Kauaʻi’s year of 2025 in pictures and stories

From powerful winter storms and life-saving technology to cultural celebrations, natural hazards, and rare moments of wonder beyond Earth, 2025 was a year of resilience, reflection, and community on Kauaʻi.

As the year comes to a close, these stories and images capture defining moments that shaped life on the Garden Island — stories and scenes of community and celebration, vigilance and unity, and the people who came together through it all.

Month by month, different issues rose to the forefront of local and global attention.

January

The year began with severe winter weather, as heavy rains triggered flooding, road closures and short-term evacuations in low-lying areas. The storms renewed concerns about drainage infrastructure and climate resilience across the island.

The public was urged to remain vigilant as an unusually strong low-pressure system passed north of the island, which brought hazardous weather conditions. The system pulled in a large amount of tropical moisture from the south, fueled by powerful southerly winds.

February

The Kaua‘i Fire Department, along with Kaua‘i County, launched PulsePoint Respond, a life-saving mobile app designed to improve survival rates for individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

“The PulsePoint Respond app enhances our ability to respond quickly and effectively in the critical moments following a sudden cardiac arrest, and we are proud to bring this life-saving technology to Kaua‘i, said Kaua‘i Fire Chief Michael Gibson.

The launch of the app was timed to honor American Heart Month, which is observed in February.

March

Kaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami delivered his seventh State of the County address, offering a message of hope. The mayor emphasized his administration’s commitment to the community, including the creation of affordable housing.

“Our community, both residents and businesses, have made it clear that the most important challenge they face is the lack of affordable housing on our island,” Kawakami said. “With credit to our housing agency and many partners, the County of Kauai is now our island’s largest affordable housing developer.”

Kawakami also focused on creative ways to recruit and retain county employees, and the addition of three new positions to support the Department of Public Works’ Roads Division crews across the island.

April

Thousands gathered on Rice Street despite the rain and joined the nationwide protest, dubbed the “Hands Off! National Day of Action,” centered on taking a stand against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s policy actions, such as firing federal workers and shuttering Social Security offices.

“Together, we are sending a clear message: Keep your hands off our healthcare, our social security, our civil rights, our freedom and our education,” said Lisa Gibson, Indivisible Hawai`i’s statewide leader. “We want April 5 to be the wakeup call our system needs to realize we are already well along in a full-fledged constitutional crisis.”

A honking truck was also seen flying pro-Trump flags, driving past the Hands Off rally supporters while they gestured thumbs down and booed.

May

In a vibrant display of community pride, a small town on the west side gathered to celebrate the spirit of hula and ohana.

The Merrie Monarch winners, the Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kau’ionalani Kamana’o, returned to the Garden Island to a warm welcome by the community. Hundreds lined up along Papalina Road in Kalaheo to honor the Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala, the Merrie Monarch men and women, and Miss Aloha Hula 2025, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao.

Trucks, cars, and even horses marched down Papalina Road to celebrate. The evening ended with lots of laughter, aloha, and love. Leaving a lasting mark on the Kalaheo community.

June

The Garden Isle became the poke capital of the world as the sold-out 2025 Poke Fest at Kōloa Landing Resort lured visitors from around the world to savor the best in seafood artistry.

Torched Kauaʻi Shrimp was the winning poke at the 5th annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest, which was recently recognized as one of America’s top 10 food festivals. The winner of the culinary showdown was Chef Mark Oyama of Kauaʻi Shrimp.

Festival attendees and a prestigious panel of celebrity judges voted on taste, originality, and presentation to determine this year’s champions. The judges included James Beard Award-winner and “Godfather of Poke” Chef Sam Choy, Top Chef finalist Chef Sheldon Simeon, Emeril Group’s Chef Ronnie Rainwater and fishing expert Captain Chris Choy.

July

It had been more than a decade since Kauaʻi residents and its officials had had to respond to the arrival of an expecrted tsunami. 

A tsunami watch was issued for the Hawaiian Islands after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, shortly before 1:30 p.m., on July 29, 2025.

By late afternoon, an emergency proclamation was issued by Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami in advance of the anticipated arrival of a tsunami wave, with the first wave expected to arrive by 7:10 p.m., at Hanalei on the Garden Isle’s North Shore.

August

During the summer, several rescues were made on the famous 11-mile Kalalau Trail along Nā Pali Coast on Kaua‘i’s North Shore.

