Hawai’i is hunkering down as two serious and potentially disastrous weather systems take aim at the holiday paradise, with the first expected to make landfall late Thursday local time.

Hawai’i’s Govenor Neil Abercrombie said his state is prepared for the back-to-back hurricanes marching toward the island archipelago.

The Big Island of Maui was expected to see a direct hit from Hurricane Iselle on Thursday night, bringing with it strong wind, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges, the Central Pacific Hurricane Centre (CPHC) said.

In an unusual development, Iselle is being trailed by another, stronger hurricane dubbed Julio, with the prospect of a one-two punch placing the popular Pacific vacation destination on even higher alert.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometres per hour, Iselle – a Category 1 storm – was expected to pass over the Big Island on Thursday night and pass just south of the smaller islands Friday.”

Tropical storm conditions were expected on Maui Thursday afternoon, with hurricane conditions taking hold overnight.

Maui and Oahu were forecast to see tropical storm conditions starting late Thursday.

The islands were expected to see rainfall of up to 30 centimetres thanks to Iselle.

“These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods as well as rock and mud slides,” the CPHC cautioned.

Julio, which strengthened to a Category 2 storm overnight, was situated some 1340 miles east of Hilo, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Centre.

With maximum sustained winds of nearly 160kmh, the NHC forecasters warned it could strengthen some more before slowly losing steam.

On its current trajectory, Julio was expected to pass to the north of Big Island as a tropical storm late Saturday or Sunday.

With the twin storms fast approaching, television images showed long lines at local supermarkets, as residents and vacationers alike rushed to stock up on water and other basics to see them through the next few days.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that shelters would open Thursday night for residents of Oahu and that state authorities were shutting down a slew of recreation areas that could become danger zones due to possible flash flooding and other storm-related hazards.

Maria Lutz, director of emergency services of the American Red Cross-Hawaii Chapter, recommended that people preparing to stay at hurricane shelters bring emergency supplies that would last for seven days.

Residents living in older homes built before 1995 or on exposed ridges and anyone living in an area prone to or with a history of flooding have been urged to evacuate.

“I am in Honolulu. Rolling down the storm shutters, setting aside food, water for drinking and to flush the toilet. Extra food. Planning to live without power and water for a few days,” a resident posted on a local news website.

At the time of going to print there was little news of any damage or the force of Hurricane Iselle as the system hit the islands late yesterday.

It is the first hurricane to directly hit Hawai’i since Hurricane Ineki 22 years ago.