As Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lane, airlines ease change fees, popular beaches and attractions close

By Jay Jones

Aug. 22, 2018 1:10 PM PT

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Airlines are relaxing change fees and beaches and tourist attractions are closing as the state of Hawaii braces for the arrival of Hurricane Lane, a powerful storm set to veer toward the islands starting Thursday, the National Weather Service says.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu said the Category 4 storm — 280 miles south of Hawaii Island, as of 8 a.m. PDT — said the “center of Lane will track dangerously close to the Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday.”

The hurricane is expected to pass southwest of Hawaii Island Thursday afternoon, with winds in excess of 110 miles per hour. By the time it reaches Maui, Molokai and Lanai early Friday, the winds are forecast to have weakened to between 74 and 110 mph.

Heavy rain is also predicted, with the threat of flash flooding. “Regardless of the exact track of the storm center, life threatening impacts are likely over some areas as this strong hurricane makes it’s [sic] closest approach,” the hurricane center said.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Hurricane watches have been posted for Oahu, including the popular Waikiki Beach, and Kauai.

Airlines

As a result of the impending storm, airlines are allowing fliers to change their plans without the usual penalties.

Hawaiian Airlines’ travel advisory said customers with seats on flights through Sunday will be able to rebook flights for travel until Sept. 9 without incurring a change fee or increase in fare.

United Airlines announced the same policy.

Alaska, American and Delta are waiving change fees but have more restrictive rules.

1/19

Residents carry dogs through flood waters to dry land, after playing in the water briefly on the Big Island in Hilo.

(Mario Tama / Getty Images)

2/19

A large wave hits a man on a breakwater along Waikiki Beach ahead of Hurricane Lane, Friday in Honolulu, Hawaii.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

3/19

Morale Welfare and Recreation employees and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam personnel go over the emergency preparation kits at the base fitness center as Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii.

(CORWIN M. COLBERT / AFP/Getty Images)

4/19

A car is partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane in Hilo, Hawaii.

(Mario Tama / Getty Images)

5/19

Bader Ali, 22, of Kuwait reacts as a wave crashes near a hotel in Honolulu.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

6/19

High surf at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

7/19

Sophia Malone, 7, of Orange County walks on sandbags at the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Honolulu.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

8/19

The flooded intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street in Hilo, Hawaii, on Thursday.

(Hollyn Johnson / Associated Press)

9/19

People gather to watch floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall in Hilo, Hawaii.

(Mario Tama / Getty Images)

10/19

Construction workers board up windows at a McDonald’s in Honolulu.

(Kat Wade / Getty Images)

11/19

A worker creates a small sand berm on a portion of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu in preparation for Hurricane Lane.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

12/19

Hotel employees Richard Dela Cruz, left, and Roman Amores fill sandbags in Honolulu.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

13/19

The front page of the Star Advertiser in Honolulu shows the projected path of Hurricane Lane on Thursday morning.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

14/19

Bottled water was nowhere to be found at a grocery store in Honolulu.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

15/19

People read a hurricane warning notice in the lobby of the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel in Waikiki.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

16/19

Workers board up a McDonald’s in Honolulu.

(Kat Wade / Getty Images)

17/19

Jacquelyn Wu, left, helps Roger Pfeffer, 81, prepare his boat for Hurricane Lane by removing spear guns with help from Wu’s boyfriend, Donovan Eliopulas, at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor in Waikiki.

(Kat Wade / Getty Images)

18/19

Sandbags at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

(Kat Wade / Getty Images)

19/19

Jay Kitashima works to secure the roof of his tiny home along Ewa Beach in Honolulu.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

Parks and beaches

Haleakala National Park on Maui is set to close 4 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed Thursday and Friday. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island, much of which has been closed because of eruptions from the Kilauea volcano, will close its Kahuku Unit at 4 p.m. Wednesday. It will stay closed Thursday and Friday.

Tours to the USS Arizona Memorial have been suspended. The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument’s Pearl Harbor Visitor Center in Honolulu is closing noon Wednesday.

All beach parks on Hawaii Island, from South Point north to Kohala, will be closed until further notice. Camping permits for the parks have been canceled.

On Maui, the county’s Emergency Management Agency warned that high surfs of 8 to 12 feet will affect south-facing waters beginning Wednesday afternoon. It said strong waves and rip currents will make swimming “difficult and dangerous.”