Kauai has been told to brace for damaging winds, flooding rain and dangerous surf as Hurricane Lowell approaches.

The pounding rain and powerful wind gusts are already battering Hawaii, but residents say the worst of Hurricane Lowell has yet to arrive.

A large category 3 hurricane is expected to bring dangerous wind, heavy rain and storm surge to parts of Hawaii starting Monday afternoon, just weeks after the state dealt with the damaging Hurricane Lala.

Forecasters warn Lowell could be near major hurricane strength as it moves close to the western Hawaiian Islands next week.

The strongest of these Central and Eastern Pacific hurricanes is Lowell, which peaked twice as a Category 5 storm over the Labor Day weekend and was expected to pass just west of Kauai and Niihau on Monday night, forcing a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Kauai County and a tropical storm watch for Oahu (see below).

Hurricane Lowell track has nudged east, raising chances for near hurricane-force gusts on Kauai, as well as heavy rain across the Hawaiian Islands.

Hurricane Lowell and Tropical Storm Karina are not forecasted to make landfall but are bringing high surf impacts to the Hawaiian Islands over the holiday weekend.

Even paradise can have storms. Hawaii's hurricane history has been particularly hard on one of its main islands. Here's what you need to know.