Wednesday morning on Kauai, we still have no power. Beat of Hawaii is running on a generator, and keeping it going has become more complicated because we haven’t been able to get gas for it as of this morning. KIUC technicians we’ve spoken with told us to be prepared for perhaps a week or longer without electricity, while making clear that nobody really knows yet how long restoration will take.
Our lead photo was taken at Baby Beach on the Poipu coastline. The home on the right should be facing the ocean. It was ripped off its foundation and is sitting in the middle of the street.
Normal errands aren’t necessarily normal either. Some stores are letting people inside only a few at a time because they had no power. Those conditions can change by the hour, but they’re part of what someone arriving for a Kauai vacation needs to understand before assuming that because the hurricane is gone, the island has simply reopened.
One reader, Pamela, put the uncertainty plainly Wednesday morning: “My husband and I are due to fly in 9/13 and spend the first 4 days at the Outrigger. So many questions. Not sure if it’s a possibility to change islands; I can’t change my vacation week from work.”
So is Kauai ready for visitors? As Rob put it this morning, anyone arriving immediately needs to understand that they’re entering a real mess, with a lot still upside down and brown water around the island.
If you come now, this will not be the vacation you were hoping for. We suggest looking at a different island until power is restored on Kauai and the island has time to recover. Not all hotels, restaurants, and activities are open. What matters now is exactly where you’re staying, whether that property has working utilities and services, where you plan to go, and which parts of the island your trip depends on.
33,000 means electric accounts, not people, media.
One number is being repeated everywhere this morning as though 33,000 Kauai residents remain without power. That’s not at all what KIUC reported. The cooperative said approximately 33,000 of its 36,000 member accounts remained without electricity, representing about 90% of its accounts. Those include homes and businesses, so the number can’t simply be translated into a resident head count.
Restoration is only beginning. KIUC restored 466 accounts in Eleele and Hanapepe Tuesday while completing an initial inspection of its transmission system using helicopters, drones and crews on the ground. The utility said it would focus on transmission repairs until Friday, with distribution circuit work following if that goes well. KIUC still has not provided individual restoration times. What the technicians told us about possibly being without power for a week was a conversation with crews, not an official islandwide KIUC estimate.
For now, Kauai visitors should check their specific trip details.
The state’s current visitor guidance is fairly broad. Visitors with reservations are being told to keep checking with their airline and accommodations, while those whose Kauai lodging is no longer available may need to consider another island until conditions improve.
We’d go further than simply confirming that a reservation still exists. Ask the specific hotel or vacation rental whether it has power, whether restaurants and other services are operating, whether any part of the property was damaged or remains inaccessible, and whether the beaches, roads, and activities you planned are actually available.
We’ve already heard directly from travelers caught by the uncertainty. People we know had their vacation rental canceled just as they were leaving for Kauai, while others turned around on the way to their mainland departure airport. We don’t know how common that is, and we aren’t going to turn a handful of examples into an islandwide trend.
The answers will likely change quickly over the next several days, and perhaps longer in the hardest-hit places. Anyone coming soon needs to check the trip they actually booked rather than decide based on whether Kauai as a whole is “open” or “closed.”
What we found when we went back to Poipu Tuesday evening.
We first drove the Poipu coastline Monday while Lowell was approaching, when the ocean had an anger to it neither of us could remember seeing before. We returned late Tuesday with cameras and video to see what the water had done after the storm passed.
What we found just reinforced how uneven the damage and recovery are. Some places looked battered but usable, while others faced far more serious effects or even destruction, and that can change what a visitor experiences from one property or beach to the next.
That’s why we keep coming back to the same advice for anyone arriving soon: check the exact place you’re staying and the things you came to Kauai to do. A functioning airport doesn’t answer whether your accommodation has electricity and full services, whether the beach you planned to use is safe, or whether the activity you booked is operating.
LIH is operating, but on generator power.
Lihue Airport resumed flights Tuesday afternoon, and HDOT says airport facilities weren’t damaged in a way that prevented operations. We are advised that LIH is operating on generator backup while electrical restoration continues across Kauai.
