UPDATE: 11:30 p.m. Monday

Hurricane Walaka, a dangerous Category 5 storm, maintained its intensity as it continued on a course toward Johnston Atoll, far southwest of the main Hawaiian islands.

At 11 p.m. Monday, Walaka was 210 miles south of Johnston Island, the largest of the four islands of Johnston Atoll. Walaka had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was moving north-northwest at 8 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds of 75 mph or more extend out 45 miles from the center while tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out 185 miles.

The storm was centered 955 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and is not expected to threaten the main Hawaiian islands.

Johnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning, while Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef — is under a hurricane watch.

Walaka is expected to pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday.

5 p.m.

Massive Hurricane Walaka is expected to pass dangerously close to the tiny Johnston Atoll Tuesday as a Category 5 storm.

At 5 p.m., Walaka had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was centered 240 miles south of Johnston Island, the largest of the atoll’s four islands, and about 965 miles southwest of Honolulu. The storm was moving northwest at 7 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Some strengthening is expected tonight before Walaka starts weakening, forecasters said. Hurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend out 185 miles.

Johnston Atoll remains under a hurricane warning, and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef — is now under a hurricane watch. Walaka is expected still be a major hurricane when it reaches the monument, northwest of the main Hawaiian islands, by Wednesday night.

Four members of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biology field crew are working on Johnston Island, a wildlife refuge. A spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service said the “on-island staff are sheltering in place at a steel and concrete structure built to withstand hurricanes.”

2:25 p.m.

Hurricane Walaka is now a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, and is expected to intensify further as it threatens tiny Johnston Atoll, far southwest of Hawaii.

Johnston Atoll is one of the most isolated atolls in the world, located between Hawaii and the Line Islands.

Four members of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biology field crew are working on Johnston Island — one of four islands that make up Johnston Atoll, home to the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

“In preparation for any possible impacts from Hurricane Walaka, the field biology crew secured the year-round field camp,” Megan Nagel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Pacific Region, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an email. “Currently, on-island staff are sheltering in place at a steel and concrete structure built to withstand hurricanes.”

The refuge is within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; its boundary includes Johnston Island and extends 12 miles from the shorelines.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said this afternoon that Walaka was centered 265 miles south of Johnston Island and 965 miles southwest of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 9 mph.

The storm is expected to make a turn to the north and pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday. Some strengthening is expected through early Tuesday before Walaka starts a gradual weakening trend.

Hurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from Walaka’s center while tropical storm-force winds extend 185 miles.

Tropical storm-force winds, of more than 39 mph, are expected to reach Johnston Island starting late tonight or early Tuesday, with hurricane conditions expected by Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said. Large surf and heavy rain is also expected to start hitting the island tonight.

The storm is expected to peak Tuesday with 165 mph maximum sustained winds, which would make it the strongest Central Pacific storm since Hurricane Ioke in 2006.

Johnston Island is a U.S. possession located 825 miles southwest of Honolulu. The atoll is a wildlife refuge that was had been used by the U.S. military to store chemical weapons.

Johnston Atoll, which is now under a hurricane warning, has been hit several times by hurricanes, including Ioke in 2006, Dora in 1999 and John in 1994.

Hurricane center forecasters also said that “interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (northwest of the main Hawaiian islands) should monitor the progress of Walaka.”

11:50 a.m.

Hurricane Walaka is bearing down on Johnston Atoll as a powerful Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph that are expected to continue strengthening.

By late this morning, the storm was 950 miles southwest of Honolulu and 265 miles south of Johnston Island, moving northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii.

Johnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning and Walaka is expected to approach the island Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds up to 165 mph.

“A turn toward the north is expected late tonight through Tuesday with a gradual increase in forward speed,” forecasters said late this morning. “On the forecast track, the center of Walaka is expected to pass just to the west of Johnston Island on Tuesday.”

Hurricane-force winds extend out 50 miles from Walaka’s center and tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 160 miles.

“The northeastward track after Tuesday is also expected to take the hurricane across the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument between French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island on Thursday, and a hurricane watch may be needed for these locations later today or tonight,” forecasters said.

8 a.m.

Now a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Walaka is continuing to strengthen southwest of the Hawaiian islands.

Located about 940 miles southwest of Honolulu and 290 miles south of Johnston Atoll at 8 a.m., Walaka was packing maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and is headed west-northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Johnston Atoll. A turn toward the northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn toward the north late tonight through Tuesday night with a gradual increase in forward speed, weather officials said.

Rapid intensification is expected to continue today into tonight, with little change in intensity forecast Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

5 a.m.

