You’d likely feel the tension if you had ever stood at Hanakapiai Stream after heavy rainfall. The sound gets louder before the water even fully appears. Within minutes, a gentle stream on Kauai transforms into a raging torrent. That’s exactly what just happened when about 50 hikers became trapped beyond the stream on Kauai’s famed Kalalau Trail.
We’ve lived through bizarre weather events here for decades, including the 40 days of rain, the January 2024 freak storm that triggered widespread flooding, and the 2018 flooding that cut off Kauai’s North Shore entirely. And when the Hanakapiai stream rises, we know it doesn’t just disrupt a hike—it can change everything.
No one was hurt this time, and a coordinated rescue effort ensured everyone walked out safely. But it could have gone the other way. It has before…