Sept. 24, 3:30 p.m., County of Kauaʻi, Hurricane Lowell Recovery
Published on September 24, 2026
LĪHUʻE – Hurricane Lowell recovery continues across Kauaʻi. Tropical Storm Nolo is expected to pass near or just south of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi on Saturday as a major hurricane. Here are the latest updates:
Hurricane Lowell Recovery
Weather outlook
For Tropical Storm Nolo, a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning are in effect for Hawaiʻi County. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County. Strong winds, heavy rain, large and dangerous waves, storm surge and flooding is expected. Tropical Storm Nolo updates are available at hurricanes.gov.
Emergency Preparedness
The Kaua’i Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) encourages every household, business, and visitor to take time now to build or refresh an emergency kit, review your family plan, and know your evacuation route. Preparation is the single most important step in keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors safe.
Disaster kits should include at least a 14-day supply of non-perishable food, one gallon of water per person per day, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, an extra supply of prescription medicines, important documents in a waterproof container, cash in small bills, and other items specific to individual and family needs, including those of keiki, kūpuna, pets, and individuals with access and functional needs.
Hurricane resource centers
The Hanalei and Kōloa hurricane resource centers are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
- Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei
- Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461B Weliweli Road, Kōloa
Unemployment insurance: State staff from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) will provide in-person support with unemployment insurance applications at these locations and dates:
- Hanalei hurricane resource center on Monday, Sept. 28 and Tuesday, Sept. 29
- Kōloa hurricane resource center on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1
SNAP benefits: Households that lost food to power outages may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits. Details at humanservices.hawaii.gov.
The Hanalei Initiative runs an hourly shuttle, starting at 9 a.m. from The Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei Hurricane Resource Center.
Real Property
The deadline to file real property tax exemption applications is Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. No extensions will be granted. Real Property staff will accept applications at the Hanalei and Kōloa hurricane resource centers daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 23 through 30.
Emergency food distributions this week
In partnership with Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi, emergency food distribution is scheduled as following:
- Friday, Sept. 25: Hāle Līhuʻe, 4286 Rice St., 3 to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: Anahola Clubhouse, 3900 Kawelo St., 4 to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 1: Westside Christian Center, 8041 Kekaha Rd., 10 a.m. - Noon.
- Thursday, Oct. 1: ʻAina Hoʻokupu O Kīlauea, 4045 Kīlauea Rd., 3 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 2: Hāle Līhuʻe, 4286 Rice St., 3 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 2: Holy Cross Church, 2-2370 Kaumualiʻi Hwy., 4 to 5 p.m
Utilities
KIUC is focused on restoring power to the areas of Wainiha and Hāʻena by this evening, weather permitting. In preparation, KIUC advises members to unplug portable generators from wall outlets and ensure that they are not directly connected to the home or buildingʻs electrical panel.
At the current time, approximately 110 members are still without power in Kōkeʻe. Pocket outages are also being addressed in other areas of Kauaʻi.
Do not approach utility crews or enter work areas. Members needing a payment plan or financial help can visit kiuc.coop/payment-assistance. For questions, call (808) 246-4300. Outage map: kiuc.outagemap.coop
The Department of Water continues its Water Conservation Notices to customers in ʻAnini, Hāʻena-Wainiha and Kīlauea water systems. Report outages or leaks at (808) 245-5444.
Refuse
Seven debris and refuse sites are open islandwide, with tipping fees waived for storm debris. Hours and accepted materials are at www.kauairecovers.org/debris.
Roads
State crews continue debris removal along Kaumualiʻi and Kūhiō highways. For the safety of workers, motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution. Ha’ena and Wainiha are open to local traffic only. The weight restriction on Wainiha River Bridge No. 3 has been lifted to 15 tons. Travel only if necessary, since extra traffic slows debris removal, power restoration and road repairs.
Report storm damage
Residents are still encouraged to report storm damage, which helps show the extent of the damage across the island and may help Kauaʻi qualify for state and federal aid. File at bit.ly/kauaidamage, report roadway and public space hazards at bit.ly/kauaihazard, and businesses can report at bit.ly/lowelldamage. Still file a claim with your insurance company.
