Historic Hawaii floods leave 2,000 people without power
[March 23, 2026]
By JESSICA HILL
More than 2,000 people remained without power Sunday afternoon after
Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years when heavy
rains fell across the islands.
Heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter
storm a week ago. Raging waters lifted homes and cars, causing an
expected $1 billion in damages. The storm prompted evaluation orders for
5,500 people north of Honolulu — though they were later lifted — and
more than 200 people were rescued from the rising waters. No deaths have
been reported as of yet, Molly Pierce, spokesperson for Oahu's
Department of Emergency Management, said Sunday afternoon.
By Sunday afternoon, Hawaiian Electric restored power to about 1,200
people in Waialua on the North Shore of Oahu, according to the company.
Customers' power was proactively turned off Friday because of the
flooding.
Crews continue to assess the damage and make repairs, and Hawaiian
Electric expects to return power to 2,000 more people later Sunday. In
Maui County, about 100 people were without power Sunday afternoon, and
all major outages were addressed on Hawaii Island, according to the
company.
The worst of the storms appear to be over, Hawaii meteorologist Matthew
Foster told The Associated Press.
By Sunday afternoon, the weather shifted from widespread showers to
scattered rain from Oahu, Maui County to Hawaii Island, Foster said.
Less than 5 inches (13 cm) of rain is expected for Hawaii Island, with
between 1 to 2 inches (3-5 cm) in other areas.
Winds will pick up out of the northeast sides of the islands, which have
more vegetation and can handle more rain, Foster said. It will take a
couple days for the moisture to push past the islands, and drier and
more typical March weather can be expected by Wednesday.
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The Ala Wai Golf Course is seen inundated with water from the recent
storms, as Hawaii residents work to recover from one of the worst
floods in decades, in Waikiki, Hawaii, Sunday, March 22, 2026.
(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Additional flooding could still occur, but more on an isolated scale
rather than widespread, Foster said.
A boil water notice remained in place Sunday for North Shore areas
from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay, and residents were encouraged to report
damages to the city.
Gov. Josh Green said the cost of the storm could top $1 billion,
including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes and a Maui
hospital in Kula.
Officials were concerned that the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam could
fail, though that worry has primarily passed since water levels have
dropped, Pierce said. The dam continues to be monitored.
Winter storm systems known as “Kona lows,” which feature southerly
or southwesterly winds that bring in moisture-laden air, have been
responsible for the deluges in the past two weeks. The intensity and
frequency of heavy rains in Hawaii have increased amid human-caused
global warming, experts say.
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