First responders were kept busy assisting locals and visitors, treating minor injuries, and rescuing people from overflowing rivers. On Aug. 4, first responders rescued a 67-year-old male visitor in distress on the Kalalau Trail.

On Aug. 5, it was reported that a California visitor was rescued from the trail after suffering a reported ankle injury. Personnel from the Kaua‘i Fire Department then rescued an injured Illinois visitor off the trail on Aug. 20. By the end of the month, a 70-year-old Kīlauea woman was rescued from Kalalau Beach on Aug. 28.

Back in April, about 50 hikers were stranded overnight and into the morning of April 4 on the far side of Hanakāpī‘ai Stream after heavy rains made the stream unsafe to cross.

September

Fledgling season began for the Newell’s Shearwater, or ʻAʻo. It is a critical time when young birds leave their burrows and depend on dark skies to find their way to the ocean. During this season, residents and businesses reduce lighting, even during football games and assist any downed birds.

During these months, the young nocturnal birds leave their mountain burrows for the first time, journeying to the sea and guided by the stars or moonlight. Artificial lighting from stadiums, as well as homes, streetlamps and vehicles can disorient them, causing them to crash to the ground in an event known as “fallout and downed bird.”

Unfortunately, on Sept. 26, three mass kills of ʻUaʻu kani birds were discovered amid the fledgling season. In October, three threatened Newell’s Shearwaters were released back into the wild after being found grounded days earlier during the season.

October

Kauaʻi Vietnam veterans Edward Kawamura Sr., Robert “Bobbie” Paik and Terry Daligdig were welcomed home to cheers and hugs from family and community members after participating in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

The men were part of a contingent of 14 Vietnam War veterans from Hawaiʻi that traveled to the Nation’s Capital as part of a distinguished initiative organized by Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight.

The trip, which included ceremonies at the nation’s military memorials, provided significant opportunities to reflect on their service alongside other veterans from across the state and country.

“I enjoyed my trip, I enjoyed the company, and I enjoyed all the United States airports that supported us,” Daligdig said. “You got me all right here in my heart.”

November

An 8-foot tiger shark was sighted off Keālia Beach, prompting officials to warn beachgoers to stay out of the water.

“Take the precaution and go to another beach; be vigilant with what’s going on out there,” said Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau Eastern Lt. Jaquias Kaipo following the Keālia Beach sighting.

Days later, on Nov. 7, off-duty Kaua‘i lifeguard Chance Swanson was bitten by a shark on the Garden Isle’s North Shore, while surfing, county officials confirmed.

Shark researcher Carl Meyer with the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology said the shark encounters align with normal seasonal patterns and do not indicate elevated danger for swimmers, surfers, or beachgoers.

He said tiger sharks — the species most often involved in encounters with people around the islands — routinely inhabit nearshore waters, including reefs and beaches throughout the Garden Isle. But he also said it remains rare and largely unpredictable for people to be bitten by them in Hawai‘i.

December

Star gazers on Kaua’i, along with scientists atop Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawai’i and across the Hawaiian chain, turned their telescopes skyward as a fast-moving object known as Comet 3I/ATLAS, from another solar system, approached Earth, drawing global and local fascination.

More than 80 participating observatories worldwide geared up to catch a glimpse of the rare interstellar comet as it passed within 170 million miles of Earth on Dec. 19.

“I am excited; it’s pretty cool,” said John O’Meara, Chief Scientist and Deputy Director at W. M. Keck Observatory on Hawai’i Island. “I think it’s totally awesome that Hawaiʻi is excited. It’s great to have a reason for everybody to get together around a common fun cause.”

Since its discovery, a frenzy of theories about the actual identity of 3I/ATLAS went viral across social media, ranging from a UFO spacecraft to space debris to a piece of another planet.

Astrophysicist Dr. Alex Filippenko, who is currently visiting Kaua’i from California with his wife, Noelle Filippenko, said: “The object is a fascinating comet, not an alien spacecraft.”

Scientist O’Meara added: “I think anytime something is interesting enough for people to have that debate, it’s a good thing because it shows off how science can work.”

Together, these photographs and events from 2025 offer a lasting record of Kauaʻi’s challenges, celebrations and resilience, reflecting both the moments that shaped the year and the community that continues to move the Garden Isle forward.