Road access is improving unevenly. HDOT cleared Kaumualii Highway between Lihue and Kekaha, while Hanalei Bridge remained closed because of fallen utility poles. Wailua traffic will also be altered through Friday while crews clear debris beneath the mauka bridge. Other areas of the highway are running alternating single-lane traffic, and delays should be expected.
Kauai’s ports are also coming back unevenly. Nawiliwili Harbor reopened before 5 p.m. Tuesday, while Port Allen remained closed in HDOT’s latest update. Honolulu Harbor also remained closed, with officials hoping conditions would allow full restoration of its entrance buoys Thursday. In the meantime, schools and state and county offices remain closed through Friday while recovery work continues.
Brown water remains a problem around Hawaii.
The Hawaii Department of Health has brown-water advisories posted across the major Hawaiian Islands following Lowell, including an islandwide advisory for Kauai. Storm runoff can carry sewage, animal waste, chemicals, and debris into coastal waters, and the state advises people to stay out of affected areas.
Anyone coming primarily for Kauai’s beaches should check current conditions at the specific places they intend to use.
We’re still reporting from Kauai while our own power and water remain out, and conditions are changing too quickly for this to be the last word. We’ll update again as restoration progresses and we learn more about what visitors are actually encountering.
Photos and Video © Beat of Hawaii.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of the most meaningful parts of Hawaii are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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Thanks for the insights and honesty!
Not seeing much said about the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Point at Poipu. Did they get hit hard like some of the other properties?
All appreciated for December 2026 planning.
Mahalo
We’ve been here for 2 weeks, so we endured Lowell. The wind Monday night was unbelievable. We were out of power from Monday evening until Thursday afternoon. Our facility does not seem to have had structural damage, but palm fronds and other greenery are a mess. The pool has not reopened yet. I agree that new visitors should check before coming; Kauai does not look like it did and could be depressing. Beach and pool adventures are probably not feasible. Just driving anywhere is saddening, We know Kauai will recover and trees will regrow, but it will take time – not now.
For those due to arrive in Kauai in the next two weeks and unable to change travel plans, I suggest you consider booking a condo or hotel in Kaanapali on Maui. I am sure they have open rooms available and getting booked will be easy. If you have a flight directly to Lihue, it Might be cheaper to keep it and then book with Hawaiian to fly to Kahului. Yes, I know, there has been some beach erosion around Kaanapali and Kihei and some roads with minor damage, but most of Maui survived this one with the least damage.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this terrible storm. We go to Kauai every year for many years. We love the island and the people of Kauai.
In the category of never challenge worse, unless things change in the next week and a half, Norbert is taking dead aim at the islands.
As a resident of Kauai – I am recommending visitors please stay home. This is not the time to be on vacation. Anything you think might be open and available is not. Our Devastation is not a tourist attraction. It will take months if not years to recover from this. People live here – this is not your Disneyland to come and gawk at for your insta account.
Maybe it’s time for people in Hawaii to invest in Patriot 2000 watt solar charged DC to AC portable generators. That would fix the problem of no gasoline available for gas powered units. Wouldn’t ya think people would realize that gas pumps take electricity to run the pumps. Maybe Hawaii needs to go solar instead of relying on all the electric companies.
Kauai has the greatest solar share of any public utility anywhere in the world.
not Luxemburg, Hungary and Chile?
Still here on the island trying to catch the next flight out to our home. Must say this has not been a great experience for our 30th year anniversary 😞😞😞. Just felt like those that were taking the rescue lead did not have a plan in place, what should have been memories for wife and I to remember will certainly be that. At 2:00am when the hurricane was the strongest we found ourselves holding on to each other for dear life in between a shower stall . When daylight came around we were not ready for the destruction Lowell had caused, our 6 day vacation turned into two days of you are on your own for survival, truly foreshadowing what is to come. Hope all made it safe thru this not coming back any time soon.😢😢😢
We have plans to visit this December and are leaning towards canceling. However, we have reservations at Kiahuna Plantation and heard from a few people that owners were not willing to refund. I made our reservation through Outrigger so hoping they will honor at least a transfer to a future date. Prayers to everyone impacted by Lowell.
