Hawaiian islands face radio blackout during Hurricane Lowell, exposing emergency communication gaps
Hurricane Lowell knocked out power to Kauaʻi’s main emergency radio stations, leaving residents without official updates for about a day.
During Hurricane Lowell, Kauaʻi’s two official emergency radio outlets, KONG FM 93.5 and community station KKCR, lost power, curtailing their ability to broadcast critical warnings. Many islanders, including former state senator Gary Hooser, described a 24-hour period without electricity, internet or reliable information about safe travel routes and aid sites. KKCR operated a low-power transmitter on 90.9 MHz powered by a diesel generator, but other frequencies remained silent; KONG eventually restored its signal later in the day.
The incident revived concerns about underfunded backup-generator infrastructure for broadcasters, a problem first noted after Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and reiterated after the 2006 Kīholo earthquake. Officials and industry leaders called for a statewide assessment and investment in more resilient power solutions, such as fuel-efficient generators, solar and battery backups.
Why it matters
The blackout shows that Hawaii's emergency alert system relies on fragile radio infrastructure, risking public safety during storms.
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