On Saturday morning, July 25, 2026, Maui County officials ramped up their emergency monitoring systems in response to Hurricane Fausto, which is currently tracking west of the Hawaiian Islands. County emergency managers briefed local business owners and community leaders at Kahului Community Center, emphasizing the importance of readiness as the summer hurricane season peaks.

Maui’s Office of Emergency Management cited wind speeds nearing 75 mph and unpredictable rainfall projections for the coming week. Officials distributed updated evacuation zone maps and confirmed that four coastal shelters have been prepped for potential activation within 48 hours. As of midday, there were no mandatory evacuation orders, but officials cautioned that conditions could change rapidly.

The National Weather Service’s Pacific Region office reported that sea surface temperatures around Maui have reached 28°C, a factor linked to stronger and more frequent storms in recent summers. County officials referenced recent data showing that over 60% of Maui’s shoreline communities remain at moderate-to-high risk from storm surge, underscoring the need for public awareness and timely action.

Maui County Mayor Keani Rawlins-Fernandez called for residents to stockpile at least three days’ worth of water and non-perishable food, and to check the county’s emergency SMS alert system for real-time updates. She noted that lessons from last year’s wildfires and flooding informed this summer’s enhanced preparedness protocols.

With tourism season at its annual high, local hotels and resorts have been briefed on evacuation procedures for guests. The Maui Chamber of Commerce highlighted economic risks, estimating that a major storm could disrupt up to $32 million in visitor spending within a single week. County officials plan to reassess Fausto’s trajectory and issue an updated advisory later this weekend.