HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaii News Now meteorologist Drew Davis joined the station’s First Alert Weather Team to air a special called First Alert Hurricane Season 2026 at 6:30 p.m. across Hawaii News Now platforms. Rather than focusing solely on preparation, that year’s special looked back at the devastating Kona floods from March, the worst flooding Hawaii had seen in 20 years, examining the infrastructure vulnerabilities exposed and using those lessons to underscore the urgency of getting ready for what was ahead.
With El Niño officially declared by the Climate Prediction Center, forecasters warned of a potentially active season. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecast between 5 and 13 named storms, well above the average of 4 to 5, with warmer-than-average equatorial Pacific waters providing more energy to fuel powerful storms. Davis pointed to 2015, when a strong El Niño produced 16 systems in the Central Pacific, as a sobering historical reminder.
The special was produced by Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins, Guy Hodge, Ben Gutierrez, Billy V, and Drew Davis, who interviewed residents still recovering from the March floods and those impacted by a super typhoon in Saipan. The team’s core message was clear: have a 14-day emergency kit ready and be prepared for potential flooding or damage. Those who missed the broadcast were able to watch it on demand through the Hawaii News Now streaming app.
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