What Kauaʻi County residents, visitors need to know Tuesday about Hurricane Lowell recovery

Kaua‘i County continues to clean up, repair and reconstruct after Hurricane Lowell ripped through the Garden Isle on Labor Day, Sept. 7.

On Monday, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami named Solomon Kanoho to lead Kauaʻi County’s recovery from Hurricane Lowell. For full story, click here.

North Shore debris pickup

Crews will return to Wainiha and Hāʻena this week to continue picking up Hurricane Lowell debris, weather permitting. Wednesday, Oct. 7, will be the final day for debris pickup.

Crews are working from Wainiha through Hāʻena, as far as roads are accessible. Because some roads are inaccessible, all items must be placed along the county or state right-of-way. Crews cannot pick up from private property.

Crews will take furniture, appliances, metals and construction debris. Please sort your pile into separate groups: appliances in one, metals in another, and construction debris in its own pile. Crews will NOT take green waste or propane tanks.

Hurricane resource centers

The Hanalei and Kōloa hurricane resource centers are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

• Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kūhiō Highway, Hanalei
• Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461B Weliweli Road, Kōloa

SNAP benefits: State Department of Human Services staff will be on-site at the Hanalei hurricane resource center on Tuesdays only, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Households that lost food to power outages may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits. Details are at https://humanservices.hawaii.gov.

The Hanalei Initiative runs an hourly shuttle, starting at 9 a.m., from The Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei hurricane resource center.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) will be at two hurricane resource centers this week to offer services to Native Hawaiians affected by Hurricane Lowell:

• Thursday, Oct. 8: Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kūhiō Highway, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Utilities

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative restored power to the majority of the island. However, some members in Kōkeʻe and other areas of Kauaʻi remain without power. Restoration in Kōkeʻe will take longer because of the extensive work needed there, and full restoration is not expected for several weeks. Do not approach utility crews or enter work areas.

Members needing a payment plan or financial help can visit https://kiuc.coop/payment-assistance or call 808-246-4300. Collections for delinquent accounts are suspended at this time. Outage map: https://kiuc.outagemap.coop.

The Department of Water continues its Water Conservation Notice for customers in ʻAnini. The Water Conservation Notice for Hāʻena-Wainiha was lifted on Sept. 25. Report outages or leaks at 808-245-5444.

Refuse

Seven debris and refuse sites are open islandwide, with tipping fees waived for storm debris. Hours and accepted materials are at https://www.kauairecovers.org/debris.

Contacts for County of Kauaʻi offices

General phone lines for most County departments have been restored. For the quickest response, callers are advised to speak to a live person rather than leave a voicemail. For a list of working numbers, visit https://www.kauairecovers.org/contact-us.

Līhuʻe Civic Center

• In-person services at the Līhuʻe Civic Center resumed Monday, Sept. 28. County systems continue to be restored following the Sept. 9 Kapule Building fire. Services may be limited or slower than usual. Additional details will be announced.
• Please call the office you plan to visit before going in. Working numbers are listed at https://www.kauairecovers.org/contact-us.

Building permits and storm repairs

• The Building Division is open and processing permit applications, including those submitted before Hurricane Lowell and new applications. Service may be slower than usual while County systems are restored.
• The Building Division counter is at 4444 Rice St., Suite 175, in Līhuʻe, open weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Planning staff are also available at the counter for zoning permit questions.
• Pending applications will continue to be reviewed in the order received. Storm repairs covered by the emergency order do not go through the permit process and will not delay pending applications.
• The online permit status lookup, Click2Gov, is not available. For a status update, call (808) 241-4854 or email building@kauai.gov.
• Most homes and buildings: If your home or building was built with a County building permit and is not in a flood zone, you do not need a new permit to make necessary repairs for Hurricane Lowell damage. There is no fee and no County inspection is required, but work must still meet building codes. This includes building, electrical, plumbing, driveway, and sign repairs.
• Properties in a flood zone: Contact the Department of Public Works Engineering Division at (808) 241-4883 or pwengineering@kauai.gov before starting work. Include an elevation certificate if you have one. Structures with repair costs equal to 50 percent or more of their value need a building permit and must be rebuilt to current flood standards. Stockpiling debris in a regulatory floodway is prohibited.
• Properties near the shoreline: Repairs require a Special Management Area (SMA) assessment determination before work begins. The same 50 percent standard applies. Contact the Planning Department at planningdepartment@kauai.gov.
• Property owners who would like an inspection of their storm repairs may contact the Building Division. Answers to common permit questions are at https://www.kauairecovers.org.

Real Property Division

• Owners of storm-damaged property have until June 30, 2027, to file for disaster tax relief at https://www.kauai.gov/Residents/Report-Hurricane-Lowell-Property-Damage.
• For assessment questions, contact (808) 652-7490 or rpassessment@kauai.gov. For billing and collections questions, contact (808) 241-4272 or rpc@kauai.gov.

