09/20/2026
๐๐๐จ๐สป๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ & ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ โ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฌ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Lowell, Kauaสปi continues to make encouraging progress. Power is returning to nearly the entire island, water restrictions have been lifted in most communities, businesses are reopening, roads are being cleared, and more visitor activities are preparing to welcome guests again.
There is still recovery work underway in some areas, particularly communities that experienced heavier damage, but it has been wonderful to see more of Kauaสปi returning to its familiar rhythm.
โก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ
As of September 19, 96% of KIUC members had electricity restored. Crews continue working on remaining outages, particularly along portions of the North Shore and on smaller scattered outages between Kapaสปa and Kekaha. Vegetation and debris removal are still necessary before some repairs can safely be completed in Wainiha/Hฤสปena and Kลkeสปe.
๐ง ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ฅ
Water service has improved significantly across Kauaสปi. Conservation notices have been lifted for most of the island, including Kalฤheo-Kลloa/Poสปipลซ, Lฤซhuสปe-Kapaสปa, Hanalei, Anahola, Hanapฤpฤ-Eleสปele and Kekaha-Waimea.
As of the County's latest update, conservation requests remain for สปAnini, Hฤสปena-Wainiha and Kฤซlauea while some infrastructure continues operating with emergency power.
๐ง ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ, ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ฃ
Most major highways are open, but cleanup and utility restoration continue.
Drivers should expect temporary single-lane traffic and occasional delays where crews are removing storm debris, repairing utilities and completing road work. Current HDOT schedules include storm-cleanup lane closures along portions of Kaumualiสปi Highway from Kฤซpลซ toward Kekaha and Kลซhiล Highway between Keฤlia and Princeville.
Access restrictions also remain around Wainiha bridges. Please allow extra travel time, follow flaggers and signs, and give utility and road crews plenty of room to work.
Those temporary slowdowns are also an encouraging reminder that cleanup and restoration work are actively moving forward.
โ๏ธ ๐ฤช๐๐จสป๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง
Lฤซhuสปe Airport is open and fully operational. The County advises travelers to arrive approximately 90 minutes before interisland flights and two hours before mainland flights.
โ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ก & ๐กฤ๐ช๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐
Port Allen is open for operations, an important step for South and West Side boating activities. Nฤwiliwili Harbor is also open for cargo operations.
๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐๐ & ๐๐ข๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ
Cellular service has also made substantial progress, although localized interruptions can still occur depending on the carrier and area.
AT&T reported that only a small number of sites were still relying on portable generators in its latest recovery update. Verizon reported that its network remained resilient while teams continued monitoring and strengthening affected infrastructure. T-Mobile has also reported significant restoration progress on Kauaสปi.
๐ฝ๏ธ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฆ & ๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ
Another wonderful sign of progress is seeing many restaurants, food trucks, shops and local businesses operating again throughout Kauaสปi.
Operations still vary from business to business. Some may have modified schedules, limited menus or temporary closures, so we recommend checking directly before heading out.
Official Hawaiสปi visitor guidance confirms that accommodations, restaurants, shops and activities are operating in many areas and specifically encourages visitors to support locally owned businesses during the recovery.
If youโre visiting, consider grabbing lunch from a local food truck, enjoying dinner at a locally owned restaurant, shopping at a small business or booking with a local activity provider. Those choices directly support the families and employees behind Kauaสปi's visitor industry.
๐ถ ๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐ฆ & ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ
Tour operators are also beginning to return as conditions and access allow.
One exciting update comes directly from Capt Andyโs: according to their official announcement, catamaran sailing tours are scheduled to resume 9/21, followed by their raft expeditions on 9/26.
Capt Andy's official website lists its Nฤ Pali Coast sailing and rafting experiences, with sailing departures from Port Allen and raft departures from Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor.
Helicopter sightseeing is also returning. Air Kauai says it is scheduled to resume flights Monday, September 21, pending conditions.
