Hawaii natural disasters

The state's storm and disaster record · population 1,451,939 · 5 counties and county equivalents

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 15,419 storm events in Hawaii since 1950, 15,391 of them since 1996 when every event type began to be recorded, and the Storm Prediction Center counts 41 tornadoes in the state since 1950. The most frequent records are rip current and surf records (9,301). In NOAA's storm record since 1950, the deadliest event in Hawaii is Lahaina Fire (August 8, 2023) in Maui County: 102 deaths, 32 injuries and $5.4 billion in damage in 2025 dollars across 2 records. FEMA has made 75 declarations for Hawaii since 1955, 71 for natural hazards; 40 were major disasters.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm events recorded in Hawaii each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

recorded, no damage figure
under $1 million
$1 million or more
$10 million or more
$100 million or more, or 10 deaths
$1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
a year with a death
1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
1996: all 48 event types from 1996

Storm events recorded: 15,4191950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded: 178200 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars: $7.0Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes (SPC): 411950 to 2025
FEMA declarations: 7540 major disasters

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); tornado count: NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 1950-2025; damage in 2025 dollars (BLS CPI-U). Search the record at NCEI.

What natural disasters happen in Hawaii?

By NOAA's records, Hawaii's most frequent hazards are rip current and surf records (9,301), heavy rain records (2,157), drought records (1,685); the deadliest are wildfire records (103 deaths). Each hazard is counted over the years NOAA has recorded it everywhere: tornadoes since 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind since 1955, everything else since 1996. Open a hazard for its years, months, counties and worst events.

Hawaii: records by hazard to June 30, 2026
Hazard	Records	Last 10 years	Killed	Injured	Damage	Counties
Rip currents and high surf	9,301	2,543	45	73	$20M	4 of 5
Heavy rain	2,157	780	6	2	$28M	4 of 5
Drought	1,685	822	0	0	$2.2M	4 of 5
Floods	865	221	18	24	$1.5B	4 of 5
High wind and dust storms	685	199	5	43	$13M	4 of 5
Wildfires	283	60	103	47	$5.4B	4 of 5
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds	169	77	0	0	–	4 of 5
Winter storms	84	15	0	0	–	4 of 5
Tornadoes	42	0	0	6	$26M	4 of 5
Severe thunderstorm wind	39	12	1	0	$1.7M	4 of 5
Lightning	36	7	0	5	$1.3M	4 of 5
Hurricanes and tropical storms	26	17	0	0	$9K	3 of 5
Landslides and avalanches	25	19	0	0	$4.2M	4 of 5
Hail	22	2	0	0	–	4 of 5

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: every record counted once in the state; "last 10 years" is 2017-2026 (2026 to June 30, 2026).

What were the deadliest disasters in Hawaii?

The storms with the most deaths since 1950, from the National Weather Service's own entries. NOAA files one storm as several records when it crosses forecast zones and counties or changes type, and groups them under one episode; each row here is an episode, with its totals and the narrative of its deadliest record. Before 1996 tornado records carry no episode and stand alone. The narrative says what happened: some deaths the National Weather Service files under a weather type had another cause beside the weather.

Hawaii: the 10 storm episodes with the most deaths
Date	Record	Killed	Injured	Damage
2023-08-08	Lahaina Fire · WildfireMaui County · forecast zone Maui Leeward West One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. On August 8, several wildfires ignited over Maui and the Big Island. Very strong trade winds, low relative humidity, and ongoing drought conditions across leeward sections led to rapid fire growth and spread. The fires prompted several mandatory evacuations and emergency proclamations. One wildfire destroyed the town ...	102	32	$5.4B
2006-03-13	Flash FloodHanalei, Kauai County Flash flooding initially occurred over northern and eastern parts of Kauai along Kuhio Highway, as heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms forced the Hanalei River over its banks near the Hanalei Bridge.A much more serious event occurred hours later, at about 0545 HST on the 14th. With the excessive rainfall, a ...	7	0	–
1997-01-30	High SurfKauai County · forecast zone Maui Several low pressure centers moving across the north central Pacific generated swell that produced surf of 8 to 12 feet with occasional sets to 15 feet along the north and west facing shores of the islands. Four tourists, 3 from Georgia and 1 from Utah, drowned in the high surf at Keanae Point, Maui at approximately 2 ...	4	0	–
2019-01-11	High SurfMaui County · forecast zone Maui Windward West One storm episode: 4 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. A swell from a powerful low far northwest of the Aloha State caused surf of 20 to 35 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores of Oahu and Molokai; and 8 to 12 feet along the west-facing ...	4	0	–
2008-10-12	High SurfKauai County · forecast zone Kauai Windward A deep low far north of the area generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; and 8 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai. Three individuals died as a direct result from the high surf. Two females, ages 33 and 38, were swept out to sea ...	3	0	–
2015-07-25	High SurfHonolulu County · forecast zone Oahu South Shore A swell from the southern hemisphere generated surf of 8 to 15 feet along the south-facing shores of all the islands. With the unusually high surf, lifeguards made 3000 preventive actions and 39 rescues on south and west shores just on Oahu alone. One soldier from Schofield Barracks was swept out to sea and drowned ...	2	0	–
2013-01-17	High SurfKauai County · forecast zone Kauai Windward A swell from a powerful low far northwest of the islands generated surf of 15 to 30 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; 10 to 15 feet along the west-facing shores ...	2	0	–
2009-11-26	Heavy RainWailua, Maui County Heavy rain caused the Honomaele Stream to rise above its normal level. A married couple from Hana, Maui, apparently tried to cross the stream when it was flowing rapidly with the heavy rain waters. Their vehicle was located the next day downstream, but the man and wife were not found.	2	0	–
2003-04-10	Flash FloodKipahulu, Maui County A 6-foot wall of water moving down Palikea Stream in Haleakala National Park, in the southeast part of East Maui, swept a Kentucky man and his daughter over a 184-foot precipice at Makahiku Falls. Heavy showers falling at the higher elevations of Mt. Haleakala generated flash flooding conditions over eastern and ...	2	0	–
2021-02-27	Heavy RainWaihee, Maui County Two hikers went missing along the Waikamoi Trail in East Maui. As of this writing, the body of one hiker had been found, apparently swept out to sea over a waterfall in the area. The other hiker remained unaccounted for, but he likely perished as well.	2	0	–

