All state and county offices on Oʻahu, including all University of �鶹��ý campuses and facilities on Oʻahu, will be closed Friday, April 10, due to expected severe weather conditions. A decision regarding government offices and UH facilities in Maui County and �鶹��ý County will be made early Friday morning.

The official announcements for Oʻahu were issued at 6:40 p.m., Thursday, April 9, by Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate a prolonged period of heavy rain through the morning and into the afternoon on Oʻahu, with the potential for flash flooding and possible power disruptions. Residents are strongly encouraged to limit travel unless absolutely necessary to allow emergency responders and utility crews to address weather-related impacts.

University leadership continues to monitor conditions closely and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Official County Notification

Conditions will vary by county and location. The most timely and location-specific alerts will come from the county where you live. Sign-up information for each county’s notification system is provided below:

• (Oʻahu)

You may also monitor these trusted sources for real-time weather updates:

• The app

UH RAVE Alert System

For added safety, all UH students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for mobile alerts through the UH RAVE Alert system to receive emergency notifications directly.

More than 2 trillion gallons of water—enough to fill 3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools—inundated �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� in March. The accumulated rainfall over 14 days reached as high as 3,000% of normal historical levels for this time of year, culminating in a destructive “rain bomb” over ��ʻ�����. Through the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Mesonet and the �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Climate Data Portal, researchers captured the scale of these back-to-back Kona low systems, mapping localized threats and providing crucial data on the state’s severe flooding.

Between March 1 and March 23, statewide rainfall averaged 18.25 inches—more than 2.6 times the standard March average of 6.85 inches.

While the first storm (March 10–16) brought hurricane-force wind gusts of 135.4 mph to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Island and up to 62 inches of rain to Maui, the second Kona storm between March 19 and 23 triggered a new wave of devastation. The second storm dumped up to 61 inches of rain in localized areas, producing destructive floods across eastern and central �ѴDZ��ǰ첹ʻ��, West Maui and ��ʻ�����.

Communities such as Waialua and Haleiwa on ��ʻ�����’s north shore experienced devastating inundation. �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Mesonet stations highlighted the widespread intensity of the storm: the ����ʻ������ station recorded the island’s highest two-day rainfall of roughly 22 inches, including 19.67 inches in a 24-hour period beginning the evening of March 19. Almost simultaneously, the nearby �����������ʻ�� Ridge station above Waimea Valley recorded 9.75 inches in 24 hours.

����ԴDz�, Palolo flash floods

As the two-week rainy period neared its end, an intense, localized atmospheric event struck ����ԴDz� and Palolo valleys on March 23. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described it as a “classic rain bomb,” heavy rain caused by a stationary storm cell. This “rain bomb,” over ����ԴDz� and Palolo valleys, dropped 2 to 4 inches of rain per hour.

Six �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Mesonet stations in the Nuʻuanu-����ԴDz� area recorded between 3.5 and 6.5 inches of rain, the majority of which fell within a three-hour window. Falling on already saturated ground, this turned streams into raging torrents and triggered significant flash floods.

The �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Mesonet, a statewide network of state-of-the-art weather stations, is proving to be a critical source of weather information, especially valuable during extreme events.

“We are building the mesonet to serve multiple purposes, including research, resource management, support for farmers and ranchers, and others,” said Thomas Giambelluca, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Mesonet project lead, and former director of the UH Water Resources Research Center. “But, providing data when and where it is most needed before and during extreme events like floods and wildfires, might be its most important purpose. Mesonet data will make us better prepared for future events by improving weather forecasts and enabling emergency managers to plan for and respond to extremes.”

For University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa PhD student Brian Gorberg, the devastating Kona low storms weren’t just an academic research topic—they were a recurring nightmare that inundated his home three times in less than four weeks. Renting the bottom bedroom of a home in Waialua on Oʻahu’s north shore, Gorberg witnessed the final and most severe flood send an 8-foot wall of water through his place.

