Hawaii to Take Over Aging Dam After Failure Scare

State will repair $20 million in damages to 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam that prompted flood evacuations

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:18am

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The state of Hawaii has voted to acquire the Wahiawa Dam from Dole Food Co. after the 120-year-old earthen structure reached worrisome levels during heavy rains and flooding, prompting thousands of residents to evacuate for fear of catastrophic failure. The state will now move forward with at least $20 million in repairs and an expansion of the dam's spillway to address longstanding safety deficiencies.

Why it matters

The Wahiawa Dam is considered a 'high hazard' because its failure would likely have fatal consequences for nearby communities. Residents have long worried about the dam's stability during heavy storms, and the state has repeatedly cited Dole for safety issues in recent years. Taking control of the dam will allow the state to prioritize repairs and upgrades to safeguard the surrounding area.

The details

The Wahiawa Dam was built in 1906 to increase sugar production for the Waialua Agricultural Co., which later became a Dole Food Co. subsidiary. It was reconstructed following a collapse in 1921. During recent heavy rains and flooding, the dam reached worrisome levels, prompting the evacuation of 5,500 people from two nearby communities on Oahu's North Shore. The state has sent Dole four notices of deficiency about the dam since 2009 and fined the company $20,000 five years ago for failing to address safety issues on time.

  • Last week, thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate due to concerns about the dam's stability.
  • On Friday, the state's land board voted to acquire the dam land parcels from Dole Food Co.

The players

Wahiawa Dam

A 120-year-old earthen dam north of Honolulu that is considered a 'high hazard' because its failure would likely have fatal consequences for nearby communities.

Dole Food Co.

The current owner of the Wahiawa Dam, which was originally built in 1906 to increase sugar production for the Waialua Agricultural Co., a Dole subsidiary.

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

The state agency that recommended the acquisition of the Wahiawa Dam due to its high-risk status.

Kathleen Pahinui

A neighborhood board chairperson who was among the 5,500 people ordered to evacuate during the recent flooding scare.

Gov. Josh Green

The governor of Hawaii who said the cost of the recent storm could top $1 billion, making it the state's most serious since flooding in 2004.

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What they’re saying

“Residents worry the dam will fail during each substantial rain.”

— Kathleen Pahinui, Neighborhood Board Chairperson

“If the state is going to endure this and partner with Dole, who again has a checkered past and issue with its Native community and what it's done to aina over time, it's very difficult to be so nonchalant about this issue.”

— Wesley 'Kaiwi' Yoon, Land Board Member

“I call it the decolonizing of this watershed system.”

— Trisha Kehaulani Watson-Sproat, Dole Consultant

What’s next

The state will now move forward with at least $20 million in repairs and an expansion of the Wahiawa Dam's spillway to address longstanding safety deficiencies.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical need to invest in the maintenance and upgrade of aging infrastructure, especially in areas prone to extreme weather events. The state's acquisition of the Wahiawa Dam will allow for comprehensive repairs and improvements to safeguard nearby communities from the potentially devastating consequences of a dam failure.