Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Weeks after intense floods brought on by back-to-back Kona low weather systems pulverized parts of South Kīhei Road, Maui County workers are still patching up massive, crater-like sinkholes and addressing the millions of dollars in infrastructure damage wrought by the storms.
South Maui — particularly neighborhoods along low-lying South Kīhei Road — has long been prone to flash flooding. But in recent years, catastrophic floods have hit the community, devastating homes and businesses and upending the tourism-dependent economy on a near-annual basis. In 2023, a firefighter died while responding to severe flooding near South Kīhei Road.
Year after year, flood-affected residents have called on local officials to prioritize the problem. Community groups, experts and state and federal officials have all offered guidance on potential ways to mitigate the damage. Yet county records show little progress has been made on projects related to the issue.
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/05/despite-a-death-and-damage-maui-stalls-on-chronic-kihei-flooding
Weeks after intense floods brought on by back-to-back Kona low weather systems pulverized parts of South Kīhei Road, Maui County workers are still patching up massive, crater-like sinkholes and addressing the millions of dollars in infrastructure damage wrought by the storms.
South Maui — particularly neighborhoods along low-lying South Kīhei Road — has long been prone to flash flooding. But in recent years, catastrophic floods have hit the community, devastating homes and businesses and upending the tourism-dependent economy on a near-annual basis. In 2023, a firefighter died while responding to severe flooding near South Kīhei Road.
Year after year, flood-affected residents have called on local officials to prioritize the problem. Community groups, experts and state and federal officials have all offered guidance on potential ways to mitigate the damage. Yet county records show little progress has been made on projects related to the issue.
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/05/despite-a-death-and-damage-maui-stalls-on-chronic-kihei-flooding
