Hawaii’s Worst Flooding in 20 Years Triggers Nearly 200 Rescues and Could Top $1 Billion in Damage
Hawaii is enduring its worst flooding in about 20 years, with nearly 200 people rescued and thousands—between roughly 4,000 and 5,500—ordered to evacuate after torrential rains (up to nearly 16 inches in spots) caused life‑threatening flash floods, power outages and flooded shelters. Officials warned the 120‑year‑old Wahiawa Dam was at risk of imminent failure as water ran over its spillway, the National Guard was activated for search-and-rescue operations, and Gov. Josh Green estimates total storm costs could top $1 billion; no deaths have been reported so far.
📌 Key Facts
- Honolulu issued a 5:35 a.m. emergency evacuation alert Friday telling residents downstream of the 120‑year‑old Wahiawa Dam to leave because it was “at risk of imminent failure” and water was running over the spillway; the dam level rose from 79 to 84 feet overnight (about 6 feet below maximum) before receding and continues to be closely monitored.
- The initial evacuation order covered more than 4,000 people downstream of Wahiawa Dam; at the peak authorities said roughly 5,500 people north of Honolulu were under evacuation orders (many of those orders were later lifted).
- Nearly 200 people were rescued from homes and cars across Hawaii (some reports say more than 200); the National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department also airlifted 72 children and adults from the Our Lady of Kea’au spring‑break youth camp as a precaution.
- Roughly 185 people and about 50 pets sheltering at Waialua High and Intermediate School had to be evacuated and bussed to another center after that shelter itself flooded.
- Heavy rainfall was extreme in parts of Oahu: Kaala peak saw nearly 16 inches in a day, many areas had 8–12 inches overnight, the National Weather Service warned of “widespread life‑threatening flash flooding” in Haleiwa and Waialua, and another 6–8 inches were forecast over the following days.
- Gov. Josh Green activated the Hawaii National Guard, described chest‑high floodwaters in parts of northern Oahu, and estimates total storm costs could top $1 billion — including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes and a Maui hospital in Kula.
- Critical services were disrupted: more than 2,000 people remained without power (down from higher earlier outages) with proactive shutoffs in Waialua and remaining outages in Maui County, and a boil‑water notice stayed in effect for North Shore areas from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay.
- Search-and-rescue operations were hampered at times by civilians flying personal drones over flood zones, and officials noted the floods followed back‑to‑back “Kona low” systems, with experts saying increasing heavy‑rain intensity and frequency in Hawaii is linked to human‑caused climate change.
📊 Relevant Data
Hispanic or Latino residents comprise 16% of the population living within flood zones in Hawaii, compared to 8% of the total state population.
Fine-scale assessment of inequities in inland flood vulnerability — Applied Geography
Native Hawaiians make up 58% of families living under the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold in Hawaii, despite comprising only about 10% of the state's population.
New report questions Hawaii's economic survivability — KHON2
Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Native American communities are disproportionately affected in low-lying areas most severely impacted by sea level rise in Hawaii compared to their share of the total population.
Disparities in Impacts of Sea Level Rise in Under-Resourced Communities in California and Hawai'i — University of Hawaii ScholarSpace
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 23, 2026
1:38 PM
Nearly 200 rescued from homes, cars in Hawaii amid severe flooding
New information:
- Confirms that nearly 200 people have been rescued from homes and cars across Hawaii during the latest round of severe flooding.
- Reiterates that the storms constitute some of the worst flooding in decades in parts of Hawaii, consistent with 'worst in 20 years' framing in prior coverage.
- Restates Gov. Josh Green’s estimate that total damage from the flooding could exceed $1 billion.
6:30 AM
Historic Hawaii floods leave 2,000 people without power
New information:
- More than 2,000 people remained without power Sunday afternoon, down from earlier outages, with Hawaiian Electric expecting to restore service to about 2,000 more customers later Sunday.
- Hawaiian Electric had proactively shut off power to about 1,200 customers in Waialua on Oahu’s North Shore on Friday and has since restored service there; roughly 100 customers remain without power in Maui County and all major outages on Hawaii Island have been addressed.
