Hurricane Lowell caused widespread damage on Kaua‘i, leaving thousands without power and damaging roads, businesses and beaches. Here’s what travelers need to know.
This story contains links to images of destruction that may be upsetting.
Officials on the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i are advising residents and visitors to remain indoors after a close call from Hurricane Lowell late Monday night as it passed near the island.
The hurricane and tropical storm warnings for Kaua‘i and neighboring privately-owned island of Ni‘ihau were lifted as of Tuesday morning, but many parts of the island were significantly impacted by the storm—particularly the south and west shores, which were closest to the hurricane’s path. The island’s residents and businesses were spending the early hours of Tuesday morning assessing the damage, but their paths were made hazardous by upturned asphalt, fallen trees, and other debris.
The hurricane caused widespread damage to the island’s electric grid. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) estimated that 90% of its customers were without power Tuesday morning, with some 33,000 member accounts without service. “Our first priority is making sure conditions are safe for our crews, emergency responders and the public,” KIUC president and chief executive officer David Bissell told the island’s newspaper The Garden Island Tuesday morning. “We know our members want to know when their power will be restored. Right now, we need to understand the extent of the damage and what repairs are necessary before we can provide reliable restoration estimates.”
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Some roads were closed, and some customers were also without power on the island of O‘ahu early Tuesday morning.
Videos and pictures posted on social media Tuesday showed significant damage to the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort in the south shore community of Po‘ipū Beach. It appeared the resort’s main oceanfront pool was completely filled with sand and debris from the storm surge.
Other south shore businesses, including The Beach House and the condominium Kuhio Shores appeared to suffer significant wash-through damage from storm surges during the storm, as seen in video posted to social media. Another video showed large sections of asphalt on Lawai Road in front of the two businesses ripped up and blown inland by the storm.
In the residential and agricultural community of Kekaha, residents reported significant damage to infrastructure and shrimp farms. Shrimp farmed on Kaua‘i is popular on restaurant tables throughout the state. A store owner in the nearby westside community of Waimea told Honolulu’s KHON that the storm surge had entered their store.
There were no immediate reports of casualties Tuesday morning, but island officials are still assessing the storm’s impact.
Kaua‘i County officials announced Tuesday afternoon that all government offices, including schools, would remain closed through Friday. Also closed Tuesday were all county parks, campgrounds, transit services, refuse services, state parks and reserves; the Ocean Safety Bureau advised no swimming or outdoor recreational activities until the safety of the water and lands can be assessed. Officials are also urging residents and visitors to remain indoors to give emergency workers space to assess damage and provide emergency services to residents and visitors. The Kaua‘i Department of Water has issued an island-wide conservation notice.
Līhu‘e Airport reopened Tuesday afternoon, mostly for a limited number of commercial airline flights carrying emergency workers and supplies from Honolulu.
What to Do If You’re Booked to Visit Kaua‘i Soon
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has issued a statement for travelers with imminent travel plans involving Kaua‘i:
“Travelers arriving on Kauaʻi in the next few days should confirm that their accommodations are available. If they are unable to host you, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority recommends adjusting your itinerary to another Hawaiian island until conditions on Kauaʻi improve.
Most visitor areas on the other islands experienced limited disruption. Visitors with reservations in the coming weeks should keep their travel plans and continue checking with their airline and accommodations for updates.”
It’s worth noting that some smaller Kaua‘i accommodation providers have offices entirely on-site and may not be able to respond immediately while island infrastructure—including the power grid—remains compromised. Travelers who are unable to contact their providers in advance of travel should note the dates and times they attempted to contact the provider in case they need to dispute charges with their financial institutions or file with their travel insurance for reimbursement.