WATCH: HNN ‘First Alert Hurricane Season’ special offers preparation tips, expert advice

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In 2023, Hurricane Dora didn’t come close to Hawaii. Its center was still some 700 miles to the south when it made its closest approach.

Even so, the cyclone taught Hawaii painful but very important lessons about the effects that a hurricane can have on the islands. And now, as the 2024 hurricane season begins, those lessons are being used to help prepare for future storms — and how to recover from them.

The hurricane season in the Central Pacific kicked off June 1.

National Weather Service forecasters are predicting “below normal” activity.

At the same time, they’re warning that it only take one hurricane to leave behind a trail of damage. And with the example of Hurricane Dora fresh in everyone’s minds, they’re underscoring the importance of preparation for all types of storm hazards — from heavy rains to high winds.

Ahead of the Aug. 8 wildfires that destroyed Lahaina town and claimed more than 100 lives, the National Weather Service issued a statewide red flag warning for fire risk conditions.

One lesson from Lahaina is that forecasters now will be able to be more focused on the effects that strong winds and dangerously dry conditions can have in more specific areas.

Particular areas of concern include West Maui and leeward areas of Oahu and Hawaii Island.

HNN Hurricane Center

“What we’re doing better this year with the National Weather Service is being able to predict exactly where we’re talking about as far as the red flag warnings,” Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator James Barros told the HNN First Alert weather team.

“Back then it was more general, big picture red flag for the state.

“I think we’ll be better prepared this year with being able to predict and pinpoint exactly where we’re talking about these high winds and these conditions for red flags,” he said.

National Weather Service forecasters had already been working with HI-EMA and other emergency management agencies, along with other first responders around the state. But another lesson learned is making sure residents have more information on what to do for fire danger.

Get prepared now for hurricane season:

“What we discovered in 2023 was that wildfires affect everybody,” said John Bravender, the warning coordination meteorologist in the NWS Honolulu forecast office. “I was our first experience dealing with a wildfire destroying a town. And since then we’ve needed to learn how to communicate those hazards with not just first responders, but also the public.”

Even without a fire danger, strong winds fueled by Hurricane Dora caused other kinds of damage to buildings and infrastructure.

“There weren’t even hurricane winds. That was just below hurricane strength,” said Barros.

He added, “When we get heavier winds, what kind of damage will it do on our infrastructure? And what can we do now to build that resiliency so that our state can withstand some hurricane winds?”

One thing that withstood the winds were the people, who came together to help out Maui in the wildfire’s aftermath. It’s something Barros said will be important when a another disaster hits.

“What we’re trying to do is take the lessons learned from Lahaina on August 9, and how the community came together and supported one another,” said Barros. “How do we capture that energy, that aloha, now moving across the state, and learn from what they went through?”

Meanwhile, authorities are also working to warn residents about other types of hurricane risks, including storm surge. The strong winds of a cyclone can push massive amounts of sea water onto shore, leading to widespread flooding and often irreparable damage.

Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to storm surge because of it’s low-lying cities and shallow surrounding reefs. A minor hurricane could still create several feet of storm surge.