[REVISION HISTORY]

Hurricane Lowell causes widespread destruction in Hawaii

Updated 26 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-11 04:43 UTC → 2026-09-11 10:30 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Hurricane Lowell, which previously reached Category 5 intensity, struck Hawaii’s western islands as a Category 2 storm before being downgraded to a tropical storm. The storm’s center passed within 70 miles of Niʻihau and Kauaʻi, qualifying as a direct hit. The landfall brought destructive winds, including gusts exceeding 80 mph, and triggered the state’s first-ever tornado watch. Kauaʻi has suffered widespread destruction. Preliminary rainfall totals have reached up to 21 inches in some areas, contributing to significant flooding and mudslides. Damage reports include split homes, destroyed restaurants, and vehicles being moved by high winds. Infrastructure damage is extensive, affecting roads and harbors. Power outages remain a critical issue; approximately 30,000 to 33,000 customers—roughly 90 percent of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative accounts—lost electricity. While some power has been restored, officials warn that certain areas may remain without electricity for several weeks. Additionally, a fire recently broke out at the Lihue Civic Center, temporarily closing several county services. Fatalities have been linked to the storm. On Kauaʻi, a 74-year-old man is suspected to have been killed by storm surge, while a man on Oahu was killed by a falling tree. On Lanai, the island’s primary commercial cargo harbor is currently inoperable, a situation expected to take roughly two weeks to repair, impacting the supply of food and fuel to residents. Additionally, generator backup limitations at Lihue Airport have caused significant delays in TSA security screening. In response to the devastation, Hawaii Governor Josh Green has submitted an expedited request to President Donald J. Trump for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to secure immediate federal assistance for Kauaʻi and Maui counties. Relief organizations are mobilizing. The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Aloha United Way are providing food, shelter, and resources to displaced families.

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