As Hawaii faces severe flooding-its worst in over two decades-officials are urging residents in affected areas to “LEAVE NOW.” This warning was issued early Saturday after relentless rains saturated the ground, with more rainfall anticipated over the weekend. The North Shore of Oahu, known globally for its big-wave surfing, has been particularly hard-hit, with muddy floodwaters inundating properties and prompting evacuation orders for 5,500 residents just north of Honolulu. A 120-year-old dam is also under scrutiny due to concerns it may fail.
“The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” stated an emergency alert, indicating the precarious situation. On Maui, an evacuation advisory escalated to a warning for portions of Lahaina, still recovering from the devastating 2023 wildfires, due to retention basins nearing capacity.
Though some residents of North Shore Oahu woke to receding waters and glimpses of blue skies, meteorologist Tina Stall of the National Weather Service cautioned that the threat was far from over. “Don’t let your guard down just yet; there’s still potential for more flooding impacts,” she reminded the community.
Among those who remained in Waialua was farmer Racquel Achiu, who stayed behind to care for her livestock. Achiu experienced the chaos firsthand as her goats found themselves in knee-deep water. An hour later, her family’s seven dogs were in jeopardy within an elevated kennel. “My dogs’ heads were literally just sticking out of the water,” she recounted, conveying the severity of the situation.
Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green warned that the storm could inflict over $1 billion in damages, affecting airports, schools, roads, homes, and even a hospital on Maui. “This is going to have serious consequences for us as a state,” he said during a news briefing, adding that he had reached out to the White House for federal assistance.
The flooding’s intensity, the most severe since 2004, has yet to be fully assessed, with officials estimating that dozens, if not hundreds, of homes have sustained damage. Parts of Oahu received between 8 to 12 inches of rain in a short period, overwhelming saturated ground conditions.
Authorities rescued more than 200 individuals from the rising waters, and fortunately, there have been no fatalities. Emergency crews continue searching for any stranded individuals via air and water. The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department airlifted 72 people-children and adults-from a spring break camp at Our Lady of Kea’au, located on high ground.
Recent winter storms known as “Kona lows” have caused this deluge. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall in Hawaii to climate change. In the midst of this disaster, officials are keeping a watchful eye on the Wahiawa dam, an aging structure that has posed risks for decades. Although water levels fluctuated, the dam remained secure by Saturday morning, but concerns about hazardous conditions throughout the island persist.
Kathleen Pahinui shared her experience evacuating her Waialua home due to the dam’s potential failure. “Hopefully, if we make it through today, then tomorrow will dawn bright and sunny,” she expressed, hoping for a return to normalcy. Built in 1906 to aid sugar production, the Wahiawa dam has had longstanding safety issues, prompting the state to issue multiple notices of deficiency to its owner, Dole Food Company.
As Hawaii grapples with this catastrophic flooding event, ongoing assessments and rescue operations underline the pressing need for community support and safety.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/21/hawaii-suffers-its-worst-flooding-in-20-years.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-22 04:47:00
