Roundtrip Flights From Honolulu To Hilo Canceled Due To Tropical Storm Hone

Tropical Storm Hone has caused significant disruption in Hawaii, with all remaining roundtrip flights between Honolulu and Hilo cancelled on Saturday.

Flight Cancellations and Airport Shutdowns

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) made the announcement, saying that the weather conditions had become much worse than anticipated. Due to safety concerns, all departures have been suspended from Hilo International Airport for the rest of the day, though the terminal remains open. Officials are planning to reassess the situation on Sunday morning in the hope of resuming morning flights.

Customers affected by the cancellation were given a detailed update by the airline. Moani Van-Alst Wright, one of the passengers, reported that the captain had announced, “the winds were higher than anticipated and it’s unsafe for us to fly.” She added that the safety of passengers is the paramount concern and is considering flying into Kona instead.

Southwest Airlines Offers Flexible Rebooking

Southwest Airlines have responded by offering their customers the ability to rebook any tickets scheduled between Aug. 24 to 25 at the following locations: Hilo (ITO), Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), and Lihue (LIH). The airline has confirmed that it will continue to monitor weather conditions and has encouraged its customers to check their flight status online or via the Southwest app for any schedule adjustments.

Locals and Tourists Brace for the Storm

Meanwhile, locals and tourists lodged at a Hilo hotel were given a letter forewarning them of the impending storm. “We’ve been preparing for the past four, five days. We test generators. We check batteries,” said Matt Pickett with the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, illustrating the preparatory work being done to mitigate the impact of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Warnings in Place

A tropical storm warning is in place for Hawaii Island as Tropical Storm Hone continues to move westwards. It is expected to bring potentially flooding rains, damaging winds, and substantial surf this weekend. Residents and visitors in Hawaii are advised to stay safe and pay attention to weather updates and advisories.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates as and when they become available.