Homes demolished, trees toppled in Hurricane Lowell assault; 90% of Kauai without power; schools, government reopen on Oahu, deadly weekend for motorcycle club, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waves topping 25 feet demolish homes and carry cars away in Poiʻpū. Lowell passed Kauai as a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph sustained winds overnight Monday. It knocked out power for about 90% of customers on Kauai, with its biggest impacts seen on the island’s south shore and west coast. The worst destruction appeared to be along the south shore’s coastline, with oceanfront properties and businesses from Baby Beach to at least Lawai Beach destroyed. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

About 90% of Kauai without power following Lowell’s overnight passing. Kauai’s power lines took ‘biggest hit’ from Hurricane Lowell. There is no timeline for restoring power to the 90% of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s customers who remained without electricity Tuesday after power distribution lines took the “biggest hit” from Hurricane Lowell. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Kauai Now. KHON2.

How recent storms exposed Hawaii’s fragile infrastructure. Hawaiʻi is facing significant challenges to its critical infrastructure following consecutive impacts from the March Kona lows, Hurricane Lala, and Hurricane Lowell. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Oahu public schools, state and city offices to reopen Wednesday after Hurricane Lowell passes. All non-essential offices, public schools and University of Hawaii campuses and Judiciary facilities on Oahu will reopen Wednesday as Hurricane Lowell moves away from the state. Hawaii News Now.

Oʻahu weathers Hurricane Lowell with flooding and power outages. Ala Moana park to close for cleanup; City government operations resume Wednesday. The City and County of Honolulu will resume normal government operations on Wednesday following today’s closure of non-essential city offices and services because of Hurricane Lowell. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

Plan for Central YMCA property under review. The YMCA of Honolulu’s effort to return its Central Y property near Ala Moana Center to lower-density zoning it previously had over a decade ago will undergo City Council scrutiny today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island Auditor Says She Needs A Deputy. Voters Will Decide. This is the only proposed charter amendment Big Island voters will consider this year. Civil Beat.

Big Island spared from flooding, significant impacts from Lowell. Portions of the Big Island received intermittently heavy rain over the weekend, but it appears the flooding officials feared as a result of rain bands from Hurricane Lowell didn’t materialize. Tribune-Herald.

A deadly weekend for Big Island motorcyclists. Two motorcyclists were killed and two injured in three crashes ovdr the weekend, including adult corrections officers riding with Ku Kane O Ka Makani Motorcycle Club in the yearly rally that brings motorcyclists statewide to the Big Island on Labor Day weekend. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. 

Maui

Council members give initial approval for $10 million to fund emergency expenses related to Hurricane Lala. The Maui County Council approved spending $10 million from emergency funds for recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala, although overall damage costs are rising to nearly $15 million.  Maui Now.

Kihei association plans candidate debate Sept. 15. The Kihei Community Association will host a candidate debate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at ProArts Playhouse, 1280 South Kihei Road.The event will feature candidates in four general election races. Maui News.

Maui County temporary service sites to close as threats from Lowell diminish. The County of Maui will close two temporary service sites at 5 p.m., Sept. 8, 2026, in West Maui and in Central Maui after the National Weather Service (NWS) Flood Watch tied to Hurricane Lowell expired this afternoon, according to Maui Emergency Management Agency. Maui Now.

MPD officer pleads not guilty to raping car crash victim. Maui Police Department officer Devin Anthony Schoeppner, a 12-year MPD veteran, pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in May 2025 after she crashed her car. Star-Advertiser.

Kula Hospital remains closed but patients relocated to Oʻahu are returning to Maui. The historic Kula Hospital in Upcountry Maui remains closed since sustaining significant storm damage during the Kona Lows in March. The closure forced the hospital’s more than 100 patients to be relocated. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

What Kauaʻi County residents, visitors need to know Wednesday about Hurricane Lowell. As weather conditions improve, Kauaʻi County emergency officials continue to urge all residents and visitors to stay off roadways and avoid unnecessary travel to allow first responders and emergency crews to continue relief, recovery and restoration operations. Kauai Now.

Kauai County schools, government offices to remain closed through Friday.  Hawaii public schools and non-essential state and county offices in Kauai County will remain closed through Friday as the island digs out from Hurricane Lowell, officials announced. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. 


Kauai food distributions to support residents affected by Hurricane Lowell. To support Kauai residents affected by Hurricane Lowell, there will be several food distributions held this week after the storm caused ongoing power outages. KITV4.

Changes proposed to motorcycle rules, HECO unveils plan to combat wildfire risk, Red Flag warnings continue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public hearing scheduled for proposed changes to motorcycle, moped rules. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies the public of a hearing scheduled on Nov. 16 from 9 to 11 a.m., for proposed changes to Hawaii Administrative Rules 19-123 “Statewide Motorcycle, Moped, and Motor Scooter Education Courses and Licensing Skill Test Waiver.” Kauai Now.

