Kaua‘i County continues to clean up, repair and reconstruct after Hurricane Lowell ripped through the Garden Isle on Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Small Business Administration disaster loans for private nonprofits
U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans to eligible private nonprofit and faith-based organizations in Kauaʻi and Maui counties affected by Hurricane Lowell.
- Physical disaster loans: Repair or replace disaster-damaged property, equipment, inventory and other assets.
- Economic injury disaster loans: Working capital to help cover operating expenses caused by the disaster.
- Mitigation funding: Loans can be increased by up to 20% of verified losses to make building upgrades.
Loans are available up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 3.625% and terms of up to 30 years. There is no interest and no payments are required for the first 12 months after the loan is disbursed.
Application deadlines are Dec. 7 for physical damage loans and July 7, 2027, for economic injury loans. Apply online.
Nonprofits that provide non-critical services, such as community centers, senior centers and food programs, must apply to U.S. Small Business Administration first before seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency grant assistance for permanent repairs.
For questions, Call the U.S. Small Business Administration at 866-SBA-HELP, or 866-722-4357, or email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Federal disaster declaration approved
The White House last week approved a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Lowell.
The declaration provides federal public assistance to Kauaʻi and Maui counties. This program helps government agencies and certain nonprofits recover the cost of storm cleanup and repairs to public roads, bridges, buildings and utilities. It does not provide money directly to individuals or households.
Emergency food distributions
The county is partnering with Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi to host emergency food distributions for residents affected by Hurricane Lowell:
Oct. 13
- Hope Collective, 4303 Rice St., Līhuʻe, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Kekaha Neighborhood Center, 8130 ʻElepaio Road, Kekaha, 4 to 6 p.m. This is a mobile pantry distribution. Bring reusable bags or totes.
Oct. 16
- Hale Līhuʻe, 4286 Rice St., Līhuʻe, 4 to 5 p.m. Enter from the Convention Hall, then exit onto Rice Street (right turn only).
Line up no earlier than 15 minutes before the start time.
Hurricane resource centers
The centers are now open on the following schedule:
- Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kūhiō Highway, Hanalei: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461B Weliweli Road, Kōloa: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hanalei Initiative runs an hourly shuttle starting at 9 a.m. from The Hanalei Colony Resort to the Hanalei hurricane resource center.
SNAP benefits: State Department of Human Services staff will be on-site at the Hanalei hurricane resource center on Tuesdays only. Households that lost food to power outages could be eligible for replacement benefits. Additional details online.
Refuse
Seven debris and refuse sites are open islandwide, with tipping fees waived for storm debris. Hours and accepted materials are available online.
North Shore refuse collection is now on Thursdays. Tuesday service is no longer available.
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.
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 the cooperative website or call 808-246-4300. Collections for delinquent accounts are suspended at this time. Click here to view the most updated outage map.
The Department of Water continues its water conservation notice for customers in ʻAnini. Report outages or leaks at 808-245-5444.
County online services
All county services, with the exception of Division of Motor Vehicles services, were restored as of Oct. 12. The county’s online service portal is also back online and available for public use. Residents with questions about specific county services are encouraged to contact the appropriate county department directly for more information.
The county’s Information Technology Department continues restoration efforts following the Sept. 9 Kāpule Building fire.
Contacts for county offices
General phone lines for most county departments were restored. For the quickest response, callers are advised to speak to a live person rather than leave a voicemail. Click here for a list of working numbers.
Līhuʻe Civic Center
- In-person services at the Līhuʻe Civic Center resumed Sept. 28. County systems continue to be restored following the Kāpule Building fire. Services might be limited or slower than usual. Additional details will be announced.
- Call the office you plan to visit before going in.
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% 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 assessment determination before work begins. The same 50% 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. Click here for answers to common permit questions.
Real Property Division
- Owners of storm-damaged property have until June 30, 2027; click here to file for disaster tax relief.
- 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 staffing is available at the temporary Real Property Division office across from the Kāpule Building in Līhuʻe and at the Kapaʻa satellite office and portable trailer at Kapaʻa Armory, located at 4750 Kāhau Road. The portable trailer moved from Līhuʻe to the Kapaʻa Armory on Oct. 12. Staff at these locations can answer questions and accept certain documents for processing once systems are restored.
- Notice of transfer: If you sold a vehicle, you can drop off your notice of transfer at the Kapaʻa office. 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 because of the DMV closure will not be penalized.
- Vehicle registration renewals are available online 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.
The Kauaʻi Bus
The Kauaʻi Bus 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 because of damage).
- Waimea Smokey Valley Clubhouse.
- Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center and Multi-purpose Center.
- Kalāheo Neighborhood Center.
- Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center (old and new).
- Anahola Clubhouse.
- Kekaha Neighborhood Center (patio only for previously scheduled parties).
- Wailuā Golf Course is open for all 18 holes. The driving range is closed until further notice.
- Kapaʻa Swimming Pool reopened Thursday. Waimea Swimming Pool remain closed.
- County park closures:
- Salt Pond (park and pavilions).
- Kaumakani (pavilion without electricity).
- 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 transfer station. Recyclables are being accepted at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea on Tuesdays and Fridays 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 online.
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.
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.
