Kauai is cleaning up after Hurricane Lowell on the same date it remembers Iniki and 9/11, and while the damage is lighter than 1992, the island's tourism-dependent economy is taking a hit.

• Hurricane Lowell caused far less damage than Iniki did in 1992, and recovery is moving faster than officials expected.
• The big surprise was ocean surge, not wind — a few feet of water acted like a localized tsunami in coastal towns.
• State officials are asking tourists to visit other islands for now, which will squeeze Kauai's small businesses.
• Storm damage disturbed burial sites, including a Chinese cemetery now under guard while crews work carefully with local families.
• Both Mayor Derek Kawakami and emergency chief Elton Ushio lived through Iniki, and say the memory shaped how the island responded this time.

Outlook: Physical cleanup should wrap up quickly, but the financial pain from lost visitors will likely last much longer.