Kauai County debunks Port Allen closure rumors, police warn of scams

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Kauaʻi County officials said rumors claiming Port Allen is closed are false and that a fuel barge did not flip in the water, as police warn residents to watch for scams during Hurricane Lowell recovery efforts.

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County officials confirm the port is open for full operations and a fuel barge is scheduled to arrive Sunday.

The U.S. Coast Guard initially closed the port when Hurricane Lowell passed the state nearly a week ago, but officials have since reopened the port.

View all port conditions from the USCG here.

Scam warnings

The Kauaʻi Police Department is also urging residents to remain vigilant against scams as disaster recovery continues.

KPD said scams and fraudulent activity often spike after natural disasters, as scammers may take advantage of confusion, urgency and residents seeking assistance.

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Scammers may impersonate law enforcement, government and relief organizations to possibly extort your information or money, police said.

The public is reminded to:

Kauaʻi County has launched an online recovery hub to consolidate storm resources and assistance for residents affected by Hurricane Lowell.

Police also remind the public that 911 use is only for life-threatening or time-critical emergencies.

For non-emergency road hazards or utility issues, contact KPD Dispatch at 808-755-8516 or 808-652-7837. The department’s non-emergency number remains unavailable due to the ongoing phone outage.

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