Hurricane Lowell Relief: September 17 Update

While our side of the island works to get the lights back on, the South and West Shores are reckoning with what the surge left behind. Nine boats went missing from Port Allen Harbor and two sank, docks were torn apart, sidewalks crumpled, and the Waimea recreational pier was destroyed. Justin Ipac, a Hunt Fish Kauaʻi captain from ʻEleʻele, put it plainly: "Losing a harbor like this, a lot of people just lost their jobs." He is driving for Uber and doing yard work while the port stays closed. Fellow captain Matt Sullivan said, "It becomes a timing thing... people need work."

A mile and a half of Kaumualiʻi Highway is impassable, buried under ocean boulders the surge tossed onto the road. Kekaha resident Mona Garcia heard them rolling at 3 a.m.: "The boulders were like nothing I've ever seen." Trish Tsukamoto, whose home was mid-renovation when Lowell hit, is pushing for a neighborhood resilience hub for kūpuna: "I think that's what we need for the families here." Tristan Costales, who sheltered in place, called it "the worst experience of my life."

Read the full story from The Garden Island. Stories like these are exactly why our club's Disaster Relief fund exists: when a harbor closes, a highway disappears under boulders, or a home sits half-renovated and storm-battered, neighbors need help rebuilding, and that is where Service Above Self becomes real. To contribute or volunteer through the club, reach out to Mark Wolfendale, our Disaster Relief program contact.

All seven of Kauaʻi's state parks remain closed for the foreseeable future: Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Hāʻena, Polihale, Nuʻalolo Kai, Wailua River, and Kōkeʻe. About 100 leased cabins are inaccessible, hundreds of trees are down, and power, water, and cell service are still out in many areas. DLNR spokesperson Dave Day called the damage "unreal" and said "there is still a long way to go toward restoration of public access." There is no reopening date yet. Read more at Kauaʻi Now.

KIUC has restored power to 91% of members, with about 3,100 still out: roughly 2,000 from Moloaʻa to Hanalei, 500 in Wainiha and Hāʻena, 100 in Kōkeʻe, and 500 in scattered pockets. For Wainiha and Hāʻena, the earliest estimate is the end of next week. A Mālama Kauaʻi Facebook post this morning asking who is still without power drew 122 replies, mostly from the same areas KIUC lists as out. Water conservation notices have been lifted in several areas.

On the visitor front, Mayor Kawakami asked travelers with trips already booked to consider visiting another island "to allow the Garden Isle time to heal." And there is good news for our keiki: Hanalei Elementary reopens September 21. Get the full county rundown from Kauaʻi Now, and if you or a neighbor are still in the dark and need a hand connecting to resources, Mark Wolfendale, our Disaster Relief program contact, is here to help.

Even as the North Shore stays closed to visitors out of care for this island, the tourism slowdown is hitting local businesses hard. Kauaʻi Fresh Fish lost 70% of its sales overnight, Java Kai laid off about 45 employees, and The Musubi Truck cut more than half its staff. When you can, choose local: every takeout order and every tip helps a neighbor stay afloat while the island recovers. Read more at Hawaii News Now.