Wahiawa Dam
Wahiawa Dam is an earth dam located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, built in 1906. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Wahiawa Dam
The primary purpose of Wahiawa Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Dole Food Company Hawaii, Sustainable Hawaii, Inc., Wahiawa Water Co., Inc. (private). It impounds the Kaukonahua Stream near Waialua.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 302 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1906, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/10/2023.
At 98 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Hawaii dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Honolulu |
| Nearest City | Waialua |
| River/Stream | Kaukonahua Stream |
| Coordinates | 21.49766, -158.04915 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1906 (120 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,761 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 302 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Dole Food Company Hawaii, Sustainable Hawaii, Inc., Wahiawa Water Co., Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00017 |
| Federal ID | HI00017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |