On this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) Deputy Fire Chief Jason Samala joins host Brandi Higa to discuss the department’s response during the recent severe Kona Low storms, an update on the Waialua Fire Station, and advice for residents ahead of the next major disaster.
HFD and Kona low 1 & 2
Back-to-back Kona low storms in March caused severe flooding on O‘ahu, bringing over 30-inches of rain in some areas and extremely gusty conditions. One of the most heavily impacted areas was Otake Camp, a neighborhood of plantation-style homes near the Kaukonahua Stream in Waialua.
“Just from that area alone, I think there were roughly fifteen rescues,” said Deputy Fire Chief Samala. He goes on to talk about one of those rescues at a home that had been washed off its foundation. “So that house, there was someone in there hanging out the window, and it just so happened the rescue guy migrated to that area and just happened to pull that person out in time.”
Chief Samala is also a resident of the flood-ravaged Waialua town and lives a few minutes from Otake Camp.
Waialua Fire Station
Honolulu Fire Station 14 in Waialua was rendered temporarily uninhabitable after it sustained heavy damage during the Kona low floods.
“So they got dispatched later that evening on March 19th and they never went home until the morning time,” explained Chief Samala. “Meanwhile the station’s being flooded out. So, in the interim what ended up happening, we brought down, what we call, our mobile command center.”
HFD personnel worked out of their mobile command center at Waialua District Park for nearly two weeks to ensure uninterrupted 911 emergency services for the Waialua and Haleʻiwa communities during response and recovery operations.
Lessons learned
The City and County of Honolulu is actively working to support residents as they clean up and recover from the impacts of the March 2026 Kona low flooding.
“There’s so much to learn, but I think in the end, this collaboration, maybe in the response phase with the City and then in the recovery phase, seeing the government work with the community and how the community came out to help each other and now working together to recover, has just been truly amazing,” added Chief Samala.
For information to keep your home and loved ones safe, visit https://fire.honolulu.gov/
