Office of the Governor – News Release – Closure of State, County Offices, Public Schools and Other Facilities in Kauaʻi County Due to Hurricane Lowell

Office of the Governor - News Release - Closure of State, County Offices, Public Schools and Other Facilities in Kauaʻi County Due to Hurricane Lowell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2026

HONOLULU - Governor Josh Green announced that state and Kauaʻi County offices, Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools, Kaua'i Community College and Hawaiʻi State Judiciary facilities on Kauaʻi will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, because of the continuing impacts of Category 3 Hurricane Lowell.

The closures apply only to Kauaʻi County. Essential government services and emergency operations will continue.

"Hurricane Lowell has continued shifting east toward Kauaʻi and Ni'ihau, increasing the threat to those islands," said Governor Green. "Closing offices, schools and courts will help keep people off the roads during dangerous conditions and allow emergency crews to focus on protecting our communities. I urge everyone in Kauaʻi County to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and follow all official emergency instructions."

Kauaʻi and Niʻihau remain under a hurricane warning through tonight and possibly Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service warns that the potential for destructive winds, flash flooding and damaging surf will increase today and peak tonight.

All state and Kauaʻi County offices will be closed Tuesday, including all courts and Judiciary facilities on the island. All 15 Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools on Kauaʻi, along with Ni'ihau High & Elementary School. The department continues to closely monitor conditions statewide and will announce any additional changes to school operations as needed. Kaua'i Community College will also be closed.

Employees affected by the closing of those offices should not report to work and shall be granted Administrative Leave, except for:

• Departmental Disaster/Emergency Coordinators;
• Disaster Response Workers;
• Employees whose work involves continuing crucial operations/services, such as hospital workers, correctional workers, building and grounds maintenance and infrastructure support workers, food service, etc; and
• Employees who are assigned to remote work.

Employees who fall into one of the above categories are required to report to work, or perform remote work, unless you determine that they can be excused.

If employees are unsure whether they are in one of the four categories above, they should seek clarification from their immediate supervisor or manager.

Public schools on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and in Maui County are expected to open Tuesday, except for individual campuses that cannot safely reopen because of storm-related conditions. Families, students and employees should check the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education website and social media channels for the latest school closure and reopening information.

County and Judiciary employees should follow instructions from their respective agencies. Residents should check official agency announcements for information about specific services, court proceedings and reopening schedules.

State and county offices and Judiciary facilities on the other islands will continue normal operations unless otherwise announced.

Residents are urged to remain away from shorelines, avoid driving through floodwaters, prepare for power outages and continue monitoring official updates from Ready.hawaii.gov, Kauaʻi County, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.