Division of Motor Vehicles

• Limited DMV staffing is available at the portable trailer in Līhuʻe. As services transition to the Kapaʻa DMV at 4750 Kahau Road, located at the Kapaʻa Armory, DMV staff will be available to only answer questions at both locations until systems are fully restored.
• Notice of Transfer: If you sold a vehicle, you can drop off your Notice of Transfer at the Kapaʻa DMV. Staff are entering Notices of Transfer into the system so records show the vehicle has been sold.
• At this time, expired driver’s licenses that cannot be renewed due to the DMV closure will not be penalized.
• Vehicle registration renewals are available online at https://mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/kauai/lookup and at community kiosks in Hanapēpē, Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, and Princeville.
• Kauaʻi County residents can use the City and County of Honolulu’s online portal to request a replacement or duplicate copy of a valid Hawaiʻi driver’s license at https://mydmv.hnl.info/hnldl/duplicates.

Kauaʻi Bus

The Kauaʻi Bus has resumed regular fare collection.

The 900 and 950 Kauaʻi Bus express routes are not running.

Kauaʻi County facilities

• Open neighborhood centers: Kīlauea Neighborhood Center, Kapaʻa Neighborhood Center, Waimea Neighborhood Center (side rooms only; main hall closed due to damage), Waimea Smokey Valley Clubhouse, Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center and Multipurpose Center, Kalāheo Neighborhood Center, Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center (old and new), Anahola Clubhouse, and Kekaha Neighborhood Center (patio only for previously scheduled parties).
• Wailua Golf Course is open for all 18 holes. The driving range is closed until further notice.
• Waimea and Kapaʻa pools remain closed.
• County park closures: Salt Pond (park and pavilions), Kaumakani (pavilion without electricity), and Hanapēpē Stadium (football field, pavilion, restrooms, and tennis courts).
• All HI5 Redemption Centers are open. There are temporarily no Kauaʻi Recycles drop bins at the Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station. Recyclables are being accepted at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kauaʻi farmers markets

Several farmers markets have reopened:

• Monday: Kukui Grove Pau Hana Market, 3 to 5:30 p.m., 3-2600 Kaumualiʻi Highway, Līhuʻe
• Tuesday: Coconut Marketplace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4-484 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa
• Wednesday: Kapaʻa Sunshine Market at Kapaʻa Beach Park, 3 to 4:30 p.m., 4-1604 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa; and Kauaʻi Culinary Market, 3:30 to 6 p.m., 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St., Poʻipū
• Thursday: Coconut Marketplace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4-484 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa; and Hale Puna, 3 to 5 p.m., 9600 Kaumualiʻi Highway, Waimea
• Saturday: Grove Farm Market at Puhi, beginning at 9:30 a.m. until supplies last, 4411 Kīkōwaena St., Līhuʻe; and Anaina Hou Community Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5-2723 Kūhiō Highway, Kīlauea
• Sunday: Anaina Hou Community Park Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-2723 Kūhiō Highway, Kīlauea

For more information about farmers’ markets and Sunshine Markets, call the Office of Economic Development at 808-241-4946.

Other updates

• Boards and Commissions meetings are scheduled to resume in October. A calendar of upcoming meetings is at https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions.
• The Sept. 8 Planning Commission meeting has been rescheduled to Oct. 13. Agenda items originally scheduled for Oct. 13 will also be considered at this meeting. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 808-241-4050 or visit https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions/Planning-Commission.

State public lands

All forestry and wildlife lands and trails overseen by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources remain closed to the public on Kauaʻi except:

• Mānā Plains Forest Reserve.
• Hunting Unit C: Check stations at Princeville, Moloaʻa and Kapahi (Closed: Moalepe and Loop Road check stations).
• Līhuʻe-Kōloa Forest Reserve: Keāhua Arboretum to the parking lot.
• Pu‘u ka Pele Forest Reserve: Waimea Canyon (access from canyon bottom).
• Hunting Unit F: Access below the junction of Kōke‘e Road and Waimea Canyon Drive.

The public is advised to use caution when entering any state parks and forest lands as unidentified and unmitigated hazards could still exist. Click here for additional information.

Ports and harbors

• Nāwiliwili Harbor is open to cargo ships. No cruise ships are arriving.
• Port Allen is open for operations. The launch ramp at Port Allen Small Boat Harbor on the south side of Kauaʻi reopened effective immediately Friday. However, harbor slips and moorings are still closed because of extensive damage from Hurricane Lowell. Click here to read more.

Refuse stations

Commercial haulers can contact permitted composting facilities for drop-off: Heart & Soul at 808-823-1007, Green Earth Matters at 808-651-2058 and Kauaʻi Nursery and Landscape at 808-245-7747.

Each of the county’s seven storm debris and refuse disposal sites will only accept specific materials, so materials should be appropriately separated before making drop-offs.

All debris, except green waste, must not be longer than 3 feet.