After experiencing two recent floods that ruined his belongings, Gorberg was seeking refuge at a friend’s house down the street when the third flood hit. The flash flooding was catastrophic, acting like a “dam spillway” through his neighborhood. The water destroyed his Jeep Patriot given to him by his dad, caused a neighboring house to spin off its foundation, and trapped another neighbor in neck-deep water.

“I got woken up by a giant wave,” Gorberg said. “I assumed the worst because I study hydrology. I assumed the dam failed and I knew I had to get out of the watershed. So, I drove all the way to the evacuation site. I actually ran up the hill because I didn’t believe the evacuation site was safe enough.”

Flooding expertise proved critical

Gorberg’s academic background proved critical during the floods. As an student in the and working with the under advisor Chris Shuler, his expertise allowed him to understand the mechanics of the disaster. During the floods, Gorberg spent hours walking through his neighborhood trying to warn residents ahead of the rising waters.

Gorberg’s current research work is to create high-end, reproducible flood models and stage height maps to better protect local communities. Working alongside undergraduate students Chiara Duyn, Megan Wong and Anne Dominique, Gorberg created a that provides residents with transparent, scenario-based flood information.

While the app and Gorberg’s maps currently focus on Windward ��ʻ����� watersheds such as Kāneʻohe, the underlying flood models are designed to be reproducible, and Gorberg aims to eventually expand this mapping to any flood zone across �鶹��ý. The flood maps simulate exact inundation levels when local streams breach their banks at incremental heights—such as 12, 13 or 14 feet—allowing communities to visualize their risk and prepare for an approaching storm.

Reflecting on the tools he is building, Gorberg emphasized the urgent need for better preparedness in �鶹��ý.

“Every stream gauge in the mainland has these maps. It’s not fair that �鶹��ý doesn’t have it, especially considering these events,“ Gorberg said. ”And because there are graduate students like myself who have created this… that’s like the missing link in �鶹��ý that would honestly solve this event, or would have been different if we had those maps.”

In the wake of historic flooding on Oʻahu’s North Shore, University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (JABSOM) students continue to provide care where it’s urgently needed. On March 23, JABSOM’s Houseless Outreach and Medical Education (H.O.M.E.) Project—a student-run initiative that provides free healthcare to unsheltered and underserved communities—set up an on-site clinic at Waialua Elementary, treating 25 patients with a team of 16 student volunteers under the guidance of faculty.

“We’ve been seeing a wide range of patients. We’ve seen a fair amount with wounds and infections, probably from the storm water,” said Jill Omori, H.O.M.E. Project director.

Other patients sought care for back pain, joint pain and eye infections, conditions that can worsen when access to routine care is disrupted.

“We also saw people with GI (gastrointestinal) problems because of the contaminated water, but also just regular medical issues like hypertension or diabetes that still need to be controlled,” Omori said.

Student dedication and rural health disparities

The clinic weaves hands-on care into the JABSOM curriculum, but Omori said the majority of the students today came on their own time.

“A lot of times, the students come down to the North Shore and do service projects here and there,” Omori said. “But something like this really hits home for them. It’s really nice for them to be able to give back to the community this way.”

Second-year medical student Michael Ajimura saw that impact firsthand.

“A lot of people weren’t able to get care because of the past few days of flooding, as well as those who were injured helping out or because of the flooding,” Ajimura said. “Just being able to help them has been really rewarding. When we say that we care for the community, it’s everyone. Being out here is fulfilling, and it’s something a lot of the students are more than willing to do.”

The response also highlighted the broader issue of rural health in �鶹��ý, which is exacerbated during a disaster.

“Rural health doesn’t just mean the neighbor islands,” Omori said. “Waialua is a great example of a rural community right here on Oʻahu. They have some of the same problems that other rural communities have, even without storms. I think it just emphasizes some of the rural health disparities and the need for more equitable care.”

