Severe Flooding Prompts Rescues, Evacuations Across Oahu
Honolulu, HI – March 22, 2026 – Severe flooding across Oahu has triggered rescues, evacuations and fresh dam concerns as officials assess damage.
Honolulu and communities along Oahu’s North Shore are reeling after what officials are calling the island’s worst flooding in more than 20 years.
Hundreds Rescued As Waters Rise
More than 230 people were rescued Friday and Saturday after intense rains inundated neighborhoods, lifted vehicles and damaged homes. Emergency crews searched by air and boat for stranded residents as floodwaters swept through low-lying areas.
Gov. Josh Green said no deaths have been reported, though about 10 people were hospitalized for hypothermia. Honolulu’s mayor described the destruction as catastrophic, with dozens, and possibly hundreds, of homes sustaining damage.
Dam Fears Trigger Evacuations
Particular concern centered on the aging Wahiawa Dam, where water levels rose rapidly during the storm. At one point, officials warned the structure was at risk of imminent failure, prompting evacuation orders for roughly 5,500 residents downstream.
Emergency sirens sounded across parts of the North Shore as families moved to higher ground. By Saturday, some evacuation orders were lifted as water levels began to recede, but authorities cautioned that additional rain could renew the threat.
Heavy Rains And Widespread Damage
Parts of Oahu recorded between 8 and 12 inches of rain in less than a day, with higher elevations seeing even more. The deluge followed earlier storms that had already saturated the ground, worsening runoff and flash flooding.
The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department airlifted dozens of children and adults from a youth camp as a precaution. Shelters were opened and, in at least one case, relocated due to flooding.
What Comes Next
State and city officials are continuing damage assessments while monitoring weather conditions closely. Residents are urged to stay alert for updates, avoid flooded roadways and follow any renewed evacuation instructions if additional storms move in.
Sources
https://apnews.com/article/36263fe984b1811db44622db4619a63a
https://apnews.com/article/e4b4f3642491b3e5de4a5ad7b82e9f39
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in_Hawaii
