Historical Hurricane Tracks Let's find a hurricane you're interested in. 1900s. Although it was only a Category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Most of the storm damage was done by these falling trees, including knocking down power lines and blocking roads. of rain which raised the streams to an unprecedented height and swept away
especially both as hurricanes! Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. forming in the East Pacific, traveling almost parallel to the Island chain,
On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. Like the other residents of Hawaii, meteorologists will have to watch and wait, hopefully stocked with at least three days of food and water for their families and prepared to lose power at least for a while. * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. building and a large portion of the thatched houses in the district; throwing
entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. The last one. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. and
1920s. Persons who know a warrant is, The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. * July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. * September 2005: An upper level trough which had resulted in the remnants of Hurricane Jova brought unstable conditions to Hawaii, allowing locally heavy rainfall to occur. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. The storm spurred counties to reevaluate building
In other words, hurricanes aren't even physically possible in Hawaii for over half of the year. By far the worst storm on record to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, which was a 145 mph Category 4 hurricane that crossed the island of Kauai on Sept. 10-11, 1992. Hurricane name Date 1/ Islands most affected Sustained Peak gusts Deaths Property damage . from year to year, from 0 to a maximum of 16 in 2015. The waters around Hawaii at present arent cool enough to cause dramatic weakening of Iselle before it hits the Big Island. About two-thirds of those systems drift westfrom the eastern Pacific basin. On August 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. * September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling on the Big Island. Hurricane expertMichael Lowrysays that dating to 1950, there is a 13 percent increase in the chance of a named storm to track within 100 miles of the Hawaii islands during an El Nio year (35 percent chance) than a neutral year (22 percent chance). In fact, hurricane expert Michael Lowry told the Weather Channel there is a 35% chance of a hurricane coming within 100 miles of Hawaii in an El Nio year vs. 22% in a non-El Nio year. During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). Only light rain was reported. Hawaii's official hurricane season runs from June to November, and an average season generally sees three to five hurricanes in the Central Pacific. No records of unusual weather were recorded, so the storm was likely still forming as it crossed Hawaii. * August 1871: Excerpts from the Hawaiian Gazette described a weather event that at least resembled a tropical cyclone. [
Q0 * September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged Kauai. . At least 29 people have died in Hawaii as a result of tropical cyclones since 1949. Only two named storms approaching from the east have hit the islands since 1949, an unnamed 1958 tropical storm and Tropical Storm Iselle of 2014, which hit the Big Island. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hurricane Julio, further to the east of Iselle, looks to skirt to the north of the islands but the uncertainty in its track includes the potential to brush Maui and the other islands to the northwest of the Big Island as a tropical storm. * August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. HELCO Reminds Customers to Prepare for Hurricane Season, Tsunami Evacuation Centers for the Big Island, Hurricane Olivia forecast to enter Hawaiian waters next week, Police warrants list for Friday, November 1, 2019, Civil Defense siren test at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday (April 1). As noted in Chapter 6, environmental conditions in the Hawai'i region offer some protection from powerful storms. Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. Storm surge and overwash
A bright starlight sky overhead gave enough light to see the mountains,
When Was The Last Time Hawaii Was Hit by a Hurricane? All rights reserved. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. These conditions tend to weaken, deflect, or dissipate approaching storms. Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. Reservations Hotline: 877-500-6284 Local Reservations: 808-667-6165. 1930s. Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . years. Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Drier, more stable air from the subtropical high to the northeast of Hawaii eventually inhibits thunderstorms from persisting and remaining clustered near the cyclone's center. by Dr Jeff Masters, Weather Underground, October 16, 2014 (excerpt). Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. * November 1906: 90 miles south of Honolulu on Nov. 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai from 1950 through 2017. Iwa was the most damaging hurricane to hit Hawaii until Hurricane Iniki took over the title 10 years later. Three hurricanes struck the island of Kauai hard, including the most. Hawaii has not been directly hit by a hurricane in 22 years, and only three times since 1950, though it has endured nearly 150 tropical cyclones in that time, according to the AP. Douglas' wind gusts downed some trees and produced bands of locally flooding rain in parts of the islands. Even before Hawaii became a state in 1959, it was a top tourist destination - and for good reason. Daniel Nelson. The rarity of the situation and the long lull between these storms and Iniki, speaks to how unusual it is for Hawaii to be hit by tropical cyclones (the generic term for tropical storms and hurricanes), even though the island is synonymous with the tropics. Miraculously, only six deaths were
By comparison, the Hawaiian Islands are just under 11,000 square miles and the actual landmass is just 6,400 square miles. ENSO episode. Hawaii has been directly hit by hurricanes only three times since 1950, though the region has had 147 tropical cyclones over that time. 'Iwa carried a broad reach, producing conditions
* 1988 Uleki 2 highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific zone occurs during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. * August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly 10 inches of rain. waters
