Kauai Small Businesses Welcome Tourists Back After Hurricane Lowell

Hurricane Lowell left Kauai facing a difficult recovery after the Sept. 7 storm knocked out power, damaged roads, toppled trees, and disrupted daily life. In the first days, many residents and local businesses focused on emergency support rather than regular sales.

Now, as power and water service return to more areas, small business owners face a different problem: too few customers.

The shift has created a difficult balance for Kauai. Residents still need time and resources to recover, while restaurants, shops, food suppliers, and other small businesses need visitors to return.

Local officials are now encouraging tourism again, but they are asking visitors to show patience and respect for areas that remain affected.

Businesses Feel the Drop

The Musubi Truck, a family-run business with three locations, illustrates the financial strain. Co-owner Kelly Kakalia watched employees provide free meals to hundreds of residents from the company’s Wailua commercial kitchen shortly after the storm.

At that point, community needs came before sales. The island had lost power in many areas, roads had been affected, and residents needed immediate help.

The situation changed quickly. The business has since laid off half of its 50 employees and closed one food truck because demand for poke bowls, Spam musubi, and bento boxes remains low.

Instagram | @kauaimagazine | Following post-storm meal giveaways, Musubi Truck cut half its 50 workers and shuttered a food truck as sales dried up.

Kakalia, 36, said the island now needs to change the message surrounding tourism as basic services return.

“Now that power and water is being restored, we should start to switch the narrative before many of us go out of business,” Kakalia said. “People are canceling their trips in November.”

Tourists can number more than 28,000 on Kauai on a given day. After Lowell, officials and some residents asked visitors to reconsider trips while crews worked to restore utilities and deliver aid. Hotels and vacation rentals also suffered damage in some areas.

Those cancellations helped reduce pressure during the early recovery. Yet an extended decline in visitors could leave small businesses with major financial gaps.

Kauai Begins Welcoming Visitors

Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami said Thursday that the island is now “welcoming visitors back.” He also asked tourists to recognize that recovery work continues.

“Come with patience, spend local, and help us recover,” Kawakami said.

The timing reflects a familiar challenge for Hawaii. Tourism contributed $21.75 billion to the state economy last year, according to state data. Many local businesses depend on visitor spending, either directly or through suppliers that serve hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related companies.

The issue became especially visible on Maui after the 2023 wildfires destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina and killed more than 100 people. The disaster showed how difficult it can be to balance recovery needs with the economic importance of tourism.

Kauai now faces a similar question. Visitors can return, but some parts of the island still need time.

Power Problems Still Affect Residents

More than 3,000 Kauai households and businesses still lacked power at the time of the report. Some areas also remained under water conservation measures.

Residents affected by the storm continued to need generators, food, financial assistance, and help clearing damaged property. Community groups and residents have filled some of those gaps by creating relief hubs, distributing supplies, sharing generators, providing fuel, and lending equipment and vehicles.

As utility work moves forward, some businesses have reopened or started preparing to serve customers again. However, foot traffic remains limited.

Kristal Scott, who has operated Kauai Juice Co. for 16 years, described the situation as deeply uncertain.

“It’s scary out there,” Scott said. “Other businesses are already shutting their doors.”

Scott’s three juice bars and warehouse lost power after Lowell. One location remained without electricity, and much of the company’s fresh inventory spoiled. Generators helped protect frozen products, but the fuel needed to keep them running became an added expense.

All three shops experienced minor damage. However, Scott said the damage was not large enough to produce a meaningful insurance payout despite having business interruption coverage.

Sales fell by 85%, leading to the loss of half of the company’s 45 employees. Scott hopes those workers can return when business improves.

“I beg them,” she said. “I’m like ‘Please, please, this is temporary.’”

The Impact Reaches Local Suppliers

The downturn does not stop at storefronts. Businesses that supply hotels and restaurants also depend on tourism activity.

Cadena Ragsdale owns Kauai Fresh Fish, which sources 100% Hawaii-caught fish from local fishermen and supplies hotels and restaurants. Damage at a major client, a seaside restaurant on the south shore, highlighted how quickly the disruption could spread.

Interrupted air cargo also prevented Ragsdale from shipping fish between islands. Her eight-person team was reduced to one employee, and she began selling two vehicles to cover financial gaps.

“It’s not just about the money, or me, it’s about all the fishermen we’re supporting and their families and their livelihoods,” Ragsdale said. “Without us, where are they going to sell fish?”

Ragsdale said the storm showed some business owners how strongly their operations depend on tourism. For now, though, the priority remains keeping businesses operating.

Her message to visitors is simple: stay away from closed areas, but do not assume the entire island is off-limits.

“Don’t go there,” Ragsdale said of closed areas. “Please come … be patient, have respect and aloha.”

Support for Small Businesses

Instagram | @javakaikauai | Kauai’s dual recovery requires fixing storm damage while bringing vital business back to the local economy.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green requested an expedited major federal disaster declaration for Kauai and Maui counties following Lowell. The request came during a year that also included major flooding, Hurricane Lala, and Tropical Storm Moke.

A federal disaster declaration could open access to low-interest Small Business Administration loans. At the time of the report, President Donald Trump had not approved the request. Hawaii had also made small business grant funding available for earlier disasters.

For visitors planning a Kauai trip, Mayor Kawakami advised checking directly with accommodations and activity providers before arrival. Some beach parks and communities along the far north shore remained closed.

Visitors who do return can also support recovery through local volunteer programs listed by the county. People outside Hawaii have options as well, including purchasing gift cards from local businesses.

The Musubi Truck’s Feed Our Keiki program has also taken on a broader role. The program provides free meals to children while helping the business maintain some activity.

“It helps us feed the kids, but it also supports our business,” Kakalia said, “keeps us cooking.”

A Careful Return Can Support Recovery

Kauai’s recovery is moving in two directions at once. Utility crews and residents continue repairing storm damage, while small businesses need customers to return before prolonged losses lead to more layoffs and closures.

Visitors can help by checking local conditions, respecting closed areas, following guidance from accommodations and activity providers, and spending with businesses that are operating. That approach allows tourism to resume without ignoring the communities still dealing with Hurricane Lowell’s effects.

Hurricane Lowell changed daily life across Kauai, but the island’s recovery is progressing. Power and water service are returning in more areas, businesses are reopening, and county officials are once again welcoming visitors.

The situation remains uneven, though. Some residents still need basic assistance, while many business owners face steep revenue losses.

A careful return to tourism, paired with patience and respect for ongoing recovery work, can help local businesses reconnect with customers while the island continues rebuilding.