Kauai recovery after Hurricane Lowell: power, water, and school updates

Sep 12, 2026

Kauai is slowly getting back on its feet after Hurricane Lowell, with steady progress on power and water but damage totals still climbing.

  • Most of the island's power is back on, though the North Shore is still largely dark.
  • Crews from other islands flew in to help the local utility, with more vehicles on the way.
  • The boil water notice has been lifted for the Wainiha-Haena and Kilauea areas after tests came back clean.
  • Nine of the island's 15 public schools have power again and plan to reopen Monday.
  • Damage teams have checked 250 homes so far and found dozens with major damage and several destroyed — and that count is expected to rise sharply.

Outlook: Port Allen should be running again by Sunday once fuel deliveries resume, but full power restoration on the North Shore and the final damage tally will take longer.

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