Hurricane Lowell’s fierce winds rip roof off beloved Hanalei bike shop

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A beloved local business on Kaua’i’s north shore is now completely ruined by Hurricane Lowell, and residents are showing their support to bring the shop back as the island recovers.

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Nearly a week ago, Lowell brought high winds and rains to the state, downing trees onto buildings, roads and cars.

Part of a pine tree fell onto a business at the Princeville Center, and another smashed into that car. The vehicle has since been removed as cleanup on the Garden Isle continues.

Down the road, several Hanalei businesses sustained damage.

One of them used to be the Bike Doktor, a longstanding bike shop. Lowell’s strong winds blew the roof off the building.

“It feels like deja vu. I was here for Iniki,” said shop owner John Sargent.

Sargent moved into the location a year after Hurricane Iniki struck in 1992 and has operated there ever since. Ahead of Lowell’s arrival, he took precautions to protect his livelihood.

“Boarded up the building, locked everything up as best I could, but you never know when it’s going to hit you,” Sargent said.

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The loss of the shop resonates deeply throughout Hanalei, where many residents rely on bicycles to get around town.

“It’s sad, he’s been here for a long time, and that’s his livelihood, it’s sad to hear that,” Kauaʻi resident Maile Hermstat said. “I think that means that he’s going to rebuild and start from scratch again, and I think he will. He’s that kind of a person. He’ll build back from where he is and bring that back to the community.”

As recovery operations get underway across the island, community members have already begun stopping by to help Sargent clear debris and pick up the pieces.

“This community is so tight-knit, when stuff like this happens, we are so together,” Sargent said. “We just band together. People have been stopping here to lend support, you know, and it just gets better and better after this.”

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