Kona Low Storm Batters Big Island, Leaving Damage and Dead Goats

Flooding, landslides, and power outages reported across the island after heavy rainfall.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:33am

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A powerful Kona low storm system hit Hawaii's Big Island over the weekend, causing widespread damage and flooding. Residents in the Kealakekua area reported a "wall of water" rushing into their homes, forcing evacuations. Across the island, the storm led to downed trees, washed out roads, and the deaths of several goats that were swept into the Kawaihae Harbor. County officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

Why it matters

The Kona low storm highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Hawaii due to climate change. The flooding and landslides caused significant property damage and disruption, underscoring the need for improved disaster preparedness and resilience efforts on the islands.

The details

The storm brought heavy rainfall, with some areas recording over 19 inches in just a few days. This led to flash flooding, landslides, and other damage across the Big Island. In the Kealakekua area, resident Randy Morris said he had "never in my life" seen a storm like this, with water rushing over a rock wall and pooling in his carport. Nearby, Tom Greenwell's farm suffered damage to its water supply. In the Ka'ū District, roads were turned into raging rivers, with one resident describing the rain as "throwing buckets of water from every direction." The storm also ripped the roof off a popular restaurant in Kailua Village.

  • The storm hit the Big Island on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • The heaviest rainfall occurred on Saturday, with widespread flooding reported throughout the state.
  • On Monday, March 16, county officials were still assessing the full extent of the damage.

The players

Randy Morris

A 56-year-old resident of Kealakekua whose home was flooded during the storm.

Tom Greenwell

The owner of Greenwell Farms in South Kona, whose farm's water supply was damaged by the storm.

Christine Inserra

A resident of the Ka'ū District who described the storm as the "worst in my entire life."

Dylan Ward

The owner of the Happiness Kona restaurant in Kailua Village, whose roof was destroyed by the storm.

Kimo Alameda

The mayor of Hawaii County, who said an island-wide damage assessment was underway.

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What they’re saying

“Never in my life have I seen this kind of storm. We're not ready for this kind of rain.”

— Randy Morris, Kealakekua resident

“This was the worst storm in my entire life. It was slow-moving and relentless.”

— Christine Inserra, Ka'ū District resident

“Even my grandmother was shedding tears. It's kind of like losing someone in the family. You don't really want to talk about it.”

— Dylan Ward, Owner, Happiness Kona restaurant

“We'll rebuild it and take care of it. You can't keep the people of Happiness down.”

— Dylan Ward, Owner, Happiness Kona restaurant

What’s next

County officials are continuing to assess the damage and work with residents and businesses to coordinate cleanup and recovery efforts.

The takeaway

The Kona low storm serves as a stark reminder of the increasing threat of extreme weather events in Hawaii due to climate change. This incident underscores the need for improved disaster preparedness and resilience measures to protect island communities from the growing impacts of these powerful storms.