Thousands of residents living north of Honolulu were ordered to evacuate their homes early Friday morning as intense flooding from heavy rains escalated and water levels surged behind a century-old dam.
Emergency sirens blared across Oahu’s renowned North Shore, where rising waters have already damaged properties and vehicles. Honolulu officials issued a stark “LEAVE NOW” evacuation order at 5:35 a.m. Friday for the communities of Waialua and Haleiwa, warning of “Extremely dangerous flooding and Wahiawa Dam is high.”
Authorities have been closely monitoring the dam’s levels since a powerful storm last week unleashed torrential rain across the state, leading to catastrophic flooding that destroyed roads and homes. Following that severe weather, a similar but weaker storm was predicted to bring additional rainfall throughout the weekend.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green confirmed via social media that the Hawaii National Guard has been activated to assist with the flood response. “The storm of course is very severe right now, particularly on the northern part of Oahu,” he stated, describing floodwaters reaching chest-high levels. “It’s going to be a very touch-and-go day.”
As she prepared to seek refuge at a friend’s house on higher ground, Waialua resident Kathleen Pahinui shared with The Associated Press that the aging dam is a constant worry with every rainfall. “Just pray for us,” she pleaded. “We understand there’s more rain coming.”
Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, indicated that the evacuation order impacts over 4,000 individuals, a figure that could potentially rise. Officials had previously issued a warning for the dam during heavy rains last week, but water levels had receded once the downpour subsided. “The water is actively running over the spillway right now,” Pierce confirmed.
The state of Hawaii oversees 132 dams, with the majority constructed as part of irrigation systems for the historical sugar cane industry, according to a 2019 infrastructure report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. This situation recalls the 2006 tragedy when the Ka Loko dam on Kauai collapsed, resulting in the deaths of seven people as water rushed downstream.
