Oct. 15, Hurricane Lowell recovery, County of Kauaʻi services update
LĪHUʻE – Please see the latest updates on Hurricane Lowell recovery and County of Kauaʻi services below.
Hurricane Lowell Recovery
Hurricane resource centers to close after Oct. 22 (NEW UPDATE)
Next week will be the final week of operation for the County’s hurricane resource centers. The final days of service are:
- Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461B Weliweli Road, Kōloa: Monday, Oct. 19, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 5-5358 Kūhiō Highway, Hanalei: Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Thursday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents who still need help with Hurricane Lowell recovery are encouraged to stop by before the centers close. After Oct. 22, residents with outstanding needs can call 211 or visit https://www.kauairecovers.org for resources and assistance.
Mahalo to the staff, volunteers, and partners who served our community at these centers.
Hurricane Lowell Business Recovery Grants (NEW UPDATE)
The Office of Economic Development (OED) is encouraging small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by Hurricane Lowell to apply for financial assistance through the Kauaʻi Hurricane Lowell Business Recovery Grant Program.
The $2 million program, funded by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and administered by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, offers one-time grants of $5,000 or $10,000 to eligible non-agricultural small businesses and nonprofits that experienced physical damage or economic losses directly caused by Hurricane Lowell.
Applications are open and will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funding is exhausted. Eligibility requirements, grant details, application instructions, and the online application portal are at https://kauaibusinessrecovery.org. Applications must be submitted online. Assistance is available in multiple languages.
For more information or questions, call (808) 210-6839 or email lowell@cochawaii.org.
DBEDT will host a free workshop on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m. at the Kauaʻi War Memorial Exhibition Center. The workshop will cover the grant program and other available business resources. To register, visit https://invest.hawaii.gov/dbedt-workshop-2026.
Agricultural businesses and producers will be supported through a separate state recovery assistance program. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
Emergency food distribution
The County of Kauaʻi is partnering with Hawaiʻi Foodbank Kauaʻi to hold an emergency food distribution for residents affected by Hurricane Lowell. This is a mobile pantry distribution. Please bring reusable bags or totes.
Friday, 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).
To respect local traffic, please line up no earlier than 15 minutes before the start time.
SBA disaster loans for private nonprofits
Following the federal disaster declaration, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to eligible private nonprofit and faith-based organizations in Kauaʻi and Maui counties affected by Hurricane Lowell.
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Physical disaster loans: Repair or replace disaster-damaged property, equipment, inventory, and other assets.
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Economic injury disaster loans: Working capital to help cover operating expenses caused by the disaster.
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Mitigation funding: Loans can be increased by up to 20 percent of verified losses to make building upgrades.
Loans are available up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 3.625 percent 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 at https://www.sba.gov/disaster.
Nonprofits that provide non-critical services, such as community centers, senior centers, and food programs, must apply to SBA first before seeking FEMA grant assistance for permanent repairs.
For questions, call the SBA at (866) SBA-HELP, or (866) 722-4357, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 for relay services.
Federal disaster declaration
The White House approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Lowell on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 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.
Visitor information on Kauaʻi Recovers
Visitors planning a trip to Kauaʻi or currently on island can find visitor information resources at https://www.kauairecovers.org/visitor.
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. 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.
North Shore refuse collection is on Thursdays. Tuesday service is no longer available.
County of Kauaʻi Services
County of Kaua'i Online Services
As of Monday, Oct. 12, all County services, with the exception of DMV services, have been restored. The County’s online service portal, connect.kauai.gov, 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 of Kauaʻi’s IT Department continues restoration efforts following the Sept. 9 Kapule Building fire.
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The online permit status lookup, Click2Gov, is available again as of Oct. 12. For more information or questions, 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.
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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
Division of Motor Vehicles
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Limited DMV staffing is available at the temporary Real Property Division office across from the Kapule Building in Līhuʻe and at the Kapaʻa Satellite DMV and DMV portable trailer at the Kapaʻa Armory, located at 4750 Kahau Road. The DMV portable trailer will be moved from Līhuʻe to the Kapaʻa Armory on Monday, Oct. 12. Staff at these locations can answer questions and accept certain documents for processing once systems are restored.
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Notice of Transfer: If you sold a vehicle, you can drop off your Notice of Transfer at the Kapaʻa DMV. Staff are entering Notices of Transfer into the system so records show the vehicle has been sold.
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At this time, expired driver’s licenses that cannot be renewed due to the DMV closure will not be penalized.
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Vehicle registration renewals are available online at https://mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/kauai/lookup and at community kiosks in Hanapēpē, Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, and Princeville.
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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:
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Monday: Kukui Grove Pau Hana Market, 3 to 5:30 p.m., 3-2600 Kaumualiʻi Highway, Līhuʻe
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Tuesday: Coconut Marketplace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4-484 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa
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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
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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
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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
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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
The Kauaʻi Bus resumed regular fare collection Thursday, Oct. 1. All passengers need to pay the applicable fare or show a valid bus pass, in line with regular fare policies. Bus operators and dispatch staff are on hand to answer questions and help riders through the transition.
The 900 and 950 Kauaʻi Bus express routes are not running.
County of Kauaʻi facilities
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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).
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Wailua Golf Course is open for all 18 holes. The driving range is closed until further notice.
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The Kapaʻa pool has reopened beginning Oct. 8. Waimea pools remain closed.
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County park closures: Salt Pond (park and pavilions), Kaumakani (pavilion without electricity), and Hanapēpē Stadium (football field, pavilion, restrooms, and tennis courts).
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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 Anaina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other updates
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.
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