Hurricane Walaka continued to strengthen overnight and is now a Category 3 storm southwest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Located about 925 miles southwest of Honolulu and 315 miles south-southeast of Johnston Atoll at 5 a.m., Walaka was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and is headed west-northwest at 10 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Johnston Atoll. A turn toward the northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn toward the north late tonight through Tuesday night with a gradual increase in forward speed, weather officials said.

Rapid intensification is expected to continue today into tonight, with little change in intensity forecast Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

11:20 p.m Sunday

Hurricane Walaka grew to a powerful Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, and while it poses no threat to the main Hawaiian islands, Johnston Atoll is under a hurricane warning.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, Walaka was 905 miles southwest of Honolulu and 355 miles south-southeast of Johnston Island, moving west at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 miles from the storm’s center while tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out up to 125 miles, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.

Walaka is expected to grow to a major Category 4 hurricane — with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph — by Tuesday, as it moves northward and passes near Johnston Atoll, forecasters said.

The warning for Johnston Atoll calls for tropical storm-force winds late Monday night or early Tuesday, and hurricane conditions by Tuesday afternoon. High surf and heavy rainfall may reach the atoll starting Monday night.

In addition, forecasters warn that “interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (northwest of the main Hawaiian islands) should monitor the progress of Walaka.”

By the end of the week, Walaka is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it moves north over cooler water far from the main Hawaiian islands.

5:20 p.m.

Walaka has strengthened into a hurricane, centered 860 miles southwest of Honolulu but moving away from the islands.

At 5 p.m., the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving west, further away from the state, at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend out up to 90 miles.

A turn to the north is expected in the next two days, putting Johnston Atoll in Walaka’s path, prompting a hurricane warning for the tiny northwestern islands.

“A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous,” forecasters with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu said. “Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Walaka.”

Johnston Island can expect tropical storm-force winds starting early Tuesday, and hurricane conditions by Tuesday afternoon. Large surf will reach the Johnston Atoll reefs and shorelines starting Tuesday, forecasters said.

2:30 p.m.

Walaka’s maximum sustained winds continue to strengthen as the tropical storm keeps moving further away from the islands.

As of 2 p.m., Walaka was 845 southwest of Honolulu and had sustained winds of 65 mph as the storm moved west at 18 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Forecasters expect Walaka to become a hurricane as early as tonight and be a major hurricane Monday through Wednesday when it is projected to be hundreds of miles west of Kauai.

“With the official forecast track bringing the center of Walaka very near Johnston Atoll on Tuesday, a hurricane watch remains in effect there,” forecasters said today.

Walaka is expected to weaken back to a Category 1 hurricane later in the week as it moves north over cooler water.

12:30 p.m.

Walaka remains a tropical storm as it moves on a western track that keeps it well south of Hawaii.

At 11 a.m. today, Walaka was about 810 miles southwest of Honolulu and 410 miles southeast of Johnston Atoll and moving west near 18 mph with sustained winds of 65 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 70 miles from the center.

National Weather Service forecasters based at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu expect the storm to slow and turn nortwest on Monday, followed by a more northernly turn on Tuesday.

Walaka is forecast to become a hurricane later today and continue to rapidly intensify through Monday night. Wind shear will begin to affect the storm starting late Tuesday or Wednesday, and it will begin to weaken by the end of the week.

Johnston Atoll is currently under a hurricane watch.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Tropical Storm Walaka intensified overnight, but remains well southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

As of 5 a.m. Sunday, Walaka was located about 770 miles south-southwest of Honolulu and 510 miles southeast of Johnston Atoll, where a hurricane watch is now in effect. The storm is moving west near 16 mph and is expected to continue in that direction through the evening with a decrease in forward speed; maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph, with higher gusts.

Walaka is expected to take a turn toward the northwest on Monday, then make another turn northward on Tuesday, bringing it very close to Johnston Atoll. Tropical-storm-force winds extend 70 miles from the center.

According to the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Walaka is expected to rapidly intensify through Monday night and become a major hurricane. Wind shear will begin to affect the storm starting late Tuesday or Wednesday, and it will begin to weaken by the end of the week. </s> Walaka will not have a direct impact on the islands, but will draw up tropical moisture from the south and increase humidity levels as it passes by to the west. However, the track will bring hurricane conditions to Johnston Atoll, where a hurricane watch is now in effect. </s> Walaka formed southwest of the Hawaiian Islands on Saturday, Sept. 29. At 5 p.m. HST on Sunday, Sept. 30, Walaka strengthened to a hurricane.

The GPM core observatory recently had a couple good looks at tropical storm Walaka as it was intensifying into a powerful hurricane. GPM passed directly over tropical storm Walaka when it was located south of the Hawaiian islands on September 30, 2018 at 8:38 a.m. HST (1838 UTC).

