Hawaiʻi counties discuss common challenges at conference, including dealing with severe weather

It’s been a week since Hurricane Lowell caused mass destruction and outages throughout Kaua’i County, but officials report a sense of normalcy is returning; also find updates about road closures, food distribution, public schools reopening, cleaning up mold, household waste and recycling and more.

As all four major counties on Hawaiʻi recover from flooding and damages, leaders say coastal retreat, better access and backup power are needed, especially in rural areas.

The Kauaʻi County facility, which houses services such as driver licensing and motor vehicle registration, tax payments, sewer billing, Section 8 rental assistance and more, will remain closed through Sept. 18 after a fire destroyed critical county information technology infrastructure.

The highway was closed earlier Sunday between Hardy Street and Poinciana Street in Līhuʻe because of necessary water system repairs and following road work.

More than 56 “Felt Reports” were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey within the first half-hour following the quake; the farthest away coming from Honolulu, but it was mostly reported felt around the Big Island.

Teams saw and continue to see significant damage in parts of the island as they work to reach the hardest hit areas; emergency supply distribution and damage assessment teams are making their way into these areas.

It’s been a week since Hurricane Lowell caused mass destruction and outages throughout Kaua’i County, but officials report a sense of normalcy is returning; also find updates about road closures, food distribution, public schools reopening, cleaning up mold, household waste and recycling and more.

More than 56 “Felt Reports” were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey within the first half-hour following the quake; the farthest away coming from Honolulu, but it was mostly reported felt around the Big Island.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Hawaiʻi; an average of 1,287 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 172 die from the disease each year in the islands.

U.S. Department of Justice has now challenged every state with laws that provide in-state college and university tuition to people who are not U.S. citizens, bringing the number of federal lawsuits to 25.

Students can apply now for the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council and East-West Center 2027 Hawaiʻi Sister-State Study Tours; application period closes at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 15.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green reports Kauaʻi power restored to 72%; roads, airport and port infrastructure repairs continue in aftermath of storm, also provides update about Hurricane Lala recovery on Big Island.