Flooding in Hawaii: Jason Momoa found himself in the middle of a powerful storm that hit Hawaii and left him and his loved ones facing a dangerous situation. The “Aquaman” star shared a video on Instagram talking about the crisis on Oahu, where landslides, fallen trees and rising water have led to widespread evacuations.
Momoa said he and his family had to leave the north coast after the place they were staying lost power. He mentioned in the video, “We’re safe now, but there’s a lot of people who weren’t, so we’re sending all our love.”
Momoa and his girlfriend also shared a photo on Instagram of themselves holding on to the house, along with a message reflecting on the devastation caused by storms in recent weeks.
The duo said they have seen families displaced, hardship in communities and homeless residents suffering the most, urging people to check on their neighbors to make sure they are safe.
Hawaii Flood Update
Meanwhile, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that the storm was continuing and that the Wahiawa Dam on Oahu was threatened by heavy rain.
Hawaii officials urged residents of the worst-hit areas to evacuate as the state experienced its worst flooding in more than two decades. The crisis followed heavy rains on a country already drenched by a winter storm last week, with more rain forecast for the weekend.
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Thick, muddy floodwaters covered large parts of Oahu’s north shore, a region known around the world for big wave surfing. Fast-moving waters swept away homes and vehicles, prompting an evacuation order for 5,500 people north of Honolulu, although those orders were later lifted. Authorities also warned that the 120-year-old dam could be at risk of failure.
On Maui, officials issued an evacuation warning for parts of Lahaina, which is still recovering from a deadly wildfire in 2023, after its retention reservoirs neared capacity.
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Residents on Oahu’s North Shore who chose not to evacuate were encouraged by receding water levels and brief patches of blue skies Saturday morning, but more rain was expected.
Gov. Josh Green said the storm’s damage bill could top $1 billion, covering losses at airports, schools, roads, homes and a hospital in Kula, Maui. “It will have very serious consequences for us as a country,” Green said, adding that his chief of staff had discussed with the White House and received assurances of federal assistance.
He described the flooding as the worst in Hawaii since 2004, when homes and the University of Hawaii library were flooded.
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Officials said dozens and possibly hundreds of homes were damaged, although the full extent of the destruction has yet to be assessed.
They attributed much of the devastation to the intense amount of rain that fell in a short period of time on the already saturated soil. Some parts of Oahu received 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Authorities also said more than 200 people had been rescued from the floods. No deaths were reported and no one was listed as missing. Rescue teams searched for stranded residents by air and water.
