Sept. 13, 5:35 p.m., County of Kauaʻi, Hurricane Lowell Recovery
Published on September 13, 2026
LĪHUʻE – Nearly one week after Hurricane Lowell caused mass destruction and outages across the island, a sense of normalcy is returning.
Families are preparing for the reopening of nearly all Kaua’i DOE schools.
Work to restore the final two damaged KIUC transmission poles has begun on the North Shore and will impact traffic through the night.
More support is also becoming available as the County is preparing to open resource centers for storm victims.
Resident-submitted damage assessments have surpassed a total of 550.
For recovery help, resources, and updates, visit www.kauairecovers.org.
Evening update - at a glance
- Families preparing for school reopenings support restoration efforts.
- North Shore damaged transmission line repairs impacting evening traffic.
- County operating 7 debris sites.
- County planning to open storm recovery resource centers.
- Health warning as post-storm mold raises concerns.
- No bus service is available on Sunday.
- Power is restored for 82% of the island.
- Island-wide water conservation notice remains in effect.
North Shore KIUC transmission line repairs (NEW UPDATE)
Work that began early this morning on the North Shore to repair the final two damaged transmission lines will stretch into the night. KIUC closed a lane on the Hanalei side of the Hanalei Bridge around 9 a.m. Around 1 p.m., Hawaiian Electric crews joined restoration efforts.
Right now, there is no timeline on when repairs will be complete or when the lane closure will be lifted. Drivers should be prepared for extended delays.
Flaggers will be on site for traffic control, but please use extra caution around coned work areas.
We appreciate everyone’s patience, support, and cooperation while this important work is completed. Please slow down, stay alert, and be safe.
Power restoration (NEW UPDATE)
Power is now restored for about 82% of the island as of Sunday morning. Roughly 6.8K members are still without power. Peak outages impacted about 33,000 customers. KIUC has 13 of 15 transmission lines back up.
Stay away from downed utility lines and call 911 if a line is an immediate danger. Update your contact information with KIUC at 808-246-4300 to get alerts. Outage map: kiuc.outagemap.coop
Schools reopening tomorrow
Nearly all Kauaʻi Department of Education schools will reopen tomorrow, Sept. 14. Hanalei and Kīlauea Elementary schools will remain closed through at least Sept. 14 but the DOE aims to have the campuses reopened by Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School was previously scheduled to be closed Sept. 14 and is set to reopen as planned on Sept. 15.
School bus service will be limited tomorrow, Sept. 14, as recovery work continues. Schools have contacted affected families directly through email and app notification. Parents or guardians with questions about a specific route should refer to their school’s specific communication method.
More info: https://hawaiipublicschools.org/2026-kauai-reopen-hurricane-lowell/
All schools will be providing non-perishable, shelf-stable meals.
Support for storm victims (NEW UPDATE)
As community members and families continue to navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, the County is making it easier to access information on how to rebuild and recover.
On Tuesday Sept. 15, the County plans to open two resource centers, on the North Shore at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center, and one on the south shore at the Kōloa Neighborhood Center.
Both centers will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents can meet with nonprofit and agency staff in-person for assistance with recovery needs.
Mold warning (NEW UPDATE)
After severe flooding, health officials are urging residents to address any mold growth in their homes and on their personal items.
Exposure can elicit serious health risks including breathing problems, allergic reactions, and infections.
If you plan to clean any areas growing mold, remember the following tips:
- Wear protective gear such as gloves, N-95 masks, boots and eye protection during cleanup.
- Before cleaning, lightly spray moldy surfaces with a soapy solution to reduce airborne particles.
- Clean with soap and water, then disinfect using a bleach solution (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water). Open windows and doors first and air out rooms after cleaning. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products containing ammonia. Use as directed on the label.
- Allow at least 15 minutes of contact time, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Discard materials that cannot be safely cleaned, including carpets, mattresses, upholstery and other porous items wet for more than 24–48 hours, or items that cannot be laundered or disinfected.
Household waste and recycling
The County is now operating seven sites to dispose of storm debris and refuse.
Each site will only accept specific materials, so the public is advised to appropriately separate their waste items before making any drop-offs.
Site hours, locations, and accepted materials are as follows:
- Kīlauea Temporary Site | 7:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Kūhiō Highway | Green Waste
(located past the Kīlauea roundabout and across the street from Anaina Hou Community Park)
- Kapaʻa Temporary Site | 7:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Kapaʻa Bypass Road | Green Waste
(accessed via the southbound (one-way) lane of Kapaʻa Bypass Road adjacent to the
Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex)
- Kapaʻa Transfer Station | 7:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Kahau Road | Debris
- Līhuʻe Transfer Station | 7:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Ahukini Road | Debris & Green Waste
- Hanapēpē Transfer Station | 7:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Lele Road | Debris & Green Waste
- Hanalei Transfer Station | 7:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Kūhiō Highway | Debris
- Kekaha Landfill | Residential: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m./Commercial 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Kaumuali'i Highway - Debris & Green Waste
Regular weekday islandwide refuse collection is expected to resume tomorrow, Sept. 14 to accessible areas.
HI-5 redemption in Līhuʻe has reopened at the Kauaʻi Resource Center and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from Noon to 1:30 p.m.). Other locations will remain closed until equipment is repaired.
Neighborhood Centers closed
All Neighborhood Centers are now closed until further notice. The Department of Parks and Recreation is temporarily suspending recreational use of these facilities to support the County’s hurricane response and recovery efforts.
The Kauaʻi Bus
No bus routes will be operating today, Sept. 13.
Regular bus and paratransit service resumes tomorrow, Sept. 14.
The 900 and 950 Anahola-Waimea express routes will not run the week of Sept. 13. For bus route information, call 808-246-8110 or visit www.kauai.gov/transportation.
