Despite the storm's offshore nature, swells of were reported near the Puna and Ka‘ū coasts. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu reported a high surf. Surf was lower along the Kona and Kohala coasts. Winds were gusty, causing a few trees to be blown over and branches to be broken. Some minor roof damage was caused by the winds. International observatories and the Keck Telescope on the top of Mauna Kea were forced to close their domes due to the high winds. Rainfall ranged from light to moderate. The storm passed near two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather buoys during its passage through the state. All in all, Hurricane Emilia had mostly minor effects in the Hawaiian Islands.