Kauai's tourism business is slowly coming back after Hurricane Lowell, which is good news for hotel workers and local businesses but the island is still patchy.

• One Hotel Hanalei Bay reopened after more than two weeks closed with no power.
• Resort closures pushed workers onto unemployment; the hotel expects its 400-plus staff back within a couple of weeks.
• Lowell hit the island on September 7 and some areas could take years to recover.
• Tourism leaders are pushing a "Hawaii is open" message after visitors cancelled trips early, assuming the island was shut.
• Some spots remain off-limits, and locals are asking visitors to be respectful and spend at local businesses.

Outlook: More North Shore properties are likely to reopen in the coming weeks, but full recovery on Kauai will take much longer.