Hawaii tourism officials urge visitors to avoid Kauai after Hurricane Lowell

Tourism officials are asking visitors to steer clear of one of Hawaii’s most picturesque islands as residents and businesses work to recover from the latest tropical storm to thrash the state. Intense wind and surging waves from Hurricane Lowell damaged oceanfront resorts, ripped apart roads and knocked out power early this week on Kauai, known for its stunning tropical landscapes, waterfalls and dramatic cliffs. Thousands of customers, including some resorts, remained without power Friday, as crews continued clearing streets of downed trees and utility poles. Extensive lines backed up at Kauai’s primary airport as people tried to leave the island; state officials said the airport was operating on a lone backup generator because a second generator was damaged by the storm. That reduced security screening to a single line with long delays.

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Scoop News DeskSpecific city/county not stated, Hawaii · Published Friday, September 11, 2026 at 5:35 PM UTCUpdated Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM UTC

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It was blamed for two deaths, including a 74-year-old man found Wednesday near Kauai's south shore and a man found dead Monday on Oahu after a large tree fell on his tent. Local estimates say tourism accounts for 4 out of every 10 jobs on the island. He said he keeps a spare generator and solar water heater at the property in case of power outages, and he urged potential visitors to check with the owners of their properties about whether they should still come. “There are countless images on the web of devastation, so I’m not trying to gloss that over,” White said. “I’m just trying to add a little more balance to it.

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