- Officials say more than 200 people were rescued during the flooding and that earlier evacuation orders for roughly 5,500 people north of Honolulu have been lifted, with no deaths reported so far.
- Gov. Josh Green now estimates total storm costs could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes and a Maui hospital in Kula.
- A boil-water notice remains in effect for North Shore areas from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay, and residents are urged to report property damage to local authorities.
- Meteorologist Matthew Foster says the worst of the storm is over, with rainfall now shifting to scattered showers and less than 5 inches of rain expected on Hawaii Island and 1–2 inches elsewhere, and more typical March weather expected by Wednesday.
- Authorities say earlier fears that the 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam could fail have largely eased as water levels have dropped, though the dam continues to be monitored.
- The article reiterates that the flooding followed back-to-back 'Kona low' systems and notes experts’ assessment that heavy-rain intensity and frequency in Hawaii are increasing due to human-caused climate change.
March 21, 2026
7:55 AM
Hawaii suffers its worst flooding in 20 years and forecasters warn more rain is coming
New information:
- Gov. Josh Green calls this Hawaii’s most serious flooding since the 2004 Manoa floods and estimates total storm costs could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes and a Maui hospital in Kula.
- Authorities report roughly 5,500 people under evacuation orders north of Honolulu, with at least about 10 people taken to a hospital for hypothermia and no deaths or missing persons so far.
- Officials say Oahu’s Kaala peak received nearly 16 inches of rain in a day, other parts of Oahu saw 8–12 inches overnight, and additional 6–8 inches are forecast over the next two to three days.
- The Wahiawa Dam level rose from 79 to 84 feet overnight, about 6 feet below its maximum, before receding somewhat, and is being closely watched for possible failure as more rain is expected.
- The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department airlifted 72 children and adults from the Our Lady of Kea’au spring break youth camp on Oahu’s west coast as a precaution, even though the camp sits on high ground.
- Honolulu officials report that search and rescue efforts were hampered by civilians flying personal drones over the flood zone, interfering with aerial operations.
March 20, 2026
9:35 PM
Over 4,000 told to evacuate flooding in Hawaii as officials warn 120-year-old dam could fail
New information:
- Honolulu officials say emergency sirens blared along Oahu’s North Shore as muddy floodwaters pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and swept away some houses, though the exact number is not yet known.
- Honolulu’s 5:35 a.m. evacuation order covers more than 4,000 people downstream of the 120‑year‑old Wahiawa Dam, with officials warning it is "at risk of imminent failure" and water is actively running over the spillway.
- Roughly 185 people and 50 pets sheltering at Waialua High and Intermediate School had to be relocated by bus after that shelter flooded, amid 8–12 inches of overnight rain and what NWS calls "widespread life‑threatening flash flooding" in Haleiwa and Waialua.
- Gov. Josh Green says the Hawaii National Guard has been activated and describes chest‑high floodwaters on parts of northern Oahu, calling it a "very touch‑and‑go day," while a state senator says some residents are effectively isolated and unable to evacuate due to high water.
9:04 PM
Officials warn 120-year-old Hawaiian dam could fail as thousands told to evacuate flooding
New information:
- Honolulu officials issued a specific 5:35 a.m. emergency alert Friday telling residents downstream of Wahiawa Dam to evacuate because it was 'at risk of imminent failure.'
- Honolulu Department of Emergency Management spokesperson Molly Pierce said the evacuation order covers more than 4,000 people and confirmed that 'water is actively running over the spillway right now.'
- City spokesperson Ian Scheuring said firefighters and lifeguards on jet skis are searching floodwaters for stranded people and that there are reports of homes being swept away, though the total is not yet known.
- Roughly 185 people and 50 pets sheltering at Waialua High and Intermediate School had to be evacuated and bussed to another center because that shelter itself flooded.
- Officials reported 8 to 12 inches of rain overnight in parts of north Oahu, on top of catastrophic flooding from last week’s storm, with the National Weather Service warning of 'widespread life-threatening flash flooding' particularly in Haleiwa and Waialua.