Story perspectives

33,000 Kauai customers still without power amid storm

9/9/2026

Summary

Kauai Utility Outage

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reports 33,000 of 36,000 customers lost power.
Hawaiian Electric says roughly 21,000 O‘ahu customers remain without electricity, mainly on leeward and windward coasts.
KIUC President David Bissell says crews must inspect 1,500 miles of lines before restoring power.
Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami issued a hurricane proclamation and urged shelter-in-place and water conservation.

Summary

Lowell Devastates

Disaster modeler Chuck Watson estimates Lowell’s damage could reach $600 million, possibly topping $1 billion.
Lowell triggered Hawaii’s first-ever tornado watch for Kauai, Niihau, and surrounding waters.
The Pacific experienced three simultaneous hurricanes—Karina, Lowell, and Marie—in an unprecedented triple-hurricane stretch.
Over 300 National Guard members were deployed for rescue, road clearing, and shelter operations.
Kauai’s emergency agency opened five refuge areas and evacuated 275 residents due to rising flood waters.

History

Historical Context

Iniki struck Kauai on September 11 1992 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing $3.1 billion in damage, destroying 1,421 homes and leaving power out for months. The disaster spurred the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and Hawaii to tighten building codes and reinforce the electric grid, shaping current nationwide preparedness for the recent triple-hurricane outbreak.

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Kauai Utility Outage

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reports 33,000 of 36,000 customers lost power.
Hawaiian Electric says roughly 21,000 O‘ahu customers remain without electricity, mainly on leeward and windward coasts.
KIUC President David Bissell says crews must inspect 1,500 miles of lines before restoring power.
Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami issued a hurricane proclamation and urged shelter-in-place and water conservation.

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