On Monday night, Hurricane Lowell battered Kaua‘i with 90 mph winds knocking down transmission lines and uprooting trees, and with heavy rain and surging surf washing through oceanfront businesses and homes.
Damage was everywhere, including in resort pools filled with sand and debris.
Kalohe Kapu stayed at the Point in Po‘ipū on Monday night to wait out the Category 2 storm because his home in Kalaheo is in a flood zone. He told Kauaʻi Now that Lowell brought back memories of Hurricane ʻIniki, a Category 4 hurricane that directly hit Kaua‘i in 1992, killing seven people and destroying 1,421 homes. ʻIniki blew the roof off his house while he was sitting in it.
Kapu said Lowell “definitely was not as bad as ʻIniki.”
But he added: “I don’t think anyone realized this storm was going to be this bad. It was scary; barely slept last night.”
When daylight came, Kapu emerged with others to survey the damage to Kaua‘i’s southern community. Kapu said waves washed through the first floor of the Sheraton Hotel, Kūhiō Shores Vacation Rentals, homes in front of Brennecke’s Beach and the Beach House Restaurant.
There was also no access to Lawai Beach Resort or Kukui‘ula Harbor. Kapu said both Port Allen and Kikiaola small boat harbors were damaged.
Kaua‘i public works crews and contractors were clearing damage Tuesday from Hurricane Lowell’s overnight path of destruction. From tree and brush clearing in Puhi to rock and stream clearing in Wailua, the work to restore access to Kauaʻi roads moves forward, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
The Kauaʻi County Fire Department also was working to clear roads in Princeville. They worked alongside community members and visitors on the road to the Princeville Airport.
Kapu was able to make it back to Kalaheo to check on his property. He said there was a lot of damage along the coastline.
He said the road was clear the entire drive, except in Hanapēpē where the highway was closed by the Kauaʻi Police Department due to a fallen telephone pole and transformer.
“There were a few homes in Hanapēpē that lost their roofs,” Kapu said.
He fortunately had no damage to his property with the exception of a couple of fallen trees.
“Kalaheo Town is the only place currently with electricity and both gas stations are open with very long lines,” he said.
In an update to the public on Tuesday morning, Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami said: “We’ve gone through the worst of it.”
About 90% of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s customers were without power on Tuesday morning. Without power, most traffic signals were not working.
Kawakami urged the public to stay off the roads because they are “treacherous” and to allow crews better access to clear them and get utilities restored as soon as possible.
