Full Breakdown
Hurricane Lowell’s Near-Miss: Damage, Outages and the Response Across Hawaii
9/9/2026, 8:01:27 AM
Core Event – What Happened
In the early hours of September 8 2026, Hurricane Lowell passed just west of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds near 105 mph. The wind field, about 200 mi wide, brought hurricane-force gusts to the western islands and tropical-storm-force winds to O‘ahu. Though it never made landfall, the storm caused widespread power outages, coastal flooding, road closures and Hawaii’s first tornado watch.
Background & Context
Lowell formed as a tropical depression on August 27 2026, peaked at Category 5, then weakened to Category 2 before reaching the islands. An active El Niño has heightened Pacific hurricane activity this season, producing three storms that affected Hawaii within three weeks.
Data & Statistics
- Power outages: Roughly 90 % of Kaua‘i customers lost electricity (?33,000 of 36,000). Hawaiian Electric reported about 21,000 O‘ahu customers without power, with other outlets citing over 30,000.
- Wind: Sustained winds just above 50 mph at Lihue Airport; gusts up to 85 mph at Barking Sands.
- Rainfall: 12–18 inches recorded on Kaua‘i’s high elevations; forecasts up to 24 inches island-wide.
- Storm surge: Expected 2–4 ft on Kaua‘i’s south coast, up to 1 ft on O‘ahu.
- Tornado watch: First ever issued for Hawaii, covering Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau (later cancelled).
- Shelters: About 300 people housed in Kaua‘i shelters; a refuge opened at Nanakuli Elementary on O‘ahu.
Official Statements & Responses
Gov. Josh Green ordered school, state and county office closures and urged residents to stay indoors. Kaua‘i Emergency Management Administrator Elton Ushio noted the difficulty of storm-surge forecasting. KIUC President David Bissell called the restoration effort “significant” and said reliable estimates would await damage assessments.
On-the-Ground Reports
Kaua‘i residents reported flooded highways, washed-out sections of Kaumuali‘i Highway and a destroyed Waimea Pier. On O‘ahu, Farrington Highway closed after waves overtopped the road, and sand accumulated in Ala Moana Regional Park. A homeless man died when a fallen tree struck his tent. Emergency crews deployed over 300 National Guard members, using drones, helicopters and ground teams to assess utility lines and clear debris.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Outage numbers on O‘ahu: Hawaiian Electric cited ?21,000 customers; other sources reported >30,000.
- Rainfall totals: Recorded 12 inches on Kaua‘i’s mountains versus forecasts of up to 24 inches.
- Wind gusts: Reports range from 80 mph to 85 mph; the exact peak remains unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’ve seen an incredible amount of damage near the shore,” — Gov. Josh Green
- “There are currently downed power lines, downed trees, debris all over Kauai, so we are really urging folks to stay in place,” — Alan Clinton
- “If you have really powerful winds over the ocean blowing over a long distance, that’s called fetch,” — Liam Tsamous
- “We’ve gone through the worst of it.” — County Mayor Derek Kawakami
What’s Next
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects Lowell to weaken to a tropical storm later on September 8 and drift northwestward, with rainbands persisting through Wednesday. Flood watches and high-surf warnings remain statewide. Utility companies will continue damage assessments and issue restoration timelines as conditions allow. Residents should monitor updates from the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies.
