Which hurricane in 1992 was the first to strike Hawaii as a major hurricane?

Hurricane Iniki was the first hurricane to strike Hawaii as a major hurricane in the modern historical record. It reached Category 4 strength before making landfall on Kauai on September 11, 1992, with sustained winds of about 140 mph.

Iniki intensified unusually close to the Hawaiian Islands after an upper-level trough weakened the subtropical ridge that normally steers hurricanes away from the state. Warm ocean water and favorable outflow helped it reach peak winds of 145 mph shortly before landfall.

The storm devastated Kauai, destroying more than 1,400 homes and severely damaging thousands more. It caused approximately $3.1 billion in damage and became the costliest hurricane in Hawaii’s history. Iniki’s name was later retired from the Central Pacific naming list.

Hurricane Iwa, another option, struck Hawaii in 1982 but was not a major hurricane. Hurricane Dot affected the islands in 1959, while Nina did not make the historic major-hurricane landfall described in the question.