Flooding Damages BYU–Hawaii

Flooding on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, USA, on December 11, 2008, damaged homes in Laie, Waianae, and Mililani, as well as several Church-owned buildings. Up to 12 inches (30 cm) of rain fell in about four hours, shutting down major roads and causing a rockslide. No evacuation orders were given but several schools closed. No Church members or missionaries were harmed.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii officials estimated $1.5 million in damages to the campus was caused by the flood. Several buildings flooded—the General Classroom Building, the Social Sciences Building, and 36 married-student housing apartments.

The Polynesian Cultural Center’s Gateway Building and several other on-campus buildings were also damaged.

The temple and Church meetinghouses were not affected, but the temple’s visitors’ center sustained minor damages.

Church members teamed with the Red Cross to provide shelter and food on the BYU–Hawaii campus for those displaced by the flood. University students and Church members helped to clean up after the flooding.