Kauai Backcountry Adventures has announced that its Mountain Tubing Adventure will reopen September 21 after completing repairs and cleanup. Its zipline remains closed until further notice.
Beginning Monday, limited access will also return at Wailuฤ River State Park. Smith's Fern Grotto Tour will be permitted to access the Fern Grotto landing. Individual kayakers may use portions of the river and designated landing area, but Secret Falls and hiking beyond the trailhead remain closed.
One important distinction: Nฤ Pali boat tours operating offshore does not mean Nฤ Pali Coast State Wilderness Park has fully reopened on land. Hiking, camping and many state-park areas remain restricted while safety assessments continue.
Other ocean, helicopter, sightseeing and adventure operators are reopening on their own schedules, so guests should confirm directly with each tour provider before their reservation.
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ & ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ
Many County parks and facilities reopened beginning September 16, although some individual beach parks and amenities remain affected.
State lands and State Parks require more caution. DLNR's latest official park guidance continues to advise that Kauaสปi State Park areas remain closed while hazards and storm damage are assessed, particularly around Kลkeสปe. Please check current State and County notices before planning a beach, trail or park visit.
๐จ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฆ & ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ
Many hotels, resorts, condos and vacation rentals are hosting guests again, particularly in areas where power, water and road access have been restored.
However, every property is different. Some may still be completing repairs, cleanup or restoration of individual amenities. Hawaiสปi's official visitor guidance recommends confirming directly with your accommodation provider before traveling.
For guests staying with Kauai Island Homes LLC, we continue to confirm the condition and readiness of our properties individually so guests receive information specific to their stay.
๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐สป๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ
Regular bus and paratransit service resumed September 14. The County's latest recovery information says fares are being waived during the recovery period, while certain express routes remain temporarily suspended.
๐บ ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐
For those wondering whether they should still come to Kauaสปi: visitors with confirmed accommodations and travel plans can continue with their trips, while traveling with patience, flexibility and respect for the communities where recovery work is still taking place.
Official Hawaiสปi visitor guidance asks travelers to confirm their accommodations, flights, activities and transportation before arriving and notes that more communities and businesses are becoming able to welcome visitors as recovery progresses.
And your visit can genuinely make a difference.
Kauaสปi Mayor Derek Kawakami has described the island as open to visitors while encouraging people to support local businesses and respect affected communities. Visitor spending helps sustain Kauaสปi businesses, employees and local families as the island recovers. Dining at locally owned restaurants, stopping at food trucks, shopping locally and booking with operating Kauaสปi tour companies are all meaningful ways to support the community.
Come with patience. Respect any closures and work zones. Give crews room to do their jobs. And when you can, support local.
๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐สป๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ
There is still work being done, and some families and communities experienced losses that will take time to overcome.
But every day we are seeing more progress โ lights coming back on, roads being cleared, restaurants reopening their doors, boats returning to the water and visitors once again supporting the small businesses that make Kauaสปi so special.
Kauaสปi is healing, rebuilding and finding its rhythm again.
To the utility crews, first responders, road crews, volunteers, local businesses, residents and everyone who has supported our island during these past two weeks โ mahalo nui loa.
And to those planning a visit: we look forward to welcoming you with aloha. Your patience, kindness and support of our local community mean more than you may realize.
With aloha,
Kauai Island Homes LLC ๐บ
Information current as of September 20, 2026. Conditions, access and individual business operations can change, so please confirm plans directly before heading out.
Official sources used:
County of Kauaสปi Hurricane Lowell recovery information: https://www.kauai.gov/County-Press-Releases
KIUC power restoration updates: https://kauainownews.com/2026/09/20/what-kaua%CA%BBi-county-residents-visitors-need-to-know-thursday-about-hurricane-lowell-recovery/
Hawaiสปi DOT Kauaสปi road and lane closures: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/kauai/
GoHawaii / Hawaiสปi Tourism Authority recovery and visitor guidance: https://www.gohawaii.com/lowell
Hawaiสปi DLNR State Parks information: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/
