Renting a Kauai Timeshare After Hurricane Lowell: What to Know

If you have rented, or are about to rent, a timeshare week on Kauai this fall, the short answer as of September 23, 2026 is: most of the island is taking visitors again, the South Shore around Poipu took the worst of Hurricane Lowell, and the North Shore reopens to visitors on October 1. Before you fly, get the owner to confirm with the resort that your specific dates and building are unaffected.

This guide covers what has been reported for the main timeshare resorts by area, how storm changes work when the reservation is in an owner's name, and what to ask before you pay the balance or board a plane.

What happened on Kauai?

Hurricane Lowell passed just offshore of Kauai overnight on September 7, 2026. Storm surge and wind hit the South Shore (Poipu and Koloa) and the West Side hardest, damaging oceanfront roads, homes and several resorts. Most of the island lost power at first. About a week later, more than 80% of customers had power back, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority set a staged reopening: visitor arrivals on the South Shore resumed around September 21, and North Shore arrivals (Princeville and Hanalei) are set to resume October 1, 2026. Its advice to travelers is to confirm your lodging can host you, and to move a Kauai stay rather than cancel a Hawaii trip if key parts of the plan are unavailable.

Are Kauai timeshare resorts open after Hurricane Lowell?

It depends on the resort and the building. Here is what we could confirm on September 23, 2026. Resort conditions change week to week, so treat this as a starting point and always check with the owner.

Poipu and Koloa (South Shore)

• Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club: in its September 16 update, Marriott says no action is needed to confirm upcoming reservations and that it will contact guests if conditions change. The main pool is unavailable, and food and beverage and elevators are limited. Separately, villa refurbishment runs in Hale 1 to 5 until November 16, 2026 and in Hale 6 to 8 from January 10 to March 3, 2027, with daytime construction noise.
• Sheraton Kauai Resort Villas: news reports after the storm described waves washing through the ground floor of the neighboring Sheraton Kauai Resort and its oceanfront pool filling with sand. Ask the owner for the resort's current written status before you commit.
• Lawai Beach Resort: reports said the ocean tore up the road along Lawai Beach and cut off access to the resort in the first days after the storm. Confirm road access and on-site services for your dates.
• The Point at Poipu: we did not find a resort-specific update. Ask the owner to call the resort directly.

Lihue and the East Side

We found no reports of major damage at Marriott's Kauai Beach Club, Marriott's Kauai Lagoons, Kalanipu'u or Pono Kai as of September 23. Power outages affected the whole island at first, and one Kapaa hotel closed temporarily while it waited for power, so ask about any amenities still limited.

Princeville and the North Shore

The North Shore had the slowest power and road recovery. Visitor arrivals there are scheduled to resume October 1, 2026. If your week at Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Hanalei Bay Resort or another Princeville resort starts in early October, confirm access and power with the resort before you travel.

What happens to an owner rental if the resort closes?

When you rent from a timeshare owner, the reservation sits in the owner's club account, usually with you added as the guest. That means the resort contacts the owner, not you, if a building closes or a reservation has to be moved. Three things follow from that:

• Ask the owner to call the owner line and ask directly whether your dates, unit type and building are affected. Get the answer in writing.
• If the resort cancels or relocates the reservation, what the owner gets back from the club is between them and the club. What matters to you is the refund term in your rental agreement, so read it before you pay the balance.
• If the resort offers to move the reservation to another building or another resort, you and the owner both need to agree to the change.

On VakayMood, each owner sets a cancellation policy that is shown before you book, and the VakayMood FAQ states that funds are only released to the owner after you have checked in. If your resort cannot host you, contact support before your check-in date.

Will travel insurance cover a Kauai cancellation?

Often not, if the resort is open. Travelers reported to Fodor's in mid-September that some insurers were not paying cancellation claims tied to the hurricane when the accommodation itself was still operating. Most policies also exclude storms that were already named when the policy was bought. Read your policy's wording on "uninhabitable accommodation" and "named storm" before you cancel anything.

Is it still worth renting a Kauai week this fall?

For many travelers, yes, especially outside Poipu and after the North Shore reopens. Owner weeks are still listed across the island. In the September 23, 2026 snapshot, the lowest-priced owner weeks were about $220 a night at Marriott's Kauai Beach Club and at Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, and about $340 a night at Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club. Several South Shore resorts had no owner weeks listed until mid-November or December. Prices change daily, and the resort's status matters more than the rate this season.

Wherever you stay, the Hawaii Tourism Authority asks visitors to avoid heavily damaged neighborhoods, respect "local traffic only" signs and be patient with crews and hospitality staff still recovering. For a breakdown of platform fees before you book, see what timeshare rental platforms charge in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

• Is Poipu open to visitors after Hurricane Lowell? Yes. South Shore visitor arrivals resumed around September 21, 2026, but some beaches, parks and oceanfront buildings were still being repaired. Check your resort's current status.
• Is Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club open? Yes. Marriott's September 16 update says reservations stand, with the main pool unavailable and dining and elevators limited.
• When does the North Shore of Kauai reopen? The Hawaii Tourism Authority scheduled North Shore visitor arrivals to resume on October 1, 2026.
• Who do I call if I rented a timeshare from an owner? The owner first, because the reservation is in their account. Ask them to confirm your dates with the resort and send you the answer in writing.
• Can I get a refund if my Kauai timeshare rental is affected? It depends on the rental agreement and the owner's cancellation policy. Travel insurance may not pay if the resort is still operating.