If you can’t get help through Outrigger, you might try contacting the owner separately. The owners I’ve dealt with at Kiahuna have been very understanding and accommodating. I also hope you had travel insurance.
Thanks Rob. We have time to cancel our trip, as long as it is longer than the 30 day window. I want to give some time for the power to be restored before calling to cancel or rebook. I also paid via Amex which has a trip cancelation and interruption coverage so if we don’t receive our full amount back, we can file a claim to recoup the remaining amount.
Wise move with AMEX. The front buildings at Kiahuna, Bldgs 1, 2, 30, and 31 are devastated, but the back buildings should be OK. There is no beachfront anymore. I heard from the owner of the unit we use in building 15 and they had tenants there during the hurricane and said everything was OK. So if your reservation is for a back building, you should be fine. But obviously there are other factors to consider to make your trip somewhat enjoyable. Good luck.
Our trip insurance with VRBO is proving to be worthless. Unless the place is blown away they won’t pay. Doesn’t matter if there’s $400 million in damages on the island. First time buying trip insurance and likely the last.
Yeah, everyone talking about trip insurance clearly hasn’t used it. It’s either dodgy that looks for every out to avoid paying, or is Very expensive. I’m just going to roll with the risks.
I would hope things would be ok by December!
I enjoy the variety of stories you publish and look forward to them. Please stay safe and I hope things for you get better sooner than later.
Sending aloha from Lahaina for your long road ahead. Stay safe and lean on those around you so they can lean on you when they need to.
For visitors, if you are still there or just arriving (for some reason), remember that everyone you talk to might be the person who’s grandparents built the house that was picked up and dumped in the street, or everything they own was just washed into the backyard, or the business they built from scratch is now rubble. They probably don’t know when the power will be back on, where you can get gas, or what might be open. Please be sensitive to what the community is and will be going through for a good long while.
Why would you want to go on vacation and spend all that money not being able to do things. Cancel it and reschedule for another time, I am pretty sure everyone will get there money refunded. If you go plan on helping cleanup that is what will be available to do!!
“Our condo did not suffer damage from the Hurricane Lowell that would require us to have to cancel guest reservations. We already have our electricity back on, and we have water. The roads are open in Kauai. The airport is open and flights are going into and out of Kauai, so thankfully you will not have to cancel your reservation. There are no problems with our condo that would require us to have to cancel guest reservations, so that is great news.”
You’re pretty sure….
So basically you don’t want to refund money to people who made a reservation with you before the hurricane hit Kauai ….what you are saying sounds like a sales pitch to me and I feel sorry for your “guests”. As some of the articles suggest, the airport was working on a generator and even if planes were leaving, the security lines were increasing to a 6 hour wait. Besides, tourists come to Kaui to get into the ocean which I am sure is pictured “blue” on your ads, not brown …and the state has issued health warnings.
We are the guests. That was the response when we requested cancelation. We are forced to come or lose 50% of the rent. Talk to the haoles in Arizona. Or pass a law.
Wow. That is not the news shared from official sources today. They are asking people to stay off the roads, LIH is not back to normal. 6 hours to get out because they don’t have electricity and some of the roads near ocean were pulled up and looked like a jigsaw puzzle.
take care you guys. you did not mention damage to your home. I am glad for that. no power for week or more? Wow. our maui home was practically untouched but the beaches are a mess and of course so, kihei road is swamped again. prayers for all beings through this rather scary time. Ane T
If not for a providential booking issue last spring, we would have been there too. Instead we are winding down the trip on Maui.
Much as I would encourage people to not arrive on Kauai in the immediate future, it is a little more complicated than just changing islands.
On Maui from Kihei going south there has been a lot of, but not universal, beach erosion and sand scour. Some are still good. Parts of others are just down to rock, or access stairs undermined.
