Honolulu Spent $450K On Flood Prevention Plans, Then Did Nothing

Since the early 2000s, the City and County of Honolulu had spent over $450,000 on plans and designs for dredging Kaukonahua and its estuary, following years of studies aimed at preventing recurring floods. Experts, residents, and lawmakers had repeatedly warned that failing to clear the stream would result in catastrophic flooding. Despite these warnings, the city took no action for two decades, according to residents and budget records.

Kaukonahua Stream stands out for the unheeded warnings and subsequent devastation. Across Oʻahu, numerous other shelved flood prevention studies, some dating back three decades, preceded damaging floods, with reports accurately predicting locations and intensity. The law clearly places responsibility for the city-owned portion of Kaukonahua on Honolulu. Residents like Rafe Maldonado have spent years trying to get the city to clear the stream, only to receive assurances that nothing would happen.

Maldonado described his home being inundated with waist-high water and mud after the March storms. The Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance is tasked with stream maintenance and ensuring private landowners clear debris, but the department has not tracked violations or maintenance for North Shore streams, including Kaukonahua. Records of violation notices were absent, and maintenance records were only available for Paukauila Stream. A spokeswoman stated Chief Engineer Gene Albano was unavailable for an interview, but in a written statement, Albano cited difficulties in accessing areas and regulatory requirements as reasons for delays, adding that efforts are ongoing to maintain stream flow.