Hundreds flee flooded North Shore homes in Oahu

Evacuees feared for their lives as water levels rose rapidly, forcing them to flee on foot or by surfboard to safety

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:04am

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Hundreds of North Shore residents in Oahu were forced to evacuate their flooded homes in the middle of the night as flash flooding caused vehicles to float away and homes to be destroyed. The evacuees made their way to the Waialua High School evacuation center, some on foot, surfboard, or with the help of the Hawaii National Guard, only to be ordered to evacuate again due to fears that the Wahiawa Dam could breach. The North Shore was hit the hardest by the Kona-low storm, with several homes destroyed and major flooding throughout the area.

Why it matters

The severe flooding on Oahu's North Shore highlights the increasing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change, which can cause catastrophic damage to homes and infrastructure and force mass evacuations. This incident raises concerns about disaster preparedness and the ability of communities to respond to such emergencies.

The details

Hundreds of North Shore residents jumped into their cars and trucks to flee their flooded homes, but many got stuck as their vehicles began floating away and flooding. They then made their way to the Waialua High School evacuation center by foot, surfboard, Hawaii National Guard high-water vehicles, and even a private dump truck, carrying pets and whatever else they could bring. After several hours in the darkened emergency shelter, they were then ordered to evacuate again due to fears that the Wahiawa Dam could breach or burst.

  • The evacuation began around 1 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2026 as residents woke up to rapidly rising floodwaters.
  • Around 3 a.m., firefighters and Coast Guard teams ordered residents to leave their homes.
  • The evacuees spent several hours at the Waialua High School shelter before being told to evacuate again around 5 a.m. due to concerns about the Wahiawa Dam.

The players

Matt Weyer

North Shore Council member who reported on the severe flooding and damage in the area.

Rick Blangiardi

Mayor of Honolulu whose staff was contributing to a text string about the flooding situations across the city.

Tony Espinosa

A 63-year-old resident who had to be rescued by firefighters after his car got flooded and died.

Noah Pang

A neighbor who rescued Blossom Sturm, her daughter Sunshine, and granddaughter Kailani by putting them in the cab and bed of his dump truck.

Noah Tompkins

A 32-year-old resident who had to evacuate his rental home with his family.

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What they’re saying

“It's pretty bad. I'm definitely concerned given the severity of the flooding. I wouldn't be surprised if we're the hardest-hit area.”

— Matt Weyer, North Shore Council member

“They started yelling, 'We gotta go, we gotta go, the dam's breaking.'”

— Tony Espinosa

“We couldn't go left or right.”

— Sunshine Sturm

“It was mandatory. The water was chest high.”

— Noah Tompkins

“It was almost to our knees and we could hear boulders coming down the river.”

— Sara Caires

What’s next

Officials will continue to monitor the Wahiawa Dam and assess the damage to homes and infrastructure in the North Shore area. Residents who were evacuated will need to find temporary housing and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

The takeaway

This extreme weather event on Oahu's North Shore underscores the growing threat of climate change-driven natural disasters and the need for communities to be better prepared to respond to such emergencies. The mass evacuation and destruction of homes highlight the importance of disaster planning, infrastructure resilience, and supporting vulnerable residents during crises.