As recovery continues on the North Shore, JABSOM’s H.O.M.E. Project plans to hold a pop-up clinic every day during the week of March 23. They will either be at Waialua District Park or at Haleiwa Beach Park. .

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This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on March 24, 2026.

Aloha UH ʻohana,

We know that the severe weather and flooding over the past two weeks impacted members of our UH community in many different ways. Some of our students and employees are dealing with damage to homes, transportation challenges, lost belongings and other disruptions that make it difficult to focus on classes and work.

Please know that the university is committed to supporting members of our UH ʻohana during this time.

Students experiencing challenges from these events are encouraged to reach out to their instructors and academic advisors as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances. Faculty and supervisors are asked to continue showing flexibility and understanding as students and employees manage recovery from storm-related impacts. Please monitor your hawaii.edu email account for campus specific information.

Employees experiencing storm-related hardship are encouraged to speak with their supervisors and their campus human resources office about available options and support resources.

Available Resources

Financial aid and basic needs support for students is available through campus-based emergency assistance programs and through the UH Foundation, which works closely with the university to help provide support for students and employees facing unexpected hardship. Information about available assistance can be found here:

• Financial Aid
• Basic Needs Resources

Anyone experiencing stress or emotional strain related to the storm impacts is encouraged to reach out to available counseling and support resources:

• Student mental health resources
• UH Employee Assistance Program

As recovery efforts continue across the state, please continue monitoring your hawaii.edu email and campus communications channels for updates and additional support opportunities.

Mahalo to everyone across our 10 campuses who continue to show care and flexibility for one another during this time.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
UH President

The UH Foundation is working closely with the University of �鶹��ý to provide financial assistance for members of the UH ʻohana who have been impacted by the recent severe flooding across the state.

The state is currently recovering from the worst flooding in 20 years—leading to widespread evacuation orders, power outages and more than 200 rescues across the islands. With officials estimating more than $1 billion in damages, the impact on local communities—including some UH students, faculty and staff—has been devastating.

“Our UH ʻohana is incredibly resilient, but the sheer scale of this devastation means they cannot recover alone,” said Tim Dolan, UH Foundation CEO and UH VP of Advancement. “We are calling on our community to come together and provide the urgent lifeline our students and colleagues need right now to get back on their feet.”

In the wake of this disaster, members of the UH ʻohana are facing urgent, everyday challenges: finding a safe place to stay, securing a hot meal, and replacing basic day-to-day necessities. Furthermore, they are struggling to replace laptops, textbooks and other materials they rely on to stay in school.

“While our focus today is on immediate relief, we know that �鶹��ý’s recovery will be lengthy,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “We are committed to supporting our UH ‘ohana for as long as it takes. Please join us. Every dollar you contribute will directly benefit our students, faculty and staff.”

The UH Foundation emphasizes that the individuals impacted are students, colleagues and community members, and right now, they desperately need our immediate support to recover.

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If you need support

If you are a student who was impacted by the flooding and need support, please contact your campus vice chancellor for student affairs. To see campus specific contact information, expand the “Senior Student Affairs Officers” section. For UH faculty and staff who were impacted by the flooding and need support, please email aluke@hawaii.edu in the UH President’s Office.

From 135 mph wind gusts on �鶹��ý Island to 62 inches of rainfall on Maui, a recent Kona low system brought weather conditions usually reserved for major hurricanes to the state. These extreme totals were captured by the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s �鶹��ý Mesonet, a weather monitoring system that is mapping localized threats across areas that previously had no data available. UH’s �鶹��ý Climate Data Portal team created a report on the storm.

Alongside immense flooding, the storm brought destructive winds. The �鶹��ý Mesonet station at Kaiāulu Puʻuwaʻawaʻa on �鶹��ý Island recorded a maximum wind gust of 135.4 mph. Winds were briefly sustained at speeds equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, averaging 105 mph over a 15-minute period.

