Big Island Boaters Told To Duck For Cover As Sudden Marine Alert Has Gov Hitting Retweet

Big Island boaters got a rude wake-up call Wednesday morning when the National Weather Service in Honolulu fired off a Special Marine Warning for windward and southeast waters, flagging possible waterspouts and wind gusts topping 34 knots and urging mariners to seek safe harbor until 10:15 a.m. HST. Governor Josh Green quickly amplified the alert by resharing it on X, effectively putting the entire boating community on notice. Small boats and recreational sailors were advised to steer clear of the affected zones as thunderstorms rolled across coastal waters.

What the bulletin says

The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued the Special Marine Warning for Big Island Southeast Waters and Big Island Windward Waters after radar picked up severe thunderstorms tracking over the area, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. The product, posted at about 8:10 a.m. HST, set the warning to expire at 10:15 a.m. and singled out several buoys and Cape Kumukahi as reference points for the rough zone.

Hazards and safety

The bulletin warned that waterspouts and wind gusts of 34 knots or greater were possible and that small craft could be damaged in the squalls. It tells mariners to "Prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours," according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu bulletin. Boaters are urged to keep life jackets within easy reach and consider heading below decks as storms approach.

Advice for mariners and beachgoers

Mariners were advised to seek safe harbor, secure loose gear and hold off on launching until seas settle down, local safety officials said. Governor Josh Green reshared the NWS alert on X, boosting the caution for recreational boaters and tour operators; see his post above or the original from Gov. Josh Green. Local reporting has tied this warning to a broader Kona low that produced similar special marine warnings and flood watches earlier this month, per Big Island Now.

Broader context

The latest alert is part of a string of warnings linked to the Kona low that has kept the islands under elevated wind and rainfall threats, with flood watches and high-wind advisories cropping up across the state. Local outlets have tracked those earlier alerts and their impacts on harbors and roadways in recent weeks, according to Big Island rattled as dawn thunderstorms whip 50 mph gusts. Residents and visitors are urged to keep an eye on county civil-defense channels and NOAA updates as conditions continue to shift.