Hurricane Iwa Hurricane Iwa Category 1 hurricane  ( SSHS ) Hurricane Iwa polar orbiting satellite image Formed November 19 , 1982 Dissipated November 25 , 1982 Highest winds 90 mph sustained ( 1-minute sustained ) Lowest pressure Unknown Damage $ 250 million ( 1982 USD ) Fatalities 1 direct Areas affected Hawai ʻ i Part of the 1982 Pacific hurricane season Hurricane Iwa , taken from the Hawaiian language name for the frigatebird ( ʻ iwa ) , devastated the islands of Ni ʻ ihau , Kaua ʻ i and O ʻ ahu in the state of Hawai ʻ i as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on November 23 , 1982 . It was the first significant hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands since statehood in 1959 . Storm history Storm path An active trough of low pressure near the equator developed in mid-November . It slowly organized as it moved northward , and became a tropical storm on November 19 . Iwa moved generally northeastward , and with low shear and warm water temperatures ( partially due to an El Niño ) , it became a hurricane later that day while 500 miles southwest of Hilo , Hawai ʻ i . As it increased its forward momentum , it also increased its wind speed , reaching a peak of 90 mph on November 23 . The next day , the eye of the storm passed approximately 25 miles north of the northwestern coast of the island of Kaua ʻ i . While in Hawaiian waters , it traveled 30 to 40 mph with maximum sustained winds charted at 80 to 90 mph . Gusts were recorded well over 100 mph ( 160 km/h ) . While moving through the Hawaiian Islands , it destroyed hotels and condominiums and sank vessels moored in local harbors . Communities left unprotected by coral reefs on the three islands were pounded with high surf and storm surges , flattening beachfront properties . Iwa continued northeastward , weakening to a tropical storm on November 24 and dissipating on November 25 . Late-season storm Iwa formed very late in the season ; however , conditions were still favorable for tropical cyclone development in the central Pacific Ocean , partially because of the warm water from an El Niño . Impact Costliest Eastern Pacific hurricanes Cost refers to total estimated property damage . Rank Hurricane Season Cost ( 2005 USD ) 1 Pauline 1997 $ 8.84 billion 2 Iniki 1992 $ 2.6 billion 3 Iwa 1982 $ 507 million 4 Kathleen 1976 $ 137-549 million 5 Norma 1981 $ 300 million Main article : List of notable Pacific hurricanes Considered one of the most expensive hurricanes to hit Hawai ʻ i at the time , Hurricane Iwa incurred USD $ 200 million in damages . Only one death resulted from Hurricane Iwa . A seaman aboard USS Goldsborough ( DD G-20 ) , Jose Cantu , died when a wave clashed with the United States Navy vessel as it tried to escape Pearl Harbor to ride out the tropical cyclone . A shipmate of Cantu , Lieutenant Ray Beard , was also swept off their ship by the same wave . He survived after swimming 2 miles onshore to the Honolulu International Airport reef runway . The name Iwa was retired due to this storm , and was replaced with Io . See also List of notable tropical cyclones External links It is requested that this article ( or section of this article ) be expanded . Please see discussion on the talk page . Categories : Tropical cyclone articles to be expanded | Pacific hurricanes | 1982 Pacific hurricane season | Category 1 hurricanes | Retired Pacific hurricanes | Hawaii hurricanes | 1982 meteorology Hurricane Iwa cat1 hurricane Hurricaneiwanoaa7.GIF Hurricane Iwa polar orbiting satellite image November 19 , 1982 November 25 , 1982 90 mph sustained Unknown $ 250 million ( 1982 USD ) 1 direct Hawai ʻ i 1982 Pacific hurricane season Iwa 1982 track.png 