Maui was hit the hardest, with peak rainfall totals reaching 62 inches in localized regions. �鶹��ý Island also saw heavy precipitation, with areas recording 16–32 inches, and isolated spots also nearing 62 inches. Both Kauaʻi and Oʻahu recorded maximum totals ranging 16–32 inches. Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi experienced peak amounts 4–16 inches.

The upper elevations of Haleakalā experienced the most extreme rainfall, with 33.2 inches falling during the 24-hr period beginning March 13 at 8:30 a.m., nearly double the highest 24-hr rainfall previously recorded there. That amount is much greater than the NOAA‘s official estimate of 19.7 inches in 24 hours for the 1000-year storm (the rainfall amount with a 0.1% chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year). Rainfall was even higher at the Kuiki �鶹��ý Mesonet station on the east rim of Haleakalā crater with 36 inches falling in 24 hours beginning at 6 p.m. on March 13. This amount exceeded the NOAA 24-hr 1000-year extreme rainfall estimate of 28.5 inches.

“Before the project began, �鶹��ý was one of only 20 states without a comprehensive statewide weather monitoring system, meaning we previously had no access to information in many of these areas,” said Tom Giambelluca, �鶹��ý Mesonet project lead, and former director of the UH Water Resources Research Center. “Now, the system is constantly collecting data on rainfall, soil moisture, and other weather variables that can tell us in real time if an area is highly susceptible to fires or flooding, which ultimately allows us to be as prepared as possible”

To make this information accessible, UH launched a real-time weather dashboard offering public access to live weather data from more than 70 monitoring stations currently active across the state. The dashboard updates data every 15 minutes, allowing users to view current, localized conditions including temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity, solar radiation and soil moisture. This creates one of the most comprehensive and timely weather resources available in �鶹��ý.

A $2-million gift from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos is supporting University of �鶹��ý-led research aimed at restoring fire-prone grasslands on Maui and reducing the risk of future wildfires, building on and long-term recovery following the devastating 2023 fires.

Much of Maui’s former sugar plantation lands are now unmanaged and dominated by invasive species, such as guinea grass, that create more fire-prone vegetation and intensify wildfire risk. Several UH units are collaborating to address that vulnerability through land stewardship research designed to inform policy and guide on-the-ground management decisions.

The effort brings together researchers from the (UHERO) housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s , the , and the Ecosystems and Land Care Program in the Department of (NREM) in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. The work will be conducted with watershed partners, ranchers and ʻāina (land)-based organizations across �鶹��ý.

“Insufficient investment in land care across former plantation lands has left large areas of Maui vulnerable to wildfire,” said Kimberly Burnett, a specialist with UHERO. “This work builds on evidence that actively managed lands, including forests, well-managed rangelands and agriculture, can significantly reduce fuel loads and support outcomes like erosion reduction, food production, biodiversity and community resilience.”

Data-driven strategies for wildfire prevention

In the early stages of the project, researchers will work closely with partners to co-develop research questions and products that are directly useful for land managers and decision-makers. Anticipated outcomes include statewide wildfire risk and probability maps to help guide fire reduction strategies across a range of land uses, as well as analyses of different wildfire mitigation scenarios over space and time.

Those scenarios may include forest restoration, green breaks, agroforestry, grazing and mowing, with researchers assessing the benefits and costs of each approach.

“We want to look at options beyond just mowing brush given how well these different actions align with other things people value and contribute to public safety,” said Clay Trauernicht, a specialist with NREM.

The project will also examine policy and market-based tools that could help finance and support land-use transitions that advance multiple ecosystem services, including wildfire risk reduction, across �鶹��ý.

The gift builds on existing support from the Bezos Maui Fund to restore the island’s watersheds and reduce wildfire risk, and reflects a broader strategy that links environmental recovery with community resilience. That land-based work is complemented by a separate $1.5-million investment to support Lahainaluna High School graduates enrolled at UH who continue to face economic hardship following the fires.

“We are profoundly grateful to our donors for their continued commitment to Maui,” said UH Foundation CEO and Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “Their support is making a lasting difference for the people and places that define this community.”

