HONOLULU — Officials are asking visitors to stay away from Kauaʻi while the island works through the damage left by Hurricane Lowell. The Associated Press reported that wind and storm surge damaged roads, resorts and utility systems, while thousands of customers remained without power late Thursday and travellers faced long lines at the island’s airport.

The request is unusually specific: Hawaiʻi’s tourism authorities are not asking people to abandon the state, but to adjust itineraries while Kauaʻi recovers. Tourism is a major source of work on the island, so the advice reflects a difficult balance between keeping people out of dangerous areas and preventing a recovery shock for businesses that depend on visitors.

State records show the infrastructure problem is broader than hotel damage. The Governor’s Office said more than 36,000 customers — about 90 per cent of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative customers — were without power on Tuesday morning. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reported road closures, damaged harbour facilities and continued work to clear debris and restore access.

The island’s recovery will be measured in systems, not only photographs. Electricity has to be restored safely, roads made passable, ports assessed, schools inspected and parks kept closed where debris or unstable ground remains dangerous. The state said Līhuʻe Airport was operating on generator backup as power restoration continued, while schools in Kauaʻi County were to remain closed through Friday.

The longer-term question is resilience. A storm can pass in hours, but a small island’s dependence on a limited road network, a few harbours and imported fuel and food makes repair delays compound quickly. For now, the verified picture is of improving weather alongside an unfinished recovery — and a visitor economy being asked to wait.

*Reporting note: this article is based on the source record listed above and is current as of 11 September 2026. Figures and operational claims remain attributed where official or first-day reports can change.*