Hawaiʻi is facing its worst flooding in more than two decades after a powerful winter storm system dumped heavy rain across already saturated ground, forcing evacuations, damaging homes and displacing dozens of families.
Officials issued urgent warnings to residents in hard-hit areas, telling people to “LEAVE NOW” as floodwaters surged across Oahu’s North Shore. The region, known for big-wave surfing, saw muddy water sweep through neighborhoods, lifting cars and threatening homes.
About 5,500 people were ordered to evacuate, while authorities warned that a 120-year-old dam was at risk of failure.
“The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” an emergency alert stated.
The flooding comes after days of relentless rain linked to a rare Kona Low weather system, which brought extreme precipitation across multiple islands. Some areas recorded up to 46 inches of rain over several days, overwhelming infrastructure and triggering flight cancellations and airport shutdowns.
On Maui, officials upgraded evacuation advisories to warnings in parts of Lahaina, an area still recovering from a deadly wildfire in 2023, as retention basins neared capacity. Across the state, more rain is expected, raising concerns that conditions could worsen.
“Don’t let your guard down just yet,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Tina Stall. “There’s still potential for more flooding impacts.”
Residents described the speed and severity of the rise in the waters. Racquel Achiu, a farmer in Waialua, said she found her goats standing in knee-high water before conditions escalated rapidly.
“My dogs’ heads were literally just sticking out of the water,” Achiu said via CBS News. “There was so much water, I cannot even express.”
Emergency crews rescued more than 200 people from rising floodwaters. Officials said no deaths had been reported, but damage assessments are ongoing. Governor Josh Green warned the financial impact could exceed $1 billion, affecting roads, schools, homes and medical facilities.
More than 2,000 Hawaiian residents have been affected by power outages.
“This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green said.
The storm has also disrupted Hawaiʻi’s tourism sector during a peak travel period. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and hotels dealing with widespread cancellations.
Authorities said the scale of the flooding was driven by intense rainfall hitting already saturated soil, with some parts of Oahu receiving up to 12 inches in a short period. Officials are continuing to monitor the Wahiawa dam and other vulnerable infrastructure.
“We’re seeing the waters receding in a lot of places, but with that saturation, even a small amount of rain can bring those conditions right back,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for Oahu’s emergency management department.
