Evacuation Remains After Hawaii Dam Overflows; Homes and Bridges Damaged

 Published: March 9, 2021

Residents living downstream of a dam that overflowed after drenching rains on the Hawaiian island of Maui were asked Tuesday not to return to their homes until there is an “all clear” announcement.

The evacuations were ordered in the community of Haiku on Monday when water began flowing over the top of the Kaupakalua Dam. Officials first thought the dam had been breached “but after closer inspection, county officials determined there was no structural damage,” according to a statement from Maui County.

At least a half dozen homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in the flooding, which also destroyed Peahi Bridge and heavily damaged Kaupakalua Bridge, Mayor Michael Victorino said.

Overtopping of the dam has now stopped, but the water level remains about 3 feet below the top of the dam, the county said in a Facebook update.

About 7,000 people live in the area below the Kaupakalua Dam, according to Hawaii News Now.

“We’re very concerned that, people stay out of the area as much as possible so that our cleanup crews and our emergency assessors can get in and do assessments and do what we can immediately to protect the lives and well being of our citizens,” Victorino told Hawaii News Now.

County officials also urged people to stay off roads. They warned of debris and landslides and downed power lines.

More than 1,300 customers in Haiku were without power at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday HST.

Kaupakalua Dam is an earthen dam built in 1885. It is 57 feet (17.4 meters) in height and 400 feet (122 meters) in length, according to a press release from Hawaii.gov. It's one of the oldest agricultural dams on Maui.

Kaupakalua Dam was one of nine dams cited by the state last year as being in poor or unsatisfactory physical condition, KHON reported.

More than 7.5 inches of rain fell in Haiku in the 24 hours ending at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. More than 16 inches of rain fell near Keanae about 7 miles away in western Maui.

"I’ve lived here for almost 50 years, and I’ve never seen as much rain come down,” Mayor Victorino told KHON.

Firefighters on the island responded to at least a dozen calls for help from residents trapped by rising floodwaters, Hawaii News Now reported.

Several roads were also closed because of the flooding.

More heavy rain is expected in Hawaii and a flash flood watch has been issued by the National Weather Service through Tuesday night.

In March 2006, seven people were killed on Kauai when the Ka Loko Dam breached after 40 days of rain, according to Hawaii News Now.

Floodwaters sweep over Hana Highway near West Kuiaha Road in Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, on Monday, March 8, 2021. Heavy rains caused a dam to overflow on the Hawaiian island of Maui, and nearby residents in the community of Haiku are being evacuated, county officials said Monday.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.