Niihau Storm Assessment Delays 2 Weeks After Hurricane Lowell as Private Island Access Limits Entry
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 25
Niihau Storm Assessment Delays 2 Weeks After Hurricane Lowell as Private Island Access Limits Entry
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 25
Summary
Two weeks after Hurricane Lowell, Hawaii still has no full damage assessment for Niihau because state and county officials need the owners’ permission to enter the privately held island.
Gov. Josh Green said authorities were careful to respect that access restriction, saying teams go to Niihau only when asked.
Niihau lies west of Kauai and was closer to Lowell’s eye, raising concern about storm effects on an island with fewer than 100 residents.
County officials said Niihau has sturdy buildings, stocked supplies, rain catchment, solar power and a helicopter, but the Robinson family has not publicly described any damage.