Hundreds of people have been rescued and tens of thousands are under threat as catastrophic flash flooding hits Oahu, with officials warning of potential dam failure and life‑threatening inundation in parts of the island’s North Shore.
Scale of the floods and rescues
The flooding on Oahu is the worst in Hawaii in about 20 years, with crews rescuing 233 people as of Friday night and many being pulled directly from rooftops or isolated areas. A youth camp of about 70 people was cut off by water on the North Shore but has been safely evacuated by the Hawaii National Guard and the Honolulu Fire Department, including by helicopter and boat. The U.S. Coast Guard has also deployed boats and aircraft near Haleiwa, urging people not to enter standing or fast‑moving water.
Dam threat and evacuations
The Wahiawa Dam on Oahu’s North Shore briefly raised fears of overtopping or breaching as water levels surged, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for towns such as Waialua and Haleiwa. Emergency officials estimate 4,000–5,000 people live in the immediate dam risk zone and nearly 10,000 in the wider North Shore flood‑impact area. Although water levels at the dam have begun to fall, evacuations remain in place because more heavy rain is possible and access roads into the area have been underwater.
Weather and wider impacts
A Kona storm dumped up to two to three months’ worth of rain in about 24 hours on northern Oahu, with totals of 6–12 inches, on top of already‑saturated ground from a major storm the previous weekend. A flash‑flood watch remains in effect through Sunday, with more heavy rain expected across Oahu and other islands.
On Maui, officials issued an evacuation advisory for parts of Lahaina, where retention basins neared capacity; some of the neighborhoods affected were previously devastated by the 2023 wildfires. Flooding wrecked at least one home and a condo building and left thousands without power, while landslides and road closures cut off some residents. Governor Josh Green has declared emergency proclamations and a disaster‑relief period that runs through April 13.
