More than 230 people had to be rescued across Oahu in a dramatic fight against fast-rising floodwaters as a powerful Kona-low storm system battered Hawaii.
All the while a major dam remains under dangerous pressure and the damage could soar past $1 billion.
At least 233 rescues were carried out on Friday alone officials said, as roads disappeared under water and neighborhoods were inundated following days of relentless rain.
Despite the scale of the disaster, authorities said no fatalities have been reported.
‘This is the largest flood that we’ve had in Hawaii in 20 years,’ Governor Josh Green said during a joint news conference with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, comparing the crisis to the devastating Manoa floods of the early 2000s.
The chaos comes after earlier fears that the Wahiawa Dam on Oahu was at risk of failure, prompting urgent evacuation orders for communities downstream in Haleiwa and Waialua on the island’s North Shore.
The reservoir had surged well above normal levels after torrential downpours dumped huge volumes of rain across the region.
Residents were urged to help neighbors only if it was possible to do it safely, but let them know about the alert, and not waste time packing belongings.
The evacuation order applies to anyone currently in Haleiwa between Puuiki Street and Kamehameha Highway and areas of Waialua between Kukea Circle to Otake Camp.
According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the downpours have caused the water level in the Wahiawa reservoir to rise to over 85 feet. That amount is well above the normal spillway level of about 80 feet.
Governor Green cautioned that additional bands of rain expected over the next three days could worsen conditions, as already saturated ground struggles to absorb more water.
‘This storm could cost over a billion dollars of damage to both the private and public sector,’ the governor said.
Flash flood warnings remained in effect across Oahu into the evening, while emergency crews continued to respond to calls for help from stranded residents.
The impact has stretched beyond Oahu. On Maui, evacuation warnings were issued for Iao Valley in Central Maui and parts of Kihei in South Maui as conditions deteriorated.
Emergency shelters have been opened on multiple islands to accommodate displaced residents, while officials continue to monitor reservoirs, waterways and vulnerable infrastructure.
Mayor Blangiardi praised both first responders and residents for their cooperation during a fast-moving and dangerous situation.
Green also acknowledged the public’s response, thanking residents for heeding evacuation warnings and acting quickly. ‘This is a major threat to our people and to our state and your responsible behavior has made it easier for us to respond,’ he said.
Hawaii has been inundated with rain from a pair of heavy storm systems known as ‘Kona lows’ which have dumped between eight and 12 inches of rain in certain areas over the last day.
Hawaiian officials earlier updated reports that the Wahiawa Dam had not failed, but still pleaded with residents to leave the area at once.
‘Wahiawa Dam has not failed but is at imminent risk of failure. Potential life-threatening flooding of downstream areas,’ Oahu Emergency Management posted online Friday.
Residents fleeing the area have been advised to carpool if possible as traffic during the evacuation has been extremely heavy.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has also issued a flash flood warning for all of Honolulu County.
Nearly one million people live in the county, which encompasses the entire island of Oahu, and that number quickly grows to more than 1.1million after accounting for tourists visiting Hawaii.
Honolulu officials warned in a statement at 4.37pm ET: ‘Radar indicated heavy rain continuing to move over east Oahu. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2.5 inches per hour.’
‘Flash flooding is ongoing, especially in and around Honolulu, with flowing water on roadways and stalled vehicles.’
On X, emergency management officials urged anyone in the affected area to immediately move to higher ground and avoid traveling through flooded areas or roadways.
While residents in Honolulu, on the southern part of the island, have been urged to seek higher ground, the situation is becoming extremely dire for Hawaiians in the north – where the Wahiawa Dam is located.
‘This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Northern Oahu,’ Honolulu County officials declared at 5pm ET.
Several public roads are expected to be closed Friday, and landslides are feared along areas with steep terrain.
‘Significant property damage expected to homes and other properties in low lying areas,’ officials warned.
All of the rain and flooding ravaging Hawaii has come from a rare double hit from Kona lows.
These are unusual winter weather systems that bring heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and flooding by pulling in tropical moisture from the south instead of the usual trade winds from the east.
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The first powerful Kona storm hit Hawaii from March 10 to March 16, dumping record amounts of rain, including up to 46 inches in some spots, such as Maui and parts of Oahu.
However, AccuWeather meteorologists have warned that this second Kona storm, which began on Thursday, could quickly lead to devastating damage on Oahu because the ground is still saturated from the earlier storm.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson warned: ‘The ground is still saturated in the wake of the recent storm, which will lead to rapid runoff that can easily trigger small stream and urban flooding, as well as increase the risk of mudslides and debris flows.’
