Hurricane Lowell Update

September 16, 2026

On Monday, September 7, Hurricane Lowell passed 60 miles west of Kauaʻi, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating coastal inundation, causing widespread damage across the island. 

Passing Kauaʻi and neighboring Niʻihau island as a category 2 tropical cyclone just before midnight and into the early hours of Tuesday, Sept. 8, Lowell brought wind gusts up to 92 mph with nearly 50 mph winds in the Lāwaʻi Gardens (Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden) on Kauaʻi’s south shore. On Kauaʻi’s north shore Limahuli Garden was inundated with more than 17 inches of rainfall.

Kauaʻi is home to National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG)’s headquarters campus, a botanical research center, horticulture and conservation center, educational and research facilities, and three garden sites: McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden (collectively known as the Lāwaʻi Gardens) on Kauai’s south shore and Limahuli Garden and Preserve on the north shore. The three garden sites house extensive living collections of great cultural, scientific, and conservation value.

All members of NTBG’s team are safe and accounted for, but all three Kauaʻi locations were significantly impacted. In the lower Lāwaʻi Valley, the historic Allerton house suffered heavy coastal inundation damage. Throughout the Lāwaʻi Gardens and adjacent areas, roads and pathways were blocked by numerous downed trees and storm debris. Above the valley, NTBG’s administrative buildings were also damaged.

In the Limahuli Valley, high floodwaters and strong winds downed trees and saturated the recently completed Limaola Cultural Arts Center. Irrigation, road, and other infrastructure damage was recorded, with the disruption to electricity and county water on the north shore ongoing as of Sept. 15. Assessment of damage in the nearly one thousand acre Limahuli Preserve is ongoing, but significant impacts to conservation facilities and fencing in the upper preserve has already been observed. 

As of September 16, all NTBG public tours on Kauaʻi’s three locations remain suspended until further notice (read more about cancelled tours in the FAQ below). 

NTBG President and CEO Janet Mayfield noted that earlier storm preparation and flood mitigation efforts to harden garden infrastructure going back as far as the record-breaking 2018 “rain bomb” flooding paid off during Lowell. “Things could have been much worse,” she said.

Mayfield expressed appreciation for Garden staff coming together to help each other, their community, and the gardens as the long recovery process begins. 

Lei Wann, director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve, said Lowell’s damage impacts the entire island. Limahuli’s neighbors and the broader community have been devastated, homes and businesses destroyed, and at least two lives lost on Kauaʻi. “Our community is going to need some time to heal and clean up,” Wann said.

On the south shore, Tobias Koehler, director of Lāwaʻi Gardens, praised NTBG staff for immediately offering help in the first stages of recovery. He noted early progress in assessing living collections, propping up plants, and making cuttings where needed. Historical objects washed away by storm surge are being recovered, cleaned, and stored, while garden irrigation systems are being stabilized and pathways are being cleared.

Over the coming months, Kauaʻi faces a long healing and recovery process. NTBG’s three Kauaʻi sites will require months of repairs. In the face of the daunting tasks ahead, Janet Mayfield expressed hope and gratitude for the community of Garden members, supporters, and volunteers who will play an instrumental role in recovery. Mayfield said, “as NTBG’s recovery continues, the most impactful way to help is to donate, which keeps our staff employed—many of whom are personally recovering their homes and belongings—while advancing our garden cleanup and plant restoration efforts for a safe reopening.”

Q: How can I support the recovery of the gardens?

Thank you so much for wanting to support us during this time of recovery. The best way to help is through a donation, which keeps our staff employed and fuels essential garden cleanup and plant restoration efforts. 

Establishing a monthly recurring donation also fuels these efforts into the long-term, including plant recovery and fieldwork to support our living collections.

Q: What specific recovery operations are your field teams currently focused on?

Our teams are currently prioritizing clearing fallen trees, hauling green waste away from impacted areas, and clearing pathways to restore safe access throughout the gardens.

Q: Can I donate supplies or offer contracted services?

Thank you for offering to support our operations – we welcome in-kind support of goods or services. Please reach out to development@ntbg.org to inquire about supply donations or contracted service support.

Q: Can I convert my booked tour ticket into a donation?

Yes, and thank you for your support! To convert your ticket purchase into a tax-deductible donation, please forward your confirmation email to Chelsey Aki at caki@ntbg.org.

Q: How do I cancel my reservation?

To cancel a reservation, please email the specific garden team below:

• Lāwaʻi Gardens: tours@ntbg.org
• Limahuli Garden: limahuli@ntbg.org

Q: I am on Kauaʻi and interested in volunteering to support recovery. How can I help?

Lāwaʻi Garden: At Lāwaʻi Garden, volunteers are welcome to assist with select cleanup opportunities. Please submit a volunteer application to register, and reach out to volunteer@ntbg.org to learn more about upcoming shifts. 

Limahuli Garden & Preserve: For Limahuli, due to road closures and inaccessibility, all volunteer opportunities and schedules are paused until further notice.

Q: When do you expect the gardens to reopen?

At this time, we do not have a confirmed reopening date for either Lāwaʻi Gardens or Limahuli Garden. We will post updates to this page as soon as reopening dates are finalized. Thank you for your understanding.