Flash Flood in Hawaii
Every flash flood event the National Weather Service has filed in Hawaii, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
The most significant on the map
The most significant flash flood episodes in Hawaii.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 570
- Deaths
- 17
- Injuries
- 17
- Damage
- $1.4 billion
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, March 13 to 14, 2006Flash flooding initially occurred over northern and eastern parts of Kauai along Kuhio Highway, as heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms forced the Hanalei River over its banks near the Hanalei Bridge.A much more serious event occurred hours later, at about 0545 HST on the…
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Hawaii, February 15 to 19, 2018With a weakening front over the islands and an upper low northwest of Kauai, heavy showers and thunderstorms developed over the state. Drenching rain led to periods of flash flooding over several isles, and gusty winds downed trees and power lines.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 20 to 23, 2026A cutoff low moved in from the northwest and pulled deep tropical moisture from the south over the Hawaiian islands. This led to the development of prolonged slow moving heavy rain and thunderstorms.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, November 26 to 27, 2009An upper trough moving over the islands from the northwest spawned heavy rain and flash flooding conditions. A married couple from Hana, Maui, were apparently swept away by swollen stream waters on Thanksgiving night as they tried to make their way back to their home.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, April 10, 2003A 6-foot wall of water moving down Palikea Stream in Haleakala National Park, in the southeast part of East Maui, swept a Kentucky man and his daughter over a 184-foot precipice at Makahiku Falls. Heavy showers falling at the higher elevations of Mt.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, August 27 to 28, 2018More heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms developed over parts of the island chain as Lane moved away from the state to the west. Some of the precipitation caused flash flooding on Kauai, the Big Island, and Oahu.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, March 6 to 11, 2021A slow-moving surface trough, heading east to west, and an upper disturbance triggered heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms that caused flash flooding in some instances. Damages occurred to public and private property, including roads and bridges washed out.
- Flash Flooding and High Wind in Hawaii, March 12 to 15, 2026From March 12th through March 14th of 2026, a large and powerful kona storm setup over the northern central Pacific, and brought numerous impacts across the state. This low was supported by a broad and potent upper level trough that lingered for many days.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, October 30, 2004Very heavy showers and thunderstorms generated flash flooding in southeast parts of the island of Oahu.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, November 1 to 2, 2000Upper air instability and remnants of a tropical cyclone combined to generate torrential rains that produced severe flash flooding over eastern and southeastern parts of the Big Island on the 1st and 2nd of November.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Hawaii, February 20 to 24, 2013Heavy rain brought flash flooding, mainly to the Valley Isle of Maui. There were no reports of serious injuries. The costs of any property damage were not available.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 27 to 31, 2020A disturbance aloft moved toward the islands and brought a bout of heavy showers and thunderstorms, especially over the western portion of the Aloha State.
- Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in Hawaii, December 1 to 5, 2016An upper low and a separate upper trough generated heavy rain and showers, isolated thunderstorms, and flash flooding over much of the Aloha State. The features also produced snow and blustery weather to the upper elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, April 11 to 16, 2018A developing upper low northwest of the state, in combination with tropical moisture, induced periods of heavy showers and thunderstorms, and generated historic flash flooding conditions over the Garden Isle of Kauai.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, July 10 to 12, 2011The atmosphere near the islands became unstable as a mid-level trough moved through the area. The Big Island of Hawaii and Maui saw the most significant rainfall from this feature.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, February 17 to 19, 2021A surface front stalled near Kauai, along with an upper trough, brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the Aloha State, and flash flooding to Kauai.
- Flash Flood and High Wind in Hawaii, January 21 to 22, 2017As a front moved through the isles, high pressure in its wake brought blustery winds that resulted in power outages in many areas, downed trees and power lines, and roof damage to many residences.
- Flash Flood and High Wind in Hawaii, January 21 to 25, 2014A cold front moved rapidly through the Aloha State. There were only limited areas of heavy rain as the system moved from west to east across the island chain, though a flash flood did occur in East Maui.
- Flash Flooding in Hawaii, January 27 to 28, 2023An extended period of deep layered moisture and moderate instability generated periods of heavy rainfall and localized flooding impacts across portions of Maui County.
- Hurricane and Flash Flooding in Hawaii, August 22 to 26, 2018With Hurricane Lane just west of the Big Island of Hawaii, and south of Maui County and Oahu, torrential rain fell over parts of the state, especially the Big Island.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, December 19, 2012Heavy showers fell over the windward side of the Big Island near Papaaloa, just to the southeast of Laupahoehoe. A motorist, a tourist from California, apparently tried to cross the swollen Pahale Stream and died after being swept away by the rapid current.
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, September 14, 2015High running water at Wailuku River's Boiling Pots on the Big Island resulted in one drowning fatality after the swimmer was pulled downstream and didn't make it out. The other swimmer was able to make it to the river bank downstream.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Hawaii, April 11 to 12, 2024A strong low pressure system to the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands along with an associated surface trough brought abundant moisture and an unstable atmosphere to the region.
- Flash Flooding in Hawaii, February 21, 2026A cold upper level trough along with deep moisture and southeasterly winds allowed heavy rainfall to develop over the Koolau mountain range of Oahu, over Kauai, and over windward portions of Maui.
- Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Hawaii, August 24 to 26, 2024Hurricane Hone, which formed in the Central Pacific, tracked towards the Hawaiian islands and passed by just south of the Big Island.
More
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.