Lightning in Hawaii

Events

36

Deaths

0

Injuries

5

Damage

$1.2 million

• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, March 6 to 11, 2021$53 million · 27 eventsA 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, 20261 injured · $26 million · 69 kt wind · 21 eventsFrom 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 Flooding and Winter Storm in Hawaii, December 1 to 5, 20161 death · $1,000 · 18 eventsAn 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 Flood and Lightning Strike in Hawaii, May 15, 2026$1.1 million · 2 eventsA cold upper level low approached the Hawaiian islands and led to thunderstorms and flooding.
• Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Hawaii, July 28 to 31, 20131 injured · $24,000 · 30 eventsFlossie, downgraded to tropical depression status as it neared Maui at 1700 HST on the 29th, affected the state from July 28th through the 30th, though high surf continued through the 31st on the Big Island of Hawaii.
• Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Hawaii, May 1 to 3, 2011$50,000 · 14 eventsAn upper low in the area affected the Aloha State, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms, and even small hail to parts of the Big Island of Hawaii and Maui. There were no reports of serious injuries. The costs of physical damages were not available.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strikes in Hawaii, June 1 to 5, 20111 injured · $20,000 · 15 eventsAn upper low in the area caused showers and thunderstorms--even snow--over the Aloha State. Some of the rain was heavy enough to produce flash flooding over parts of the island chain. The costs of any property damage were not available.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Hawaii, March 2 to 6, 2012$10,000 · 1.5 in hail · 23 eventsAn upper trough in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands brought heavy rain and flash flooding to Kauai and Oahu. There were no reports of serious injuries. The cost of damages was not available.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, November 7 to 11, 2013$2,000 · 23 eventsAn upper level low north of the islands combined with a surface trough and shear line to produce heavy rain and flash flooding over parts of the Aloha State. There were no reports of serious injuries. The cost of damages was not available.
• Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, October 12 to 15, 2017$15,000 · 8 eventsLow level moisture became the fuel as surface and upper air features induced heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms over much of the island chain. The downpours produced ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding. No serious injuries were reported.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Hawaii, December 1 to 2, 20131 injured · 50 kt wind · 8 eventsAn advancing cold front and upper trough brought heavy rain, thunderstorms, and/or flash flooding to portions of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. The total cost of damages was not available.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, August 15, 19971 injured · 1 eventA 45 year-old man was struck by lightning while leaning against a chain-link fence at his residence at 89-155 Nanaikala Place in Nanakuli. The man was hospitalized and observed for several hours and then released.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, November 18, 19971 injured · 1 eventA 40-year old male was injured slightly by a lightning strike while touching a knob on his amateur radio. The person experienced numbness between his knee and ankle on the same side as the hand touching the radio knob.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Hawaii, August 20 to 21, 2017$10,000 · 7 eventsWith an upper trough in the area acting on abundant low-level tropical moisture, heavy showers and thunderstorms developed from the Big Island to Kauai. Most of the rain caused ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, January 26, 1996$10,000 · 1 eventLightning struck the Maui Space Surveillance Complex at the summit of Haleakala sparking an electrical fire in a power distribution panel. Three people were treated for smoke inhalation.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, January 26, 19961 eventLightning that struck electric lines caused power outages in the Kau and lower Puna Districts.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, June 12, 19961 eventA 23-year-old National Guardsman was struck by lightning at Wheeler Army Air Field while standing behind a helicopter. He was knocked unconscious for about 10 minutes and hospitalized for observation with only minor injury.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, March 17, 19971 eventLightning struck a transformer at the Rockwell Power Systems station near the summit of Haleakala, shutting down electrical power at the station for over 16 hours.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, November 18, 19971 eventLightning struck the ground in a cane field near Lahaina, igniting a small fire.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, November 18, 19971 eventLightning struck a building next to the one struck just two hours earlier, damaging a computer, phone, fax machine, and repeater located in the same room.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, November 18, 19971 eventLightning struck a cable in a housing complex for the elderly, damaging television sets in three separate residences.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, December 1, 19991 eventLightning strikes knocked out power and damaged telephone and computer systems at summit observatories on Haleakala. The observatories included the Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance Complex and several University of Hawaii sites. No damage estimates were available.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, February 20, 20021 eventLightning struck in various locations on the Big Island of Hawaii, especially in the Puna and North and South Kona districts. Power lines were hit and several trees were downed, causing more electrical outages.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, May 21, 20021 eventMany residents of Kapaa lost electrical power for about 45 minutes as lightning struck a transformer in the early afternoon. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries, however.
• Lightning Strike in Hawaii, April 4, 20031 eventA civil defense official informed the National Weather Service office in Lihue, Kauai, that a lightning strike had started a fire at an Anahola residence. However, no damage estimates were available on the blaze.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Hawaii

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.