Kaua'i Ends Hurricane Lowell Fee Waiver Nov. 18
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami extended the county's Hurricane Lowell emergency period and announced tipping fees will return.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Safety
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Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed a Third Supplemental Emergency Proclamation on Nov. 13, 2026, relating to Hurricane Lowell. Tipping fees at County landfills and refuse transfer stations will be reinstated beginning Nov. 18.
Why it matters
The proclamation extends the emergency period for 60 days and continues Kaua'i's disaster area designation, keeping recovery programs active. KIUC has restored power to most of the island, and debris removal continues at open sites.
The county's official proclamation extends the Hurricane Lowell emergency period by 60 days, with seven islandwide debris sites open and tipping fees waived for storm debris. The Business Recovery Grant Program has stopped accepting applications due to high demand, and no reopening date has been announced.
The players
Derek S.K. Kawakami
Derek S.K. Kawakami is the Mayor of Kaua'i County, responsible for issuing emergency proclamations and directing the county's hurricane recovery programs.
KIUC
KIUC, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, is the island's electricity provider, and it has restored power to most of Kaua'i following Hurricane Lowell.
The details
Tipping fees will be reinstated at County landfills and refuse transfer stations beginning Nov. 18, and the two temporary debris sites in Kapa'a and Kilauea will close that day. Kaua'i Recycles bins have moved from the Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station to the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center, and buildings with a County permit outside flood zones need no new permit for Lowell repairs.
Timeline
Nov. 13, 2026: Mayor Kawakami signs the Third Supplemental Emergency Proclamation.
Nov. 16 to 20, 2026: CASPER survey teams conduct door-to-door visits in 30 randomly selected areas.
Nov. 17, 2026: Final day residents may use the temporary debris sites.
Nov. 18, 2026: Tipping fees are reinstated and temporary sites close.
Dec. 7, 2026: Physical damage deadline for SBA nonprofit disaster loans.
Seasonal Patterns
This third supplemental proclamation follows two earlier emergency orders for Hurricane Lowell, and it marks the county's shift from storm response to waste cleanup and fee restoration. Hawaii's hurricane season recovery timelines have typically extended for months after landfall.
Residents using county landfills and refuse transfer stations should expect tipping fees to apply starting Nov. 18, 2026. Households affected by Hurricane Lowell should use the temporary debris sites before they close on Nov. 17 to avoid paying fees.
The takeaway
Residents who used the temporary debris sites should plan for tipping fees returning Nov. 18, and affected households should review the CASPER survey and SBA loan deadlines now. Acting before Dec. 7 keeps nonprofit recovery options open.
What happens next
Tipping fees resume Nov. 18, 2026, when the temporary debris sites in Kapa'a and Kilauea close, and SBA nonprofit disaster loan applicants must submit physical damage claims by Dec. 7, 2026.
Further reading
For related coverage of disaster preparedness, see Safety guidance across Hawaii.
More information
Residents can file for Hurricane Lowell disaster tax relief through the County of Kaua'i portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Garden Island.
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