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed in this state, summed over the records of each episode (EPISODE_ID); a forecast-zone record counts the zone's deaths once. A tornado's whole-track deaths (SPC), on the state's tornado page, can be higher when the track crossed a state line. Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest records in Hawaii

Hawaii: the 8 records with the most damage since 1993, 2025 dollars
Date	Record	Killed	Injured	Damage
2023-08-08	WildfireMaui County · forecast zone Maui Leeward West	102	32	$5.3B
2026-03-20	Flash FloodKawela Bay, Honolulu County	0	10	$1.0B
2004-10-30	Flash FloodKailua, Honolulu County	0	0	$125M
2000-11-01	Flash FloodLaupahoehoe, Hawaii County	0	0	$120M
2023-08-08	WildfireMaui County · forecast zone South Maui/Upcountry	0	0	$53M
2020-03-28	Flash FloodPrinceville, Kauai County	0	0	$35M
2021-03-09	Flash FloodPrinceville, Kauai County	0	0	$33M
1996-11-05	Heavy RainOahu, Kauai County · forecast zone Oahu	0	0	$28M

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: January 28, 1971 (tornado, Hawaii County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. BLS consumer price index.

Which counties in Hawaii have the most records?

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950 attributed to each county (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

Every county in Hawaii

Billion-dollar disasters in Hawaii

NOAA counted 2 weather or climate disasters from 1980-2024 that cost at least $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) and affected Hawaii, led by tropical cyclone (1). The most recent: Hawaii Firestorm (2023); Hurricane Iniki (1992).

Hawaii: billion-dollar disasters by type, 1980-2024
Type	Events	Total cost (NOAA's range)
Tropical Cyclone	1	$5.0B-$10.0B
Wildfire	1	$5.0B-$10.0B

Every one of the 2, newest first

Hawaii Firestorm2023
Hurricane Iniki1992

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, state summary for Hawaii, 1980-2024 (NCEI's last update; the product is archived). A disaster that affected several states counts in each. NCEI billion-dollar disasters.

Federal disaster declarations in Hawaii

FEMA has made 75 declarations for Hawaii since 1955: 40 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 28 fire management assistance declarations. The most common incident types are fire (29), flood (13), severe storm (9).

1950s 3
1960s 4
1970s 4
1980s 5
1990s 7
2000s 19
2010s 12
2020s 21

The 15 most recent declarations in Hawaii
Declared	Number	Type	Title	Areas named
2026-09-25	EM-3654	Tropical Storm	Tropical Storm Nolo	4
2026-09-01	DR-4936	Earthquake	Earthquake	1
2026-08-25	EM-3652	Tropical Storm	Hurricane Lala	1
2026-07-26	FM-5650	Fire	Kawaihae Road Fire	1
2026-04-07	DR-4909	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	3
2025-09-23	FM-5613	Fire	Holomua Fire	1
2025-08-19	FM-5609	Fire	Kunia Road Fire	1
2024-06-17	DR-4793	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides	1
2023-08-10	DR-4724	Fire	Wildfires and High Winds	2
2023-08-09	FM-5478	Fire	Mauna Kea Beach Fire	1
2023-08-09	FM-5477	Fire	Pulehu Fire	1
2023-08-09	FM-5476	Fire	Upcountry Fire	1
2023-08-09	FM-5475	Fire	Lahaina Fire	1
2023-08-08	FM-5474	Fire	Kohala Ranch Fire	1
2022-02-15	DR-4639	Severe Storm	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides	2

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

Flood insurance claims in Hawaii

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $167 million on 6,183 claims in 4 Hawaii counties. Claims count insured losses only.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk across Hawaii's counties

How FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hawaii's counties overall: a model of expected future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of events.

Relatively High 2
Relatively Moderate 2
Very Low 1

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.