Special Marine Warning Issued for Maui County Windward Waters and Alenuihaha Channel

Source: NOAA · Hawaii

This alert is no longer in effect.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.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for Maui County Windward Waters and the Alenuihaha Channel through 8:30 PM HST as a strong thunderstorm moves through the area.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Hawaii
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 Hawaii.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Alenuihaha Channel and Maui County Windward Waters. The alert was issued at 6:24 PM HST following radar detection of a strong thunderstorm.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Alenuihaha Channel and Maui County Windward Waters. Specific locations impacted by this weather system include FAD Buoy M and FAD Buoy FF. At the time of the alert, the storm was located near Hamoa, moving east at approximately 5 knots.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas should take immediate precautions:

  • Safety Gear: Ensure all persons on board are wearing life jackets.
  • Seek Shelter: Stay low or go below deck to avoid hazards. If caught on open water, stay below deck to protect against frequent lightning.
  • Preparation: Prepare for steep and fast-building seas along with blinding downpours that may reduce visibility.

Expected Conditions

The primary hazards associated with this thunderstorm include:

  • Wind: Gusts up to 40 knots, which could damage small craft.
  • Hail: Small hail is expected.
  • Sea Conditions: Suddenly higher waves and steep, fast-building seas.
  • Lightning: Frequent lightning is occurring with this storm.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to remain in place until 8:30 PM HST on February 22, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for Maui County Windward Waters and the Alenuihaha Channel through 8:30 PM HST as a strong thunderstorm moves through the area.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Hawaii. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.