The University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has announced a groundbreaking technology and risk reduction collaboration with , the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the City of Cali, Colombia. The initiative aims to strengthen disaster early warning communications and landslide risk awareness to better protect some of Colombia’s most vulnerable communities.

The project is designed to leverage PDC’s advanced DisasterAWARE platform, building operational capacity for the technology within Cali’s disaster management organization, Sistema de Gestión de Riesgos de Emergencias y Desastres (SGRED). Funded by Twilio.org—a platform that allows developers to embed voice, messaging, video and email—the program will ensure critical, life-saving information reaches residents quickly, clearly and in their native language.

“This project breaks new ground for the Center in many ways: Our collaboration with Twilio.org, working with a large municipality like Cali, and new ways to communicate with those at most risk,” said Chris Chiesa, PDC director of early warning solutions.

Expanding capabilities

A central component of the initiative is the expansion of DisasterAWARE Smart Alerts to include WhatsApp as a supported alert distribution channel. With billions of users worldwide, particularly in communities where mobile messaging is the primary means of receiving information, integrating WhatsApp will significantly extend PDC’s ability to deliver timely, actionable alerts directly to people. PDC will also apply artificial intelligence technologies to automate the translation of alert content into Spanish.

The project expands landslide risk analysis tools for early warning within the DisasterAWARE platform to mitigate risk for landslide-prone communities in Cali. By combining technology and risk analysis with capacity building, the initiative seeks to close critical information gaps that often place at-risk populations at greater danger during emergencies.

PDC’s free Disaster Alert app already reaches more than 3 million subscribers worldwide.

To read more go to the .

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on February 9, 2026.

Aloha UH students, faculty and staff,

All University of �鶹��ý campuses will reopen and resume operations and classes on Tuesday, February 10, following the statewide closure of state offices due to storm conditions.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for mobile alerts through the to receive emergency notifications and important updates.

Mahalo for your time and attention,

UH Office of Communications

Previous message

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on February 8, 2026.

Aloha UH students, faculty and staff,

All University of �鶹��ý campuses will be closed on Monday, February 9, due to dangerous weather conditions, particularly high winds impacting the state.

Governor Josh Green announced today, Sunday, February 8, the statewide suspension of non-essential state services for Monday, February 9, following the he issued on Friday, February 6. Shortly after the governor’s announcement, the �鶹��ý State Department of Education announced the closure of all public schools.

The closure is a statewide precautionary measure in response to increasing wind threats, existing power outages and restrictions on local air travel. Residents are strongly encouraged to limit travel unless absolutely necessary to allow emergency and utility crews to respond to and recover from weather-related impacts.

UH Operations

• All UH campuses are closed.
• All in-person and online classes are canceled.
• Instructors will contact students directly if there are questions or updates regarding assignments or coursework.
• Employees will receive a follow up email with more information.
• Employees critical for the support of health, safety and recovery efforts should check with their supervisors regarding whether they are required to report to work.
• Select key departments may be asked to assess conditions and assist as needed.

Weather Conditions and Impacts

Strong trade winds are forecast to strengthen today, peaking late this afternoon through Monday:

• Sustained winds of 30–40+ mph
• Gusts up to 60+ mph

Impacts may include:

• Power outages
• Downed tree limbs and uprooted trees
• Hazardous driving conditions

Heavy rain is expected to continue through Monday, with flash flooding most likely in windward areas, particularly on Maui and �鶹��ý Island.

Stay Informed

We encourage everyone to stay informed and prepared:

• Check your hawaii.edu email for campus-specific updates and operational information.
• Monitor trusted sources for real-time weather updates, including:

UH RAVE Alert System

For added safety, all UH students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for mobile alerts through the to receive emergency notifications directly.

Please stay safe, take necessary precautions and limit travel where possible.

Mahalo for your time and attention,

Office of Communications
University of �鶹��ý