If I were just arriving I would be disappointed. Don’t know about Kaanapali.
My 4 br VR in Kona is open until the 15th, if someone gets cancelled and wants to switch to a different island. Maybe others can post other options at VR’s or hotels. I remember we were scheduled to visit just after Iniki and switched to another island last minute.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our adopted ohana of Kauai and those we haven’t met.
That includes you, Rob and Jeff as well as all of your staff. Thank you for keeping us updated on the conditions on the island.
Our prayers also go out for the Niihau residents.
We are scheduled for Oct 19th. We want to come and help the economy, but not at the expense of being in the way. Kaua’i and the people of Kaua’i come first then back to business (tourists). We love Kaua’i and want the best for Kaua’i. Prayers for all!!!
Well I am glad you both are ok. I tried to send a comment the other day but it wouldn’t go through. I know everything will come back with everyone helping each other. That’s what I love about the people of Kauai.
I think visitors should also consider the availability of food. Stores had a run on before the storm hit, and what food is left should go to residents first as they try to recover. Restaurants should be serving residents first also. I know people, especially those who have visited before and have a special fondness for Kauai, want to come over to help, but I think they should stay away until relief organizations get on site, assess, and plan. Organizations like Samaritan’s Purse will probably arrive within a week and people can volunteer through them. Going on your own is probably not the best decision.
After Iniki hit Kauai, I gave it over a year before I even thought about returning to Kauai and I was glad that I did. Places that I previously ate at, especially Jimmy Z’s, were just gone and by gone I mean the buildings. Although Kauai needs tourism, it appears that it is going to need months to get things really figured out for the future and extra bodies on Island are probably going to be more of a burden than anything else. Stay safe you guys and I hope that you and those around you can keep the power on and the news updates flowing.
Aloha – glad you are well and hope your electricity resumes soon for all. Thank you for reporting. Several of us are concerned.
Mahalo
As usual, press pictures and videos focus on pictures of the worst destruction. This gives both visitors and owners the impression that the entire island, at least the south shore, may be uninhabitable. As you know, this is severely exaggerated and will result in many unnecessary cancellations for weeks, if not more.
Leave it to the county of Kauai to not focus on giving frequent updates that are accurate, honest, and not sensationalist to sell newspapers and not help hotels and rental condo owners. I would add your site to the list.
Power will be restored, many roads and resorts are open, and many more will re-open after days. Areas of flooding are limited, and will soon be cleared.
Accurate information needs to be released, honestly reported by the press, and updated frequently.
My property, Poipu Shores, just east of Brenneke’s beach, was 100% spared, as were many others, including the Hyatt. We need a government who are in our corner, who have our back.
Ditto what Rolf said. The same pics of the worst cases keep repeating. I know the south shore very well and I recognize all of the buildings and areas we’re seeing online. And they keep repeating….over and over. It gives the impression of the destruction being everywhere. The major destruction in Poipu was in the lower lying sea level and oceanfront locations. This means the Sheraton, first floor units of Kiahuna units closest to the water, Beach House restaurant, homes in the low lying baby beach area and waterfront homes on Lawai Rd. Yes, that’s bad enough. I get it. But for most places it means a clean-up and not much more There are areas of Poipu that are further back from the water and at higher elevations that are mostly fine. So there will be major cleanups, the water will clear and save for businesses like the Sheraton and Beach House things will be much better than many are imagining. For November and beyond don’t hit the cancel button just yet
Ignorance of global warning reminds me of the orchestra still playing while the Titanic was sinking ….
Rolf, I don’t know about Poipu Shores.. Is that a short term rental that you are trying to find tourists for? I don’t think tourists would enjoy Kauai right now, just because your building and the Hyatt were spared. The airport was running on generators, the ocean is not safe to swim in, there is debris on the roads, some are closed, the bridge on the North side is damaged etc. What would people want to do when they visit right now? As someone else wrote here, priority should be given to residents, especially concerning food.
