Hawaiʻi endured its worst flooding in more than 20 years, officials said Friday. Still, more rain is expected through the weekend on ground already saturated due to the first Kona low storm about a week ago.
Gov. Josh Green said the cost of the storm could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes, and a Maui hospital. Green said his chief of staff spoke to the White House and received assurances the islands would have federal support. No deaths were reported.
In the Waialua-Haleʻiwa area on Oʻahu, muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles, and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of people on Friday. An evacuation order remained in place for area residents early Saturday morning.
Dozens — if not hundreds — of homes were damaged, but officials haven’t been able to fully assess the destruction, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said…