face urgent warnings.
Nolo has strengthened toward a dangerous hurricane off Hawaii, while Polo threatens Mexico’s Baja California as forecasters warn of heavy rain, flooding and power outages. Authorities have activated emergency responses and urged precautions as the storms loom.
Ground-level metals linked to respiratory harm persist in residents for months after wildfires, with new Hawaii study showing elevated arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony in urine up to 18 months post-blaze, underscoring long-term health risks beyond immediate smoke exposure.