Kekaha family grateful for support after home damaged by Hurricane Lowell

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The NeSmith Ohana was doing what Kauai County officials asked of the public and hunkered down in the Kekaha home as Hurricane Lowell passed more than a week ago.

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Then at around 9 p.m. on Sept. 6, strong winds ripped off part of their roof.

“It was the kitchen area. Rolled the roof over like a tin can,” said John NeSmith.

NeSmith showed damage to his childhood home, with tree branches in the roof and a collapsed living room wall, which was also damaged during Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

“While the wind going through this time did get a little loud it kept backing off and speeding up, and backing off where Iniki did not back off whatsoever,” he said.

Iniki also led to more damage, taking the roof off the home, which was replaced. This time, Lowell left much of it behind.

NeSmith’s brother, Keao, was not home during the hurricane and was in Honolulu for work as Lowell passed his home, marking the third hurricane their home has gone through.

“It wasn’t new; it was old, and pieces of it were had been repaired over the years, the many years since Hurricane Iniki and even Hurricane Eva,” Keao said.

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“I’m planning to remodel the house anyway, but the winds and everything beat me to it,” he said.

Keao said there’s a big difference in cleanup and recovery efforts as Hurricane Iniki left the Kekaha home without power for two weeks.

Though the impacts of the storms differed, the NeSmiths say the community’s reaction has not, with many coming together in a time of need.

“I think the three hurricanes in our lifetime have really conditioned us Kauai people to instantly knee-jerk reaction: What are the needs of my neighbors?” Keao said. “And every day I’m fielding text messages and calls so much, from my neighbors, friends, family, just converging without even asking.”

“I just love my community so much,” he added.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the NeSmiths rebuild the home, with funds going to paying repairmen.

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They’re also accepting lumber donations.