Our Wainiha beach house somehow survived without a visible scratch an. We were was not there, but neighbor sent me bunch of pics taken day after. I think the south side was hit harder, and certainly the surf swell was mostly all on south side, maybe also on east side. We are only 100 feet from the water, and less than 50 miles from the eye of the storm as it passed to the west. But no waves crossed over the dune – wind was coming out of the west. I am told that our neighborhood is a hot mess (emphasis on both words). We are heading back over for the fall season, but waiting a few weeks for water and power to restore before leaving.
Hanalei has no water or power. Only cell phones with Starlink connections are functioning.
Wow! I live on Maui, but I am off island right now. I was so sorry to hear that Kauai was hit very badly and if I was a tourist who had planned to visit Kauai this week or next, I would definitely cancel my trip. It just doesn’t make sense from everything I heard including your own report. On another note, I hope that Jeff Bezos will put use some of his money to help the island as one of the richest owner’s on Kauai. I am curious how much damage (if any) his property had and if he could use his private plane and boat …..just saying….
Still awaiting a report from Niihau………….
I’ll see what Rob would not state: If you’re asking whether you should come to Kauai or make alternate plans you already have the answer make the alternate plans that Kauai and it’s residence Hill and recover, another time after recovery has been completed with restoration of power, removal of debris, etc.
So sad to see the damage and hear that the power may be out for a week. Stay safe everyone!
Been visiting Kauai every year since 1987
We were fortunate enough to get out just before Iniki hit. We lucked out this year as we left before Lala and Lowell landed.
Southside took the hit again. Best advice is to cancel and give the locals a chance to recover as we did the following year after Iniki.. Samo
Thanks for the update. It’s clear we need to cancel our 9/13 arrival. Delta sent out an email for waivers for travel 9/8 and 9/9 but also said I could switch before 9/12 but if I change destination there could be fees. The LIH website shows no Delta activity yesterday or today. Currently waiting for a call back. Hoping big Island a possibility.
Delta updated their info after I last posted and changed their waiver dates. I was able to change to Big Island with no penalty. As of 9/10 still no Delta activity in or out to LIH. Today when I called Outrigger they said their power was restored. A manager is supposed to review my request to cancel.
I am sorry to say that Hilo was hit pretty badly during the last 2 storms. Kona might be ok.
As we were checking out of our resort in Princeville this morning another guest said the bridge to Hanalei is open and there are food trucks with generators serving food.
We had 2 days of no power or cell so we were really cut off from concerned family. Food was cooked on the bbq grills when possible. We now head home with another Hawaii’s experience: hurricane.
Right now we are on the plane heading home but no food since the catering company had no power. Little was open from Princeville to Lihue. So much for looking forward to first class☹️
Any vacationers who have plans to travel to Kauai this month should seriously consider changing their plans. The hurricane has made a mess of the island, so when you arrive you could volunteer to be a part of the clean up?
I agree 100%. The issue for a lot of people is the AirBnB refund policy will not refund last-minute cancellations leaving many people facing losing thousands of dollars if they voluntarily cancel or reschedule. Unless, of course, a formal visitor restriction is put in place. Hopefully that is being considered for many reason. Even if just temporarily until things are fully operational.
Truthfully we are wondering if the trip we hoped to take to Kauai next year is still is good idea. We usually split our trip with 4/5 nights near Hanalei and double that in Poipu. We’ll wait a good long while to see if the island and the locals are ready for visitors; I cannot imagine burdening the island’s people and resources right now!
CeeGee,
Staying away will not benefit Kauai. If your trip is next year, that is at least 4 months from now.
The economy in Hawaii as a State, and locally in towns on the islands, and in households… is tied to visitor arrivals.
Unfortunately News Organizations strongly Sell on Bad News and rarely invest much if any effort to report later on when things have stabilized. This creates a very big economic burden for the island that was hit with a disaster, with the economic burden lasting well beyond any ‘usefulness’.
The island shall recover and will need your support more than it did before.
