Over 50% of Kauaʻi power restored following Hurricane Lowell, KIUC reports

News admin September 10, 2026 0 Comments

Over 50% of Kauaʻi power restored following Hurricane Lowell, KIUC reports

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – About 44% of Kauaʻi is still in the dark as of Thursday morning — down from nearly 90% on Tuesday.

Power was restored to approximately 25% of the island as of Wednesday afternoon, representing more than 6,000 customers brought back online following Hurricane Lowell, according to the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

KIUC said crews from California arrived over the weekend to help, and Hawaiian Electric crews are expected to arrive Thursday.

The organization hopes to have a more complete timeline for full restoration later this week.

Equipment is also coming from Hawaiʻi Island that was used after Hurricane Lala hit Ka’u.

KIUC announced that both Kauaʻi Veterans Memorial Hospital and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital have been fully energized. Wilcox Medical Center transitioned back to electricity from KIUC Wednesday night after taking steps to maintain power during the hurricane.

“Before the hurricane’s expected impact, we activated our generators as a precaution to support uninterrupted patient care and prepare for any emergency needs,” said Jen Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Medical Center.

In addition to power restorations, crews completed repairs to the Līhuʻe Substation and conducted drone inspections of local distribution lines.

Transmission line repairs advance

Approximately 63% of the island’s major transmission lines are now repaired and energized. Restoring these lines remains a critical priority, as they are necessary to deliver power to local distribution circuits and individual properties, the utility said.

Under upcoming plans, crews will inspect distribution lines in Kōloa and begin clearing vegetation from transmission lines stretching from Kapaʻa to the north shore.

KIUC stated that restoration efforts will prioritize critical infrastructure and high-density population areas.

Mutual aid and safety notes

The first wave of crews from Hawaiian Electric is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Sept. 10, to assist with damage and equipment assessments. Additional trucks and utility equipment are scheduled to arrive via barge on Friday.

KIUC also announced it has suspended collections activities for delinquent accounts until storm recovery is complete.

With many residents operating gas-powered generators, officials are urging extreme caution. Generators must be kept outdoors, at least 20 feet away from homes with exhaust pointed away from doors and windows, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Residents should never plug a generator directly into a household outlet due to the risk of back feeding utility lines, and generators should always be allowed to cool before refueling.