HNL Alert from the Oahu Department of Emergency Management

Issued: 08:34 AM 03-20-2026 

Incident Type: DAM FAILURE - WAHIAWA DAM

Location: AREAS DOWNSTREAM of WAHIAWA DAM including PARTS OF HALEIWA AND WAIALUA

Alert Details: TAKE ACTION - EVACUATE NOW

DAM/LEVEE FAILURE IN PROGRESS OR EXPECTED at WAHIAWA DAM. Potential for life-threatening flooding and catastrophic amounts of fast moving water in downstream areas.

Evacuation Order issued. LEAVE downstream area NOW! Heavy traffic-Please carpool

WAHIAWA DAM EVACUATION ZONE includes all of Haleiwa between Puuiki St and Kamehameha Hwy. Areas of Waialua between Kukea Circle to Otake Camp.

Map: https://p.veoci.com/hnlevac

EVACTUATION ROUTE: Use Kamehameha Highway Wahiawa-bound, onto Kamananui Road, left to Wilikina Drive. Route: https://p.veoci.com/hnlevac

NOTE: Do not use Kaukonahua Roard to access Wahiawa. Also, Karsten Thot Bridge on Kamehameha Highway is CLOSED. All traffic is routed to Kamananui Road.

Assembly areas are open at Wahiawa District Park, Leilehua High School, and Kahuku Elementary School. Waialua High and Intermediate School assembly area is closed due to flood conditions in the area.

Actions to Take   

Take the following protective actions and LEAVE NOW if you are in the evacuation area.

1. Gather family members. Assist neighbors who need help evacuating if you can do so safely.
2. Bring pets if you can locate and secure them quickly.
3. Do not delay to pack or prepare your home. Take only essential items you have ready to go NOW.
4. Alert neighbors who may not have received this message if you are able to do so safely and quickly.

DO NOT walk or drive through moving water or on flooded roadways.

Stay out of the area until emergency officials advise it is safe to return.

Call 911 for emergencies only. Do not call 911 for information or non-emergency situations.

Some background on the story if you're already in a safe spot

Long story short: Greedy business vs corrupt and incompetent government just put a whole lot of lives at risk on the North Shore

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/were-screwed-dole-did-little-to-fix-dangerous-wahiawa-dam/

Live Wahiawa Dam water levels:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-16210000/#dataTypeId=continuous-00065-0&period=P7D&showFieldMeasurements=true

Direct link to NWS Radar:

https://radar.weather.gov/

My cousins lost their house but the main thing is that they all are safe.

My cousins lost their house but the main thing is that they all are safe.

Sorry to hear that. I feel really bad for all the farmers who got messed up by this. CB estimating 1 billion in damage.

Everyone thought were were going to catch a break from the rain but the East Side is getting hammered now. Watch out for flooding.

Sorry to hear that. I feel really bad for all the farmers who got messed up by this. CB estimating 1 billion in damage.

Thank you.  So sad.  So many families devastated by this flood.

My cousin @2:05.  I'm just thankful they are all safe.

Thank you.  So sad.  So many families devastated by this flood.

My cousin @2:05.  I'm just thankful they are all safe.

Thats rough. First a medical emergency and now their house is under a bridge. I hope they are able to quickly find a safe place to live. My guess is a lot of folks are going to move to the mainland because of this. Houses were already in short supply and now I imagine it will be impossible for anyone in that area to get insurance even if they have enough resources to rebuild.