Episode 174: Help from O'ahu for Kaua'i County

Note: The One O’ahu Podcast was recorded from Kaua’i this week, where members of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s communications team were asked to help with recovery messaging following Hurricane Lowell.

On this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, Ticannaf “Big Braddah Teak” joins host Brandi Higa to talk about the cleanup and recovery in Kaua‘i County following Hurricane Lowell, what it was like to leave his family during a natural disaster, and the steady, reassuring leadership by Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami.

Hurricane Lowell

Hurricane Lowell caused widespread destruction as it passed just west of Kaua‘i County on Sept 8, 2026. As of this recording of the One O’ahu Podcast, 747 resident-submitted damage assessments have been logged on Kaua‘i with 18 homes destroyed and 101 sustaining major damages.

“Power line are down all over the place,” added Teak. “Albizia trees have just taken them out and wreaked havoc on the shoulders of the highways.”

Following Lowell, trees were uprooted across the island of Kaua‘i and peak power outages impacted about 33,000 customers (about 90% of the island).

Memories of ‘Iniki

Sept. 11, 2026 marked 34 years since Hurricane ʻIniki made landfall on Kauaʻi. As the island recovers from Hurricane Lowell, help is once again arriving from across the state. Help from O‘ahu came in the form of public information officers to support County communications, Honolulu Parks and Recreation staff helped with refuge area operations, and an incident management team from Oʻahu is supporting County emergency operations.

“The southern portion of the island took a really big hit like it did in 1992, in and around the Lawai Road Beach House area, Prince Kūhiō Park area for those who know, and seeing that just brought back so many memories because I can remember being a kid in that same area, seeing the same houses in a way devastated in the same neighborhoods,” explained Teak.

As of this recording, crews were still working to repair power in Hanalei, Kīlauea and other North Shore communities while Water Conservation Notices remained in effect for a handful of systems.

Mayor Derek Kawakami

On top of daily radio, social media updates, and press releases, Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami has been going into the communities hard-hit by the storm to hear from residents on their experiences and what their needs are as cleanup continues.

For those looking to help Kaua’i County, the county has launched Kauaʻi Recovers, a new website that brings Hurricane Lowell recovery information together in one place. Visit www.kauairecovers.org to find help or offer help to neighbors, report damage, get storm debris and health and safety information, and access the state’s Post-Disaster Insurance Claims Guide.

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