Hurricane Lane: Storm triggers major flooding in Hawaii top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. As of 7pm BST (8am Hawaii time) today, Lane was based about 170 miles south of Honolulu and 140 miles west-south-west of Kailua-Kona Hawaii. Despite being downgraded to a category 2 storm, a hurricane warning remains in effect for Oahu and Maui County - formed of the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. Kahului Airport is Maui County’s main airport, based about three miles east of the town in the north of the island. Honolulu Airport, officially known as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, is Hawaii’s largest airport and one of the United States' busiest ones. Are Kahului and Honolulu airports open? Kahului Airport is currently open after power was restored on Thursday, according to the latest update from Hawaii Department of Transportation. However, travellers are advised to check with their airline before arriving at the airport in case of changes to times or cancellations. The Hawaii State Department of Transportation (DOT) and Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) say flyers must have confirmed tickets for flights on the scheduled day of travel. Hawaii airport latest: Hurricane Lane is 'lurking' south of Hawaii People based on Maui Island whose flights have been cancelled, should opt to remain in their current accommodation or seek refuge in one of the island’s emergency shelters. Honolulu Airport also remains open but many flights are delayed or cancelled. American Airlines said on Friday morning it was cancelling all flights to and from Kahului until Saturday. United Airlines confirmed many of its flights into Hawaii’s airports are impacted. Hawaii airport latest: Extreme flooding is happening across Big Island In a statement, United said: “ The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing between August 21, 2018, and September 9, 2018, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.” Other affected airlines waiving their rebooking fees include Delta, Alaska, American and Hawaiian. What is the travel advice from the Foreign Office? The UK Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) has the following advice on its website: “If you’re expecting to travel to/from Hawaii in the next few days, check with your airline/tour operator and accommodation provider for the latest updates on services.” Hawaii airport latest: The path of the storm at 8am local time on Friday<doc-sep>Hurricane Lane: What You Need to Know About Flying Into or Out of Hawaii Right Now A bird flies as others perch above floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. A bird flies as others perch above floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. A bird flies as others perch above floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. As heavy rains brought to the region by Hurricane Lane flood parts of Hawaii, U.S. airlines are issuing waivers for those scheduled to travel during the storm. The Category 2 storm is expected to whip across Hawaii’s central islands, including Oahu and Maui, on Friday night. Ahead of the storm, the island has already received 19 inches of rain. The storm may weaken by Saturday but Gov. David Ige has urged residents to set aside two weeks’ worth of emergency supplies. Those trying to leave Hawaii ahead of the storm will find capped fares, ensuring that airline surge pricing cannot take place. “Please be advised that seats on flights for the next few days remain very limited because of high load factors,” Hawaiian Airlines advised. Select airlines have already begun canceling flights and allowing passengers to change their travel plans for free. Hawaiian Airlines Waived change fees for flights through Aug. 28. Flights that are rebooked on or before Sept. 9 will have any difference in fare eliminated. Delta Air Lines Passengers can rebook flights scheduled through Aug. 24 traveling to or from Seoul, Honolulu, Kona, Lihue or Maui. Rebooked flights must begin no later than Aug. 27. Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines will allow passengers to change flights scheduled through Aug. 26. Change fees and price differences are waived for flights to and from Kauai, Kona, Maui, and Oahu. United Airlines<doc-sep>Hurricane Lane is barreling down on the Hawaiian Islands — and tourists who are in the region or planning upcoming trips need to get prepared. Hurricane Lane is currently a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds speeds of 120 miles per hour, having been downgraded from a more severe Category 5 storm. Before it was downgraded, it was only the second Category 5 hurricane to come within 350 miles of Hawaii on record, according to the National Weather Service. Oahu, Hawaii and Maui counties, which include the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, were under a hurricane warning, meaning that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Kauai remained under hurricane watch, which means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. The storm is expected to cause damage throughout Hawaii. Tropical storm- and hurricane-force winds are expected to affect most of the state, and rainfall in some areas could exceed 30 inches. As of Thursday morning, the Big Island had already received 12 inches of rain. In advance of the storm, President Trump approved Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s request for a presidential disaster declaration, which authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to the state. Don’t miss:With the Kilauea volcano still erupting, read this before visiting Hawaii “Visitors planning to travel to or who are already here in the Hawaiian Islands should contact their airlines, accommodations and activity providers for information on being prepared and make adjustments to travel plans as needed,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a public advisory. Here is what tourists need to know about how Hurricane Lane is affecting travel in Hawaii: Major tourist attractions are closing Throughout the state, popular attractions including beaches and national parks have already closed in preparation for the storm’s arrival. All beach parks along the western coast from Kohala to South Point in Hawaii County, also known as the Big Island, are closed until further notice, local news outlet KHON2 reported. Beach parks island-wide on Oahu began closing Thursday. Beaches across the state are expected to experience storm surges and dangerous surf as the storm approaches. Haleakala National Park, which is located on Maui, has also announced it would close Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane, and cabin reservations through Friday were cancelled. The park will remain closed through Friday evening, at which point park management will evaluate when it can reopen. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has not issued an advisory regarding the hurricane, but most of the park was already closed due to ongoing seismic and volcanic activity tied to the eruption of Kilauea. State parks and campgrounds throughout the state also closed in advance of the storm, with permits being retracted. Boat tours to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, which commemorates the sinking of the naval vessel during the attack on Pearl Harbor, have been suspended ahead of the hurricane. