Travelers heed calls to avoid Kauai amid Hurricane Lowell recovery

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As Kauai recovers from Hurricane Lowell, many residents are repeating their calls to visitors to avoid traveling to the island, and it appears some are listening.

Read more Vendor applications now open for new Lahaina marketplace

After seeing torn roofs, downed trees and utility poles, and other widespread damage on the Garden Isle from the storm, Christina Danner of California decided to cancel her trip there.

“We were in tears. Just like, we know what it’s like to go through something,” Danner said, adding that she lived in Sonoma County during the 2017 firestorm, which she was reminded of after seeing Lowell’s destruction on Kauai.

“It just kind of brought us back to that time, and we would not have wanted a bunch of people coming for vacation at that time. It wouldn’t have been right,” Danner shared.

Many on Kauai have been asking travelers to do the same as Danner and call off their trips until residents have returned to a sense of normalcy.

Gov. Josh Green suggested diverting tourism to the other counties, and drawing on lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, authorized funds for advertising.

Read more State gives owner 72 hours to address wrecked vessel at Makena Landing

“So people know very clearly, we learned this lesson during COVID, they will know when we’re ready to bring tourists back, because tourism, in many cases, equates to healing and recovery. We use those dollars to pay for new poles, to pay for the schools to reopen,” Green said. “First things first, we care for our people. But I will put extra investment to get travelers back appropriately.”

Visitors who were already on Kauai during and after Lowell helped clean up damage at the Koa Kea resort from the storm’s strong surges.

“We cannot have tourists coming over right now because we, if you do come over, you need to be part of helping us rebuild,” community organizer Meghann Kealoha Matsuda said.

Matsuda is helping raise funds for businesses that rely on tourism.

“Once we get everything restored and we’re able to help our family and friends, then guarantee come back,” Matsuda added.

If you are a business owner in need of assistance, or a visitor who wants to help provide aid, you can reach out to Matsuda directly by emailing [email protected] or by messaging her on Instagram.

Read more Kilauea Elementary reopens this week, Hanalei reopening pushed back