Hawaii County
Population 210,043 (2025) 4,028 sq mi
Property owners in Hawaii County have filed 800 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 4th most of 5 counties in Hawaii.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 19508
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger12
- Wildfire burn scars since 198417
- Major flood years since 19786
At a glance
The record for Hawaii County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Acres burned since 1984
123,041
Most of any of Hawaii’s 5 counties
17 large fires; the largest was Mana Road Fire, 2021
DetailsStrongest tornado
F2
January 28, 1971, 1.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane Hone, 2024, 46.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 9.5 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
January 28, 1971
F2, 1.0 mile path
100 yards wide.
Most recent
Saturday, February 28, 2004
F0, 5.0 mile path
22 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Feb 28, 2004 | F0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1988 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1986 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 1980 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 20, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 1973 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 28, 1971 | F2 | 1.0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 19, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Hawaii County: 0.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
3 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 1 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 25, 2024
Hone, Category 1
46.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 83 mph.
Most recent
August 25, 2024
Hone, Category 1
46.0 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Hone | 2024 | 46.0 | Category 1 |
| Calvin | 2023 | 83.7 | Tropical storm |
| Darby | 2022 | 84.2 | Tropical storm |
| Linda | 2021 | 54.8 | Remnant low |
| Douglas | 2020 | 66.1 | Category 1 |
| Olivia | 2018 | 54.8 | Tropical storm |
| Madeline | 2016 | 87.9 | Tropical storm |
| Darby | 2016 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Iselle | 2014 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Dalilia | 1989 | 54.8 | Tropical storm |
| Diana | 1972 | 53.7 | Tropical storm |
| Maggie | 1970 | 97.5 | Tropical storm |
| Kanoa | 1957 | 54.0 | Category 1 |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire
123,041 acres burned in 17 large fires since 1984, equal to 4.8% of the land.
Largest
July 30, 2021
Mana Road Fire, 39,954 acres
39,863 acres inside Hawaii County.
Most recent
July 21, 2022
Leilani Fire
14,689 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Leilani | 2022 | 14,672 | 14,689 |
| Mana Road Fire | 2021 | 39,863 | 39,954 |
| Keauhou Ranch Brush Fire | 2018 | 3,842 | 3,843 |
| Highway 190 Fire | 2018 | 15,617 | 15,636 |
| Waikapuna Fire | 2017 | 1,591 | 1,592 |
| Puuwaawaa Makai | 2016 | 1,691 | 1,694 |
| Kawaihae Fire | 2015 | 3,743 | 3,752 |
| Waikoloa Fire | 2007 | 8,790 | 8,802 |
| Akone-Pule Hwy | 2005 | 1,147 | 1,149 |
| Lalamilo | 2005 | 18,960 | 18,985 |
| Luhi Fire | 2003 | 3,479 | 3,480 |
| Panau Iki | 2003 | 1,925 | 1,925 |
| Kupukupu | 2002 | 2,478 | 2,480 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 1,177 | 1,178 |
| Broomsedge | 2000 | 1,011 | 1,012 |
| Ahuwela | 2000 | 1,481 | 1,482 |
| Kawaihae | 1992 | 1,567 | 1,570 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
800 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $23.4 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2011: 104 claims
$10.5 million paid.
2nd most
1980: 79 claims
$748,000 paid.
3rd most
2000: 72 claims
$1.8 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 96740 | 415 | $16.5 million |
| 96720 | 214 | $3.3 million |
| 96743 | 64 | $1.2 million |
| 96778 | 40 | $1.0 million |
| 96745 | 14 | $123,000 |
| 96750 | 12 | $526,000 |
| 11 | $17,000 | |
| 96749 | 10 | $146,000 |
| 96704 | 8 | $304,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Heavy Rain653
- Flash Flood138
- Flood94
5 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for 6 gauges here but lists no crests for them.
River gauges
| Alakahi Stream near Kamuela | 7.0 | — | 0 |
| Honolii Stream near Papaikou | 15.0 | — | 0 |
| Kawainui Stream near Kamuela | 7.0 | — | 0 |
| Paauau Gulch near Pahala | 4.0 | — | 0 |
| Waiaha Stream near Holualoa | 2.5 | — | 0 |
| Wailuku River at Piihonoua | 20.0 | — | 0 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
High tide flooding
Most in one year, Hilo, Hilo Bay, Kuhio Bay
55 days
May 2020 to April 2021.
