Fresno native braces for Hurricane Lowell in Hawaii, shares firsthand look

A Fresno native is hunkered down in Hawaii Monday night, preparing to ride out Hurricane Lowell as the storm moves closer to the islands.

The hurricane is expected to make its closest approach to the area Monday night into early Tuesday morning, bringing the threat of powerful winds, heavy rain and flooding.

FOX26 News spoke with Fresno native Jeff Harrington early Monday morning from his home in Poipu, Hawaii.

Harrington has been sharing video of the conditions, giving us a firsthand look at what it’s like to prepare for a hurricane.

“This is just the start. We are well away from when the bad stuff comes,” Harrington said in a video shared with FOX26. “It’s been raining for hours here.”

Within an hour of that video, Harrington said the rain and winds had picked up.

Harrington has lived in Hawaii for four years. He said he has experienced big storms before, but nothing like what he is preparing for now.

“Nothing similar, no hurricanes,” Harrington said. “This one’s different.”

Harrington and his wife have been preparing for the storm for about a week.

He said residents quickly began stocking up on necessities, including food and fuel.

“Immediately people were going to the store,” he said. “So, propane’s gone. Shelves are pretty empty of all the necessities that you need to seal your home.”

Harrington said he and his wife have secured their home and moved items away from windows to prevent them from becoming dangerous flying objects.

The situation became more serious Sunday night when a hurricane warning reached their cell phones.

Harrington said he has noticed a level of concern among longtime residents that he has not seen before.

For some, he said, the approaching storm is bringing back memories of Hurricane Iniki, which devastated Kauai in 1992.

“You might even call it a bit of the PTSD if they lived through Hurricane Iniki,” Harrington said. “Those thoughts are going through all their heads.”

Hurricane Iniki struck Hawaii on September 11, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, with reported gusts reaching up to 227 mph.

The hurricane caused an estimated $1.8 billion in damage and killed six people.

More than three decades later, Harrington says the memory of Iniki remains with many Kauai residents as they prepare for another major storm.

Despite the threat, Harrington said the community is coming together to help one another.

“One of the great things about taking care of Ohana here on the island is sharing resources,” Harrington said. “People share their resources.”

Harrington said he and his wife have water, food and other supplies ready. They also have a small portable stove they can use if they lose power.

For now, they plan to stay inside as the strongest conditions move in.