What is the Hurricane and Tropical Storm risks for Hawaii?
In Hawaii, hurricane winds, especially where augmented by local terrain, have been very damaging to trees, vegetation, and crops, as well as to lightly built dwellings and other structures. Heavy and prolonged hurricane rains falling over steep hillsides can cause landslides and severe flash flooding. Large swell moving out ahead of the hurricane may begin to reach island shores while the storm itself is still several hundred miles away. As the hurricane nears the coastline, rapidly rising water levels from above-normal storm tides and high wind-driven waves will inundate coastal areas, erode beaches, and pound and undermine waterfront structures, highways, and other facilities. During the last 50 years many hurricanes and tropical storms have come close to the Hawaiian Islands, but only three have had direct impact. In all three cases, Kauai was the hardest hit, although Oahu suffered significant damages as well. Hurricane Iniki was by far the most destructive storm to strike Hawaii i
