Historic Hawaii Floods Trigger Condo Collapse as Kona Low Storm Ravages Maui
Catastrophic flooding triggered by a powerful Kona low storm system has wreaked havoc across Hawaii, with a condominium building in Kihei suffering a dramatic partial collapse. The 25-unit Kihei Kai building, predominantly used for short-term rentals, crumbled as floodwaters surged from South Kihei Road, flowing underneath the structure and causing it to sink approximately ten feet.
Residents Describe Night of Terror as Building Falls
Resident manager Michael Casey reported that floodwaters caused around three-quarters of the building to collapse overnight Friday into the early hours of Saturday. "It was just horrible. All night long, you heard crack and creaks and noise, and you knew what it was," neighbor Matt Matkin told Hawaii News Now. "That whole front of the building just came down on it."
For Casey, this disaster represents a devastating repeat of tragedy. "This is my third evacuation and second complete disaster. Loss of everything," he revealed, having previously lost his home to a wildfire in 2023. He evacuated the building once water reached the top of a nearby bridge.
Unprecedented Storm System Overwhelms Maui
Maui County officials have described the storm's impact as beyond anything previously experienced. "It's unlike anything that we've ever experienced before," stated Laksmi Abraham, Maui County's Director of Communications. "In fact, it’s unprecedented, I think, in my lifetime of ever seeing anything like that. So no matter how prepared we were for this type of event, you’re going to see severe flooding occur."
The storm system delivered extraordinary rainfall totals across the island:
- Puu Kukui in the West Maui Mountains received just over two feet of rain in two days
- The summit of Haleakala saw approximately three and a half feet of rainfall
- Kahului Airport recorded more than one foot of rain over two days, breaking records dating to the 1960s
National Weather Service Meteorologist Patrick Blood confirmed "It was the most rainfall in a generation of 50 years."
Widespread Damage and Disruption Across the Island
The flooding has caused extensive damage beyond the Kihei Kai collapse:
- Runoff water ripped holes into South Kihei Road near Kenolio Park
- A bus stop near the Kihei Canoe Club sustained significant damage
- A Target store in Kahului was flooded
- Power lines were pulled down across the island
- Widespread reports of sinkholes, landslides, and flash flooding emerged
Local resident Justin Fetalvero described shoveling more than a foot of mud from his driveway, noting "It was definitely worse - more mud, more water" than previous floods he had endured.
Personal Tragedies Multiply as Waters Rise
Tom Bashaw and his wife Carrie watched helplessly as their waterside home along the Iao Stream was destroyed in just hours. The couple opted to sleep in a shipping container as waters eroded their home's foundation, eventually causing the complete collapse of their two-bedroom property by Saturday morning.
"Five years of extremely hard work, and it's gone in hours," Bashaw lamented. "The river just came and started eroding all of this."
Emergency Response and Ongoing Threats
Emergency inspectors have estimated damages from the Kihei Kai site will be included in Maui County's application for federal disaster relief. The Hawaii State Department has issued multiple brown water advisories, warning residents and visitors to avoid affected ocean waters due to high bacteria counts from storm runoff.
Travel disruptions included numerous flight cancellations at Kahului Airport, with 16 cancellations on Friday, 57 on Saturday, and 27 on Sunday, though most operations returned to normal by Monday.
Another Kona low storm system is forecast to approach Hawaii on Thursday, bringing additional rain and winds. While not expected to be as devastating as the recent event, flash floods and heavy rain are anticipated to begin again early next week, prolonging the recovery challenges facing the island community.
