O‘AHU – By air, land, and water, first responders around O‘ahu have fought through flash floods and heavy rain to rescue over 200 people from severe weather conditions as of 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Extreme weather events — including flash floods, fallen trees, landslides and sinkholes — have occurred across the island, with a significant number of rescues conducted across North Shore and Central Oʻahu communities, including:
- 130 people rescued by Honolulu Fire Department personnel;
- At least 75 people who were rescued by Honolulu Police Department officers and Hawai‘i National Guard service members;
- 18 people rescued by Honolulu Emergency Service Department personnel;
- At least three people rescued by Honolulu Ocean Safety Department officials (lifeguards) via surfboards;
Other notable rescue efforts occurred in West O‘ahu, including:
- 72 campers and two dogs saved from hazardous conditions in Mākaha by Honolulu Fire Department and Hawai‘i National Guard helicopter crews;
- 28 people transported from Kapolei’s Kahi Mohala to Queen’s Medical Center.
“Today we have truly witnessed the bravery of our first responders, and the resiliency of our community, in the face of back-to-back Kona Low storms,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “So far no fatalities have been reported, which is miraculous considering the damage we have seen from this extreme weather. Our island residents and civil servants will continue to work together to get through this severe weather, and ultimately recover from the widespread damage.”
Many of these rescues involved multiple agencies, so the cumulative number of rescues will vary and is subject to change.
As of this announcement, the island continues to be under a Flash Flood Warning, with already saturated ground conditions and additional forecasts for significant rainfall predicted. We urge all island residents and visitors to stay informed by signing-up for HNL Alert messages by texting HNLALERT to 888-777.
–PAU–