Surf reached 10 feet along the Puna and Kau shorelines. In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally over 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). The depression then crossed over into the central Pacific Ocean basin to the west of 140W longitude where it became a tropical storm and eventually a powerful hurricane. * 1950 Hiki 1 High surf with heights of up to 15 feet were reported on the windward sections of Big Island. Hurricane Nina (1957) produced record winds in Honolulu. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a category one hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. The dissipation of storms is even more evident in a closer view map (from Wikipedia) of the Central North Pacific zone. damage estimated at $250 million. Knowledge awaits. the rain the storm had so rapidly wrought. major agricultural damage, particularly to macadamia orchards. Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography. It's this high-pressure zone that keeps Hawaii's weather fairly consistent throughout the year. Hawaiian
* December 19021903: A low pressure system (known later as The Froc Cyclone) took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passing through Kaulakahi Channel in late December 1902. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. Since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. Since 1970, definitive satellite coverage for
Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in 14 hours. there have been numerous reports of high winds and stormy conditions in Hawaiian
Damages from Dot cost no more than a few million dollars, and rainfall was relatively light; around 4 inches (100 mm). reversed direction as the eye passed over the Island. Dr.Knabb, also a former deputy director at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, points out thatthere is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane can't directly hit Honolulu, resulting in destructive storm surge flooding, wind damage, and rainfall flooding affecting a metro population (minus tourists) of just under 400,000. 1960s This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. [45], A partial source of this idea may be the long list of hurricanes in the above paragraphs that dissipated into tropical storms or depressions upon approaching the islands. Follow Andrea Thompson on TwitterCredit: Nick Higgins. Classic cars. Moderate surf of up to 6 feet affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island. Prior to that only two other hurricanes had reached landfall in Hawaii. * August 1958: On Aug. 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. Hawaii Free Press - All Rights Reserved. * July 1971: Hurricane Denise dissipated before reaching Hawaii, but brought beneficial rain of more than one inch to dry farms and sugar plantations. Next. On Aug. 6, Dot began weakening, and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only a Category 1 hurricane. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, said National Weather . The figure below shows a 10-year moving average of tropical cyclone global landfalls from 1950 to . Hurricane Iniki. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. No Dot-related deaths were recorded. The storm slammed into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 hurricane and was blamed for six fatalities. Virtually all hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands since 1949 have approached from the southeast, south or southwest. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history.
Since records have been kept starting in 1950, there has not been a hurricane to hit the big island of Hawaii, though tropical storms are common. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. * August 1991: Hurricane Fefa dissipated shortly before landfall. [4] The most common months for cyclones in this area are July, August, and September, but they have occurred in most months (see below). Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour. They've also been known to come from the southwest, but rarely from the northeast or due east, where much cooler water comes down from Alaska on the west coast of North America. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/hurricane/, Olivia is forecast to approach the main Hawaiian Islands from the east early next week, but it is too soon, The listed individuals are wanted by the Hawaii Police Department because of outstanding warrants. Although it was only a category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour. * July 1985: Hurricane Ignacio, although missing the islands, generated surf that measured from 10 to 15 feet causing damage to coastal roads and structures. Usually that ridge of high pressure protects the islands..
The article was first published on August 7, 2014. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm or hurricane was in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes in Kauai, said Eric Lau, meteorologist for . Table 5.54-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2020 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) Forecasters expect the tropical storm-force winds of Iselle to begin lashing the Big Island in the late afternoon to early evening local time, with hurricane-force winds following later. More than three dozen hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, have impacted the Hawaiian islands since 1950, causing at least 12 deaths. . There haven't been enough hurricanes and tropical storms since about 1950 when good recordkeeping started for a statistically significant trend, Lin said. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. The direct hit on the Big Island does present an interesting scientific prospect, in terms of monitoring how much the islands topography tears apart the storm. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, said National Weather . COPYRIGHT 2021 HAWAII OCEAN PROJECT. A look at tropical cyclones that have impacted Hawaii over the years, 103rd Kamehameha Schools Song Contest: Na Mele Paniolo - Songs of the Hawaiian Cowboy, How to cope with difficult emotions in a healthy way, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, visit the Hawaii News Now Hurricane Center, [email protected] (808) 847-3246, [email protected] (808) 847-3246, [email protected] (808) 847-3246, [email protected] (808) 847-3246, [email protected] (808) 847-3246. August 1925: In August high seas and gusty winds were recorded in Hawaii from a nearby tropical cyclone. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of Hawaii from 1990-2021. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). Vintage home. The only two major hurricanes to have affected the islands since 1949, Hurricane Iniki of 1992 and Hurricane Dot of 1959, both came from the south. Now 22 years later not one, but an unprecedented two hurricanes are making a beeline for the island chain and residents are preparing for a threat they rarely face. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. The last one to do so was Category 4 Hurricane Douglas in July 2020, whose center came just 30 miles north of Oahu on July 26. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. 68 mph (110 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. Retro . * 1986 Estelle 2 "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which would . The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering
