September 12, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, September 12, 2026

September 12, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 9:16 AM :: 98 Views

DBEDT: Hawaii Growth Rate to be Cut in Half

Will Social Media Hysteria gut Kauai Tourism in Hurricane Lowell’s aftermath?

SA: … Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance representing lodging owners and operators in the state, said travelers shouldn’t be discouraged from visiting Kauai if the place they are scheduled to stay is open and wanting guests who can help sustain jobs for local residents.

“It’s a bit of a dichotomy,” he said in an interview Friday. “If (a property) is open, they’re obviously doing business and they want business if they’re open.” …

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami was not available for comment on the subject Friday.

Two days after an Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire destroyed most of Lahaina, then-Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke as acting governor in Green’s absence asked people not to fly into Maui and ordered all nonessential travelers, including tourists, to leave as soon as possible. Because close to 5,000 homes were destroyed by the fire, Maui hotels began sheltering fire survivors.

On Kauai, damage assessments are still being made. As of Friday, at least 54 homes were reported to have major damage, and at least seven were reported destroyed, according to the Kauai Emergency Management Agency….

About 100,000 tourists visited Kauai in September in each of the last two years, and the average daily census was about 24,000, according to data from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Kauai’s resident population was about 73,000 people last year per the U.S. Census.

On social media, messages are being transmitted for tourists to “stay away” …

some would-be visitors don’t have easy options or decisions for canceling plans if the places they booked weren’t shuttered by the storm.

“Have a trip planned first week of November,” Ines Peregrina posted to the page. “We can cancel our Airbnb, but Alaska Airlines won’t work with us. We even suggested going to a different island and they still won’t budge.”

Joelle Bassin Hummel posted on the page to say, “I called my resort, Pono Kai, they offer only losing our time we paid for. In our situation we don’t arrive until October 28th. I’m hoping we won’t be a burden to the locals as we are coming believing some normality (should be) restored.”

Meanwhile, many tourists who were on Kauai when the storm hit have had difficulty leaving. The state’s airport in Lihue developed major security screening backlogs due to the power outage Tuesday and storm damage to one of two backup generators, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

“To minimize the load on the single generator, the airport has reduced security screening to one line, which has resulted in extended screening times,” HDOT announced Thursday….

HNN: Power generator issues trigger hourslong screening delays at Lihue Airport | Hawaii News Now

AP: Hawaii tourists urged to steer clear of Kauai amid storm recovery

read … Hurricane Lowell’s aftermath throws Kauai tourism into disarray | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

One Hanalei flood victim says tourists are being bad

HNN: … the couple feels the portion of Kūhiō Highway leading to the north shore was reopened too soon, and they say they have had unpleasant encounters with tourists….

The couple also relies on the river to clean their belongings. (It must be really muddy right now.)

“This is the only place we can do it, and there’s tourists flying through here splashing us, not even caring what we’re doing, and they’re going over here to the park, just having a regular vacation, while we’re over here trying to survive,” Balmores described.

Chandler added, “People are stopping on the side of the road to take videos of me, like, ʻOh yeah, let’s go sightsee’ after we just had a natural disaster and you’re taking videos of us having hard time.”

The couple also claims visitors have made insensitive comments.

“People are coming down here and asking us, ʻWhere’s the best beach I can go that’s least destroyed to finish our vacation?’” Chandler said. “I don’t even know why the roads were open for that, because it’s not the time. It’s not the time for a vacation.” …

(IQ TEST: Do you believe this?)

read … ‘Not the time for a vacation’: Kauai flood victims say tourists are treating disaster as sightseeing | Hawaii News Now

Kalaupapa residents, staff relocated after drinking water well fails

HNN: … A key pump serving the settlement had been experiencing operational issues since Sept. 3, and multiple repair attempts were unsuccessful.

Department officials said storage tanks are now depleted and can no longer reliably support the community. Patients and staff were moved as a precaution while work continues….

Officials estimate repairs will take about two weeks.

Health officials said patients were moved Friday and are being housed at the health department’s care home on Oʻahu.

Staff members will stay in hotels or with family and friends, while additional personnel are scheduled to depart Kalaupapa by Saturday.

The National Park Service is also temporarily withdrawing personnel from the settlement, excluding staff members actively working on water system repairs….

read … Kalaupapa residents, staff relocated after drinking water supply depleted | Hawaii News Now

Full extent of Ni’ihau damage unknown

HNN: … a few people with ties to Niʻihau shared that only a handful of residents were on the island when the hurricane moved in. Most sought shelter on Kauaʻi.

While there are no public images of the damage there, ʻOhana Niʻihau have shared that some buildings were wrecked.

Myrah Kanahele-Gerardo is a Niʻihau descendant now living on Kauaʻi’s West Side. She said communication with those still on the island has been limited….

Read … Full extent of Ni’ihau damage unknown; communities rally around residents | Hawaii News Now

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