HPR News Staff

Hawaiʻi communities are digging out from the state's worst flooding in more than 20 years, and aid groups are rushing to support them by raising money statewide.

The worst flooding to hit Hawaiʻi in two decades swept homes off their foundations, floated cars out of driveways, and left floors, walls and counters covered in thick, reddish mud.

Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oʻahu's North Shore on Friday, lifting homes and cars and prompting evacuation orders for 5,500 people. Meanwhile, authorities were cautioning that a 120-year-old dam upstream in Central Oʻahu could fail.

Hawaiʻi has suffered its worst flooding in more than 20 years as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago.

Emergency sirens blared early Friday morning along Oʻahu’s North Shore, where rising waters caused by heavy rainfall damaged homes and vehicles.

Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami has announced he will run for lieutenant governor, challenging current Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke for her spot on the fifth floor of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol.

Cochran was elected to her seat in 2022 and is up for reelection this year. Her move to the other side of the aisle increases the House Republicans’ numbers to 10.

County officials are requesting the public’s help in determining the scope of damage from the recent Kona low storm. Each county has released online forms for residents to self-report damages to their property.

Who should pay for future climate disasters? Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole suggested that fossil fuel companies should bear some financial responsibility in a press conference last week.

Clean up and repairs underway across the Hawaiian Islands following the powerful Kona storm.