Hawaii sees record-breaking rainfall during powerful storm

Governor declares state of emergency as heavy rain causes flooding and power outages across multiple islands

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:39pm

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Hawaii experienced a powerful kona storm that brought record-breaking rainfall to multiple islands, with Maui seeing the heaviest precipitation. The storm caused widespread flooding, power outages, and damage, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency.

Why it matters

Extreme weather events like this kona storm are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, posing significant challenges for Hawaii's infrastructure and communities. Understanding the impacts of these storms is crucial for disaster preparedness and resilience efforts.

The details

The kona storm, which typically occurs during the winter months, brought heavy rain across Hawaii, with Maui seeing the highest totals. One location on Maui recorded up to 46 inches of precipitation over a 5-day period. Other islands also saw significant rainfall, with Oahu reporting over 19 inches in some areas and the Big Island seeing 25 inches or more in certain locations. The heavy rain led to damaging floods, power outages affecting over 100,000 people, and images showing flooded homes and farmland.

  • The storm brought heavy rain to Hawaii from March 10-15, 2026.
  • On March 13, 2026, the National Weather Service's Kahului location recorded its rainiest 24-hour period ever, with over 7 inches of precipitation.
  • Also on March 13, 2026, Honolulu reported 5.1 inches of rain, far exceeding the previous 1951 record of 3.3 inches.

The players

Thomas Vaughan

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hawaii.

Maui County

The local government of Maui, which posted a video showing the effects of the strong storm, including landslides, washed-out roads, and flooded hotel lobbies.

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What they’re saying

“We're talking about a lot of water.”

— Thomas Vaughan, Meteorologist

What’s next

Vaughan said the islands should get a breather from the heavy rain this week, although a weaker storm is expected to move in next weekend. 'We're still kind of keeping an eye on things,' Vaughan said. 'Any additional rain is not going to be good in areas that have already been inundated.'

The takeaway

This extreme weather event highlights the growing challenges Hawaii faces due to climate change, with more frequent and intense storms causing significant damage to the islands' infrastructure and communities. Disaster preparedness and resilience efforts will be crucial in the face of these growing threats.