No hurricane has hit Hawaii since Iniki in 1992. Will Nolo make landfall on the Big Island as a hurricane by Sept 28?
64% of users predicted NO — the community got this one right. 11 predictions cast.
Hurricane Nolo made its closest approach to Hawaii's Big Island on September 27, 2026, passing roughly 140 miles offshore without making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center and Hawaii news outlets. The storm strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane and briefly neared Category 5 strength as it pulled away from the islands.
Even without landfall, Nolo brought nearly 18 inches of rain to the Big Island's northeast side over three days and produced waves of 12 to 20 feet along the south shore, causing flooding, at least one landslide, and downed trees. It was the fourth tropical system to affect Hawaii in 2026, a year of unusually active tropical weather linked to El Niño conditions.
No hurricane has made direct landfall in Hawaii since Iniki in 1992, and Nolo did not break that streak. The question resolved no. A majority of the Predict Six community, 64%, correctly anticipated that Nolo would not make landfall as a hurricane on the Big Island.