HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR031721KEMADEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: March 17, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
KAUA‘I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
ELTON USHIO, ADMINISTRATOR
(808) 241-1800
4:15 p.m., March 17, Update: Officials continue recovery efforts for isolated North
Shore Community
Officials are continuing recovery efforts for the isolated North Shore Community while long-
term repairs to the Hanalei Hillside remain ongoing. Please see the following updates below.
Kūhiō Highway at Hanalei Hill: The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) will continue
a single lane for emergency access on Kūhiō Highway at the Hanalei Hill. This access has been
established for critical services only. HDOT officials continue to work on a plan to provide public access.
An announcement is forthcoming from the HDOT. There will be continuous security checkpoints on both
sides of the landslide to ensure the community's overall safety. Updates will be provided as more
information becomes available.
Other Current Road Closures:
• Kūhiō Highway, between Kolopua Apartments and Hanalei Plantation Road, remains closed
out of an abundance of caution. This is the road above the Hanalei Hill site. HDOT officials
have installed systems to monitor any movement in the road.
• One lane of Kūhiō Highway at mile marker 4.5 near Waikoko is currently open to alternating
traffic.
Refuse Service: The Solid Waste Division will resume normal household refuse collection
services to North Shore residents starting Thursday, March 18. This means residents will have refuse
collection on Thursday and Friday this week, as normally scheduled.
Residents are asked to place bagged refuse in their carts the night prior. Officials will not be
picking up loose waste or bulky waste. For questions or more information, please call the Solid Waste
Division at 241-4841.
Hanalei Post Office: The U.S. Postal Service announces that the Hanalei Post Office located at 5-
5226 Kuhio Highway on the North Shore has resumed its regular hours of operation. For more
information, please call 808-826-1034.
North Shore Pharmacy: Affected Hanalei to Hā‘ena residents needing to fulfill medical
prescriptions may call the North Shore Pharmacy at (808) 828-1844.
Weather Update: A High Surf Advisory is in effect for all East-facing shores of Kaua‘i through 6
p.m. Thursday. Strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents are expected.
All weather and ocean advisories may be extended, dropped, or modified as conditions develop. For up-
to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions and ocean safety, please speak to a county lifeguard,
visit www.hawaiibeachsafety.com, or call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984. For weather updates,
call the National Weather Service automated weather line at 245-6001, or visit the NWS website,
www.weather.gov/hfo.
Damage Assessments: The county is continuing to conduct assessments of storm-affected areas
across the island. If your home suffered damages due to the March flooding, please visit
www.kauai.gov/kema and click on the green link “March 2021 Rain Damage/Flood Reporting” to
complete a form. The information you provide will help the County of Kaua‘i understand the scope of
residential damage and its impacts on our community. Damage reports may be used to determine
whether our jurisdiction qualifies for any state and federal assistance. Affected parties will still need to
file claims with their insurance companies for residential damage and personal property loss.
Completion of a damage report does not constitute an application for assistance or relief programs. For
assistance on how to fill out the form, you may call KEMA at 241-1800.
For up-to-date and ongoing information for residents affected by the recent severe weather,
especially those who reside in the isolated North Shore areas, please visit www.kauai.gov and click on
the blue icon “March 2021 Flooding.”
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