The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the flash flood warning for Hawaii Island areas from North Kohala, Hamakua, Hilo, Puna and Kau until 2.30am tomorrow morning.
Hurricane Lane, classified as a powerful Category 4 storm, is packing sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour (230 km/h), according to the latest update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The raging storm is expected to reach the islands by tonight, bringing with it a barrage of up to 20 inches of rain triggering flash flooding and landslides. Already eight inches of rain has soaked the island.
Hawaiians have now been ordered to move immediately to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
There will also be large and destructive waves impacting coastal areas, as the hurricane’s intense winds pass over Hawaii.
The local NWS said: “Hurricane Lane tracking toward the Islands.
“Rainfall over the last 12 hours have been reported over 8″ on the Big Island. The slow movement increases the threat for prolonged heavy rainfall.”
As of 5pm (4am BST), the storm was centred 260 miles (415 km) south of Kailua-Kona as it moved northwest at about 8mph, the weather service said.
Dangerous, hurricane-force winds were expected to hit the Big Island overnight and slam Maui Thursday afternoon.
To the north, Oahu was under a hurricane warning while Kauai remained on hurricane watch meaning it could face such conditions starting on Friday morning.
The NWS said: “Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
“Life threatening impacts are likely in some areas as the hurricane makes its closest approach.”
The most powerful storm on record to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm that made landfall on Kauai island on Sept. 11, 1992.
It killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes.