Kahoma Reservoir
Kahoma Reservoir is an earth dam located in Maui County, Hawaii, built in 1918. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Kahoma Reservoir
The primary purpose of Kahoma Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Estate Of Bernice Pauahi Bishop (private). It impounds the Kahoma Stream Offstream near Lahaina.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1918, 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 04/26/2025.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Maui |
| Nearest City | Lahaina |
| River/Stream | Kahoma Stream Offstream |
| Coordinates | 20.90188, -156.64062 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 76 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00057 |
| Federal ID | HI00057 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |