Originally Posted: April 16, 2018
Last updated: April 19, 2018
Kauai Flood 2018 brings Kokua Islandwide
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The Hawaiian word “Kokua” means extending loving, sacrificial help to others.
Kauai immediately sprang into action supporting the flood victims.
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Kauai Flooding in Hanalei Valley
Before and After
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- (Image: Hawaiian Airlines)
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- (Image: Taylor Rex)
Severe flooding of over 27 inches of rain came down on northern and eastern Kauai over the weekend of April 14-15th, 2018.
Disasters like these demonstrate how much love and support there is when the island community comes together to help.
Areas affected include Hanalei, Haena, Wainiha, Napali Coast, Kalalau Trail, Princeville, Anahola, Moloaa, Kilauea, Kapaa, Wailua, Omao and Koloa.
Community members immediately rallied together kokua supporting their neighbors on the road to recovery.
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Video from the Coast Guard on April 15th, 2018
Photos, videos, and screenshots compiled from social media and news outlets.
Source credit is given when available, please let us know any missing info we can update. Mahalo!
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Current Community Support Needed
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Here are a few posts shared on social media.,
The outpour of community support is truly a blessing.
Please connect directly to get involved.
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Links for donating to support Kauai Flood Recovery
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Organizations Supporting Flood Recovery
“Hawaii Community Foundation: A Kauai Relief and Recovery Fund has been established by Hawaii Community Foundation to quickly respond to various relief needs on the island. This includes a childcare center for families, offering children a safe space while parents and guardians focus on cleanup efforts. They are also working to create a satellite classroom in Wainiha, which will allow area high school students to complete graduation requirements since storm damage to local roads has prevented access to the school.
Kauai Habitat for Humanity: Kauai Habitat for Humanity will provide both long-term and immediate assistance for those displaced by the flood, with a particular focus on providing resources to the island’s low-income community in need of new housing. They are also attending to Habitat homeowners on the North Shore to ensure the safety and integrity of their homes, and the organization’s Restore program will play a role in helping those impacted.
Kauai Economic Opportunity: A vital part of the Kauai community that has helped meet the needs of the island’s homeless population for over 44 years, the organization will focus on offering homeless family outreach, shelter assessments, emergency supplies and other needed services to those impacted families. They will also assist with relocation fees for low-income residents if housing is not available on Kauai,” excerpt from the Garden Island Newspaper
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Mālama Kaua’i is a non-profit group leading efforts supporting Kauai Flood Recovery
They update the wishlist for the Kauai Flood Victims on their social media accounts.
You can also donate directly through their website Mālama Kaua’i using PayPal.
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If you want to help from off-island, supplies can be sent to:
Mālama Kaua’i – ATTN: Flood Response, PO Box 1414, Kīlauea, HI 96754
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Note: We personally met and helped flood victims in Koloa who need help building their home with no flood insurance. Click here to contact this family directly on Facebook if you can volunteer your time or supplies. Everything helps and is greatly appreciated!
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- Flood waters roared through their home
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- Helping flood victims
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- This home needs extensive repairs
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News regarding the Kauai Flood 2018
Update: 4/19/18
Hanalei and North Shore recovery efforts have evacuated over 325 people and supplies have been boated and jetski in. Camp Naue is one of the main headquarters distributing resources and serving hot meals. The main road to Wainiha and Hanalei Elementary still remain closed.
Flooding also affected other areas of the island and victims in Koloa and Kealia have been reaching out and receiving support. The outpouring of community support and volunteering has been truly remarkable and what a special island to be a part of.
4/16/18 Garden Island Newspaper: Aerial views of Hanalei flood damage
4/16/18 Hawaii News Now: Mayor discusses severe Kauai flooding
4/16/18 Civil Beat: 27 inches of rain brings landslides, floods and wrecked homes
4/16/18 Town and Country: Hanalei Town destruction
4/18/18 Fox News: Pro surfer rescues 15 stranded girls
4/18/18 Hawaii News Now: Links to donate to flood victims
4/18/18 Garden Island Newspaper: Zuckerberg donates over $1 million for flood recovery
4/19/18 Star Advertiser: Kauai receives $100,000,000 assistance from the state
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Kauai Flood Videos
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KHON2 News coverage of the flood aftermath
Video of flooded roadways from the Department of Transportation
Jetskiing through rising flood waters and other drastic occurrences
Video of the flood devastation
Video of waterfalls raging from Kauai flooding
Click to view this YouTube video dangerously close to bursting flood waters
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Kauai Flood Photos
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Flooded Hanalei Valley
Image: Credit Unknown
Bison were swept out to the beach with rising floodwaters
Image: Ian Nelson / Hawaii News Now
Bison washed out into Hanalei Bay near kayaks
Image: Credit Unknown
Bison roundup by Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys)
Image: Miles Frazier
Bison were loose all over Hanalei and Princeville
Image: Olympic Cafe / Facebook
Kalihiwai river after the flash floods and heavy rains
Image: Kauma Anahata / Facebook
Landslides wiped out many homes and vehicles
Image: Kresta Kay / Facebook
A house was floating in Hanalei Bay
Image: Credit Unknown
Hanalei River flooding the road
Image: Credit Unknown
Hanalei bridge, river flooded the highway
Image: Credit Unknown
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Downed power lines and over 12 landslides block the north shore roads
Image: Lani Violet / Facebook
Huge landslide washed away the road
Image: Credit Unknown
Road covered in mudslides
Image: Credit Unknown
The playground at Lydgate State Park
Image: Credit Unknown
Waterfall along the highway
Image: Gina Lobaco / Facebook
Opaekaa Falls raging out of control
Image: Credit Unknown
Stone Dam overflowing
Image: Credit Unknown
The beginning of Hanalei parking lot flooding at Black Pot Beach
Image: Credit Unknown
After the first flooding at Hanalei pier
Image: Credit Unknown
The second flooding destroyed the bathroom at the Hanalei Pier
Image Credit: Lace Anderson / K5
Live video after the bathroom at Black Pot Beach was destroyed
Image: Credit Unknown
Hanalei overlook shows so much flooding
Image: Credit Unknown
Hanalei town center flooded
Hanalei pier becomes a washed out sandbar due to flooding
Image: Credit Unknown
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Firsthand account hiking out of Kalalau during the Kauai Floods 2018
Image and story by Lani Violet on Facebook
This is only a small portion of our crazy story experiencing the north shore Kauai floods. We were among the most extreme to endure this catastrophic weather event because we were in the wilderness of Kalalau Valley in survival mode. Not even all the gear we hiked out there could prepare us for this storm of a century.
We were a group of 27 backpackers from Oahu, Big Island, and Kauai trapped at Kalalau beach along the Na Pali Coast (the isolated beach at the end of a grueling 11 mile hike). Some of us had been there for 9 days, most others for 5 days.
The torrential rain began on Friday while we were up there and continued for about 36 hours. The ocean was raging and the rain & lightning was immense. The waves were insanely huge, some as large as what seemed to be 30 feet pounding into shore.
Most of us got soaked and couldn’t sleep because we were cold and tired. Some of us had tents that could endure, but some of us only brought hammocks to camp in.
The first departure wave in our group was 4 people and they had the hardest time getting out on Saturday through the toughest of rain. They only made it to the Halekoa shelter at mile 6, where they had to spend the night on a picnic bench under the downpour of rain. They then hiked down through the washed out trail, eventually getting to the to the base and having to hike 2 miles to Wainiha through 3 landslides that destroyed the road.
The second wave of 8 hikers left in Sunday morning at 8am. I was a part of this group, so I can vouch for how awful the trail was. We got lost several times and it took 20 minutes each time to relocate where the trail continued. It was raining the entire hike and a majority of the trail was basically mud and waterfalls.
Crossing the river at Hanakapi’ai was really sketchy since water levels were high and flowing. We felt the need to get out so we crossed through. I was the one who had the hardest time since I am smaller statured. My shoes split apart underwater from the pressure while I was crossing and I lost my footing. I got washed down the river about 6 ft. where I grabbed onto a rock. My partner got my backpack from me and then was able to grab my arm and pull me across the river. My shoes were destroyed so I hiked the last 2 miles to the trailhead in slippers.
Once we got to the bottom, we realized the apocalypse that was to ensue. The trail was closed and it was only abandoned vehicles at the trailhead beach park. We began walking to Wainiha at the Colony Beach Resort where we heard word of hot food. We hadn’t eaten since breakfast since we thought we would be coming down to civilization and finished most of our food the night before.
The Colony was the only place with food in town and they were still charging regular prices for meals and accommodations (~$20 a meal, and the resort was booked out when we got there). There was a small town meeting where a lot of people gathered in worry because there was no running water to the town. The YMCA was offering free bunks to people stranded, so half our group stayed there, and the other half was graciously hosted by locals.
Monday morning we began our 6 mile trek to hopefully get to Princeville where we heard it was home free from there. We hiked over massive landslides that had roads completely destroyed and power lines fallen (see attached photos/videos).
Some landslides were as far as 60 feet across and 20 ft high (straight mud, rock, and tree debris). Power lines were strung across and potentially live/hot. But we were determined to get out of there.
By this time we had heard that 3 more of our friends had gotten down the trail, but they had to sleep in the bathrooms at the trailhead the night before because it was already dark, and more downpouring of rain.
We hiked over all the landslides and when we got the the closest one to Hanalei, we encountered Hawaii Telecom who was cleaning it up. They had no idea how bad it was farther down, they have so much work ahead of them. There was so much stuff (houses, cars, refrigerators, surfboards, trash, etc…) washed into the ocean.
We eventually got to the river mouth and beach of Hanalei where locals were boating people across to Princeville. There was also several loose bison that were being herded on the beach. They had just gotten caged when we got there.
Could be a “big fish story” , but we heard that a few bison had drowned and that sharks were down there at the beach feeding on the carcasses (but I’m not certain if this was true haha)
We got boated across to the St Regis where we got rides there back to our respective homes/airport.
Once we got out, 2 hours later, we were greeted by 11 other friends (some we knew before, and others we met at the beach) who decided to stay an extra day to wait out the storm and they were emergency evac helicoptered out from the beach! They were brought on 2 different helicopters to the Princeville airport then shuttles to a safety station with food, water, and blankets.
After so much worry, everyone in our hiking group was safe and accounted for.
We hiked 20 miles in 2 days with all our gear on our backs and determination in our hearts. What an adventure!!! We were the 27 backpackers that survived apocalyptic rain and hiked out of Kalalau Valley back to a destroyed civilization. We are very thankful for our lives because we all encountered extremely dangerous situations where we are lucky nothing bad happened.
Mahalo for reading our story. We are praying for the people of Kauai. So terribly sorry for those who lost lives, homes, and other important things.
Stay safe out there Ohana!
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Links for donating to support Kauai Flood Recovery
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All of us at Party Aloha send the warmest aloha to everyone affected by the Kauai Flood 2018.
After writing this post, we went dropped off donation bags for the flood victims at Brick Oven Pizza.
As recovery efforts for the flood victims continue, most businesses on Kauai are open.
Contact Party Aloha for booking your next Hawaii activity or party – Click Here for Quote
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