No One Will Ever Forget The Most Powerful Hurricane In Hawaii History

Though the Hawaiian Islands may be immune to select natural disasters — namely blizzards and tornadoes — we still battle threats of hurricanes, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions on a regular basis. And while several of these natural disasters have caused extensive damage to the islands, no one will ever forget the deadliest storm ever to hit Hawaii: Hurricane Iniki.

A category four hurricane born from El Nino, Hurricane Iniki traveled on a west-northwest course, continuing to strengthen along the way. The eye of the storm passed directly over the island of Kauai on September 11, 1992, and caused massive destruction.

Despite the fact that warning systems were set in place, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center failed to issue tropical cyclone watches and warnings 24 hours in advance and Kauai simply wasn’t prepared for the amount of damage Iniki would cause.

Iniki translates to “sharp and piercing winds” in Hawaiian and the storm certainly lived up to its name.

Winds reached speeds of up to 145 miles per hour. In addition to the obvious damage, the powerful storm defoliated and knocked down countless trees and shrubs, and even contributed to the erosion of Kauai’s beautiful beaches.

The hurricane resulted in six deaths and more than $1.8 billion in damages, including the destruction of 1,400 homes.

The island of Oahu also experienced moderate damage from the hurricane.

In addition to being the strongest hurricane to hit the Aloha State, Iniki is also the third costliest hurricane to hit the East/Central Pacific region.

The two costliest hurricanes were 1982’s Hurricane Paul, which killed 1,696 people in Central America, and Hurricane Manuel, the 2013 storm that devastated Mexico, causing more than $4.2 billion in damages.

Iniki knocked out power for most of the island for nearly six weeks, and communities held parties to consume the perishable foods they had in their homes at the time the storm struck.

In fact, a group of Army Corps of Engineers that had experienced massive looting during Hurricane Andrew on the eastern coast just weeks before was shocked by the lack of violence and overall calmness on the island. I guess that’s just the Aloha way.

Do you remember Hurricane Iniki? Where were you when this deadly storm struck? Share your experience with us in the comments, then click here to read about one of the deadliest floods in Hawaii history. For some light humor about hurricane season, you might also enjoy reading about the 13 Things Everyone In Hawaii Is Thinking When A Hurricane Approaches.