Honokowai Reservoir
Honokowai 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 Honokowai Reservoir
The primary purpose of Honokowai Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Maui County, Dept Of Environmental Mgmt (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Stream near Honokowai.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 317 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 12 acre-feet. 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 04/22/2025.
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 | Honokowai |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Stream |
| Coordinates | 20.94795, -156.67260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 317 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Maui County, Dept of Environmental Mgmt |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00058 |
| Federal ID | HI00058 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |