Kaopala Basin
Kaopala Basin is an earth dam located in Maui County, Hawaii, built in 1998. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kaopala Basin
The primary purpose of Kaopala Basin is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Maui County, Dept Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Kaopala Gulch near Napili.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 38 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/29/2024.
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 | Napili |
| River/Stream | Kaopala Gulch |
| Coordinates | 20.98200, -156.67066 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Maui County, Dept of Public Works |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | HI00134 |
| Federal ID | HI00134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |