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2006 Kauai Dam Failure

February 23, 2026
Categories: 
2000ʻs, HIEMA History
READY TO GO – Lt. Gov. James R. Aiona Jr., Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, the adjutant general and State Civil Defense director, and Edward T. Teixeira, SCD vice director, prepare to “recon” the March Kauai flood damage from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. State Civil Defense photo
READY TO GO – Lt. Gov. James R. Aiona Jr., Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, the adjutant general and State Civil Defense director, and Edward T. Teixeira, SCD vice director, prepare to “recon” the March Kauai flood damage from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. State Civil Defense photo
(Picture from the 2006 Annual Report)

Exercises gave way to a real world disaster that began unfolding in late February 2006. Heavy rains fell over Kauai and Oahu for 42 days causing widespread flooding and the failure of a dam on Kauai that killed seven people. Rapid need assessments and preliminary damage assessments by SCD and its partner agencies provided the framework for the governor’s disaster proclamation (extended several times due to continued rain and flooding) and a presidential disaster declaration, both of which brought additional resources to the flood response and recovery effort.

– 2006 Annual Report pp. 22

2006 March Flooding

From Feb. 20 to April 2, 2006, continuous heavy rains and floods impacted areas on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. The heavy rains resulted in many agricultural reservoirs reaching capacity and on March 14, 2006, the failure of a dam on Kauai resulted in the deaths of three people with four remaining missing. Damages were incurred for public, private and residential property. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration was declared on May 2, 2006, for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance as well as Hazard Mitigation, for the City and County of Honolulu and Kauai County. As of FY 2009, $7.8 million is authorized for Public Assistance with 29 percent of projects closed. Over $500,000 for Hazard Mitigation was approved for eligible projects at a 75/25 percent federal/state cost share.

– 2009 Annual Report pp. 22