Kauai urges residents to shelter in place as Hurricane Lowell hits

Hurricane Lowell pummelled Kauai and Niihau Monday with heavy rain, powerful winds, life-­threatening surf and even the threat of tornadoes.

At 8 p.m., Lowell was a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph maximum sustained winds and higher gusts. It was centered 135 miles southwest of Lihue and 210 miles west of Honolulu, moving north-northeast at a brisk 18 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Hurricane-­force winds of 74 mph or more extended up to 70 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extended up to 175 miles.

The core of Lowell was expected to pass overnight just to the west of Niihau, where the island’s emergency siren blasted a warning in the evening that winds of 74 mph or more were coming. It is then expected to weaken quickly as it moves northwest and away from the state.

Niihau, Kauai and the surrounding waters were under a hurricane warning and Oahu was a tropical storm warning through this afternoon. A rare tornado watch was issued until 4 a.m. today for Kauai and Niihau, and the entire state is under a flood watch today.

By 8 p.m., a weather station in Waimea had reported sustained winds of 49 mph and a gust to 68 mph. Lihue Airport, which closed at 2:30 p.m. ahead of the worst of the storm, had sustained winds of 40 mph and a gust to 52 mph.

In the 24 hours ending at 6 p.m. Monday, as the hurricane was still approaching, Mount Waialeale had recorded about 12 inches of rain, while Princeville had about 4.5 inches. Rain on Oahu was relatively light with just over 2 inches in Moanalua but lower for most other areas.

CPHC warned of rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches for Kauai, with maximum storm totals of 24 inches possible; 3 to 8 inches of rain with 12 inches possible on the Big Island; and 2 to 5 inches of rain with 10 inches possible on Oahu and Maui.

Storm surge and hurricane surf was combining for life-threatening conditions across the state where high surf warnings for east and south shores of all islands and west shores of Hawaii island are in effect until this afternoon.

But it was Kauai County that was bearing the brunt of Lowell’s wrath, which had residents hunkering down on Monday.

As Lowell approached, Kauai resident Chad Carpenter, 42, spent the day indoors with his family, watching movies and playing games as they waited out the storm.

Carpenter, who has lived in Kalaheo since 2020 after previously living in Honolulu, said his neighborhood had been unusually quiet as residents stayed home and prepared for worsening conditions.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of people preparing for the worst,” Carpenter said.

Residents have stocked up on essential supplies, secured loose items and helped neighbors prepare their homes, he said.

Carpenter said he saw community members helping kupuna board their windows and move heavy items to safer locations. His next-door neighbor even offered to store belongings in an empty room if Carpenter’s family needed the space.

Carpenter said his family stocked up on water, canned and dry foods and fruit. They also moved objects that could become airborne and tied down items such as trash cans.

Kauai County officials urged residents Monday to shelter in place and avoid unnecessary travel as Hurricane Lowell came closer to the islands.

The county announced that Hawaii public schools on Kauai, along with state and county offices on the island, will be closed today to allow for the storm and recovery efforts.

Kauai county and state parks, campgrounds and recreational sites at the Pacific Missile Range Facility have also been closed.

“We are asking everyone to start sheltering in place,” Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said during a news conference Monday. “If you don’t have to be on the roads, just be off of the road.”

Kawakami said the island’s biggest concerns include flooding in vulnerable areas, dangerous coastal surf, storm surge and strong winds, particularly in valleys and downslope areas where wind gusts can intensify.

“If you live in one of these vulnerable areas, right now would be the time to call friends and family that live in safer places, and to see if they’d be able to accommodate you,” Kawakami said.

The county has opened five “hurricane refuge” areas: Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Kapaa Middle School, Kauai High School, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center and Waimea Canyon Middle School.

Kauai Emergency Management Administrator Elton Ushio emphasized that the refuge areas are intended as a last resort and have limited space. Residents who use them should bring their own supplies, including food and water, bedding, toiletries and medications. Pets are allowed, but owners are asked to bring crates. The county does not provide supplies at the refuge areas.

Ushio said residents who have access to a safer location outside a hazardous area may be more comfortable sheltering with friends or family.

Officials were particularly concerned about storm surge, which Ushio said could reach 2 to 4 feet, combined with elevated surf.

Unlike tsunami events, where officials can rely on detailed modeling, storm-surge forecasts are more difficult because of variables including the storm’s direction, intensity and proximity to the island.

“We can just do our best, most educated predictions,” Ushio said, noting that county officials are working with National Weather Service meteorologists.

In the afternoon, KEMA told residents and visitors at exposed oceanfront properties along Kauai’s south and west shores to move to a safer location as soon as possible, before worsening weather makes travel unsafe.

Officials also warned residents to stay away from beaches, streams and other outdoor areas. Hiking, swimming, surfing, camping and unnecessary travel should be avoided, they warned.

Much of Kauai last night was under a flash flood warning, which officials said could be extended.

Several rivers had already reached flood stage Monday, Ushio said, and officials warned that the Kuhio Highway near Hanalei could face a prolonged closure if flooding or other damage occurs.

Kauai’s North Shore has experienced extended isolation during previous disasters, including the 2018 flooding that produced a national 24-hour rainfall record of 49.69 inches and caused major landslides and prolonged highway closures.

Ushio said officials have plans to provide resources to isolated communities if roads become impassable, including the potential use of boats and military helicopters.

Kawakami said officials expect crews to begin damage assessments once conditions allow.

He urged residents to avoid unnecessary 911 calls, including calls seeking information about road conditions or the weather. For nonemergency matters, residents can call the Kauai Police Department’s nonemergency line at 808-241-1711.

For residents experiencing anxiety or other mental health concerns, Kawakami encouraged people to call or text 988, the national Suicide &Crisis Lifeline.

“We all have an obligation to take care of our first responders by keeping ourselves safe,” Kawakami said.

Kawakami said Kauai’s experience with past hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Iniki in 1992, has shaped its emergency preparations and community response.

Carpenter was not living on Kauai during Hurricane Iniki in 1992 or Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and has never experienced a major hurricane on the island, so he turned to older generations for advice about preparing for the storm. His biggest concern is keeping his family, particularly his children, safe.

The family spent Monday inside together, but Carpenter said his children were beginning to feel anxious as the storm approached.

But Carpenter said the atmosphere in his community remained calm despite the approaching storm.

“Our community is actually very calm and chill,” he said. “A lot of them lived through Iniki and know the situation a lot more than most. One thing I know is Kauai sticks together and has everyone’s back in situations like this.”