Data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments showed that Walaka was well organized and very close to hurricane intensity. GPM's Radar (DPR Ku Band) data revealed intense convective storms in a large feeder band that was wrapping around the tropical storm's northeastern side and storms wrapping around a forming eye wall. GPM's DPR found rain falling at a rate of almost 6.5 inches (165 mm) per hour in the intense storms in the feeder band northeast of Walaka's center of circulation.

Walaka had strengthened to hurricane intensity when GPM flew above about twelve hours later at 8:07 p.m. HST (Oct. 1, 2018 at 0607 UTC). Walaka had developed an eye and was undergoing rapid intensification. The intensifying hurricane is passing well to the south of the Hawaiian Islands.

The GPM satellite's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data were used to show the structure of precipitation within intensifying tropical storm Walaka. The simulated 3-D view of Walaka, looking from the southwest, showed storm tops of powerful storms wrapping into the center of the tropical storm. A tall convective storm was located in a line northwest of Walaka's center. It was found by DPR to reach heights above 8.5 miles (13.7 km). GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.

On Monday, October 1, 2018, NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center or CPHC noted that a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Johnston Atoll. Also, interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Walaka.

At 5 p.m. HST/11 p.m. EDT (0300 UTC, Oct. 1) on Sept. 30 or , the center of Hurricane Walaka was located near latitude 11.9 degrees north and longitude 166.4 degrees west. Walaka is moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 kph) and this motion is expected to slow and become northwest on Monday, then north on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 kph) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is forecast through Tuesday.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) predicts that Hurricane Walaka will continue to strengthen and re-curve to the north later today. Walaka is expected to be a powerful category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale when it passes just to the west of Johnson Atoll in a couple days. Walaka is not expected to have a significant effect on the Hawaiian Islands. </s> Bryce and Dom Boeder of Waimea, Kauai, load their truck with storm supplies in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Lihue, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Hurricane Lane, weakening to a Category 4 storm as it pushes through the Pacific, is still as much as three days away from Hawaii but is already bringing heavy rain to the Big Island.

With maximum sustained winds slowing to 155 mph, Lane was downgraded from a Category 5 storm to the Category 4 level on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale as it surged westerly across the Pacific Ocean.

Lane may weaken even further – to Category 3 – by Thursday afternoon and even fall to a Category 2 by Friday with winds up to 110 mph and its center west of Hawaii Island and south of Honolulu.

“We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,” says meteorologist Chevy Chevalier in Honolulu. “That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.”

At 2 p.m. EST, the hurricane was about 305 miles south of Kailua-Kona, east of Hilo, and moving northwest toward other islands.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Big Island and the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. A hurricane watch remained in effect for Oahu and other smaller islands.

Earlier this month, Hurricane Hector followed a similar path toward Hawaii but stayed south of the islands.

The hurricane will deliver a combination of torrential rainfall, high winds and dangerous surf as it approaches Hawaii, Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll told USA TODAY.

“Regardless of what happens in the eye of the hurricane, there’s going to be the potential for a lot of rain – 10-15 inches, perhaps even higher than that,” Doll said. “The problem with that, you get that much rain and you’re going to be seeing damage to property. It’s certainly going to be a threat to lives, as well, especially in areas that are prone to flooding.”

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions. The last hurricane to make landfall in the island state was Iniki, a Category 4 that barreled into the island of Kauai on Sept. 11, 1992, and resulted in more than $3 billion in damage. Six people were killed.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday to put the state in position to lend support to county emergency responders.

The state closed all government offices on Maui and the Big Island starting Wednesday. In addition, all University of Hawaii campuses were shut down on Maui and the Big Island as well as Molokai and Lanai.

“We encourage all the people across the state to pay attention for this storm," Ige said. "It is different. It's not your typical hurricane that tracks south and goes away.” </s> Powerful Hurricane Lane weakened slightly as it swirls towards Hawaii but US forecasters warn that its heavy rains and life-threatening winds still pose a major threat to the Pacific island chain.

The US Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Wednesday downgraded Hurricane Lane to a Category 4, the second-strongest on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of wind intensity.

Bearing 250km/h winds, it threatened to dump as much as 50cm of rain over parts of the islands, triggering major flash flooding and landslides.

Hawaii is already coping with the three-month eruption of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island, which was expected to start feeling the force of Lane's driving rains by late Wednesday afternoon, the Hawaii-based centre said.

It said further weakening of the cyclone was expected as it continued on a track that could see it take aim at other islands beginning early on Thursday.

"The centre of Lane will track dangerously close to the islands Thursday through Saturday," the advisory said. "Regardless of the exact track of the centre, life threatening impacts are likely in some areas as the hurricane makes its closest approach."

