Sept. 29, Hurricane Lowell recovery and County of Kauaʻi services update
LĪHUʻE – Periods of heavy rain and strong southeast winds from Hurricane Nolo’s outer rain bands are expected on Kauaʻi and Niʻihau later today and this evening, with the potential for flooding and mudslides, according to the National Weather Service. Dangerous surf is also expected along south- and west-facing shores. Please see the latest updates below.
Hurricane Nolo
Weather outlook
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Hurricane Nolo was about 310 miles west of Līhuʻe, moving north near 8 mph with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph. Nolo has tracked farther west than expected and is weakening, but its wind field is expanding on its eastern side, toward the islands. On the forecast track, the center will remain well southwest and west of the main Hawaiian Islands. On Wednesday, Nolo will slow significantly and turn west, then continue generally westward through the latter part of the week, according to the National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Steady weakening is forecast over the next couple of days, followed by some strengthening later in the week.
There are no tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings in effect for the main Hawaiian Islands, including Kauaʻi.
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Rain: Periods of heavy rain are expected starting later today and this evening. Through the weekend, rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches are possible in Kōkeʻe, Waimea, Kōloa, and the island’s interior, with 3 to 4 inches around Barking Sands, 2 to 3 inches in Līhuʻe and Kapaʻa, and 1.5 to 2 inches in Princeville. Niʻihau could see 3 to 4 inches. This brings the potential for flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Clear gutters and drains, keep storm debris out of streams and drainage ditches, and never drive or walk through flooded roads or streams.
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Wind: Strong southeast winds are expected with the heavier rain later today and this evening, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph possible on the west side. Secure loose outdoor items and storm debris.
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Surf: A High Surf Advisory is in effect for south- and west-facing shores of Kauaʻi. Swells from Nolo are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the next few days. Stay out of the water and away from the shoreline.
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Marine: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the outer offshore waters.
Hurricane Nolo updates are available at https://www.hurricanes.gov and https://www.weather.gov/hfo.
Emergency preparedness
The Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) encourages every household, business, and visitor to take time now to build or refresh an emergency kit, review your family plan, and know your evacuation route. Preparation is the single most important step in keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors safe.
Disaster kits should include at least a 14-day supply of non-perishable food, one gallon of water per person per day, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, an extra supply of prescription medicines, important documents in a waterproof container, cash in small bills, and other items specific to individual and family needs, including those of keiki, kūpuna, pets, and individuals with access and functional needs.
Hurricane Lowell Recovery
North Shore debris pickup
Hurricane Lowell debris pickup continues in Wainiha and Hāʻena on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 1, weather permitting. 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. Pickup will continue until the area is complete. If crews don’t reach you on the first pass, they will return.
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
Unemployment insurance: State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) staff will provide in-person help with unemployment insurance applications on these dates:
- Hanalei hurricane resource center: Tuesday, Sept. 29
- Kōloa hurricane resource center: Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 1
SNAP benefits: State Department of Human Services staff will be onsite on these dates:
- Hanalei hurricane resource center: Tuesday, Sept. 29, and Thursday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Kōloa hurricane resource center: Tuesday, Sept. 29, and Thursday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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.
Emergency food distributions this week
In partnership with Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi, emergency food distributions are scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: Anahola Clubhouse, 3900 Kawelo St., 4 to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 1: Westside Christian Center, 8041 Kekaha Road, 10 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, Oct. 1: ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea, 4045 Kīlauea Road, 3 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 2: Hale Līhuʻe, 4286 Rice St., 3 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 2: Holy Cross Church, 2-2370 Kaumualiʻi Highway, 4 to 5 p.m.
Utilities
KIUC 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 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.
County of Kauaʻi Services
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
- The deadline to file real property tax exemption applications is Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. No extensions will be granted.
- In-person help is available at the former Purchasing Office at the Līhuʻe Civic Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and at the Hanalei and Kōloa hurricane resource centers through Sept. 30.
- Property owners who applied but did not receive an emailed confirmation should resubmit their application.
- Applications may be submitted by email to rpassessment@kauai.gov (preferred), by mail, or at one of two drop boxes: the Moʻikeha Building, ground floor, Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Piʻikoi Building fronting Rice Street.
- 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
- The DMV satellite office in Kapaʻa and a trailer in the Līhuʻe Civic Center parking lot are available for inquiries only. The DMV offers no other counter services.
- 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 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.
Kauaʻi Bus fares resume Oct. 1
The Kauaʻi Bus will resume regular fare collection on Thursday, Oct. 1. Fare-free service, offered to support the community during Hurricane Lowell recovery, ends at the close of service on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Beginning Oct. 1, all passengers will need to pay the applicable fare or show a valid bus pass, in line with regular fare policies. Riders are encouraged to plan ahead and have their fare or pass ready when boarding. Bus operators and dispatch staff will be on hand to answer questions and help riders through the transition.
County of Kauaʻi 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).
- The 900 and 950 Kauaʻi Bus express routes are not running.
- Wailua Golf Course reopened on Monday, Sept. 28, with the front nine only.
- 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 Nanina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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.
County of Kauaʻi alerts
To sign up for Everbridge, the County’s emergency notification service, visit https://www.kauai.gov/KEMA and click “Notification Services,” text “KAUAIEMA” to 888777, or call KEMA at (808) 241-1800.
Updates on County of Kauaʻi services and hurricane recovery information are available at https://www.kauairecovers.org or by calling 211.
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