Hurricane season began on Saturday and the National Weather Service ensured the media is prepared to deliver accurate and timely information should an emergency occur.

NWS hosted a media briefing and simulation today at UH Manoa as part of the statewide Makani Pahili exercises.

“The media is ultimately important,” NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mike Cantin said. “We [NWS] produce our forecast – our watches and warnings, advisories and tell you where the storm is – kind of what to expect from the storm and where it’s going. But most folks get their information from the media so we share [the information] and then like today, work together with the media to make sure that message is getting out.”

NWS predicts a less-than-average storm season for the Central Pacific with 1-3 storms (tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane) until November, however they remind us that all it takes is one to cause major damage.

Start prepping your home and surroundings now.

That is the message from the Honolulu Fire Department as Hawai`i prepares for the summer season – a time prime for wildfires.     

“Homeowners that live within that wildland interface – where the brush and the homes meet – they’d like to keep a good 30 feet of open space between their homes and the brush that will provide a good buffer before any wildland fires would impact them,” Honolulu Fire Department Assistant Chief Roy Murakami said.

Within the past eight years, HFD reported the most wildfires in 2005 (962) while the least came in 2011 (332). Although the past two months have been wetter than normal, the National Weather Service advises residents that the dry season will still occur.

WHAT:                   

Anytime you pair beautiful live plants with water, you’ve instantly created a tranquil oasis for your home. Geobunga invites all those interested in learning how easy and inexpensive it is to cultivate lilies and water plants to join them for this free workshop. It’s Geobunga’s most popular workshop, so be sure to register to ensure your seat!

WHEN/WHERE:                  

Saturday, May 25

·       9 a.m. at Geobunga Honolulu at 4299 Lawehana Street, Salt Lake (across from Target) and

·       2 p.m. at Geobunga Waimanalo Farm at 41-829 Kakaina St. Unit No. P, Waimanalo