Do yourself and Kauai a big favor and go in 2027 as you already planned to do.
I was born and raised in Hawaii, have visited every 2 years since moving to the mainland years ago, and am very familiar with the economy of the islands. We’ll monitor and see what seems best for the local residents and environment. It’s also more nuanced in today’s world. Unfortunately, these days, most of the vacation rental revenue goes to out-of-state owners (many of whom own multiple properties) and corporations. Yes, local employees are a huge factor (probably the top priority) in our consideration, but the vast majority of tourist dollars no longer stay in the state.
Vacation rental owners employ locals for cleaning, caretaking, construction, maintenance.
VR owners buy insurance and shop locally
VR owners’ property tax rate is Orders of Magnitude higher than resident property tax rate.
On Maui:
$6.25 to $17.00 per $1,000 of assessed value for non-resident (VR Owner)
same property is assessed for residents at
$1.65 to $5.00 per $1,000 of assessed value
A LOT more money may be staying on island and contributing towards and circulating through the economy than some (or most) are aware.
Exactly, and those out of state owners are the ones commenting here saying that tourists should go to Kauai even right after a storm. Most of those are not full time residents on the island.
Eva –
CeeGee said her trip was in 2027. That is far different than coming to the island “right away” after the storm.
These are two entirely different scenarios.
A bigger issue for the Hotels than whether it has power and rooms.. is whether the majority of their many employees can go to work. A hotel without employees can’t deliver expected/required functions/service.
And….This is another example of why people need to more seriously consider purchase of Travel Insurance. Airlines are separate from Hotels, they each will have different policies. Neither Airline Nor Hotel should be held liable for Natural Disasters such that they refund travelers If they are able to still provide the service contracted.
Couldn’t agree more, Elen. It baffles me why people typically don’t buy trip cancellation insurance. The CFAR – Cancel For Any Reason is even better. I know people who unfortunately losing what they’ve paid. But the owners and managers always stress their cancellation policy and the need for travel insurance yet most people ignore the message. I know of at least two on-island rental agencies that are talking about making it a requirement yet reimbursing for it. That’s a win-win for all. Right now I’m sure there many unfortunately being told no refund. They had the opportunity to avoid that.
We bought the insurance. It has turned out to be worthless if the property isn’t destroyed. Never bought or needed it before and when we do it pays nothing. What a racket selling nothing for something.
Steve,
While I believe people should consider travel insurance for remedying things like this, the severe weather event, I also don’t disagree that insurance can be “an insult after injury” experience in All sectors of the insurance industry. My broker gave me insights into the games played by Major Carriers and it shocking/eye opening has forever changed my opinion/approach to Insurance.
As consumers we have to shop around, read reviews, know exactly (as best as we can) what we’re paying for. The Cancel for any Reason type as Deborah mentioned above is hopefully the best option to avoid your situation.
By the way, would love to hear from others who have had positive experiences with Travel Insurance and who the recommended carriers are.
I definitely don’t intend to be rude or mock your misfortune, but did you read the complete policy Before you purchased the insurance?
Most of us are notorious for blindly accepting the terms without giving the fine print a first glance, let alone a second one.
I’m 100% positive that they clearly spelled out the restrictions that you shared with us. Why am I that confident ? Well, because you would be telling us that you’re about to be a millionaire from suing them for insurance fraud on their part.
Insurance that ignores a natural disaster isn’t Insurance. It’s a scam.
Unfortunately, the responsibility lies with you to read the policy. The buck stops with you to make sure you have the coverage that you want and need.
Insurance … contracts … lots of legal mumbo-jumbo. If you don’t want to pay for a lawyer to review … and Nobody does. This is an excellent use of AI (I use ChatGPT) to review the contract (which it does in less than a second) and presents its findings. Then ask it questions if you have questions about what it is really covering or what does it not cover. AI is a useful Tool. Use it as a Tool. It ain’t perfect … but it is better than Not reading the contract which basically most of us never did … now you can at least have some insight into what you are buying. Just my $.02