Jason Momoa has lived out a surreal irony. The actor known for playing a superhero who rules the ocean was forced to flee his own home as water became the enemy. Momoa and his family evacuated Oahu’s North Shore this weekend after back-to-back storms unleashed the worst flooding Hawaii has seen in 20 years.
The 46-year-old actor, born in Honolulu, shared video updates on Instagram confirming he and his loved ones got out after losing power. “We’re safe for now, but there’s a lot of people who weren’t, so we’re sending all our love,” he said, his voice emotional as he described the devastation.
The North Shore, he added, is “pretty gnarly right now.” His message was clear: this wasn’t about him.
The scale of the disaster is staggering. Two rare kona storms formed within a single week, an almost unheard-of weather event, dumping up to 50 inches of rain across parts of the state. The deluge triggered landslides, washed out roads, and pushed the 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam to the brink of failure, forcing the evacuation of more than 5,000 residents.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green confirmed that while no fatalities had been reported, there were “a few serious injuries,” with more than 230 residents requiring rescue operations. Some were pulled from debris by the Coast Guard. The financial toll is estimated to exceed $1 billion, making this one of the costliest natural disasters in recent state history.
But Momoa didn’t just evacuate and disappear. By Saturday, he and his girlfriend, actress Adria Arjona, had mobilized. The couple partnered with Zippy’s, a beloved local restaurant chain, to distribute meals on Oahu’s west side.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Momoa described the past weeks as “heavy.” He wrote of “families displaced, communities struggling, and our unhoused neighbors hit the hardest.” The caption carried a quiet urgency: “That’s what aloha is. It’s showing up for each other when it matters most.”
His band, Öof Tatatá, also canceled a planned fundraising concert to prioritize safety. Momoa hinted at rescheduling, but for now, his focus remains on those who lost everything.
Momoa’s ties to Hawaii run deep. Though he was raised in Iowa after his parents divorced when he was six months old, he returned to the islands after high school, where he landed his first major role in Baywatch. He later graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and has since spoken the indigenous Hawaiian language in his series Chief of War.
For Momoa, this isn’t charity. It’s home.
As flood watches remain in effect and officials warn of continued risks, the Aquaman star’s message resonates beyond Hollywood. In a moment where his fictional powers couldn’t save his community, he chose to do what was real: show up, bring food, and remind his people they aren’t alone.
