Here's how you can help those affected by Hurricane Lowell
By HPR News Staff
September 9, 2026 at 10:51 AM HST
On Sept. 7 and 8, Lowell passed by the Hawaiian Islands as a Category 2 hurricane, causing widespread damage across Hawaiʻi. This comes less than a month after Hurricane Lala also caused destruction in the state, with many still recovering.
As the state continues to recover from the storms, Hawaiʻi Public Radio has created a list of ways you can access resources and help those affected.
How to donate:
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: Donations to its Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund support nonprofits and organizations delivering direct services to those affected by Lala and Lowell. It has already dispersed funds to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi for food distribution. To donate, click here.
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi: Provides critical assistance to families impacted by Hurricane Lala and Lowell. The organization has already delivered free, pre-cooked meals to several senior affordable rental housing buildings. To donate, click here.
Hawaiʻi Mutual Aid Network: Donate to specific families, businesses, and farms. To donate, click here.
Mālama Kauaʻi: This nonprofit said it would direct all donations through Friday to those whose homes and farms were impacted by Hurricane Lowell. To donate, click here.
The American Red Cross: Members of this nonprofit are on the ground working with Kauaʻi officials to turn evacuation shelters into emergency shelters and distribute relief supplies to hard to reach communities. To donate, click here.
Salvation Army: This nonprofit is asking for donations to restock its food pantries on Hawaiʻi Island, which have been depleted following Hurricane Lala. To donate, click here.
Resource centers:
Kauaʻi residents have two more options to learn about recovery resources following Hurricane Lowell.
The County opened two resource centers on Sept. 15 to connect residents with nonprofit and agency partners to help recover and rebuild after the storms.
They’re at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center and the Kōloa Neighborhood Center.
The county is also closing two of its existing refuge centers in Kalāheo and Līhuʻe. The shelter in Kīlauea will remain open.
The two hurricane resource centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
There will be an hourly shuttle from the Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei resource center beginning at 9 a.m. during the week.
Hawaiʻi residents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and lost food from Hurricane Lala could get that food replaced.
A open-air interior is filled with storm debris, damaged furnishings and vegetation after Hurricane Lowell on the island of Kauaʻi. (Sept. 8, 2026) (2000x1333, AR: 1.5003750937734435)
SNAP recipients who lost food may be eligible for replacement benefits:
Hawaiʻi residents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and lost food from Hurricane Lala could get that food replaced.
The state Department of Human Services said SNAP-purchased food in refrigerators that went without power for four hours or more, or those lost in flooding, are eligible for replacement.
DHS said residents have up to 10 days after losing food to get replacement SNAP benefits. Those who do apply can receive up to what they received in benefits in August.
Recipients must send signed written statements reporting their food losses. The information in the statements must include the name of the SNAP recipient, the day of their food loss, the estimated value of the lost food, a description of how it was lost, and their contact information.
Replacement SNAP benefits are a normal feature of the program. They were available during the Kona low storms in March and after Hurricane Lala.
For more information, visit the Department of Human Services' website or call the Statewide Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
Report damage:
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.
As the state continues to recover from the storms, Hawaiʻi Public Radio has created a list of ways you can access resources and help those affected.
How to donate:
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: Donations to its Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund support nonprofits and organizations delivering direct services to those affected by Lala and Lowell. It has already dispersed funds to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi for food distribution. To donate, click here.
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi: Provides critical assistance to families impacted by Hurricane Lala and Lowell. The organization has already delivered free, pre-cooked meals to several senior affordable rental housing buildings. To donate, click here.
Hawaiʻi Mutual Aid Network: Donate to specific families, businesses, and farms. To donate, click here.
Mālama Kauaʻi: This nonprofit said it would direct all donations through Friday to those whose homes and farms were impacted by Hurricane Lowell. To donate, click here.
The American Red Cross: Members of this nonprofit are on the ground working with Kauaʻi officials to turn evacuation shelters into emergency shelters and distribute relief supplies to hard to reach communities. To donate, click here.
Salvation Army: This nonprofit is asking for donations to restock its food pantries on Hawaiʻi Island, which have been depleted following Hurricane Lala. To donate, click here.
Resource centers:
Kauaʻi residents have two more options to learn about recovery resources following Hurricane Lowell.
The County opened two resource centers on Sept. 15 to connect residents with nonprofit and agency partners to help recover and rebuild after the storms.
They’re at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center and the Kōloa Neighborhood Center.
The county is also closing two of its existing refuge centers in Kalāheo and Līhuʻe. The shelter in Kīlauea will remain open.
The two hurricane resource centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
There will be an hourly shuttle from the Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei resource center beginning at 9 a.m. during the week.
Hawaiʻi residents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and lost food from Hurricane Lala could get that food replaced.
A open-air interior is filled with storm debris, damaged furnishings and vegetation after Hurricane Lowell on the island of Kauaʻi. (Sept. 8, 2026) (2000x1333, AR: 1.5003750937734435)
SNAP recipients who lost food may be eligible for replacement benefits:
Hawaiʻi residents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and lost food from Hurricane Lala could get that food replaced.
The state Department of Human Services said SNAP-purchased food in refrigerators that went without power for four hours or more, or those lost in flooding, are eligible for replacement.
DHS said residents have up to 10 days after losing food to get replacement SNAP benefits. Those who do apply can receive up to what they received in benefits in August.
Recipients must send signed written statements reporting their food losses. The information in the statements must include the name of the SNAP recipient, the day of their food loss, the estimated value of the lost food, a description of how it was lost, and their contact information.
Replacement SNAP benefits are a normal feature of the program. They were available during the Kona low storms in March and after Hurricane Lala.
For more information, visit the Department of Human Services' website or call the Statewide Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
Report damage:
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.