Last ten years
26.8 days a year
At Hilo, Hilo Bay, Kuhio Bay, 2016–26.
Other tide gauges here: Kawaihae (record 51 days, 2020).
- High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
NOAA’s county drought index covers the lower 48 states only.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and landslides
809 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 7.7 in 1975.
29,082
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
7,843
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
809
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
86
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
November 29, 1975
17 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii; 2.3 miles away, 5.4 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
October 23, 2026
Magnitude 3.3
3 km SSW of Pāhala, Hawaii; inside the county.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Tsunamis
Highest water recorded
Apr 1, 1946
55.1 ft, Northeast Coast Hawaii, HI
From Unimak Island, AK (magnitude 8.6 earthquake).
On record
132 tsunamis
Since 1812; 258 deaths recorded here.
| Apr 20, 2026 | Off Northeast Coast Honshu, M7.4 | 0.1 | 0 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, M7.8 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, M8.8 | 4.9 | 0 |
| Sep 19, 2022 | Mexico, M7.6 | — | 0 |
| Jan 15, 2022 | Tonga Islands | 3.3 | 0 |
| Aug 12, 2021 | Southern Atlantic Ocean, M8.1 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | Kodiak Island, AK, M8.2 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2021 | S Of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, M8.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Oct 19, 2020 | Shumagin Islands, AK, M7.6 | 0.9 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 2020 | N. Kuril Islands, M7.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Dec 5, 2018 | Loyalty Islands, M7.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| May 4, 2018 | Hawaii, M6.9 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Jan 23, 2018 | Kodiak Island, AK, M7.9 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2017 | S. Mexico, M8.2 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 2015 | Central Chile, M8.3 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2014 | Northern Chile, M8.2 | 1.9 | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Santa Cruz Islands, M7.9 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 2012 | Guatemala, M7.3 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Oct 28, 2012 | British Columbia, M7.7 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2011 | Kermadec Islands, M7.6 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2011 | Atka, Aleutian Islands, AK, M7.3 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2011 | Honshu Island, M9.1 | 17.6 | 0 |
| Feb 27, 2010 | Central Chile, M8.8 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 2009 | Vanuatu Islands, M7.6 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Sep 29, 2009 | Samoa Islands, M8.1 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 2009 | Off West Coast Of South Island, M7.8 | — | 0 |
| Mar 19, 2009 | Tonga, M7.6 | 0.1 | 0 |
| Aug 15, 2007 | S. Peru, M8.0 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2007 | Solomon Islands, M8.1 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Jan 13, 2007 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.1 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.3 | 1.6 | 0 |
| Oct 15, 2006 | Hawaii, M6.7 | 0.3 | 0 |
| May 3, 2006 | Tonga, M8.0 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Dec 26, 2004 | Off W. Coast Of Sumatra, M9.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 17, 2003 | Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, AK, M7.8 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2003 | Hokkaido Island, M8.3 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Jun 23, 2001 | S. Peru, M8.4 | 1.1 | 0 |
| Nov 26, 1999 | Vanuatu Islands, M7.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Dec 5, 1997 | Kamchatka, M7.8 | 0.8 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1996 | Andreanof Islands, AK, M7.9 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1996 | N. Peru, M7.5 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Dec 3, 1995 | S. Kuril Islands, M7.9 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 1995 | S. Mexico, M8.0 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Jul 30, 1995 | Northern Chile, M8.0 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Oct 4, 1994 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.3 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1993 | Guam, Mariana Islands, M7.8 | 0.1 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1993 | Kamchatka, M7.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Sep 2, 1992 | Nicaragua, M7.6 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 1992 | Cape Mendocino, N. California, M7.2 | 0.1 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1990 | Mariana Trench, N. Mariana Islands, M7.5 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1989 | Hawaii, M6.5 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 1987 | Gulf Of Alaska, AK, M7.9 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Mar 5, 1987 | Northern Chile, M7.6 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 1986 | Kermadec Islands, M7.8 | 0.4 | 0 |
| May 7, 1986 | Andreanof Islands, AK, M8.0 | 0.9 | 0 |
| Sep 19, 1985 | Mexico, M8.0 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1985 | Central Chile, M8.0 | 0.8 | 0 |
| Dec 19, 1982 | Kermadec Islands, M7.5 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Jul 17, 1980 | Solomon Islands, M7.9 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Dec 12, 1979 | Colombia: Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, M8.1 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1977 | Tonga Trench, M7.2 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 1975 | Hawaii, M7.7 | 46.9 | 2 |
