Oahu Residents Brace for More Rain After Severe Flooding

Thousands remain evacuated as the island deals with its worst flooding in 20 years.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:23am

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Thousands of residents on Oahu, Hawaii's most populous island, remain evacuated as the island deals with the aftermath of severe rainfall that has led to widespread flooding. Roadways and buildings are submerged, some homes have been swept away, and emergency crews have conducted over 200 rescues. More rain is expected across the island on Saturday, bringing the risk of additional flooding. No deaths have been reported, but evacuation orders remain in effect along Oahu's North Shore.

Why it matters

The severe flooding on Oahu highlights the growing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change. As rainfall patterns become more erratic, communities in Hawaii and other vulnerable regions will need to bolster their disaster preparedness and response capabilities to protect residents and infrastructure.

The details

The storm has caused widespread damage across Oahu, with roadways and buildings submerged, some homes swept away, and emergency crews conducting over 200 rescues. Officials are particularly concerned about the Wahiawa Reservoir dam, which was at risk of failure on Friday as the water level reached a record 85.10 feet, just 5 feet below the top of the 90-foot-tall dam. While the water level has since dropped to 81 feet, the dam continues to threaten nearby communities like Waialua and Haleiwa, where around 5,500 people remain evacuated.

  • The storm hit Oahu on Thursday, triggering emergency alerts and forcing residents to flee their homes.
  • On Friday, the water level at the Wahiawa Reservoir dam reached a record 85.10 feet, within 5 feet of the top of the 90-foot-tall dam.
  • On Saturday, the water level at the dam had dropped to 81 feet, but the dam continues to threaten nearby communities.
  • Additional rainfall of 4 to 6 inches is expected on Oahu through the weekend, with 4 to 8 inches expected on Maui and up to 12 inches in some areas.

The players

Josh Green

The governor of Hawaii, who said that additional rainfall is expected on Oahu and Maui, and warned residents not to drive through heavy water.

Dave Wassel

The lieutenant for the North Shore District of Honolulu Ocean Safety, who described the community's efforts to coordinate rescues and cleanup in areas that emergency crews couldn't access.

Emily McLaughlin

A 59-year-old resident of Waialua who was forced to flee her home as floodwaters rose to her knees, leaving behind her husband's ashes and medals.

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What they’re saying

“There will definitely concerns about flooding there.”

— Josh Green, Governor of Hawaii

“It was the community that had these bulldozers, and heavy machinery. They went into areas where we couldn't get to and got people out, and brought them to us. They cleared dirt and water and debris, broken houses. They rescued women and children.”

— Dave Wassel, Lieutenant, North Shore District of Honolulu Ocean Safety

“You dismiss those if you live here forever.”

— Emily McLaughlin

What’s next

Officials will continue to monitor the Wahiawa Reservoir dam and assess the damage across Oahu as the storm moves south toward Maui, where additional heavy rainfall is expected.

The takeaway

The severe flooding on Oahu underscores the growing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change, and the need for communities in Hawaii and other vulnerable regions to bolster their disaster preparedness and response capabilities to protect residents and infrastructure.