Drought Information Statement for the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Valid June 14, 2025
Issued By: WFO Honolulu, HI
Contact Information: w-hfo.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated July 12, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/hfo/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

May provided overall below average rainfall, but some drought improvement for leeward areas.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Most of the state saw below average rainfall for the month of May, with the exception of the kona coast of the Big Island. Drought persisted across much of the state, with only small variations in coverage/severity.
D3 (Extreme Drought): Continued over portions of the Hāmākua and Kaʻu districts of the Big Island.
D2 (Severe Drought): Remains over a small portion of Kauaʻi’s southwest coast, leeward areas of Molokaʻi, Maui (also the central valley) and portions of the Kohala and Hāmākua districts of the Big Island.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Covered most areas of Molokaʻi, Maui, and the Big Island not under D0, D2, or D3. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covered southern Kauaʻi, southern and western Oʻahu, and the coast/slopes of the Kona districts of the Big Island.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: southeast portions of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, and a small section of leeward Molokaʻi.
Drought improved: coast and slopes of the Big Island’s Kona districts.
No Change: Most of the rest of the state.
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: eastern portion of Oʻahu, leeward Molokaʻi, and small sliver of Hāmākua district.
Drought improved: small portions of leeward Kauaʻi, central valley of Oʻahu, and Kona districts of the Big Island. 
No Change: Majority of the state.


Precipitation
Most areas of the main Hawaiian Islands had below average rainfall in May. 
Meager windward rainfall had little to no impact on drought improvement.
Little to no rainfall for much of Maui county
Periods of light winds and instability allowed for above average rainfall in some leeward areas, especially the Kona districts of the Big Island.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply cited significant reduction in spring flows. 
Agricultural Impacts
The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience’s (CETAHR) Cooperative Extension reported poor range conditions across the entire Big Island, providing marginal feed with supplemental feeding required, as well as grasses drying up and slow productivity. Ranchers operating in the Hāmākua district of the Big Island reported poor pasture conditions, supplemental feeding requirements, and less water in ponds, creeks, etc. Ranchers are also weaning some of the cattle early, as well as destocking cows due to lack of available pasture feed.
Fire Hazard Impacts
Two small wildfires: one near Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi on May 7 and one near Honokaʻa in the Big Island’s Hāmākua district on the 11th.
Other Impacts
None.
Mitigation Actions
Mandatory 25% water restriction in the Hakalau area of the Big Island.
A Stage 1 water shortage went into effect in April for Upcountry Maui and continues presently. Mandatory non-potable water conservation efforts still in place for West Maui with irrigation disallowed. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
The 14-day streamflow levels were below normal at leeward Oʻahu sites as well as the majority of Maui and the Big Island. Streamflow levels at most of the Kauaʻi and windward Oʻahu and Molokaʻi sites were normal.
The 28-day streamflow levels (not shown here) were largely the same as the 14-day values.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Most of the existing drought is expected to persist and possibly intensify through the remainder of the dry season (through September).
Potential for additional drought areas to develop, especially over leeward Kauaʻi and Oʻahu.
Windward areas may see some drought relief as the seasonally more persistent trade winds take hold and potentially produce more frequent rainfall.
Will depend on moisture availability and frequency.