'A Little Scary Already': Residents Fear the Worst as Hawaii Flooding Worsens Amid Heavy Rainfall

Meteorologists have issued flood warnings across Hawaii as the region experiences a third major storm since mid-March 2026.

Locals have been living under extreme situations as a result of heavy, continuous rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding. The inundation left roads and homes submerged earlier in the year.

The flood watch remains in effect across the region as experts believe that more downpour is imminent.

According to a report by CNN, the region of Kauai has received over a month’s worth of rainfall just during the storm's most intense phase. Last week, a flash flood warning was in effect due to the severe conditions.

On Thursday, April 9, the region surrounding Lihue Airport reportedly received more than two inches of rainfall, which is more than its entire April average. As of now, total rainfall exceeded six inches in the mountains of Kauai, including 14.80 inches at Mount Waialeale.

As a result, a flood watch remained in effect across the region as a storm was expected to bring flooding from Kauai to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

Speaking at a news conference, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi warned, “Be prepared for possible evacuations, this is what we’re anticipating. An island-wide event.” He also stated that the city’s Emergency Operations Center will be deployed to affected areas before the storm arrives.

He further remarked, “Every inch of rain, as far as we’re concerned, now is more than an inch of rain. It just compounds itself because of the circumstances and people need to be aware of that.”

The CNN report mentions that forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Honolulu stated this week’s storm was not like the Kona Storm that had affected the region in March 2026. However, the impact of both would be comparable, the forecasters said.

They also warned that the storm could bring damaging winds to central and northern parts of Kauai and Oahu.

NWS experts said this is the third major storm to hit Hawaii since mid-March 2026, and that the second storm triggered the worst flooding the region has seen in two decades.

In the National Weather Service report, experts have cited emergency management as rainfall totals have exceeded half a foot across gauge readings.

Crews around Oahu commenced preparations for the storm earlier this week as they began clearing streams and drainage systems to prevent flooding, according to the Honolulu city government.

During an interview with Hawaii News Now, April Wooley, a Wailea resident, said, “Even yesterday, with the few hours of rain that we had kind of in the afternoon, I did notice some pooling and some puddling in some places. That’s a little scary already without the rain coming down too much.”

Chaum Grinnel, another resident who lives in a flood-prone area, said she fears losing her home to the flooding.