County of Kauaʻi Services
Contacts for County of Kauaʻi offices: Phone lines restored
General phone lines for the following County departments are being restored. For the quickest response, callers are advised to speak to a live person versus leaving a voicemail. The following numbers are now back in service:
Administration/Fiscal (808) 241-4198 | publicworks@kauai.gov
Building Division (808) 241-4854 | building@kauai.gov
Engineering Division (808) 241-4883 | pwengineering@kauai.gov
Roads Division (808) 241-4847 | pwroads@kauai.gov
Solid Waste Division (808) 241-4841 | solidwaste@kauai.gov
Solid Waste Division - Refuse Collection (808) 241-4091 | solidwaste@kauai.gov
Kaua‘i Farmers Markets
Several farmers markets are reopening this week:
- Monday: Kukui Grove Pau Hana Market, 3 to 5:30 p.m., at 3-2600 Kaumualiʻi Hwy. in Līhuʻe.
- Tuesday: Coconut Marketplace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 4-484 Kūhiō Hwy. in Kapaʻa.
- Wednesday: Kapaʻa Sunshine Market at Kapaʻa Beach Park, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at 4-1604 Kūhiō Hwy. in Kapaʻa; and Kauaʻi Culinary Market, 3:30 to 6 p.m., at 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St. in Poʻipū.
- Thursday: Coconut Marketplace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 4-484 Kūhiō Hwy. in Kapaʻa; and Hale Puna, 3 to 5 p.m., at 9600 Kaumualiʻi Hwy. in Waimea.
- Saturday: Grove Farm Market at Puhi, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continuing until supplies last, at 4411 Kikowaena St. in Līhuʻe.
For more information about Farmers Markets and Sunshine Markets, call the Office of Economic Development at (808) 241-4946.
County of Kauaʻi Facilities
- Neighborhood Centers that are open: Waimea Neighborhood Center (side rooms only; main hall closed due to damage), Waimea Smokey Valley Clubhouse, Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center and Multipurpose Center, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center (old and new), Anahola Clubhouse, Kekaha Neighborhood Center (patio only for previously scheduled parties).
- Kauaʻi Bus fares are waived through Sept. 30; the 900 and 950 express routes are not running.
- Waimea and Kapaʻa pools, and Wailua Golf Course remain closed.
- County beach parks are closed at Haʻena, Hanamāʻulu, Poʻipū, and Salt Pond. Black Pot Beach Park has reopened.
- Hanapepe Stadium football field is closed.
Real Property Division and Division of Motor Vehicles
- In-person services at the Līhuʻe Civic Center remain closed while computer systems are being restored following the Sept. 9 Kāpule Building fire.
- County offices outside the Līhuʻe Civic Center remain open.
- The Real Property Division is the exception on campus, offering in-person help at the former Purchasing Office at the Līhuʻe Civic Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, ahead of the Sept. 30 exemption filing deadline. Property owners who applied but did not receive an emailed confirmation should resubmit, as paperwork was destroyed in the fire. Submit by email to rpassessment@kauai.gov (preferred), by mail, or at one of two drop boxes: the Moʻikeha Building, ground floor, Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Piʻikoi Building fronting Rice Street. Storm-damaged property owners have until June 30, 2027, to file for disaster tax relief at kauai.gov/lowellrealproperty.
- DMV counter service is available at the satellite DMV in Kapaʻa and the trailer located in the parking lot of the Līhuʻe Civic Center (for inquiries only). At this time, expired driverʻs licenses which are unable to be renewed due to the DMV closure will not be penalized. Vehicle registration renewal services are available online at https://mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/kauai/lookup and at community kiosks in Hanapēpē, Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa and Princeville.
Other updates
- Boards and Commissions meetings are scheduled to resume in October. A calendar of upcoming Boards and Commissions meetings may be found online at https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions .
- The Sept. 8 Planning Commission meeting has been rescheduled to Oct. 13. Agenda items originally scheduled for the Oct. 13 meeting will also be considered at this meeting. For more information, please contact the Planning Department at 808-241-4050 or visit www.kauai.gov/Planning-Commission.
County of Kauaʻi Alerts
To sign up for Everbridge, the County's emergency notification service, visit www.kauai.gov/KEMA and click "Notification Services," text "KAUAIEMA" to 888777, or call KEMA at (808) 241-1800.
Updates to County of Kauaʻi services and hurricane recovery information may be found by visiting www.kauairecovers.org or calling 211.
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