Department of Defense

Signaling the start of wet winter weather in December ’87, a series of storm-fronts began to drench the island of Oahu. From mid-month on, heavy rains continued to saturate the ground, causing isolated flooding and the buildup of debris. In the early afternoon of Dec. 31 , yet another downpour brought heavy rains to many portions of Oahu. With no letup in the weather, local flooding began to occur. Shortly before 8 p.m., the National Weather Service issued flashflood warnings. From that time on until the early hours of Jan. 1, flooding caused unprecedented damage to East Oahu, Waimanalo and Kailua.

For thousands of Oahu residents stunned by the destruction caused by receding floodwaters, the next few days, weeks and months were spent salvaging what remained of homes and personal property. As emergency crews worked around-the-clock to aid stranded residents, control traffic, and begin the massive job of cleaning up, the magnitude of the situation quickly became apparent. Preliminary damage surveys revealed property losses in the millions and confirmed that a disaster of major proportions had occurred. The Oahu New Year’s Flood made headlines nationwide and would continue to make the news in the ensuing months

– 1988 Annual Report pp. 14

The Hawaii Army National Guard was asked to provide assistance in response to floods. A heavy duty truck was provided to Kauai County in response to flooding in Hanalei in November 1987. During New Year’s Day 1988, 53 soldiers were activated to provide emergency repair and clean-up assistance to the City and County of Honolulu, after heavy rains caused extensive damage in Kailua, Hawaii Kai and Niu Valley. Thirty-three pieces of equipment, including 18 dump trucks and two scoop loaders, were used.

– 1988 Annual Report pp. 7

State Civil Defense reacted swiftly and effectively during the New Year’s flash flood on Oahu. More than 50 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers were activated to provide needed assistance during cleanup operations. The timely and professional response by the entire department validated our plans and our capability to mobilize for State emergencies.

– 1988 Annual Report pp. 1

Army Guard assists flood victims

Fifty-seven Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers greeted the new year by helping Oahu’s New Year’s flood victims. They provided assistance from Hawaii Kai to Kailua, including clearing and filling in access ways to residential areas, trucking in supplies and food goods to disaster relief centers, and distributing military cots.

The New Year’s storm brought more than 18 inches of rain on some parts of Oahu, causing the worst flooding in more than 50 years. Despite the estimated $35 million worth of damage from flooding, not one life was lost.

Maj. Gen. Alexis T. Lum, State Adjutant General, took Hawaii’s Governor John Waihee on a personal inspection of the disaster areas on both sides of the island early New Year’s Day.

At 8:30 a.m. the next morning the 227th Engineer Company of the Hawaii Army National Guard was issued the alert order to join the army of civilian contractors hired to clean up the flooded areas. A few hours later, forty Hawaii Guard Engineers were placed on state active duty. They brought 18 five-ton dump trucks, three front loaders (large scoop bulldozers}, two backhoes (small scoop and digging equipment), and one low boy (truck with trailer transporters) to help in the clean up effort.

The Engineers were joined by seventeen logistic and mission support soldiers from various other; Hawaii Army National Guard units. Personnel from the Headquarters State Area Command, 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), 29th Support Battalion, 298th Engineer Detachment, 292nd Supply and Service Company, and the 117th Public Affairs Detachment were also placed on state active duty.

To save time, the Hawaii Army Guard soldiers were given the mission briefing and fed a small meal at the same time. Maj. Gen. Lum. thanked the men for their response in helping their fellow islanders and emphasized safety.

The 227th Engineering Company then deployed to two locations on the eastern side of the island. Hahaione Valley on the Island of Oahu was the first mission location. In what was once a quiet residential middle-class neighborhood, a 25-foot crevice was gouged out of a two-laned street by rushing floodwaters. Kahena Street in Hahaione Valley looked like the aftermath of an earthquake.

In Hahaione Valley. the 227th Engineers moved truckloads of dirt and gravel to fill the gaping ravine on Kahena Street. The street looked like a miniature valley from sidewalk to sidewalk. more than 25 feet wide at places and stretching more than a hundred yards in length exposing damaged electrical conduits. sewer ·lines. and fractured water mains.

It took several days for the Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers. state, county. and civilian contractors to cover the street so that other repairs and the clean up could be completed.

Niu Valley in Eastern Honolulu was the second mission site. Hawaii Army National Guard front loaders scooped mud and cleared rubbish and rubble in an area that had been covered with two to three feet of water earlier and was now under more than a foot or two of mud.

Additional soldiers from the 298th Engineer Detachment and the 292nd Supply and Service Company of the Hawaii Army National Guard helped on the second day of operation. The Hawaii Army National Guard also added Halemaumau Street in the upper part of Niu Valley to their area of clean up.

The staging area at Maunalua Beach Park also was the dump area for the mud and debris removed from Niu and Hahaione Valleys.

“The men’s morale was high.” said Sgt. Walter Fo, training NCO for the 227th Engineering Company, “although some of them drove for nearly 16 hours over the three-day period. It gave them a great sense of pride to be able to help the community.”

“This emergency was good training.” said Col. Louis N.H.M. Miranda, Chief Plans and Operations Officer for the Hawaii Army National Guard. “I saw raw recruits report in and the next day, they were veterans performing a job. As far as safety is concerned, there were no accidents to any of the Guard’s personnel. The overall operation and maintenance of vehicles and equipment were outstanding.”

The unit completed its mission in three days and returned its vehicles to the armory and the soldier returned to their civilian jobs.

On the other side of the island, Hawaii Army National Guard members assisted in distributing 240 blankets and 150 cots at the Kailua Recreation Center to residents of flood-damaged Kailua ‘s Coconut Grove area. Two days later an additional 150 cots were delivered by the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Hawaii Army National Guard also provided transportation of donated supplies and food goods from the Big Island, trucking the donations from the airport to the Kailua Recreation Center.

“The Guard was extremely responsive in helping us,” said Betty Wightman, a member of Kailua’s community.

Living through this hell is like living in a sewer,” said Sue Gilbert, a Department of Education Employee. Gilbert said flood waters were waist high in her house and contained sewage and dead fish.

Federal, state and county teams assessing the disaster have categorized the damage estimates totaling $35 million with $25 million to private/ residential property, $3.S million to business, $280,000 to agriculture and $5.9 million to public facilities.

– 1988 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 8