"I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact," the governor said at a news conference in the state capital, Honolulu.

He also announced that all public schools, University of Hawaii campuses and non-essential government offices on the islands of Oahu and Kauai would be closed for at least two days starting on Thursday.

STORE SHELVES STRIPPED

The shelves of a downtown Honolulu Walmart were stripped of items ranging from canned tuna to dog food. Shoppers jostled with one another to get the last boxes of ramen noodles.

"There's nothing in there," said one shopper leaving the store.