Although Hiki was a small tropical cyclone and bypassed Hawaii, heavy rainfall and strong winds were observed throughout the islands.

Throughout the islands, winds de-roofed several homes and downed power lines; one fatality occurred after a person came in contact with a live wire.

According to ship reports during the summer, the Intertropical Convergence Zone was farther north than usual, which created favorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis.

[2] According to weather charts at the Honolulu International Airport, a tropical depression developed at 00:00 UTC on August 12, while located about 760 miles (1,220 km) southeast of the Big Island.

[4] Upon reaching hurricane intensity on August 16, Hiki simultaneously attained its maximum sustained wind speed of 85 mph (140 km/h).

Hiki remained between 100 and 200 mi (160 and 320 km) offshore while paralleling several Hawaiian Islands, including Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai.

[4] As a high pressure ridge intensified, the northwestward movement of Hiki was blocked, causing the storm to briefly turn due west on August 17.

However, later that day, the high pressure ridge weakened, causing Hiki to turned westward and pass south of French Frigate Shoals and Midway Island.

[2] As Hiki approached, a United States Coast Guard station with 14 people in French Frigate Shoals was alerted.

In addition, a farmer in Kohala on Hawaii died after coming into contact with a live wire that was blown down from high winds.