The first recorded hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands was in 1871. This storm, known as the “Great Hurricane of 1871,” struck the island of Hawaii and caused widespread damage. The high winds and heavy rains caused landslides, flooding, and destruction of homes and crops. Many lives were lost and the island’s economy was severely impacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the years that followed, several more hurricanes hit the islands, causing similar destruction. In 1877, a hurricane struck the island of Maui, causing widespread damage to homes and crops. In 1887, a powerful storm hit the island of Oahu, causing widespread flooding and landslides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the frequency of these storms, the Hawaiian Islands were not well-prepared for hurricanes. Many homes and buildings were made of thatch and bamboo, which offered little protection against the high winds and heavy rains of a hurricane. Additionally, the islands’ infrastructure was not designed to withstand the impact of a major storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurricane Preparedness Ramps Up in the 20th Century<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It wasn’t until the 20th century that the Hawaiian Islands began to take hurricane preparedness more seriously. In the 1920s and 1930s, the government began to invest in building stronger homes and infrastructure, such as sea walls and levees, to better protect the islands from hurricanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these efforts, the Hawaiian Islands were still hit by several major storms in the 20th century. In 1950, a powerful hurricane struck the island of Kauai, causing widespread damage. In 1959, Hurricane Dot hit the island of Oahu, causing widespread flooding and landslides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n