In advance of both Madeline and Lester to its east, the state of Hawaii began to prepare for a potentially historic strike, possibly two, as the hurricanes approached.

Public schools were closed through September 1 due to the hurricane, and officials advised to stay off any roads and remain indoors if possible.

On August 22, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor a broad area of low pressure that formed about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

[1] Convective banding features formed to the west of the cyclone, and the depression was later upgraded to Tropical Storm Madeline at 00:00 UTC on August 27.

Moving northwestwards under the influence of being located at the southwestern periphery of a mid-level ridge, Madeline strengthened slowly in an environment of moderate wind shear, before crossing 140°W and entering the Central Pacific basin at 00:00 UTC on August 28, at which point the power of issuing advisories on tropical cyclone was transferred to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

[4] Fueled by warm sea surface temperatures in excess of 27 °C (81 °F) and low wind shear, Madeline continued to rapidly strengthen, and by 21:00 UTC, it became a major hurricane – the fifth of the season.

[1] By later that day, however, the cloud presentation of Madeline began to degrade as wind shear increased slightly due to an upper-level trough that was located near Hawaii, and by mid-day on August 30, as shown by an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, the hurricane fell below major hurricane intensity by early on August 31 as it approached Hawaii.

[8] Later that day, the circulation became exposed from the convection as wind shear continued to impact the cyclone, and it eventually weakened to a tropical storm by early on September 1.

[17][18] More than a dozen emergency shelters were opened by the American Red Cross of Hawaii to offer food, water and other essential supplies.