Hurricane Lowell Leaves a Trail of Destruction Across Hawaii

When Hurricane Lowell rolled in over the Hawaiian archipelago late Monday night, the scene was something straight out of a disaster movie – winds howling, surf climbing cliffs, and a whole lot of nervous residents watching the sky turn a menacing gray.

Governor Josh Green told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the storm’s impact was "devastating" and that the damage near the shoreline was "incredible." He added, in a tone that mixed frustration and resolve, that the destruction could easily run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Tragically, the storm claimed at least one life. A homeless man on Oahu was killed when a large tree toppled onto his tent. The governor confirmed the loss, noting how quickly the winds and rain turned a simple shelter into a deadly trap.

Power outages were the next big headache. In Kauai County, gusts that topped 80 mph knocked out electricity for roughly 90 % of homes and businesses. PowerOutage.com reported that utility crews have no clear timeline for when service will be fully restored – a grim reminder that some outages can linger for weeks.

On Oahu, more than 30,000 customers were left in the dark, while the Department of Transportation sent crews to clear mudslides and repair washed‑out roads. Over 300 National Guard members have been mobilized across the islands, assisting with everything from restoring power at hospitals to setting up emergency shelters.

Coastal flooding added another layer of chaos. In South Maui, roads were submerged, and a Facebook post from the County of Maui described how debris clogged highways and parks, forcing many public spaces to close.

Evacuation advisories are now in effect for about 650 homes along the south and west shores of Kauai, where storm surge threatened to smash into beachfront properties. In the small town of Kapa’a, guests at the ISO Hotel were evacuated to local shelters, joining more than 300 people and dozens of pets who are currently staying in temporary housing.

Air travel didn’t escape the chaos either. All flights at Lihue Airport on Kauai were canceled Monday afternoon, with officials promising to reopen the runway once conditions are deemed safe.

Looking ahead, Lowell is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it drifts northward away from the islands. While its fiercest winds are subsiding, rainbands will continue to lash the islands through Tuesday, dumping another foot of rain in the higher elevations of Kauai and up to nine inches on Oahu’s Koolau mountains.

Surf warnings remain in place, especially for south‑facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, where high surf could still pose a danger to swimmers and shoreline structures.

Scientists point to a strong El Niño this year as a key driver behind the unusually active Pacific hurricane season. Warmer ocean waters and weaker upper‑level winds have allowed storms like Lowell to form and survive longer. So far, five named storms have entered the Central Pacific, a number that NOAA forecasts could climb to 13 by season’s end.

In the meantime, local officials are urging residents to stay put, avoid downed power lines, and keep an eye on official updates as cleanup crews continue to assess damage and begin the long road to recovery.