The History of Hurricane Iniki

Since I have been posting about Felicia's chances of striking the Hawaiian Islands, I will devote one blog post towards the history of Hawaii's fiercest Hurricane, Iniki.

Iniki was a rare Powerful Central Pacific Hurricane, and it was also the second costliest Hurricane in the Pacific Ocean (not counting Typhoons) and, oddly enough, the most intense landfalling Eastern/Central Pacific Hurricane in history. (which includes a Landfalling Category 5, 2002's Kenna)

Iniki was originally tracked to stay to the south of Hawaii, but it made a sudden turn to the North and struck the Island of Kaua'i on September 11, 1992. It was 2 weeks after Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5, struck Miami, Florida, and it was the first time in recorded history that TWO Hurricanes struck the U.S. while being a Major Hurricane, That has since happened more than twice on 2 occasions: 2004 with Charley, Ivan and Jeanne, and again in 2005 with Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Of those 7, only Charley wasn't a Category 3 at landfall. Iniki, like Charley, was a Category 4 at landfall.

The only other Hurricane to make Landfall on Hawaii was Dot in 1959 (shortly after Hawaii became a U.S. State). Dot was a Category 4, but made landfall as a Category 1.

Depressions and Storms have brushed by the islands, but only 2 hurricanes had LANDFALL. If Felicia makes landfall on the Big Island as a Hurricane (not likely, but possible), then we'll have #3.