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