City to reopen Wednesday as O'ahu cleanup continues and teams deploy to Kaua'i
HONOLULU – City and County of Honolulu offices and services will reopen Wednesday, September 9, as cleanup continues across Oʻahu following Hurricane Lowell and the City deploys personnel to support recovery efforts on Kauaʻi.
Oʻahu was spared the worst of Hurricane Lowell overnight, and the Tropical Storm Warning for the island has been discontinued. City crews spent Tuesday assessing roadways, parks, facilities, and other infrastructure, clearing debris and addressing storm-related impacts across the island.
With the immediate threat from Lowell now passed, the City’s Emergency Operations Center and the Honolulu Police Department’s Joint Operations Center have been deactivated. The City’s non-emergency storm call center, which operated overnight to provide information and assistance to residents, has also shut down.
“I am extremely grateful for how our people responded to this storm, both our residents who took the warnings seriously and the hundreds of City employees and first responders who worked through the night to keep Oʻahu safe,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “We were fortunate, and we do not take that for granted. Now we are focused on cleaning up Oʻahu and helping our neighbors on Kauaʻi as they begin their recovery. When one island needs help, we step up.”
Ala Moana Regional Park remains closed
Most City operations will return to normal Wednesday, but cleanup continues at several locations across Oʻahu, including Ala Moana Regional Park, which will remain closed until further notice.
Hurricane Lowell pushed large amounts of sand and debris across portions of the heavily used park. In some areas, more than an inch of sand was deposited across roadways, sidewalks, and other areas.
Heavy equipment has been brought in to remove sand and debris and clear roads and pedestrian areas so the park can reopen safely. The beach also requires significant cleanup following the high surf and storm conditions associated with Lowell.
“This is one of the busiest and most beloved parks anywhere in Hawaiʻi, and our crews are working hard to get it cleaned up and reopened as quickly and safely as possible,” Mayor Blangiardi said. “There is a tremendous amount of sand and debris that needs to be removed, and we need to give our crews the space to do that work. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while they get the job done.”
Ala Moana Regional Park draws an estimated 4 million visitors annually, averaging approximately 11,000 visitors each day.
The City hopes to reopen portions of the park Wednesday, although it may take the remainder of the week to safely reopen the park in its entirety. Crews will continue working throughout the day, and portions of the park will reopen as conditions are deemed safe for the public.
Residents and visitors are asked to stay out of the park while the closure remains in effect and to avoid interfering with heavy equipment and cleanup operations.
Honolulu teams deployed to Kauaʻi
As Oʻahu moves into recovery, the City and County of Honolulu has sent personnel to Kauaʻi to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts.
The Honolulu deployment includes:
- A 10-person Department of Parks and Recreation shelter team
- A seven-person Incident Management Team (IMT)
- A three-person Public Information Officer team
The teams will work alongside Kauaʻi County personnel and other responding agencies to provide additional staffing, operational support, and communications assistance during the recovery.
“Our neighbors on Kauaʻi have a lot of work ahead of them, and we want them to know Honolulu is there for them,” Mayor Blangiardi said. “We have experienced firsthand how important it is to have additional people and resources available after a major storm. We will continue to work with Kauaʻi County and provide whatever support we can.”
Neighborhood Board meetings canceled Tuesday
Two Neighborhood Board meetings scheduled for Tuesday evening have been canceled following Hurricane Lowell:
- Waikīkī Neighborhood Board No. 9
- ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No. 20
The Neighborhood Commission Office will provide information about future meeting dates.
City operations resume Wednesday
City and County of Honolulu offices and non-essential services, closed Tuesday as a precaution after the overnight storm, will resume normal operations Wednesday.
Kalanianaʻole Beach Park and Keaʻau Beach Park will remain closed Wednesday as cleanup and safety assessments continue. Both parks will be reassessed Wednesday to determine whether they can safely reopen Thursday.
Individual parks, facilities or other areas may remain temporarily closed as cleanup and safety assessments continue. Residents should check for the latest information before visiting storm-affected facilities.
City crews will continue clearing fallen trees, branches, sand and other debris and addressing storm-related issues across Oʻahu.
Although the immediate threat from Lowell has passed, residents and visitors should continue to exercise caution around areas affected by flooding, debris, or dangerous ocean conditions. Never approach downed power lines or enter areas closed for public safety.
The City thanks Oʻahu residents and visitors for their cooperation and patience throughout Hurricane Lowell and asks the public to continue giving crews room to safely complete cleanup operations.
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