Five Kauaʻi golf courses reopen after Hurricane Lowell, but Wailua’s range remains closed

Five courses are welcoming golfers again

Following Hurricane Lowell, which affected Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, United States, on 7–8 September 2026, the island golf cooperative Go Golf Kauaʻi announced on 19 October that all five courses in its network had reopened for play. The courses are Poʻipū Bay, Puakea, Princeville Makai, The Ocean Course at Hōkūala and the municipally operated Wailua Golf Course. For golfers whose island trips were disrupted by the storm, the update restores options across Kauaʻi, from the southern shoreline to Princeville on the north coast.

But “open” does not mean that every facility has returned to normal. Some perimeter cleanup continues, and one driving range is still unavailable. The information below reflects the operator’s 19 October status report; it is not a real-time guarantee of tee-time availability.

Poʻipū Bay: full operations on the south shore

Poʻipū Bay Golf Course, beside the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in the Poʻipū area, is fully operational. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout, which hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006, sustained comparatively minor storm damage, according to the operator. Its playing condition is reported to be good. Alongside standard rounds, the club promotes shorter playing options and multiple-round packages; prices and available slots must be confirmed at booking.

Puakea and Princeville Makai: open while cleanup continues

Puakea Golf Course, near Līhuʻe at the base of Mount Haupu, reopened on 12 September. The Robin Nelson design is fully operational. Tree and debris removal is still taking place along the edges of the property, but Go Golf Kauaʻi says it does not interfere with the round. Puakea is distinguished by ravines, mountain-fed terrain and a route through former sugar-cane country.

On the north shore, Princeville Makai Golf Club resumed play on 29 September. The hurricane destroyed more than 200 trees on the property. Clearing work along the margins of playing corridors is expected to continue for several weeks, although the Robert Trent Jones Jr. course is operational. Its famous seventh hole is a dramatic par three above the coastline. Visitors should not mistake ongoing grounds maintenance for a closure of the course.

Hōkūala and Wailua: an important difference in facilities

The Ocean Course at Hōkūala, a Jack Nicklaus design near Līhuʻe Airport, has also welcomed golfers back. Go Golf Kauaʻi recommends booking in advance to secure tee times as local tourism recovers. The announcement does not specify a precise reopening day for this course, so no such date should be inferred.

The publicly operated Wailua Golf Course on Kauaʻi’s east coast returned in stages: holes 1–9 reopened on 28 September, followed by holes 10–18 on 5 October. All 18 holes are therefore available for golf, but the driving range remains closed because of hurricane damage. Restoration was further complicated by internet and connectivity problems after a 10 September fire at the Līhuʻe Civic Center, which houses local government offices; that incident did not occur at the golf course.

Wailua stands out among the island’s resort golf destinations as a walkable, municipal option. It originated as a nine-hole course in the 1930s, expanded to 18 holes in 1961, and is associated with architect Toyo Shirai. Golfers particularly appreciate its relaxed atmosphere and seaside holes close to the Pacific.

Before planning a round

The return of five operating courses is an important step in Kauaʻi’s tourism recovery, not a declaration that every storm-related restriction has disappeared. Before paying for a trip or a tee time, golfers should check directly with each course for available dates, range access, rental clubs, clubhouse services and road conditions. Hawaiʻi tourism authorities also advise visitors to respect local restrictions and communities still dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane.

Source: Go Golf Kauaʻi’s official 19 October 2026 course-status announcement. The accompanying photograph genuinely shows Poʻipū Bay in 2013; it does not document the course immediately after the hurricane.