In the vast Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's total land area is only about 6,400 square miles, the fourth-smallest U.S. state by land area, larger than only Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. This number has ranged from zero, most recently as 1979, to as many as eleven in 1992 and 1994. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. From 1950 through 2021, around 30 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. The last time a hurricane was bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, Steven Spielberg was on Kauai finishing filming of the now iconic movie Jurassic Park when Hurricane Iniki hit the island as a Category 4 storm. Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. It's been more than two decades since the last hurricane hit the 50th state. According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. about 9 AM when it suddenly lulled into a calm fearfully in contrast with
Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains, 4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For, Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get, Fewer Atlantic Hurricanes Expected This Season. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. There are several reasons why this happens so often. But do you know what else is awesome? Since the 1950s, two hurricane eyes have hit Hawaii - and both approached from the south, where water temperature generally is warm enough to sustain the storms' strength. More than three dozen hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, have impacted the Hawaiian islands since 1950, causing at least 12 deaths. From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. Iselle grew into a powerful Category 4 hurricane and took aim at Hawai'i in early August, 2014. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. From 1950 to 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kaui, according . Well you can! Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. Both hit the island of Kauai. Vintage music. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. * 1992 Iniki 6 sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees
* JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. Over land, maximum sustained winds exceeded 140 mph, gusting to 175 mph,
Hurricane Estelle (1986) produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu. It had formed in the eastern . Plantation manager, D.D. Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to $250 million (a record for that time). connected to the storm. 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. Finally, if you've ever visited Maui, you're sure to have noticed the wind. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Kauai. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Rain was heavier elsewhere, with up to 8 inches falling near the North Shore. It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. Dot: August 1959. where, "quite suddenly the weather cleared and the wind dropped to calm. The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. Hurricane name Date 1/ Islands most affected: Sustained. The mountains are where we'll see the highest rainfall totals and the strongest winds, McNoldy said. A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. 1980s By contrast, the warmest month is August averaging 88/64 and 0 days of rain. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. The last one to do so was Category 1 Hurricane Ana in October 2014, whose center came within 70 miles of the far western Hawaiian island of Niihau. Discover world-changing science. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure
* September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. wrote: 'On Wednesday of last week a fearful
Rainfall totals are expected to reach 5 to 8 inches across the islands, with some isolated pockets possibly seeing as much as 12 inches. * August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches of rain as it passed the Big Island. Data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center show no hurricane-strength winds on any Hawaii Islands with the exception of Kauai. Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . In total, 67 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949. * September 1843: The earliest report of a tropical cyclone that could have affected Hawaii was made in 1843. Virtually every system approaching Hawaii from the east since 1950 tracking at least as far north as the latitude of the Big Island of Hawaii eventually weakened to a tropical storm or depression by the time it reached the islands. Hawaii (January 1983); "The History of Hurricanes in Hawaii", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 18, 1983, p. A-5; "20-Foot Waves Hit Big . * July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. A year with an El Nio event, however, can implicate this model. Jonathan Belles, Jon Erdman and Linda Lam, Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. track, demolishing Mr. Wright's mill
Beauty & fashion. It was also considered the first official hurricane in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1950 Pacific hurricane season, Hiki formed as a tropical depression to the southeast of Hawaii on August 12. * August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. HURRICANE HIKI August 12, 1950 August 21, 1950 Hurricane Hiki is considered the first official hurricane recorded in the vicinity of the islands, and it is also the wettest tropical. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. for residential construction, for example. 2010s * July 1957: Hurricane Kanoa, after taking a long journey across the eastern Pacific, became a non-tropical circulation a few miles east of Hawaii. One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. [47]Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. that appear to have been tropical cyclones. so extensive, it caused an insurance crisis in Hawai'i, prompting the State
(MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). * November 1874: A possible tropical cyclone may have dropped more than 20 inches of rain on Honolulu and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. Quotes from captains and civilians describe a severe windstorm that ravaged the islands for several hours. down our flume; uprooting large trees, and prostrating our cane fields. 2000s 1970s , %*|? August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. north to the Island's latitude and curved northeast,
The island of Kauai was especially hard hit by damaging winds. * July 1986: Waves caused by Hurricane Estelle caused $2 million in damage when they destroyed five houses and damaged several others. * August 2007: Hurricane Flossie passed within 100 miles of the Big Island, bringing rain and tropical storm-force winds. 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. Thanks for reading Scientific American. The wind was accompanied with
Dot swung northward after apparently
Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. near Hawai'i. From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. Look at the fading tracks of hurricanes approaching from the east.