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is also closing early, and will remain closed until further notice, to let staff have time to prepare for the storm, the National Park Service told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Other popular tourist attractions including the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace were closed for the storm, with some expected to remain closed through the weekend. How science is working to turn sugarcane into fuel for jet travel Airlines are offering waivers Multiple airlines, including Delta DAL, +1.76% , Hawaiian HA, +1.18% , Alaska ALK, +2.04% , American AAL, +2.97% and United UAL, +1.81% , are waiving rebooking fees for flights to and from multiple airports throughout Hawaii. Policies vary, but generally the travel must have been booked before Aug. 21 to be eligible for a waiver. Most airlines are issuing waivers for trips set to take place between Aug. 22 and 25. Generally, the waivers may only be used if the traveler books a new seat in the same cabin (economy or first-class) and to and from the same destinations as their original ticket. Most airlines also require that the new itinerary take place within a couple weeks of the original trip. Some airlines are also offering refunds for travelers whose trips are being cancelled as a result of the storm. Also see:Hawaii wants to ban certain sunscreens to protect coral reefs—should you stop using them? Hawaiian Airlines currently has a notice on its website warning that customers calling its reservations department should expect longer-than-normal hold times as a result of the high call volume. Those in Hawaii already should try to book flights out of the state as soon as possible, according to Sarah Schlichter, senior editor of travel website SmarterTravel. “You should try to fly out early if you can,” Schlichter said. “This way emergency services can focus on the locals during the storm.” Travel insurance will cover changes in plans Consumers with travel insurance will be covered for any changes in plans made as a result of the storm. But there’s a catch: Their policy must have been purchased before Hurricane Lane became a named storm on Aug. 15. If it was purchased after that point, it won’t cover hurricane-related travel changes, said Steven Benna, a marketing specialist with travel insurance comparison website Squaremouth. A variety of situations are covered by travel insurance, Benna said, such as if a hotel is evacuated or a flight is cancelled. Travelers who have not yet made their way to Hawaii may also be eligible for trip cancellation coverage now that hurricane warnings are in effect. Those already in Hawaii who have travel insurance can also get reimbursed for any additional expenses incurred if they choose to book transportation out of the state. “There’s a maximum amount of coverage based on the trip cost,” Benna said, which usually represents between 100 and 200% of trip cost. “That money can go toward unused portions of the trip as well as transportation-related expenses to get home.” Shelters are opening Emergency officials had not ordered evacuations along the coasts throughout Hawaii as of Thursday morning, but shelters were opening throughout the state to house those who feel unsafe where they are. Tourists staying in hotels and vacation rentals located in flood or evacuation zones would be affected if an evacuation were to be ordered though, particularly if the property is located on the shore. Those staying in an evacuation zone should have medications and clothing packed in preparation. Emergency authorities in Hawaii advised that tourists staying in hotels check with front desk staff to learn what emergency accommodations are available. Public shelters throughout the state will accept tourists. Read more: Hawaii and Guatemala aren’t the only tourist destinations with active volcanoes Those in Honolulu can download the city’s mobile app, HNL.Info, to receive emergency push alerts and emails. If they are not evacuated, tourists stuck in Hawaii during the storm should expect to shelter in place at their hotel or vacation rental as it passes. Those staying in the state should gather non-perishable food items, a flashlight with batteries and water from a local grocery store, in case the storm disrupts power or other services. Before the storm arrives, travelers should make sure their cell phones are fully charged, and during the storm they should keep curtains closed and consider taking shelter in a room without windows, Schlichter recommended.<doc-sep>
Hurricane Lane is a category three storm bearing down on Hawaii. Visitors and residents have headed to airports to evacuate. American, United, and Hawaiian Airlines have all indicated operations will be affected by the storm. Delta and United Airlines have both launched additional flights to Hawaii and have capped prices. Most major US airlines are offering travel waivers that will allow you to alter your reservation for free. Hurricane Lane was downgraded to a category three storm on Thursday. But with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, officials still believe the storm remains a highly dangerous threat to Hawaii. Some parts of the state have reported damage from heavy rain, winds, landslides, and severe flooding. With Lane bearing down on Hawaii's Big Island, many of the state's residents and visitors have flocked to its airports to evacuate. As of early Friday, Hawaii's 15 airports remain operational, officials said in an emergency alert. However, flying into and out of the islands may prove to be challenging because of the inclement weather and high traffic loads. "Please be advised that seats on flights for the next few days remain very limited because of high load factors," Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement. "While the path of Hurricane Lane remains uncertain, it will likely impact our flight schedule as it passes the Islands." There were complaints on Wednesday of exorbitantly high tickets fares for flights out of the Islands. Both Delta and United told Business Insider that they have capped their prices for Hawaii flights. According to United Airlines, poor weather conditions have forced it to cancel its Friday flights into and out of Kahului Airport. However, United did increase capacity with two additional Honolulu-San Fransico flights on Thursday. One of the flights used a Boeing 777-300ER, the largest plane in the airline's inventory usually reserved for international long-haul routes. The other flight operated a Boeing 757-300, the largest single-aisles aircraft in the fleet. Together, there were an additional 579 seats available. Delta also ramped up its Hawaii operations on Thursday with an additional 199 seats via an extra Boeing 757-200. According to the airline, operations are expected to be normal on Friday. American Airlines initially told Business Insider that it does not expect to cancel any flights due to the hurricane, however, the carrier later told us that weather conditions in Maui have forced it to cancel four flights into and out of Kahului Airport. In addition, some flights will be delayed a few hours due to restrictions that prevent aircraft from taking off and landing during severe cross-winds. On Friday, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier expects to operate eight flights into and out of Honolulu, three for Kona, and three for Kauai. If you have flights booked for travel to and from Hawaii, most major US airlines are currently offering travel waivers that will allow you to alter your reservation for free. Click here for United's travel waiver information. Click here for American's travel waiver information. Click here for Delta's travel waiver information. Click here for Alaska's travel waiver information. Click here for Hawaiian's travel waiver information.