Maui, Hawaii – Roads across east and upcountry Maui are already seeing rising water levels before sunrise Tuesday, with flooding underway near Hana and Kipahulu as intense rainfall overwhelms streams and low-lying routes.
According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, a Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for the entire island until 7:30 a.m. HST, with radar showing persistent rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour along the windward slopes of Haleakala. Streams like Hanawai and Oheo Gulch are running high, increasing the risk of rapid overflow into nearby roads and properties.
Communities including Hana, Keanae, Nahiku, and Haiku-Pauwela face the highest threat, where narrow coastal roads such as Hana Highway could become impassable with little notice. In upcountry areas like Makawao, Kula, and Pukalani, runoff may flood intersections and rural access roads. Steep terrain near Haleakala National Park raises the risk of landslides, especially where saturated soil begins to shift.
Drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel and never cross flooded roadways, as water depth can rise quickly in darkness. Residents near streams or gulches should move to higher ground immediately if water begins to rise.
The warning remains active through 7:30 a.m., and additional extensions are possible if heavy rain continues.
