Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell have caused significant damage across Hawaii’s western islands. Thousands are without power, stretches of road have been ripped up, and homes and stores are drenched in mud.
The island of Kauai, home to 73,000 residents, was particularly affected. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported that nearly all of its roughly 35,000 members experienced power outages on Tuesday. Mayor of Kauai county, Derek Kawakami, stated there was extensive damage across Kauai, with crews using heavy equipment to clear trees and debris from roads.
Although Hurricane Lowell did not make a direct hit, passing west of the islands on Tuesday overnight, massive waves pushed sand and lava rocks onto land. The islands of Kauai and Ni’ihau, which has fewer than 100 permanent residents, were the worst hit. On Oahu, one man died on Monday evening when a tree struck his tent, according to Hawaii governor Josh Green.
Kauai’s North Shore and Westside highways were impassable on Tuesday due to flooding and debris. In Port Allen small boat harbor, several vessels sank and piers were destroyed, and storm surge entered Hanapēpē Stadium.
The storms coincide with a powerful El Niño in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) predicts this El Niño could be a "historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Niño events dating back to 1950."