Hawaii hit by worst flooding in two decades as heavy rain continues
Hawaii is facing its most severe flooding in more than two decades as heavy rains soaked land already saturated by a winter storm last week, officials said Friday, warning that more rainfall is expected over the weekend. Muddy floodwaters swept across large areas of Oahu’s North Shore, a region known for big-wave surfing, lifting homes and vehicles and prompting evacuation orders for 5,500 residents north of Honolulu. Authorities also expressed concern about a 120-year-old dam at risk of failing.
Gov. Josh Green estimated the storm’s damages could exceed $1 billion, affecting airports, schools, roads, homes, and a hospital in Maui’s Kula region. “This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green said. Northern Oahu communities, including Haleiwa and Waialua, remained under flash flood warnings as much of the state was placed on flood watch. Green confirmed that federal assistance would be available if needed.
No deaths were reported, and all residents were accounted for, though about 10 people were hospitalized for hypothermia. Emergency crews searched by air and water for stranded residents, a task complicated by people flying personal drones over the flooded areas. The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department airlifted 72 children and adults from a spring break youth camp on Oahu’s west coast. Officials said the flooding is the worst since the 2004 Manoa floods, which damaged homes and a University of Hawaii library.
Dozens of homes have been damaged, and officials continue to assess the full impact. Officials noted that some areas received 8 to 12 inches of rain overnight, with Kaala, the island’s highest peak, recording nearly 16 inches in 24 hours. Additional rainfall of 6 to 8 inches was forecast for Oahu over the next two to three days. Experts said “Kona lows,” winter storms bringing moisture-laden winds from the south, are responsible for the heavy rains, and climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of such events.
Authorities closely monitored the Wahiawa dam, an aging earthen structure built in 1906 with a history of vulnerability. Water levels had risen to 84 feet overnight, just six feet shy of its maximum capacity, though levels receded by late Friday. Residents expressed ongoing concern about the dam, which is considered a high-hazard structure capable of causing probable loss of life if it fails. The dam, once part of a sugar plantation system and now associated with Dole Food Company, has been under state scrutiny for decades, with repairs and a pending transfer to state ownership still in progress. Officials emphasized that the dam was operating as designed with no immediate signs of damage.
The flooding has already caused widespread disruptions, with roads, homes, and schools impacted across Oahu and Maui. Authorities continue to urge residents to take precautions as heavy rainfall persists, and recovery efforts are expected to be extensive given the scale of damage.
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