The National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu just posted an update on Flossie. She appears to be losing a little bit of momentum as sustained winds have dropped down to 125 mph. The storm is supposed to pass close to or hit the Big Island on the Windward Side of the island on Tuesday and Tuesday night. That means Hilo gets the worst of it, although I'd expect significant rain and heavy winds on the Kona (Leeward) Coast, as well. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Big Island right now, even though the storm is still categorized as a hurricane. I'd expect some bad weather to hit all the major islands as a result of the disruptions surrounding Flossie. In any case, buy batteries, take cover, and cancel those flights and reservations! Also, as per a comment in an earlier post, most Hawaii hotels have fairly stiff cancellation policies so you might be out of luck!

—Alex, 08/13/07