Drought Information Statement for the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Valid August 14, 2025
Issued By: WFO Honolulu, HI
Contact Information: w-hfo.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated September 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. 

Typical summertime rainfall in late July and early August, with a few exceptions, lead to minor changes in drought conditions for better and worse.

U.S. Drought Monitor
An increase in windward rainfall over the last month resulted in some improvement over portions of Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Lanaʻi. Elsewhere, drought areas are largely unchanged due to minimal rainfall.
Drought intensity and Extent
D3 (Extreme Drought): Remains over portions of the Hāmākua district of the Big Island.
D2 (Severe Drought): Remains over leeward areas of Molokaʻi and Maui (also the central valley),  and portions of the Kohala, Hāmākua, and Kaʻu districts of the Big Island.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Covered most areas of Molokaʻi, Maui, and the Big Island not under D0, D2, or D3, as well as leeward Kauai and Oʻahu. Some eastward expansion to include eastern leeward Oʻahu. 
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covered most of the remainder of the state not under D1-3.
No drought for the majority of Kauaʻi and the Kona district of the Big Island due to above normal June rainfall.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for the main Hawaiian Islands
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
One category degradation along the southern coast and western tip of Oʻahu to D1. Elsewhere, no changes.
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Drought worsened: portions of southern and western Oʻahu, as well as the western section of the Puna district near Volcano.
Drought improved: portions of windward Oʻahu and Maui, coastal areas south of Haleakalā, and the higher elevations of the West Maui Mountains.
No Change: Rest of the state.

Precipitation
A better showing for windward rainfall resulted in drought improvement for portions of Oʻahu and Maui.
Little to no rainfall for much of Maui county, except windward areas, as well as leeward areas of most other islands.
Near average rainfall for Kona district

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Stage 1 water shortage in effect for Upcountry, West, South, and Central Maui since September 2024. Molokai reservoir levels lower than last year at this time, though no restrictions yet.
Agricultural Impacts
Ongoing: The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience’s (CETAHR) Cooperative Extension continues to report poor range conditions across the entire Big Island, providing marginal feed with supplemental feeding required and persistent water shortages, especially in the Hāmākua and Kaʻu districts. Ranchers are also weaning some of the cattle early and destocking cows due to lack of available pasture feed, as well as having to haul water in at great expense (Kauaʻi too). Many reports cite not seeing conditions like this since around 2008. Civil Beat reports Big Island ranchers are hoping for a direct hit from a tropical cyclone to get the rain they need to continue raising grass-fed beef.
Fire Hazard Impacts
Kaanapali Fire damaged buildings and rail cars at the Lahaina Sugar Cane Train. Paauilo Fire (Hamakua Coast of Big Island) burned ~200 acres and destroyed most of a local farm’s produce and infrastructure. Brush fires on the southeast slope of Mauna Kea, leeward Kauai, and Kunia Village on leeward Oahu (no damage).
Other Impacts
None.
Mitigation Actions
Mandatory 25% water restriction in the Hakalau area of the Big Island until further notice. CWRM request to Governor to approve a state-wide water restriction. Mandatory non-potable water conservation efforts still in place for Kapalua (West Maui) with irrigation disallowed. Mandatory water conservation advisory continues for Kaʻanapali, Maui through September 1. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
The 14-day streamflow levels were mostly below normal across the island chain, with the exception of normal conditions for east-central Oʻahu and southern Kauaʻi.
The 28-day streamflow levels (not shown here) were generally near to slightly below normal for Kauaʻi and Oʻahu and below to much below normal for Maui County and the Big Island. 

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
NMME model shows increased chance for below normal rainfall through October.
Existing drought expected to persist.
Development is anticipated for parts of the Big Island, Maui, Lanaʻi, and Molokaʻi that are designated with abnormal dryness (DO) in the U.S. Drought Monitor.
No development expected for Kauaʻi and Oʻahu due to less of a dry signal in the NMME model.