Site hours (closing times subject to change), locations and accepted materials are (unless otherwise noted above):

• Hanalei transfer station, 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Kūhiō Highway, debris.
• Kīlauea temporary site, was closed Sept. 16-18 because of weather, usual hours now are 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Kūhiō Highway, past Kīlauea roundabout and across from Anaina Hou Community Park, green waste.
• Kapaʻa temporary site, 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Kapaʻa Bypass Road, green waste. The site is accessed via the southbound, one-way lane of Kapaʻa Bypass Road adjacent to Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex.
• Kapaʻa transfer station, 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Kāhau Road, debris.
• Līhuʻe transfer station, 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., ʻAhukini Road, debris and green waste. 
• Hanapēpē transfer station, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Lele Road, debris and green waste.
• Kekaha Landfill, residential waste loads 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., commercial waste loads 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Kaumuali‘i Highway, debris and green waste.

Report storm damage

Residents are encouraged to report storm damage. Take photos, write down what was damaged and file a report online. These reports show how much of the island was hit and can help Kauaʻi qualify for state and federal aid. You still need to file a claim with your insurance company.

Report roadway and public space hazards here. Businesses can report damage here.

Tax relief and damage assessments

The county launched a new website with links to necessary forms and documents to make it easier for storm-impacted property owners to submit damage assessments and file for disaster tax relief.

Visit the site if your home, business, farm or ranch suffered damage from Hurricane Lowell.

To submit a tax remission form:

• Email: rpassessment@kauai.gov
• Mail: Līhuʻe Civic Center, 4444 Rice St., Suite 454, Līhuʻe, HI 96766
• In-person: Drop box at the Līhuʻe Civic Center Moʻikeha Rotunda in the Kāpule Building
• Open hours: Rotunda will be open between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Deadline to submit a tax remission form: June 30, 2027

Pacific Missile Range Facility

Recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell are ongoing throughout the installation; but some recreational areas sustained minimal damage and now are available for use to those with guest passes.

• Shenanigans parking lot and beach access.
• Kinikini Ditch Beach Access Road (weekends and federal holidays only).
• Mānā Motors (normal business hours).
• Car wash (normal business hours).
• Movie theater (Friday-Sunday).
• Guest cottages (accepting reservations; access reserved for cottage guests only).

Click here to find additional information.

Mold warning

State health officials urge residents to address any mold growth following flooding. Mold exposure carries serious health risks, including breathing problems, allergic reactions and infections. For information on how to clean mold and mud post-flood, Click here for additional information about how to clean mold and mud post-flood.

Avoid disaster recovery scams

Kauaʻi Police Department continues to urge residents remain vigilant for scams during ongoing Hurricane Lowell recovery.

The public is reminded to:

• Verify who is contacting them before providing information or accepting assistance.
• Do not share passwords, financial information, Social Security numbers or verification codes.
• Do not send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to unsolicited contacts.
• Be cautious with links, QR codes and requests for donations.
• Use official government and agency channels to verify disaster-related information.

Visit Kauaʻi County official channels and KauaiRecovers.org for verified information about Hurricane Lowell recovery.

Bank of Hawai‘i

Bank of Hawai‘i’s Kapa‘a Branch is open, but operating on modified business hours:

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Monday through Saturday.
• Closed: Sunday.

The ‘Ele‘ele Branch hours are:

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Monday through Friday.
• Closed: Saturday and Sunday.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union is expanding its Emergency Member Relief Program to provide immediate financial assistance to members impacted by Hurricane Lowell.

Qualifying members have access to a range of support options under this program, including:

• Emergency assistance loans: Access up to $5,000 with no payments required for the first three months and no prepayment penalty for qualifying members.
• Deferral on loan payments: Payment deferrals on eligible consumer loans for one to three months. Interest will continue to accrue during the deferral period, and the loan term will be extended, resulting in a final balloon payment. Deferral options for mortgages, home equity lines of credit and revolving credit may vary.
• Penalty-free term share withdrawals: Withdrawals from existing term share accounts without an early withdrawal penalty.

To learn more, visit any of the credit union’s 14 branch locations or call the Member Service Call Center at 808-587-2700.

Pacific Missile Range Facility

The Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kekaha has reopened guest pass access application processing for new and renewal applicants following the temporary suspension of services due to recovery from Hurricane Lowell. For details, click here.

Important numbers and resources

• Overall emergency management: Kauaʻi Emergency Management website.
• Weather forecasts, advisories, watches and warnings: National Weather Service website or automated weather line at 808-245-6001
• Water service: Kauaʻi County Department of Water website or via phone at 808-245-5400.
• Road closures and conditions: 808-241-1725.
• Up-to-date ocean conditions and safety: Speak to a county lifeguard, visit the Safe Beach Day website or call Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.
• Sign up for Everbridge emergency notifications: Visit the Kauaʻi Emergency Management website and click “Notification Services,” text “KAUAIEMA” to 888777 or call Kauaʻi Emergency Management at 808-241-1800.

Officials remind the public to use 9-1-1 only for life-threatening or time-critical emergencies. Emergency response can be significantly delayed with callers seeking non-emergency information such as weather updates and road conditions.

Non-emergency hazards should be reported to Kauaʻi Police Department Dispatch at 808-241-1711.

Additional preparedness information can be found on the Kaua‘i Emergency Management website, as well as the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative website.