Kauaʻi officials urged people to stay off the roads and to stay home this week to allow first responders and emergency crews to continue operations and assess damage from Hurricane Lowell. The county said trees and power lines were toppled during the height of the Category 2 hurricane late Monday night, with winds exceeding 100 mph.
KIUC reported that over 33,300 customers, nearly 91% of its members, were being affected by storm-related power outages. The utility said at a news conference Tuesday evening that it has made assessments to its system from the ground and air, and Hawaiian Electric sent crews to assist it in making repairs this week.
Crews worked Tuesday to clear priority roads and restore critical infrastructure.
Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami said at the Tuesday evening news conference that he wasn't sure how crews had worked so quickly, but he gave a nod to menehune, who are sometimes recognized in Hawaiian stories for mysteriously and quickly completing work.
"We went out to Kekaha, and whoever did the work, the DOT, our County workers, clearing that highway, getting utility poles off the highway, just so people can get from point A to point B, has been phenomenal," said Kawakami at a Tuesday evening news conference. "I don't know how they work so quickly, but the men and women are known to come from Kauaʻi, so I'll give some credit to that."
However, Kawakami said there are still many hazards and asked people to continue to stay off the road if possible so that KIUC could restore power.
Kauaʻi Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson said at the news conference that one of its vehicles was struck by a falling tree during the hurricane and firefighters had to extract themselves from the vehicle. He said everyone who had been reported missing during the storm was located safely.
People were told to stay out of the ocean, as the water remains brown, which means it is full of pollutants and is likely to attract more sharks, according to Kauaʻi Emergency Management Administrator Elton Ushio, who also spoke at the Tuesday evening news conference.
Some current road conditions include:
- Traffic lights are non-functioning island-wide. When a traffic light is out, motorists must treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
- A long line of motorists waiting to fill up on gas has formed on Kaumualiʻi Highway in Kalāheo.
- Kaumauli’i Highway in the vicinity of Moi Road and Puolo Road, traffic is being diverted to Hanapēpē Road.
- Hoone Road in Poʻipū is impassable due to debris.
All public schools, Kauaʻi Community College, and government offices on Kauaʻi are closed through Friday to encourage everyone to stay at home. Families, students and employees are encouraged to check the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education's website and social media channels for the latest reopening information.
The state Judiciary is assessing facilities and capacity in Kaua‘i County and will make an announcement when plans are finalized.
“As the light comes up and the extent of the damage from Hurricane Lowell comes into focus, we want to ensure that no additional emergency situations arise unnecessarily,” Elton Ushio, Administrator of the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Mahalo in advance for your help and cooperation as we work to get our island back on its feet after this powerful storm.”
Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami said in a social media video posted Monday night that an assessment would happen first thing Tuesday morning and include an aerial assessment.
The state Department of Transportation closed the Līhuʻe Airport Monday due to impacts from Hurricane Lowell. HDOT reopened the airport at 11:15 a.m Tuesday. Travelers were still asked to check their flight status before going to the airport, to allow extra time to check-in, and to expect delays.
Port Allen Harbor and Nāwiliwili Harbor were also both closed to commercial traffic.
The County of Kauaʻi has asked residents to document damage to their homes and property and report it to the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency. Click here for the damage assessment form or go to Kauai.gov/KEMA and find the residential damage form under the Hurricane Lowell menu.
