Hurricane Lowell’s damage has left Kauai Shrimp winding down production at its Kekaha farm, putting a pause on local shrimp output. The storm damaged the farm’s facilities, electrical systems and production equipment on Sept. 7, 2026. The closure is underway and is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, as the company weighs whether rebuilding is financially workable.
According to The Garden Island, the company determined that restoring the farm is not financially feasible under current circumstances. Still, Kauai Shrimp says it is exploring whether an experienced operator or partner might be able to rebuild the operation and keep local food production going, though it has stopped short of promising that such a partner will actually materialize. Kauai Shrimp President Alec Sou said the company wants to give that possibility every reasonable chance.
The damage is estimated in the millions of dollars, Hawaii Farm Bureau’s Brian Miyamoto said after visiting Kauai to inspect the aftermath. Hurricane Lowell also disrupted Aloun Farms’ agricultural work on Kauai. The company says it remains operational on Kauai and Oahu and is concentrating on recovery of its Kauai operations.
A Farewell Gift as Operations Wind Down
As the farm winds down, Kauai Shrimp distributed more than 1,000 pounds of shrimp on Sept. 24 at a food distribution at Westside Christian Center in Kekaha. Volunteer Dennis Eguchi, who helped with the event, warned that the island could lose access to locally produced shrimp.
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda visited Kauai Shrimp and Aloun Farms that day, then helped load food boxes containing Kauai Shrimp packages into a client’s car at the Westside Christian Center distribution. The event brought the farm’s potential effect on local food availability into focus for residents receiving food.
What Happens to the Workforce
Aloun Farms, which operates alongside Kauai Shrimp under Sou’s leadership, says it will reduce staffing in phases as operations wind down and is discussing options with affected employees. The company says it is committed to its employees, customers and communities and will seek opportunities for workers within Aloun Farms and its related operations. The number of workers affected and the results of those placement efforts have not been specified.
A Broader Stake in Hawaii's Food Supply
Sou said the closure does not end the company’s commitment to Hawaii agriculture and that it continues to see potential for aquaculture on Kauai. Kauai Shrimp has supplied locally grown shrimp to Hawaii for years. Nationally, aquaculture accounts for 21 percent of the value of domestic fisheries landings, according to NOAA Fisheries, which says doubling current production could support tens of thousands of jobs.
Hawaii’s Aquaculture and Recovery Picture
Hawaii House Bill 1572, HD2, cited a 17% decrease in aquaculture industry value from 2018 to 2023 and said the number of farms had been stagnant over the past decade, according to the Hawaii Legislature. The finding gives no production-volume comparison or specific farm-count totals. For agricultural businesses assessing storm losses, the USDA Farm Service Agency says its Emergency Loan Program can help producers recover from production and physical losses caused by specified disasters and other qualifying events. The agency’s general program information does not establish Kauai Shrimp’s eligibility or whether the company has applied.
The Garden Island reports it is providing free website access during the community's recovery from Hurricane Lowell, a gesture aimed at keeping Kauai residents informed as farms, families and businesses across the island continue assessing the storm's toll.
