Climate & Environment
West Kauai Communities Begin Cleanup After Hurricane Lowell Causes Roof Damage and Flooding
Residents of West Kauai are starting to clean up and evaluate the damage caused by Hurricane Lowell, which brought high winds, storm surge, and flooding to the area. In Hanapepe, one home lost its entire roof during the storm. Tracy Valente, who lives in the house built in the 1950s, said she remained inside as the storm hit and described the sound of her metal roof tearing off as similar to rolling thunder. "Oh, I was shaking. I was like shaking and looking for all my things and trying to get out of the house," Valente said, adding that she does not want to experience another storm like it. After the roof came off, she took shelter at her daughter's nearby home. Further west, storm surge destroyed the Waimea Pier and toppled several large trees. In Kekaha, multiple homes sustained roof damage, with some losing shingles entirely. Resident Kalani Mahuka used his front loader early in the morning to clear boulders and debris blocking Kaumualii Highway. "We didn't know that had all the rocks on the road out there," Mahuka said. "And then when I couldn't get probably 10 feet down the road, that's when I came back and loaded this up." He noted that floodwaters had already receded by the time he began clearing the road, though large rocks remained scattered across the highway. Crews worked quickly to reopen Kaumualii Highway, though some sections remain reduced to one lane as cleanup continues. Despite the extent of the damage, residents say community spirit remains strong, with neighbors checking in on one another and assisting elderly residents, or kupuna, as recovery efforts get underway.