| Oct 3, 1974 | Central Peru, M8.1 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1973 | Hokkaido Island, M7.7 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Jan 30, 1973 | S. Mexico, M7.5 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Dec 15, 1971 | Kamchatka, M7.8 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Jul 26, 1971 | Solomon Sea, M8.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1971 | Solomon Sea, M7.9 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1969 | Kamchatka, M7.7 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1969 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.2 | 0.7 | 0 |
| May 16, 1968 | Off East Coast Of Honshu Island, M8.2 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 1966 | Northern Chile, M7.8 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1966 | Central Peru, M8.1 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 1965 | Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, AK, M7.6 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Feb 4, 1965 | Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, AK, M8.7 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1964 | Prince William Sound, AK, M9.2 | 9.8 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 1963 | S. Kuril Islands, M7.9 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Oct 13, 1963 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.5 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Nov 20, 1960 | N. Peru, M6.8 | 0.3 | 0 |
| May 22, 1960 | Southern Chile, M9.5 | 35.1 | 61 |
| May 21, 1960 | Central Chile, M8.2 | 0.3 | 0 |
| May 4, 1959 | Kamchatka, M8.2 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 6, 1958 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.3 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1958 | Se. Alaska, AK, M7.8 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 1957 | Andreanof Islands, AK, M8.6 | 32.2 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1955 | Central Chile, M7.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 25, 1953 | Kashima, Japan, M7.4 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Sep 14, 1953 | Fiji Islands, M6.4 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1952 | Kamchatka, M9.0 | 12.1 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1952 | Myojinsho Submarine Volcano | 0.3 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1952 | Hawaii, M4.5 | 9.8 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 1952 | Se. Hokkaido Island, M8.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | Hawaii, M6.9 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Oct 23, 1950 | Guatemala, M7.5 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Oct 5, 1950 | Costa Rica-Nicaragua, M7.7 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Oct 19, 1949 | Solomon Sea, M7.5 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Aug 22, 1949 | British Columbia, M8.1 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Sep 8, 1948 | Tonga Trench, M7.8 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Dec 20, 1946 | Honshu: S Coast, M8.3 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1946 | Unimak Island, AK, M8.6 | 55.1 | 121 |
| Nov 10, 1938 | Shumagin Islands, AK, M8.2 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Mar 2, 1933 | Sanriku, M8.4 | 10.8 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1932 | Central Mexico, M7.7 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1932 | Central Mexico, M7.8 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1932 | Central Mexico, M8.1 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1931 | San Cristobal Island, M7.8 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Mar 7, 1929 | Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, AK, M7.8 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1928 | S. Mexico, M7.7 | 0.7 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 1927 | Kamchatka, M7.5 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1927 | S. California, M7.3 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1923 | Kamchatka, M7.2 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Feb 3, 1923 | Kamchatka, M8.4 | 20.0 | 1 |
| Nov 11, 1922 | Northern Chile, M8.5 | 6.9 | 0 |
| Oct 2, 1919 | Alika, Hawaii | 14.1 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1919 | Tonga Islands, M8.1 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1918 | S. Kuril Islands, M8.2 | 4.9 | 0 |
| Sep 21, 1908 | Hawaii, M6.8 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Aug 17, 1906 | Central Chile, M8.2 | 4.9 | 0 |
| Jan 31, 1906 | Off Coast, M8.8 | 5.9 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1903 | Hawaii | — | 0 |
| Aug 9, 1901 | Loyalty Islands, M7.9 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1896 | Sanriku, M8.3 | 18.0 | 0 |
| May 10, 1877 | Northern Chile, M8.3 | 15.7 | 5 |
| Aug 23, 1872 | Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, AK | 4.3 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 1869 | Off Coast Of Hawaii | 26.9 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 1868 | Northern Chile, M8.5 | 14.8 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1868 | Hawaii, M7.9 | 44.9 | 54 |
| Jan 27, 1854 | Kodiak Island, AK | 7.9 | 0 |
| May 17, 1841 | Kamchatka, M8.4 | 15.1 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1837 | Southern Chile, M8.5 | 19.7 | 14 |
| Apr 12, 1819 | Northern Chile, M8.5 | — | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1812 | S. California, M7.5 | 9.8 | 0 |
- Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.
NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Volcanoes within 100 miles
- U.S. volcanoes within 100 miles, from the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. The threat category is the USGS 2018 National Volcanic Threat Assessment, which ranks volcanoes by how hazardous their past eruptions were and how many people and how much infrastructure lie near them. It is not a forecast of eruption.
USGS Volcano Hazards Program, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Mapped landslides
392
Landslides mapped, probable or better
392
With a recorded date
2
Source inventories
Mapped by USGS Earthquake-Triggered Ground Failure (383), NASA (9).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
2,292 events in the National Weather Service record, 2,283 of them since 1996.
3
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
5
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
62
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
0
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
February 25, 2002
1.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
February 27, 2004
90 mph
More event types since 1996
| High surf and sneaker waves | 587 | 5 |
| Lightning | 10 | 0 |
| Debris flows | 4 | 0 |
| Tsunamis | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Nov 1, 2000Flash Flood$70.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Upper air instability and remnants of a tropical cyclone combined to generate torrential rains that produced severe flash flooding over eastern and southeastern parts of the Big Island on the 1st and 2nd of November. Twenty-four hour rainfall totals were as high as 25 to 37 inches, the latter figure being only one inch off the statewide record of 38 inches of rain in 24 hours set in January 25, 1956, in Kilauea, Kauai.Four young men from Panaewa saved a woman and her three grandchildren from flood waters that were flowing through the woman's residence. The men took the flood victims--one by one--to safety by ferrying them to the roof of a nearby carport using an inflatable plastic…
- Mar 11, 2011Tsunami, Kona$14.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
A major undersea earthquake off Japan caused a Pacific-wide tsunami that affected the Hawaiian Islands. The west side of the Big Island received the most effects, where three hotels had extensive damage. One of the resorts had to close permanently because of the severity of the inundation. The other isles received lesser effects from the tsunami, though there were damages on Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. There were no reports of serious injuries.
- Aug 22, 2018Flash Flood$7.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flash flooding continued for about two full days for much of the east half of the Big Island of Hawaii. From near Hawi in the north to the Kawa Flats area in the south, almost continuous heavy rain and thunderstorms associated with Hurricane Lane affected the isle. Flooding waters closed Bayfront Highway in Hilo, Highway 19 in multiple areas was closed due to debris flows and deep water on the roadway, flash flooding was ongoing in Waipio Valley for much of the time, Akoni Pule Highway became impassable near Hawi, Kaalaiki Road northeast of Naalehu was closed because of deep ponding, water rescues and evacuations were undetaken in the Hilo area at Kaiulani Street with water levels…
- Mar 14, 2026Flash Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain developed over the Kona slopes during the evening of March 14. At approximately 1000 pm HST, significant flooding was reported on Alii Drive with a large amount of water on roadways. A Kealakekua resident reported flood waters coming down a hill and flooding his property, destroying the flooring and forcing his family to evacuate. His neighbors were reportedly hit harder; his neighbor's farm's water supply was taken offline and the flood waters broke up the asphalt on his driveway and opened many cracks. The County reportedly responded to 25 to 30 calls to save people���s lives when heavy rain bands hit Ka���u and South Kona. Between the Ka���u and…
- Aug 25, 2024Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
As quoted in the Star-Advertiser, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator reported the county had received thirty eight damage claims from Kohala to Kau and that, out of the thirty eight damage reports, eighteen had been verified. Nine of these damage reports were major, meaning they may be uninhabitable. One of these properties included a home used as a bed and breakfast experienced extensive flooding with massive mud, boulder, and debris buildup in the home.
- Aug 25, 2024Flash Flood$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Hone caused flooding which closed several roads over the southeast portion of the Big Island. In the Kau District, Highway 11 was closed at Kawa Flats. Wood Valley Road and Cane Haul Road were closed near Pahala. In the Puna District, North Kulani Road was closed. Many of the roads were damaged.
- Mar 23, 2026Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain developed over the eastern and southeastern areas of the Big Island, leading to flooding impacts. Flooding was reported along Bayfront Highway and on Highway 11 south of Hilo. Flooding was also reported in Keeau Industrial Park. A residence in Pahala reportedly experienced flooding.
