Ms. Kunishige, the spokeswoman for the Hawaii Transportation Department, said the agency recommended that people traveling this weekend check with their airline before heading to the airport, and ensure that airlines have their correct contact information so they can receive direct communication about any flight changes.
Matt Pickett, the general manager of Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, on the Big Island’s northeastern coast, said visitors had scrambled plans to avoid getting stranded. He estimated that over 100 reservations for weekend check-ins had been canceled by Friday afternoon, and about 30 guests had checked out early.
Though a handful of guests extended their stays because of the uncertainty around flights, Mr. Pickett said the hotel had already lost about $25,000 in revenue before the storm had even hit.
“That’s important, but it’s not our focus right now,” said Mr. Pickett, who added that his priority was making sure that the staff and guests were safe.
He said the hotel was equipped with portable lights, backup generators and sandbags. There are no guest rooms below the third floor to avoid damage from storm surges, and staff members have placed guests below the sixth floor in case extended power outages cause plumbing issues.