Visitors, Hosts Clash Over Vacation Rental Cancellations on Kauaʻi Following Hurricane Lowell

HONOLULU (Hawaiʻi News Now) — Conflicts are brewing over canceled Kauaʻi vacations in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, pitting disappointed visitors seeking refunds against vacation rental operators worried about severe economic fallout. After watching news coverage showing parts of Kauaʻi battered by the hurricane, Pete Kokemueller, a visitor from Jacksonville, Florida, decided to cancel his Kauaʻi trip three days before check-in and remain on Oʻahu instead. “We saw the devastation there,” Kokemueller said. “I saw the roads washed off, and I saw a lot of debris everywhere.” Kokemueller said he did not purchase travel insurance. While the activity operators he booked with on Kauaʻi canceled and refunded his money, the Kapaʻa vacation rental he booked through Airbnb refused to issue a $2,500 refund. “I just thought it was a little self-centered, that they were only thinking about themselves,” Kokemueller said. “I didn’t think it was going to be a good vacation,” he added. The disagreement escalated over messaging.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open Hawaii News Now ↗