About 72% of Kaua‘i's power has been restored as of Friday afternoon after a week of around-the-clock work.
The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced that it restored power to approximately 2,700 customers on Friday, bringing the total number of power restorations this week to roughly 20,000. KIUC had previously reported that, following Hurricane Lowell, about 33,000 of the roughly 36,000 customers on the island were without power.
However, with 12 of 15 transmission lines now restored on Kaua‘i, the island is reopening. The state Department of Education announced on Thursday that most state schools on the island will be open on Monday after a week of closures.
Damage assessments across the island's 15 campuses are ongoing. The department reported that roof and ceiling damage, along with some water intrusion, was discovered on multiple campuses, while the Līhu‘e Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary saw a mobile classroom unit lose a roof.
Specific Kaua‘i schools may still be unable to open on Monday; those schools will notify families directly.
Meanwhile, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced that no state highways are totally closed on Kaua‘i, although as of Friday crews were still working to clear sections of Kōke‘e and Waimea Canyon roads, and Ahukini and Halewili roads were closed as utility poles remain down.
The Port Allen Boat Harbor remains closed to commercial users after navigational buoys in the harbor sustained damage. In the meantime, Nāwiliwili Harbor remains open.
HDOT added that the department is also working to reopen Kaumālapa‘u Harbor on Lāna‘i, which should be user-ready by Sunday, although other repair work will continue.
Gov. Josh Green announced Friday that, despite disaster recovery operations continuing on every island, the state remains open for tourism and visitors with upcoming trips to the islands should not cancel their plans — although he recommended that they visit islands other than Kaua‘i for the time being.
Furthermore, Green advised residents to remain prepared for further storms. As of Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service was tracking another tropical storm, Norbert, which could become a hurricane over the weekend and which could approach the state later next week, although it is too early for firm predictions.
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