Hawaii is facing devastating flooding after two back-to-back storms pummeled the islands with heavy rain and damaging winds. Authorities have warned that this is the worst flooding the state has experienced in two decades, as torrential waters wash out homes, roads, and threaten to breach a dam.
Threat of Dam Failure and Emergency Evacuations
The flooding prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents on March 20, especially in northern Oahu, due to the threat of a dam failure. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency issued an alert stating that the 120-year-old dam was “at imminent risk of failure,” though it later clarified that the dam had not yet collapsed.
Evacuations were ordered for Haleʻiwa and Waialua, and residents were warned that all roads out of the area were at risk of “imminent failure.” Gov. Josh Green reassured the public that there had been no deaths or people unaccounted for, but called the situation the worst the state had seen since the early 2000s.
Around 200 people have been rescued, with about 10 receiving treatment for hypothermia.
Ongoing Storms and Flash Flood Warnings
The National Weather Service in Honolulu reported that two weather systems continue to bring rain, thunderstorms, and an increased risk of flash flooding to Hawaii.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue through the weekend, with some areas receiving up to 2 to 4 inches of rain per hour. A flood watch was issued for the entire state through March 22.
The Kaukonahua Stream near Wailua in central Oahu rose more than 10.5 feet on March 20, several inches higher than it had been just a week earlier. Flash floods caused significant damage, with roads being inundated by up to a foot of water. Civilians were rescued using bulldozers as floodwaters swamped homes and vehicles.
Kona Storms: A Rare Phenomenon
Hawaii’s recent storms are part of a rare winter weather event called “Kona lows” or Kona storms. These storms, often occurring on the leeward sides of the islands, bring intense rain and winds.
Typically, one to two Kona storms hit Hawaii each winter, but it is extremely rare for two to form in the same month, let alone within a week. The first round of storms in March brought over 4 feet of rain to certain areas.
Worst Flooding Since the 2004 Manoa Flood
This flood event is being compared to the devastating Manoa Flood of 2004, which caused significant damage across Hawaii. The 2004 flood, driven by heavy rain, caused $85 million in damages, including to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported during that flood.
Gov. Green estimated that the damage from the March 2026 floods could total $1 billion, affecting homes, roads, schools, airports, and hospitals. One home in Mokuleia near Waialua was swept away in a flash flood on March 20, with parts of the house collapsing and being carried onto the beach.
In Makaha Valley, a road was closed after part of it collapsed, sending vehicles over the edge, highlighting the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the flooding.
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