On Tuesday, Hawaii residents scrambled to prepare for the storm's arrival. Cars waited in long lines outside petrol stations in Honolulu and people could be seen pulling small boats from the water ahead of expected pounding surf.

Lane was about 505km south of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, at 5am Hawaii time, US forecasters said. It was expected to begin a turn towards the northwest of the island later on Wednesday, followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Thursday.

A hurricane warning was in effect for all Hawaii County and Maui county, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. A hurricane watch was in effect for Oahu and Kauai. </s> Hawaii may have a hurricane on its horizon next week — though it’s far too early to tell how close it will get.

Hurricane Lane, a devastatingly strong Category 4 storm now, is heading west-northwest over the Pacific, and is forecast to weaken and pass south of the Aloha State around Wednesday or Thursday.

But the track is uncertain this early, and there’s a chance Lane by Tuesday night could bring winds of at least tropical-storm strength (39 mph and higher) to Hawaii’s Big Island, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says.

Early Saturday, the storm was more than 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph — the lowest threshold for a Category 4.

The storm is expected to weaken to a Category 1 (sustained winds of 74-95 mph) by Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center says.

Six computer forecast models predict Lane’s center will pass south of Hawaii next week, but the outer bands still could bring strong winds to the islands if the center gets close enough.

Lane’s approach comes more than a week after Hawaii watched Hurricane Hector pass well to the south. </s> HAWAII — Hawaii may have a hurricane on its horizon next week — though it’s far too early to tell how close it will get.

Hurricane Lane, a devastatingly strong Category 4 storm now, is heading west-northwest over the Pacific, and is forecast to weaken and pass south of the Aloha State around Wednesday or Thursday.

But the track is uncertain this early, and there’s a chance Lane by Tuesday night could bring winds of at least tropical-storm strength (39 mph and higher) to Hawaii’s Big Island, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says.

Early Saturday, the storm was more than 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph — the lowest threshold for a Category 4.

The storm is expected to weaken to a Category 1 (sustained winds of 74-95 mph) by Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center says.

Six computer forecast models predict Lane’s center will pass south of Hawaii next week, but the outer bands still could bring strong winds to the islands if the center gets close enough.

Lane’s approach comes more than a week after Hawaii watched Hurricane Hector pass well to the south. </s> Hurricane Lane will pass south of Hawaii’s Big Island next week as it tracks across the Pacific Ocean. The storm developed into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday as it moved closer to the Central Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. As of 11pm HST (10am BST) on Saturday, the storm was 1,560km east-southeast of Hilo on the Big Island and was travelling west-northwest over the Pacific. The track of Hurricane Lane is uncertain, but the current forecast is it will pass about 200 miles south of the southernmost tip of the Big Island at the midweek point next week.

The storm has current maximum-sustained winds of 125mph but it is expected to weaken to a Category 1 storm by Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 74-95mph. This could bring winds of at least tropical storm strength (39mph and higher) to Hawaii’s Big Island, the NHC said. Lane will still be a hurricane when it passes south of Hawaii. AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said: “Based on that track, impacts on at least the Big Island will not be much different than that was experienced with Hector two weeks earlier.

“Lane is likely to maintain major hurricane status for several days.” Hurricane Hector passed to the south of the island more than a week ago with minimal impact. The hurricane reached Category 4 status but passed well south of Hawaii in early August. Computers model predict Lane’s centre will pass south of Hawaii next week, but the outer bands still could bring strong winds to the islands if the centre gets close enough.

Large swells will spread westward and northward from the start of next week and conditions could become too dangerous for ocean vessels travelling south of the islands, as well as small craft attempting to navigate the water in the inter-island channels. Surfing may become too rough and dangerous along the south and east facing beaches of the islands by next week. Residents of Hawaii’s Big Island, especially on the southern and eastern part, should expect shower and breezy conditions, but they may spread to the middle and western islands in the String of Pearls by the middle of next week. If Lane tracks closer to the islands than Hurricane Hector then conditions will be more severe and if the hurricane is more spread out, then conditions could get a little worse over the islands, in comparison to Hector. </s> HONOLULU — As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised those who not in flood zones to stay home.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a "last resort" and that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64 kph).

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at Category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156 mph (209 to 251 kph).

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder — birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork — and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests "just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may weaken to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

"We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands," Chevalier said. "That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane."

A look at the cone representing the possible tracks Hurricane Lane could take as it approaches Hawaii. The times are in Hawaii–Aleutian Standard Time. (Credit: NOAA)

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes home — he has all the power tools."

"When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands ad must stay put. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

President Donald J. Trump issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate disaster relief efforts with the state.

Associated Press journalists Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Hurricane Walaka becomes a category 5 hurricane. It is expected to hit the Johnston Atoll.