Which hurricane caused the most damage in Hawaii on record?

Hurricane Iniki caused the most damage of any hurricane in Hawaii’s recorded history. The powerful storm struck Kauai on September 11, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing destructive winds, storm surge, and waves.

Iniki made landfall near Waimea on Kauai with winds estimated at about 140 mph. It crossed the island in roughly 40 minutes, damaging or destroying more than 14,000 homes. The storm also disrupted electricity and communications across Kauai and caused significant damage on Oahu and other islands.

Estimated damage reached about $3.1 billion in 1992 dollars, making Iniki the costliest hurricane in Hawaiian history. Seven people died. Iniki is sometimes confused with Hurricane Lane, Iselle, or Dora, which also affected Hawaii, but none caused comparable overall destruction. It was also the strongest hurricane known to strike the Hawaiian Islands.