Elua Reservoir
Elua Reservoir is an earth dam located in Kauai County, Hawaii, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Elua Reservoir
The primary purpose of Elua Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bbcp Kauai Operating, Llc (private). It impounds the Kalaheo Gulch near Kalaheo.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1902, 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 07/31/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Kauai |
| Nearest City | Kalaheo |
| River/Stream | Kalaheo Gulch |
| Coordinates | 21.92755, -159.52785 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BBCP Kauai Operating, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00117 |
| Federal ID | HI00117 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |