Powerful storms and heavy runoff this month produced what officials called the worst flooding in Hawaii in two decades, leaving rivers and low-lying neighborhoods overwhelmed, homes swept away, roads washed out and streets buried in mud. As waters ebbed, the scale of destruction and the long road to recovery became clear across parts of the islands.
The North Shore community of Waialua, and specifically the Otaki camp, was among the hardest hit. Residents returning to the site found cherished homes gone and landscapes permanently changed. At one location, floodwaters shoved a duplex about 400 yards into a bridge, reducing the building to scattered debris and personal belongings. Neighbors and volunteers spent days digging vehicles free from thick mud and helping families salvage what they could.
A family who had lived in their Otaki camp home for more than a decade described losing “12 years of memories” after the flood displaced their duplex from its foundation. Residents said repeated flooding in recent storms and earlier kona low events had already weakened some structures, leaving them especially vulnerable. “This is the worst of the worst,” one resident said as community members sifted through the rubble.
Despite their own losses, some residents stepped up to help others. Marck Aphay and Merrily Cazimero were among those who organized relief efforts, helping neighbors clear mud and debris. Volunteers worked alongside them, shoveling, hauling, and offering support to those whose homes were destroyed. Melanie Lee, who had lived at Otaki camp for nearly 20 years, said she lost decades of sentimental items, including family photos, and was trying to figure out her next steps while caring for a husband recovering in rehab.
Other families on the North Shore faced similar losses. The Lucero family found more than a foot of water in their stilted home, ruining items including antiques that had belonged to the late Lorenzo Lucero, a military veteran. “I know things are replaceable, but it’s just really hard to see this for the first time,” a family member said.
As floodwaters receded, damage was stark: toppled cinderblock walls, cars left in precarious positions, and two-story homes shoved off their foundation blocks. Beach runoff turned nearshore water a “chocolate milk” brown, and officials warned that it was unsafe to swim. Power outages continued for many residents as utility crews worked to restore service and clear blocked roads.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi surveyed damage by helicopter and urged anyone in need to call the city’s 311 hotline. Authorities asked people who do not need to be in impacted areas to stay away to avoid adding congestion that slows heavy machinery and rescue operations.
Health providers and volunteer clinics have been available to address exposure to floodwater, wound care and access to medications. Local organizations, neighbors and strangers brought water, food and tools, coordinating relief and cleanup efforts. Officials and news outlets posted guidance on donations, volunteer coordination and the most urgent relief needs on local websites and news pages.
Officials urged residents to follow safety guidance when returning to damaged properties: avoid standing or moving in floodwater, take precautions against hazards, and contact city services for assistance. Reporting from Waialua and the North Shore highlighted both the physical devastation and the strong community response — neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers slogging through mud to rescue vehicles, and families beginning the difficult work of salvaging belongings and deciding whether homes can be repaired or must be replaced. Recovery efforts continue across the islands as residents, officials and volunteers work to rebuild.