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https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a19866839/kauai-hawaii-flooding-safe-for-travelers/
What Travelers Should Know About Visiting Kauai After the Flood
Don't cancel your trip to the Garden Island just yet.
Last weekend, 28 inches of rain fell within 24 hours in Kauai, causing floods and mudslides that destroyed homes, closed roads, and lead to an airlift by the U.S. Army and National Guard of more than 425 peoplefrom the remote towns of Ha’ena and Wainiha on the island’s north shore.
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"Right now our focus is really helping that area, making sure residents are fine, visitors are fine," Sue Kanoho, the executive director for the Kauai Visitors Bureau, told USA Today.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to cancel any upcoming plans to visit Kauai just yet. “We’re trying to make sure everyone understands which side of the island is challenged,” Kanoho said, since Kauai’s south shore was virtually unaffected by the storm.
Here’s what you need to know before you go.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES WILL WAIVE CHANGE FEES
Travelers with tickets on Hawaiian Airlines to and from Lihue Airport between April 14-18 will be allowed to re-book their reservations without being charged a change fee, if the new flight occurs before April 25.
#Kauai Update: Effective immediately, guests holding tickets for travel on Hawaiian Airlines flights to/from/via LÄ«hu‘e, Kaua‘i between 4/14-16, will be permitted a one-time reservation change with waiver of change fee. For more information, visit https://on.hwnair.com/2IYehbk .
UPDATE 4/17: The #Kauai Flooding Travel Waiver has been extended to include flights between April 14, 2018 and April 18, 2018. For the latest information, visit https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/alerts/kauai-flooding-travel-waiver ….
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS ARE STILL IN EFFECT
A Flash Flood Watch was issued by the National Weather Service for the County of Kauai between 6 a.m. Thursday, April 19 and 6 p.m. Friday, April 20.
“While this system isn’t expected to be as severe as the last one, we will be keeping a close eye on the weather and make the necessary adjustments to keep all our people and visitors safe,” Kauai’s Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said in a statement.
ROADS ARE STILL CLOSED
Multiple landslides are blocking sections of Kuhio Highway, Kauai’s main road, while two areas in Waikoko and Wainiha have suffered structural damage, according to the Hawaii DOT.
HDOT crews and contractors continue removing landslide debris and trees from Kuhio Hwy in Waikoko. Hawaiian Telcom is working to restore utility poles and lines. Kuhio Hwy remains closed between Waikoko and Wainiha. Hanalei Bridge is also still closed. #Kauaiflooding #hitraffic
Hanalei Bridge reopened on Monday, April 16, allowing people stranded in shelters in the Hanalei Bay area to leave.
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Kauai #HITraffic update: Hanalei Bridge is open. HDOT crews continue to work on clearing landslides on Kuhio Hwy between Waikoko and Wainiha. There are multiple landslides, downed trees and utility poles throughout the area. #Kauaiflooding
For updates on continued road work, visit the Hawaii DOT's website.
SEVERAL STATE PARKS ARE CLOSED
Ha’ena State Park and Napali Coast State Wilderness Park, including the popular Kalalau Trail, are inaccessible due to flooding and landslides that occurred over the weekend. The Department of Land and Natural Resources expects them to remain closed for an extended period. Polihale State Park is closed currently because its entrance is blocked by severe flooding.
BROWN WATER ADVISORY
A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the island’s entire coast, except for the area from Keoniloa Bay to Sheraton Beach on the Kauai’s south shore. The government is advising the public to stay out of floodwaters and storm water runoff to avoid any cesspool or sewer runoff, as well as any pesticides, dead animals, chemicals, or other pathogens that entered coastal waters. While not all coastal areas have been affected by flood runoff, if the water is brown, they advise you to stay out.
PRINCEVILLE RESORTS ARE STILL OPEN
Kauai’s south shore wasn’t the only part of the island to emerge from the storm unscathed. Because of Princeville’s cliffside location on the north shore, many of the area’s most popular results were unaffected by the storm. Both the St. Regis Princeville Resort and Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas confirmed to Town & Country that they did not sustain any damage in the recent storm and are still operating as normal. If you have a trip planned at another resort, contact the hotel directly to confirm if they are open before you depart.
For more information, visit the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s website.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
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