- Sep 8, 1996Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Warm topped convection associated with an upper trough was anchored over the higher slopes of the South Kohala District. Heavy rainfall occurred in a 3 to 5 mile radius upslope of Highway 190 between Waikoloa Road and Waimea Town. Flood waters closed parts of Highway 190 with 3 to 4 feet of water. The flood waters were then carried by a gulch into Waikoloa Village where flooding occurred in condominiums adjacent to a golf course. Water and mud up to 3 feet deep damaged the lower units of two condominiums, causing $1 million in damages to 36 units.
- Sep 18, 2024Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hualalai Rd was closed near Lako St due to flooding. Twenty two properties reported flood damage.
- Mar 14, 2004Flash Flood$550,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain and showers closed and damaged several roads in northern parts of the Big Island of Hawaii. The rain also forced Waikoloa Stream over its banks, and the flood waters in turn damaged water mains that supplied Kamuela with drinking water. Damages to the roadways alone were more than half a million dollars. There were no reports of serious injuries, however.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Hilo International Airport 87, 24.9 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1949.
- All-time high
- 94°F2 times, most recently Nov 28, 2013
- All-time low
- 53°FFeb 21, 1962
- Warmest night
- 77°F3 times, most recently Sep 17, 2026
- Coldest day
- 67°FMar 7, 1952
- Wettest day
- 16.87 inFeb 20, 1979
- Hottest year
- 2020mean 76.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1955mean 71.4°F
- Wettest year
- 1990211.22 in
- Driest year
- 202558.74 in
Station Hilo International Airport 87 (USW00021504), 29 ft elevation, 24.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1949 to October 26, 2026; 99.6% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
35 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Lala, October 7, 2026.
| Oct 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4951-HI |
| Sep 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654-HI |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Earthquake | DR-4936-HI |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3652-HI |
| Jul 26, 2026 | Fire | FM-5650-HI |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4909-HI |
| Aug 10, 2023 | Fire | DR-4724-HI |
| Aug 9, 2023 | Fire | FM-5478-HI |
| Aug 8, 2023 | Fire | FM-5474-HI |
| Aug 1, 2021 | Fire | FM-5404-HI |
| Jul 25, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3529-HI |
| Apr 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4510-HI |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3431-HI |
| Sep 27, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4395-HI |
| Sep 12, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3404-HI |
| Aug 22, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3399-HI |
| May 11, 2018 | Volcanic Eruption | DR-4366-HI |
| Nov 3, 2014 | Volcanic Eruption | DR-4201-HI |
| Sep 12, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4194-HI |
| Apr 8, 2011 | Tsunami | DR-1967-HI |
| Feb 6, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1743-HI |
| Oct 28, 2007 | Fire | FM-2740-HI |
| Aug 17, 2007 | Fire | FM-2722-HI |
| Oct 17, 2006 | Earthquake | DR-1664-HI |
| Aug 4, 2005 | Fire | FM-2574-HI |
| Aug 2, 2005 | Fire | FM-2573-HI |
| Sep 14, 2004 | Fire | FM-2556-HI |
| May 18, 2003 | Fire | FM-2468-HI |
| Nov 9, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1348-HI |
| Mar 20, 2000 | Fire | FM-2293-HI |
| Sep 12, 1992 | Hurricane | DR-961-HI |
| May 18, 1990 | Volcanic Eruption | DR-864-HI |
| Mar 7, 1979 | Flood | DR-573-HI |
| Dec 7, 1975 | Earthquake | DR-490-HI |
| May 16, 1973 | Earthquake | DR-383-HI |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Hawaii County stands among 5 counties in Hawaii and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 8 | 2 / 5 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 3 | 3 / 5 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 1 | 3 / 5 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 123,041 | 1 / 5 |
| Flood insurance claims | 800 | 4 / 5 |
| Flood insurance paid | $23.4 million | 4 / 5 |
| Disaster declarations | 35 | 1 / 5 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 885 | 1 / 5 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 228 | 1 / 5 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 62 | 1 / 5 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $110 million | 3 / 5 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 26.8 | 1 / 5 |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 0 | — |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 809 | 1 / 5 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 29,082 | 1 / 5 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00021504.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
- Volcanoes USGS Volcano Hazards Program, U.S. volcanoes and 2018 threat assessment.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.