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what parts of hawaii are flooding

Most of the current flooding in Hawaii is impacting Oahu , especially the North Shore areas north of Honolulu, with additional serious flooding and flood warnings in parts of Maui County and a broader flood watch across several other islands.

Quick Scoop: What parts of Hawaii are flooding?

Main areas hit right now

  • Oahu (worst-hit so far)
    • North Shore communities, including areas around Waialua and Haleʻiwa , have seen intense, muddy floodwaters covering wide stretches of land.
* Around **5,500 residents north of Honolulu** were ordered to evacuate at one point because homes and vehicles were being lifted or damaged by fast-moving water.
* A **120‑year‑old dam** on Oahu is under close watch due to risk of failure, which is why evacuation alerts told some residents to “LEAVE NOW.”
* Parts of Oahu have taken **8–12 inches of rain in a single night** , with nearly **16 inches** measured near Mt. Kaʻala, the island’s highest peak.
  • Maui County (Maui and nearby islands)
    • Maui is under a flash flood warning, with meteorologists warning of dangerous, ongoing flooding in some areas.
* The wider **Maui County region** (including **Molokaʻi** , **Lānaʻi** , and **Kahoʻolawe**) has been under a flash flood watch as the same “Kona Low” system keeps feeding deep tropical moisture over the islands.
  • Other Hawaiian islands under watch
    • A broader statewide flood watch has been in effect, covering Oahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe and the Big Island.
* Even where rain has briefly eased (like parts of Oahu), the ground is so saturated that **additional flooding can happen with relatively little new rain**.

What’s driving the flooding?

  • A slow-moving “Kona Low” system is parked near Hawaii, pulling in warm, moisture-rich air that dumps heavy, persistent rain over the islands.
  • This is the second major storm in about a week , so soils were already soaked; that means less rain is needed to trigger flash floods, landslides, and road closures.
  • Officials say this is Hawaii’s most significant flooding in about 20 years , and early estimates suggest over $1 billion in damage statewide, from roads and bridges to schools, hospitals, and homes.

Key safety notes (if you’re there or have loved ones there)

  • Follow local emergency alerts for Oahu and Maui County and heed any evacuation orders immediately.
  • Avoid flooded roads, streams, and low-lying crossings ; fast-moving water can be far stronger than it looks.
  • Some Oahu North Shore areas have boil-water advisories because of suspected damage to water infrastructure, so local guidance on water safety is important.

TL;DR:
Right now, the most serious flooding is on Oahu’s North Shore and areas north of Honolulu , with Maui and the rest of Maui County also under dangerous flooding and flood watches; much of the rest of Hawaii remains under a flood watch because the ground is saturated and more rain is expected.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.