Severe flooding is impacting Hawaii as electricity is being restored and evacuation orders are being lifted.

Intense rainfall in Hawaii caused historic flooding, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes across several islands in the archipelago. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin) The heavy rainfall-induced flooding affected the islands of Hawaii from March 20, causing mass evacuations and widespread power outages, with damage to critical infrastructure as local and federal authorities work to restore services and assess the damage. The phenomenon, associated with a Kona Low system, forced thousands of residents of Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island to leave their homes and seek temporary shelter, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA). According to reports from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), precipitation exceeded 500 millimeters (20 inches) in less than three days, causing rivers to overflow, disrupting major roadways, and triggering evacuation alerts in vulnerable areas. Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated in a press conference that the impact represents the most intense flooding event in two decades, a statement confirmed by the weather channel The Weather Channel and FEMA itself. This type of extreme event has been recurrent in Hawaii's recent history, with previous incidents such as the Manoa flood in 2004, which was considered the largest hydrological event in the region. Kona Low systems often intensify during periods of climate transition and have been responsible for exceptional rainfall, according to NOAA and the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). The accumulated rainfall since Thursday, March 20, caused collapses of homes, damage to hospitals, road closures, and landslides in various areas of the archipelago, according to the HI-EMA. On Friday, March 21, the situation reached a critical point when the Wahiawa dam in Honolulu County showed signs of potential failure, prompting a flash flood emergency declaration. Authorities ordered the evacuation of Waialua and Haleiwa, and after the water level stabilized, these orders were lifted, according to The Weather Channel. The Honolulu Fire Department confirmed the rescue of more than 80 people trapped in camps affected by the flooding, while the total number of evacuees exceeded 5,000 across the islands. The official figures collected by FEMA indicate approximately 200 rescues performed up to Friday night. The Kona Low weather phenomenon was the main cause of precipitation exceeding 500 mm in less than three days, according to NOAA and the NWS. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat via AP) The storm caused power outages affecting more than 8,000 customers, primarily in Oahu, according to data from the specialized website poweroutage.com and the Hawaiian Electric Company. Restoration efforts reduced the number to approximately 3,000 customers without power by Monday, March 24. The company warned that downed power lines remained a hazard, urging residents to maintain a minimum distance of nine meters (30 feet) from any cables on the ground, according to recommendations from The Weather Channel. Honolulu Police Department officials reported a sinkhole at the intersection of Mokapu and Oneawa, and state crews are continuing cleanup efforts on affected roads and bridges, according to HI-EMA statements. NOAA and the NWS recorded precipitation exceeding 300 millimeters (12 inches) in 24 hours at some stations, with weekly totals exceeding 1,270 millimeters (50 inches) in localized areas. According to Governor Green, property damage could exceed USD 1 billion, a figure that needs to be confirmed. This statement is not confirmed in the provided text. The population affected must remain attentive to the NWS advisories and collaborate with the authorities during the recovery phase. The complete restoration of infrastructure and basic services will depend on the evolution of weather conditions and the resources available, according to FEMA. The current situation directly impacts the daily lives of Hawaii residents, who face restrictions on travel, access to services, and the need to rebuild damaged homes and roads. Federal and state agencies continue to monitor the phenomenon and are working to restore normalcy in the affected areas.