Hurricane Kiko Tracks North, Reducing Threat of Strong Winds and Widespread Rain in Hawaii

Hurricane Kiko was tracking north of the Hawaiian islands Saturday, diminishing the immediate threat of strong winds and widespread rain to the state, the National Weather Service in Honolulu said.

Kiko was about 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) southeast of Hilo on the Big Island Saturday morning with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), placing it at Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The storm was forecast to approach the state early to middle next week and was expected to gradually weaken over the next several days, the weather service said.

Acting Hawaii Gov. Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation Friday to prepare for possible inclement weather from Kiko, a move that allows state agencies to coordinate resources and readiness efforts. Joseph Clark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said the northward track was reducing the likelihood of damaging winds across the islands.

"The threat for any wind is diminishing," Clark said. "With the storm going north, it tends to actually make the winds lighter than normal over the islands." The forecast remained subject to change, and forecasters cautioned that residents and officials should continue to monitor updates as the storm evolves.

Forecasters said Kiko was expected to gradually weaken over the coming days as it moves over open waters. While a northward track can lessen direct wind impacts on the islands, such tracks sometimes leave the potential for shifts that could alter conditions; the National Weather Service continues to issue advisories and updates as new data become available.

The central Pacific hurricane season runs through November, and forecasters said the state’s emergency declaration was a precautionary step to ensure resources and agencies were prepared for any changes in the storm’s behavior. Local, state, and federal agencies typically use such declarations to pre-position equipment, coordinate shelters, and expedite procurement and response actions if needed.

Residents were urged to follow guidance from the National Weather Service, state emergency management officials and local authorities for the latest watches, warnings and preparedness information. Officials emphasized that while the current track reduced the immediate risk of high winds and widespread heavy rain, conditions in the tropics can change quickly and continued monitoring of official forecasts is essential.