Federal aid approved as Kauai updates Lowell recovery services
The White House approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Lowell on Oct. 7 after Gov. Josh Green requested it on Sept. 9. The declaration makes federal Public Assistance available to Kauai and Maui counties for storm cleanup and repairs to public roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities, but not direct aid to households. Starting Oct. 12, hurricane resource centers in Hanalei and Koloa will operate on revised weekly schedules.
Federal approval for Hurricane Lowell came Oct. 7 after the governor's Sept. 9 request. It makes Public Assistance available in Kaua'i and Maui counties for government agencies and some nonprofits to recover cleanup and public infrastructure repair costs. It does not fund households directly.
Starting Oct. 12, Hanalei's center opens Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Koloa's opens Mondays and Wednesdays, same hours. Hanalei runs an hourly shuttle from Hanalei Colony Resort beginning at 9 a.m. KIUC has restored most power, but Koke'e and other areas remain without it, and full restoration may take weeks.
The declaration may ease fiscal pressure on county agencies and qualifying nonprofits by covering some storm-related public repair costs, while households without direct federal aid could continue relying on local resource