NewsWSVN 7 MiamiSeptember 8, 2026Miami-Dade County
Hurricane Lowell Damages Homes and Knocks Out Power Across Kauai County and Oahu
Photo: WSVN 7 Miami
Hurricane Lowell struck Hawaii as a Category 2 storm, damaging homes, causing injuries, and knocking out power to approximately 90% of Kauai County and over 30,000 customers on Oahu. The severe weather prompted evacuations, flight cancellations at Lihue Airport, and closures of state and county offices, public schools, and Kauai Community College.
Read the full story at WSVN 7 MiamiWhy It Matters
Residents across Kauai County and Oahu face extensive power outages with no immediate restoration timeline, closed schools and government offices, and property damage from high winds and .
Key Facts
- Hurricane Lowell tracked as a Category 2 storm less than 50 miles from Niihau in Kauai County.
- It is the strongest hurricane to impact the main Hawaiian Islands since Category 4 Iniki in 1992.
- Wind gusts over 80 mph knocked out power for approximately 90% of homes and businesses in Kauai County.
- The county power provider reported no estimated time of restoration for outages.
- More than 30,000 customers lost power on Oahu due to tropical-storm-force wind gusts.
- Voluntary evacuation advisories are in place for 650 residences on the south and west shores of Kauai.
- More than 300 people and dozens of pets are housed in Kauai County emergency shelters.
- Guests at the ISO Hotel in Kapa’a were evacuated to shelters.
- All flights at Lihue Airport were canceled on Monday afternoon.
- All state and county offices, public schools, and Kauai Community College are closed in Kauai County and on Oahu on Tuesday.
- More than a foot of rain fell in higher elevations on Kauai, and Oahu's Koolau mountains received 5 to 9 inches.
- A high surf warning is in effect through Tuesday afternoon for south-facing shores of Kauai County, Oahu County, Maui County, and the Big Island.
- El Niño and climate change are contributing to an active Pacific hurricane season, with up to 13 storms forecasted.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationCable News Network, Inc.“copyright holder of the wire report”locationKoolau mountains“location on Oahu picking up 5 to 9 inches of rain”OrganizationKauai Community College“college closed due to the storm”OrganizationCNN“news outlet reporting the story”OrganizationHawaii News Now“CNN affiliate reporting on high surf”OrganizationHurricane Lowell“Category 2 storm impacting Hawaii”locationBig Island“island under high surf warning”OrganizationISO Hotel“hotel in Kapa’a where guests were evacuated”locationMaui County“county under high surf warning”PersonJosh Green“Hawaii Governor”PersonAlan Clinton“situation unit leader with Kauai County”PersonMolly Pierce“spokesperson for the county emergency management office”PersonRyan Wilson“spokesperson for Kauai County's emergency management agency”locationNiihau“island less than 50 miles from the storm center”OrganizationKITV“CNN affiliate reporting on hotel evacuations”locationLihue Airport“Kauai’s primary airport that canceled all flights”OrganizationIniki“Category 4 hurricane in 1992”OrganizationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration“agency providing hurricane season forecasts”locationOahu“island experiencing power losses and rain”locationKauai County“county severely impacted by wind and storm surge”OrganizationHawaii’s Department of Transportation“agency announcing airport closures”locationHawaii“state impacted by the hurricane”OrganizationPowerOutage.com“source tracking power outages”