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Hurricane Nolo Hawaii flights began being cancelled on September 25 as the slow-moving storm approached the Big Island. Hilo Airport lost at least 21 flights, and airlines across the state issued weather waivers ahead of what forecasters are calling potentially catastrophic rainfall.
How Hurricane Nolo Hawaii flights were affected first
Hawaiian Airlines cancelled 13 flights and Southwest cancelled 8 at Hilo Airport for Friday and Saturday, according to Hawaii News Now’s reporting. Hawaiian Airlines cancelled its final Hilo flight Thursday evening and its first Friday morning flight specifically to avoid having aircraft grounded on the tarmac during the worst of the weather. Airline CEO Diana Birkett Rakow said: “Our highest priority is to make sure that everybody is safe. That means our guests and our teams.”
Bigger carriers waived fees across multiple islands
Delta Air Lines issued weather waivers covering Honolulu, Kahului on Maui, and Kona on the Big Island for flights on September 26 and 27. American Airlines extended similar waivers to the same three airports plus Lihue on Kauai, according to TravelPulse’s coverage. Both carriers are letting eligible travelers change flights without a change fee. American, Delta and United have all extended some form of flexible rebooking to passengers with weekend travel to the islands.
A cruise ship changed course too
Travel disruption has not been limited to flights. Norwegian Cruise Line postponed the September 26 departure of its Pride of America from Honolulu to September 28, shortening the itinerary from seven nights to five, citing “the approaching storm and related restrictions.” The change shows how far in advance cruise operators are adjusting schedules, given how slowly Nolo has been moving toward the islands.
Why this storm is different from a typical pass-through system
As of Friday morning, Nolo was positioned roughly 250 miles south of the Big Island and moving north at just 5 miles per hour. It had strengthened to Category 1 hurricane status Thursday night, with the potential to intensify further. That slow track matters because it gives the storm more time to dump rain over the same terrain. The National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening, potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides,” particularly in mountainous areas, alongside dangerous surf and damaging winds through the weekend.
Forecasters are projecting up to 35 inches of rain on the Big Island and up to 15 inches on parts of Maui. Those rainfall totals put this storm well beyond routine tropical weather disruption for the islands.
Hawaii County has opened nine shelters across the Big Island, four on Wednesday night and five more Friday morning, including sites in Hilo, Honokaa, Waimea and Ocean View, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Mayor Kimo Alameda urged residents to finish storm preparations, saying: “We are looking at both the possibility of life-threatening flash flooding and strong, damaging winds.”
What travelers should watch for next
With Nolo still crawling toward the islands rather than making a fast pass, airlines and cruise operators are likely to extend or adjust waivers as the forecast firms up over the weekend. Travelers with Hawaii trips booked in the coming days should check flight status directly with their airline, rather than assuming a booked flight will operate as scheduled. That is especially true for Big Island and Maui routes closest to the projected rainfall bands.
More travel disruption coverage
Related reading: Typhoon Dujuan’s disruption to Tokyo flights, flight disruptions across the northeastern US, and the new TSA REAL ID and ConfirmID fee.
Hurricane Nolo travel questions answered
How many flights have been cancelled so far?
At least 21 flights at Hilo Airport, made up of 13 Hawaiian Airlines flights and 8 Southwest flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Which airlines are offering waivers?
Delta and American have issued fee-free rebooking waivers covering Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and, for American, Lihue, while United has offered some flexible rebooking as well.
Has the storm affected cruise ships?
Yes. Norwegian Cruise Line postponed the Pride of America’s September 26 Honolulu departure to September 28 and shortened the cruise from seven nights to five.
How strong is Hurricane Nolo?
It reached Category 1 strength Thursday night and was classified as a Category 2 storm as it moved slowly toward the Big Island, with forecasters warning it could strengthen further.
How much rain is expected?
Forecasters project up to 35 inches of rain on the Big Island and up to 15 inches on parts of Maui, with the National Hurricane Center warning of catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides.
Storm reporting sources
- Hawaii News Now — At least 21 Hilo flights cancelled due to Hurricane Nolo. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/26/least-21-hilo-flights-cancelled-due-hurricane-nolo/
- TravelPulse — Hurricane Nolo Threatens Hawaii Travel With Flight and Cruise Disruptions. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/hurricane-nolo-threatens-hawaii-travel-with-flight-and-cruise-disruptions
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