Special Marine Warning for Maui County and Big Island Windward Waters Through Early Sunday
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
NWS Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Alenuihaha Channel and surrounding windward waters as strong thunderstorms produce 40-knot wind gusts.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Maui and Big Island Windward Waters
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Honolulu
Marine notices apply to named waters or shoreline zones. They may not describe conditions on land, even when the nearest place name is the same.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Maui and Big Island Windward Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for several marine zones in Hawaii. The alert was issued at 11:11 PM HST on February 21 and remains in effect until 1:15 AM HST on February 22.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Alenuihaha Channel
- Big Island Windward Waters
- Maui County Windward Waters
Specific locations impacted include FAD Buoy HO, FAD Buoy M, and FAD Buoy FF.
What You Should Do
Mariners and those in the affected areas should take immediate safety precautions:
- Prepare for Hazards: Be ready for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours.
- Seek Shelter: Stay low or go below deck to avoid being swept overboard.
- Safety Gear: Ensure all individuals on board are wearing life jackets.
- Avoidance: It is recommended to avoid these waters until the warning has expired.
Expected Conditions
At 11:10 PM HST, radar indicated strong thunderstorms located along a line moving northeast at 30 knots.
- Wind Hazards: Gusts up to 40 knots are expected.
- Marine Impact: Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.
- Visibility: Blinding downpours may significantly reduce visibility for navigators.
Timeline
- Effective Since: February 21, 11:11 PM HST
- Expiration: February 22, 1:15 AM HST
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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