Food distribution:
Food distributions will continue at the following locations:
- Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Anahola Clubhouse, 3900 Kawelo Street, Anahola | 4 to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Kōloa Ball Park, Maluhia Road, Kōloa | 3 to 5 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 17 - St. Raphael’s Church, 3011 Hapa Road, Kōloa | 4:30 to 6 pm
- Thursday, Sept. 17 - Westside Christian Center, 8041 Kekaha Road, Kekaha | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Refuge areas:
As of 1 a.m. Sept. 13, 49 people were utilizing the Countyʻs three Hurricane Refuge Areas that remain open. Locations include:
- Kalāheo Neighborhood Center, 4480 Papalina Road
- Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, 2460 Keneke Street
- Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center, 3353 ʻEono Street
County closures:
- Līhuʻe Civic Center remains closed until further notice after a fire at the Kāpule Building. Impacted services include Real Property, Planning, building and zoning, Wastewater, sewer billing, and the DMV, including driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.
- All County parks, campgrounds, and the Wailua Golf Course are closed.
- The Waimea and Kapaʻa pools are closed.
- County board and commission meetings are suspended.
- The Sept. 16 County Council meeting is canceled.
State road closures (NEW UPDATE)
- Kaumualiʻi Highway (Vicinity of Halfway Bridge): Tree/debris removal completed.
- Kūhiō Highway (Vicinity of Princeville Transfer Station to Kapaka Street): Tree/Debris removal and one lane shifting. (Tomorrow – 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.).
- Kūhiō Highway (Vicinity of Kalihiwai Bridge): Tree/Debris removal ongoing and one lane shifting. (Tomorrow – 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.).
- Wainiha Bridge #3 (Double bridge on Hāʻena Side): Repair work ongoing. Bridge open to local traffic only. 5-ton weight limit.
- Crews will resume debris clearing under the mauka Wailua River Bridge Sept. 20.
- Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon roads are still being cleared.
- Halewili Road is open from the ʻEleʻele side of Kaumualiʻi Highway but remains closed from the Kalāheo side of the highway to Kauaʻi Coffee due to downed utility poles.
- Kūhiō Highway: Princeville to Keʻe Beach open to local traffic only.
Airport and harbors:
- Līhuʻe Airport is open and back on regular power. Arrive 90 minutes early for interisland flights and two hours early for flights to the continent.
- Nāwiliwili Harbor is open to cargo ships. No cruise ships are coming in.
- Port Allen is open for operations.
Other closures and advisories:
- State parks and forest reserves are closed.
- The Pacific Missile Range Facility has closed its recreation sites and guest pass program.
- A brown water advisory remains in effect islandwide. Stay out of floodwater and out of the ocean near stream mouths, drains, and harbors. The water may carry sewage, animal waste, chemicals, and debris.
More closures are possible as crews continue clearing roads.
Department of Water
No boil water notices are in effect and all DOW systems are fully restored.
An island-wide water conservation notice remains in effect as DOW remote sites are still relying on generator power.
Please only use water for essential needs.
- Outages can affect pumps and wells, so water may cut out or lose pressure even if your home is fine.
- Do not use water if you believe it has been contaminated by flooding.
- To report a water service outage, or leak, call 808-245-5444. Updates are posted at kauaiwater.org.
Post-storm scam warning
The Kauaʻi Police Department is reminding residents to remain vigilant for scams during ongoing recovery from Hurricane Lowell. Be wary of unsolicited calls, texts, emails, social media messages, or other communications offering assistance or requesting information.
- For verified information regarding Hurricane Lowell recovery, visit the County of Kauaʻi’s official channels and KauaiRecovers.org.
Driving
Police are urging the public to travel only if necessary. Officers are escorting work crews, and extra traffic is slowing debris removal, power restoration, and road repairs.
- Skip non-essential travel. This includes general sightseeing and driving to view storm damage.
- Pull to the right and stop when an emergency vehicle approaches.
- Never follow a police escort or use one to get into a closed area.
- Obey closures, barricades, and directions from officers and flaggers.
- Treat every dark traffic light as a four-way stop. Lights are out islandwide.
- Report hazards like downed lines or blocked roads. Do not stop to take photos.
Next storm
State officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Norbert, which could pass the islands late next week. Currently, it is too early to predict the storm’s track, but in anticipation of possible impacts, now is the time to restock your emergency supplies. For preparedness information, visit ready.hawaii.gov.
Visitors
Hawaiʻi is still welcoming visitors but is also urging anyone with upcoming trips to the islands to monitor conditions. The state is also encouraging travelers with upcoming trips to Kauaʻi to consider visiting another island to allow Kauaʻi time to heal and recover from Hurricane Lowell.
Numbers and resources
Use 911 only for life-threatening emergencies. Calls about weather or road conditions tie up the line and delay help for others. For non-emergencies, call KPD Dispatch at 808-755-8516 or 808-652-7837. KPD’s usual non-emergency line, 808-241-1711, is still down.
To sign up for Everbridge, the County’s emergency notification service, please visit www.kauai.gov/KEMA and click on “Notification Services.” You may also text “KAUAIEMA” to 888777, or call the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency’s alternate numbers at 808-726-0702 or 808-347-9833. The KEMA non-emergency line, 808-241-1800, remains unavailable due to ongoing outages.
For recovery help, resources, and updates, visit www.kauairecovers.org.
Report your damage
Take photos, write down what was damaged, and file a report at bit.ly/kauaidamage. These reports show how much of the island was hit and may help Kauaʻi qualify for state and federal aid. The state has asked for a fast-tracked presidential disaster declaration. You still need to file a claim with your insurance company.
Report roadway and public space hazards at bit.ly/kauaihazard. Businesses can report damage at bit.ly/lowelldamage.
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