Hawaiian Electric announces plan to help combat risk of wildfires. Hawaiian Electric on Friday announced a series of statewide strategies to alleviate the risk of wildfires in drought-stricken parts of Hawaii. Company proposes spotters, possible power shutoffs and better technology. Tribune-Herald. Maui News.

Red Flag Warning posted for parts of the state. Trades will strengthen Monday night with gusts up to 50 mph possible over the windiest portions of Maui County and the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Mother, Calf Whale Pairs Spotted In Hawaiʻi Waters. The appearance of the humpback whale pairs warrants extra care by ocean users, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary says.  Big Island Video News.

Oahu

Honolulu Planning Commission to decide fate of landfill selection process. The Honolulu Planning Commission plans to make a decision in early 2024 on the city’s request for a two-year extension to find an alternate site for the 34-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Fire Department was kept busy on Sunday with the Red Flag Warning not making things any easier as they dealt with several fire incidents across Oahu. The Honolulu Fire Department was kept busy on Sunday with the Red Flag Warning not making things any easier as they dealt with several fire incidents across Oahu. KHON2.   KITV4.

Mililani Mauka fire 85% contained amid challenging red-flag weather. Firefighters on Oahu continue to battle a large wildfire above Mililani Mauka that was 85% contained Sunday, and knocked downed five other brush fires and a building fire on a “red flag” weather day that put the state on edge in the aftermath of the deadly Lahaina inferno. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Drunken Day At A Bar Led To This Detective’s 99-Day Suspension. Other officers on scene said the off-duty detective was "code black," police jargon for when someone is totally out of control. Civil Beat.

Manufactured compostable waste to be accepted in Oahu’s green recycling bins. By 2025, specially designed plastic, paper and other materials that easily break down in the environment will be accepted inside Oahu curbside collection bins typically reserved for grass clippings, broken tree branches and raked leaves. Star-Advertiser.

Little fire ant infestations spread across Oahu. There are now more than 30 active sites of little fire ants across over 200 acres — from Kahuku down the entire Windward coastline to Hawaii Kai and Kahala. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Fire chief talks wildfire readiness during council meeting. Members of the County Council questioned Fire Chief Kazuo Todd on Tuesday about the Hawaii Fire Department’s ability to prevent or respond to a wildfire on the scale of the August blaze that devastated Lahaina. Tribune-Herald.

Project To Remove Facilities At Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Moves Forward. The National Park Service will be able to move forward with a plan to remove and replace park maintenance facilities at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, now that a Finding of No Significant Impact has been published.  Big Island Video News.

Kona coffee farms head into this year’s festival with healthier crops. Entering  the 52nd annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival that runs through Nov. 12, farmers are celebrating higher yields and healthier crops throughout the Kona region due to more rain and better management of the killer fungus.  Big Island Now.

Several county park projects near completion. Numerous improvement projects in parks and recreational facilities across Hawaii County are nearing the finish line as the Parks and Recreation Department sets goals for next year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

4 Lahaina schools to close Monday due to red flag warning. King Kamehameha Elementary, Princess Nahienaena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High School will be closed to students and staff out of an abundance of caution, according to a news release from the Hawaii Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

300 temporary jobs available for workers impacted by fires. Three hundred temporary jobs to help with debris removal, damage cleanup and humanitarian aid are available for residents impacted by the Maui wildfires, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Friday.  Maui News.

Job, housing insecurities mount as Maui tourism disaster adds to devastation. Tourism reopened to all of Maui Wednesday but the economic fallout from the Aug. 8 wildfires in Maui, the deadliest in modern U.S. history, is still unfolding and recovery is unlikely to come soon enough to stem all of the pain points. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina’s Filipino Community Is Fighting For Its Voice. The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce applied for money from the Hawaii Community Foundation but did not get approval for funding. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Families Frustrated Over Lack Of Child Care Options. The historic Maui town, which already suffered from a child care shortage, lost 255 licensed seats in the August wildfires. Civil Beat.

Mahi Pono to bring more crops to packing facility. Company currently packing citrus; coffee, potatoes, onions up next. In a 117,000-square-foot warehouse behind the old Puunene Mill lies Mahi Pono’s new packing facility, which will now make it easier to pack some of its produce for sale.  Maui News.

Kauai

County passes resolution in support of Filipino social studies course. Following the announcement that two high schools on O‘ahu are set to become the first public schools in the country to offer a course on Filipino history and culture, Kaua‘i County Council member Addison Bulosan introduced a resolution last week in hopes of getting a course started on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Mosquito suppression pilot project to save Kaua‘i forest birds concludes. A team of researchers working to prevent the extinction of Hawai‘i’s endangered forest birds through the release of incompatible mosquitoes in Koke‘e are set to conclude a 10-day pilot project on Saturday, Nov. 4. Garden Island.