A rare Kona low brought extreme weather to Hawaii over the last week. The monster storm caused widespread flooding, catastrophic destruction to local communities from the intense wind and rain, and severe structural damage to roads and thoroughfares.
It will take months, if not years to fully recover.
This specific kind of weather phenomenon is not at all uncommon on the Hawaiian Islands. However, this latest storm is on another level.
What is a Kona low storm?
A Kona storm, also referred to as a Kona low, is a type of seasonal cyclone in the Hawaiian Islands. They typically form in late winter or early spring.
It is a mid-latitude cyclonic storm that develops when a low-pressure system forms on the western side of the islands. The storm reverses the normal trade winds, which typically come from the northeast, and transports warm air toward the islands from the west.
As the moist air rises due to atmospheric instability, it condenses. The condensed air produces an intense weather system that often stalls over the central Pacific Ocean, which often leads to prolonged rainfall and constant winds over the course of multiple days.
This latest Kona storm is one of the worst in recent history. It stalled out over the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday afternoon and continues to sit on top of the region as of Sunday morning.
Hawaii is completely underwater.
Five almost six days of non-stop rain has created a lot of problems for Hawaii. The torrential downpours brought as much as two or three inches of rain per hour.
Some communities across Oahu are flooded under multiple feet of water, particularly the North Shore.
Devastating aftermath from the Kona storm that dropped torrential rain across Oahu, particularly the North Shore.
— KHON2 News (@KHONnews) March 15, 2026
Check out this drone footage of Waialua. #KHON2 | #WorkingForHawaii pic.twitter.com/Wmp0LeWQ3w
Rivers and waterfalls are pumping.
Fast-rising water in Iao Valley chewed away the ground beneath the homes, which then could not withstand the high winds.
'It just went boom': A Maui couple says they watched helplessly as fast-rising water in Iao Valley chewed away the ground beneath their home, sending parts of the structure into the stream during the storm.
— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) March 15, 2026
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Residents are hunkered down amid a statewide state of emergency.
Trees are down on every island.
Beaches are closed because of the rain. Many resorts and more than 100,000 homes are without power.
Residents have been advised not to drive because of the flooding.
The infrastructure was not built to withstand such a strong storm for such an extended period of time.
Some of the roads have collapsed.
South Kihei is perhaps the most well-known thoroughfare to suffer damage.
Despite all of this, the mail must still be delivered. As the USPS says, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds!
Respect to the Postal Service. Hawaii is in the middle of a historic Kona low with widespread flooding and collapsed roads. That did not stop them from powering through. The mail cannot and will not wait.