Lihue Airport Reopens as Hurricane Lowell Weakens to Category 1, Pulls Away from Hawaii
Why It MattersStorm-driven airport closures and reopenings underscore how quickly weather disruptions can halt and restore business-aviation access to Pacific island destinations.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation reopened Lihue Airport on Kauai Tuesday morning, after closing it the previous afternoon as Hurricane Lowell approached. Travelers were advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport, as delays are expected, and to allow extra time for check-in and security.
DOT also reported that Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai was inoperable as of 9 a.m. due to hurricane damage, with staff scheduled to assess the site Tuesday afternoon before providing a restoration schedule and alternate delivery plans.
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Lowell, still a Category 1 storm, was located about 230 miles north-northwest of Lihue, moving north at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, and noted the storm's structure has broken down significantly. All hurricane and tropical storm warnings for Hawaii have been canceled, and the National Weather Service in Honolulu confirmed Lowell no longer poses a direct wind or storm surge threat to the state, with peak winds on Kauai expected to drop to 20–30 mph.
Forecasters expect Lowell to turn northwest and west while slowing and weakening through Wednesday and Thursday, potentially becoming post-tropical by Friday. Despite the warning cancellations, heavy rain is expected to linger through Wednesday, with additional totals of 1–3 inches forecast for Kauai, Oahu and Maui County, and 3–6 inches for the Big Island, along with continued high surf and rip current risks across the islands.
