Two relentless Kona low storms dumped up to 40 inches of rain across Oahu and Maui in March 2026.

North Shore communities like Waialua saw water rise to seven feet, submerging roads, schools, and homes.

Firefighters and lifeguards used jet skis to rescue trapped residents. Remarkably, zero fatalities occurred.

Governor Josh Green requested a federal disaster declaration to fund the massive ongoing cleanup effort.

Kona lows are seasonal subtropical cyclones. They pull deep tropical moisture over the islands, acting like firehoses.

As ocean temperatures rise globally, storm systems absorb and unleash significantly more water.

Flash floods carry massive sediment loads and debris into the ocean, smothering fragile coral reef ecosystems.

Climate models indicate that extreme, high-intensity precipitation events will become more frequent.

Island communities are being forced to rethink drainage and infrastructure to handle sudden, massive influxes of water.