Hurricane Lowell damages generational homes along Kauai’s north shore

HĀʻENA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Residents on Kauai are beginning cleanup and recovery efforts as access continues to improve in some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Lowell.

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On the north shore, residents are picking up the pieces after strong winds from ripped off their roofs.

After Hanalei Bridge reopened Wednesday, Hawaii News Now reached Hāʻena and spoke with families whose homes were damaged.

At one property near Hāʻena State Park, strong winds tore the roof off a home that has been in the Olanolan family for generations.

“What’s going through our mind right now is just, it’s been such a huge family hub for many of our generations,” Hāʻena resident Tiare Olanolan said. “We have so much history in this hale.”

Olanolan said the property also became a gathering place during the 2018 floods, when her family helped feed and support people in the community.

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Her grandfather, Michael Olanolan, said the home had survived several major disasters over the years.

“This house means the world. I was raised in this house,” he said. “This house never moved in the 1947 tidal wave, Hurricane Iwa, Hurricane Iniki, and now this one.”

Other residents across Kauaʻi are also assessing significant damage.

In Hanalei, Blake Anakalea said his home was directly in the path of powerful winds during the storm.

“Can happen to anybody and just so happen our house was right in line with those big gusts sounded like one jet plane was coming towards us,” Anakalea said. “It was pretty scary but been through Iniki, but nothing like this.”

Anakalea said his family lost quite a bit but knows others across the island may have been hit even harder.

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