Heavy rainfall on Friday triggered significant flooding in a town north of Honolulu. Roads were submerged, houses shifted from their foundations, and many vehicles were stranded, causing authorities to issue evacuation orders for thousands of residents. There are serious concerns regarding a 120-year-old dam that could potentially fail.
Emergency sirens echoed across Oahu’s North Shore as water levels rose, damaging properties in the well-known surfing area. Honolulu officials cautioned residents Friday morning to evacuate from areas downstream of the Wahiawa Dam, which has a history of vulnerability. They warned that the situation was “at imminent risk of failure.”
The intense storms resulted in the most severe flooding seen in two decades on the island of Oahu. The governor estimated that damages could surpass $1 billion, with over 230 individuals being rescued from flooded areas.
Though water levels in the dam have decreased, authorities indicated it remains in danger of collapse, especially if further rain occurs. The dam’s water level spiked from 79 feet to 84 feet in just a day, raising alarm as it approached critical limits.
Governor Josh Green reported no fatalities or missing persons, although around 10 individuals were treated for hypothermia.
Search and rescue teams employed air and water methods to locate stranded residents, but their efforts faced challenges due to individuals using personal drones to capture photos of the situation.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi stated during a press briefing that while many homes were likely damaged, the full scope of destruction had not yet been completely assessed.
Evacuation orders affected about 5,500 residents.
“The level of devastation from this damage is evident,” he remarked.
Blangiardi expressed confidence in the dam’s stability but acknowledged the unpredictability of the rain’s impact.
The National Guard and the Honolulu Fire Department successfully airlifted 72 people, including children attending a spring break camp, from a retreat called Our Lady of Keaau on the west coast of Oahu. Although the camp is situated on higher ground, officials preferred to move them for safety.
Kimberly R.Y. Viera, representing Hawaii’s St. Francis Healthcare System, mentioned that flooding had cut off the camp’s entrance road.
On Maui, evacuation advisories were issued for parts of Lahaina after a nearby water basin reached full capacity. Some regions in Lahaina had previously been affected by significant wildfires in 2023.
Authorities have been keeping watch on the dam levels since last week’s storms caused considerable damage across the state, disrupting roads and displacing homes. Two individuals suffered serious injuries, one affecting the neck and the other the head, from storm-related incidents. A similar, albeit weaker, storm is expected to bring additional rainfall over the weekend.
“We anticipate a very sensitive day ahead,” Governor Green mentioned in a social media update.
The National Weather Service announced a flood watch across much of the state, with flash flood warnings specifically for Haleiwa and Waialua on Oahu’s northern side.
At Waialua High and Middle School, one evacuation shelter was itself evacuated due to flooding, according to city officials. Around 185 people, along with 50 pets, were transported to another facility, leaving 54 individuals still at the initial shelter by midday.
Oahu experienced 8 to 12 inches of rainfall overnight, exacerbating existing conditions from last weekend’s storms. Mount Cala, the island’s tallest peak, saw a rise of approximately 16 inches in the last day alone, as reported by the NWS.
The storm system, classified as the Kona Depression, brought moist air and severe flooding, with experts suggesting that the frequency and intensity of such rains in Hawaii is escalating due to climate change.
As Waialua resident Kathleen Pahinui prepared to evacuate to a friend’s house on higher ground, she expressed her genuine concern about the aging Wahiawa Dam. “Just pray for us,” she said, aware that more rain is likely.
The state has warned that if the dam were to fail, it could pose significant dangers, potentially leading to loss of life.
Originally constructed in 1906 to boost sugar production, the earthen dam was rebuilt after collapsing in 1921. State records note that the dam’s owner, Dole Food Company, has been alerted four times since 2009 regarding safety issues and was fined $20,000 five years ago for not addressing them promptly.
Dole proposed transferring ownership of the dam to the state in exchange for repairs to meet safety standards. The state authorized the acquisition in 2023 and allocated funds for improving the dam and its spillway. However, the transfer process remains incomplete, with a commission vote on the purchase expected next week.
Dole has asserted that the dam continues to function as intended without visible signs of damage.
Throughout Hawaii, a total of 132 dams, mostly built for the sugarcane irrigation system, are under regulatory oversight, as indicated by a 2019 infrastructure report from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
