While only 10 percent of Kauai's visitors are Japanese, all the major resorts are owned by Japanese corporations. Updated 2023 Getty Images. Following Hurricane Iniki in 1992 (estimated $3 billion in damage), insurance companies refused to sell . FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (May 31, 2013) -- Hurricane Iniki, the most powerful hurricane to strike in Hawaii in recorded history, struck the island of Kauai at full intensity with 145 mph winds which . Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The massive Category 4 storm damaged or destroyed 90% of the islands homes and buildings. Andrew passed directly through Homestead, Florida and completely disseminated several blocks of houses, stripping them down to their foundations. John Waihee. Fortunately for the Jurassic Park staff and other tourists, resorts on the island were well constructed, but that was not the case for many parts of the fourth-largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. Iniki caused $1.8 billion dollars in damage to the impacted islands, and six deaths were recorded. Kauai. In 1992 the island of Kauai was hit by a powerful hurricane, Iniki, which caused extensive damage to the island. considerable damage. In shortest supply are building materials and good contractors. Brennecke's manager Hoku Gordines says he remembers what he found when he got to the restaurant the morning after the storm hit. The flood of money has opened up a rush of construction, cleanup and claims-processing jobs. 7 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES Iniki's high winds stripped foliage from trees and branches. Hawaii is under hurricane watch, here are other big storms Iniki's turn into the . Scene from 1993 motion picture Jurassic Park Telephone: 808-529-4747. A Navy instrument on a 1,500-foot-high ridge recorded a gust of 227 mph before it was swept away. Six people died in incidents connected to the storm, including a National Guardsman who was killed when his truck overturned trying to avoid live wires during storm cleanup. "That next day when we came down to clean up, we had to unpack all the sand and seaweed and large rocks that had stuffed themselves all the way to the back coolers and everything.". A Warner Bros. Hawaiian landfalling hurricanes are historically pretty rare. The image was taken by a NOAA polar orbiting satellite ~500 mile above the Earth. Honolulu, HI 96813 "She shouldn't be in Japan," said Mari Ojas, 19, a former hula instructor at the Coco Palms resort who has been living in a tent with her 2-year-old daughter since the hurricane. Nicholas Barretto on Twitter: "Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded to strike . About 100 people were injured from the storm. Did you encounter any technical issues? Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Hurricane Iniki caused more than $3 billion in damages an amount that would be around $6 billion today due to inflation. "We don't want people to feel the island was destroyed, but we want to warn them of our limitations," explained JoAnn Yukimura, mayor of Kauai County. He misses not seeing the typical sunbathers outside his windows each day. "They were phenomenal," Paulette Brutner, an employee at the Kokee Museum, said of the Army and Red Cross. Informative Speech About Slavery, Mahoning Valley Scrappers Tickets. The disaster pulled the island's 50,000 residents together as never before, but also made plain the island's dependence on outside money and supplies, the risks of a highly developed tourism economy, and its vulnerability to hurricanes. Meanwhile, FEMA has distributed more than $250 million and the Small Business Administration $138 million. Of the nearly 22,000 residents on the island at the time, almost all experienced some kind of damage to their property. Items like candles, batteries, and flashlights quickly sold out. MEMORIES OF the costliest and most powerful storm on record to strike Hawaii will forever be seared in the minds of the two mayors, one who was leading at the time and the other who experienced the devastation through the eyes of a teenager. In 2015, Hawaii faced three Category 4 hurricanes at the same timeKilo, Ignacio, and Jimena. This GOES-17 taken at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 23, 2020, shows Hurricane Douglas, right, churning in the Pacific Ocean heading towards Hawaii, left. Many islanders are surprised at how swiftly they are putting their lives back together. On September 11, 1992, the small but intense system came out of the south in the central Pacific and traveled directly over the island. Even all these years later, Iniki remains the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in modern history. Next to him was his daughter, Jenn. Landslides on the steep and spectacular Na Pali coast to the north may also take a long time to repair, he warned. Winds topped 145 mph during landfall. The department also tells us that, "In its wake, Iniki left a path of destruction expected to approach 1.8 billion dollars. Check Six - 1992: Hurricane Iniki Response. "Ironically, I was stuck in the hotel that they were staying at, And the next morning I was looking at Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern on a balcony, and I said, 'I'm so sorry,'" Kanoho recounted. Iniki was the second bad storm in a decade and the fourth in living memory of some islanders. Storm surge from Hurricane Flossie in 2007 ran up Punaluu black sand beach. It's a challenge.". The warning sirens started blaring early that morning and the hours before impact were chaotic. The hurricane damaged or destroyed 14,350 homes on Kauai, according to Red Cross figures. Earlier on the day after the storm, 15-year-old Derek Kawakami, who would go on to become the current mayor of Kauai, emerged from his relatively unscathed Lihue home into a scene of broken trees, blown roofs, downed power lines and scattered debris. When Kawakami remembers Iniki, what comes to mind is the fact he had just made the Kauai High School varsity football team as a sophomore. 1992, Hurricane Iniki: This was the most devastating hurricane to ever strike Hawaii. Only six deaths were reported. More than 2,000 houses on Kauai were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. There is still damage on the island decades later. Also see other NOAA images including hurricanes . (Photo copyright NOAA NWS) "And green things grow back even faster than plasterboard. But Ojas' plight is an exception, and, with government aid, she is expected to be moved to a hotel soon. (Photo copyright NOAA NWS), High surf along the shoreline washed cars on top of one another. Both skilled labor and construction supplies specially suited for the tropics must be imported, much of it from the Pacific Northwest. (Click on image to see full size) Hurricanes in Hawaii: Hurricanes are relatively rare events in the Hawaiian Islands. Thirty years ago, Hurricane Iniki ravaged the Island of Kauai, destroying more than 1,400 homes and leaving behind $3 billion in damage. Six weeks after the storm, the green came back, repairing the scenic damage with a speed that surprised even those who live here. (Photo copyright NOAA NWS), Storm surge produced widespread flooding along the coastline. It was not until Yukimura saw the Koloa Mill that she finally got her bearings. Farthest South Australia City, Repair crews are swarming like bees on roofs all over the island. Batey knew what he was doing. The hurricane wreaked havoc on the islands electrical and phone systems as well. Just two years ago, heavy rains triggered landslides that cut off entire communities on Kauai's north shore for . Free with trial. There are still 54 tents and 82 people in that camp, one of nine such camps. Most islanders have found housing, and many of the remaining tents are occupied by construction workers trying to save on rent. The glass windows flexed as if they were breathing, and family members had to yell in order to communicate. Ed Nakaya, now working for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, says even though their building was damaged, they still made it work. #7-500 We take storms seriously on Kauai, he said, adding that the islands resiliency was demonstrated following the 50-inch rain bomb event of 2018, which caused $180 million in damage, wrecked hundreds of homes and unleashed landslides that cut off the islands north shore communities for months. Hurricane Iniki was packing 140 mph winds went it made landfall on Kauai. A NOAA summary of the storm lays out the devastation Iniki caused, particularly for Kauai but also for nearby Oahu. Heavy rain, waves up to 30 feet, and intense storm surge caused major coastal flooding, especially on the south shore. Hurricane Lane, ultimately, a low impact storm. "It was a long night sitting there wondering what happened to the rest of the island, and if everybody was okay, if we were the lucky ones or the unfortunate ones. If not for this disaster ($3.1 billion of damage in a community of just 51,000) and my father's death in 1996, my family would not have our financial issues. Free with trial. Hurricane shutter open. Adjusted for inflation . Islamic Center of Cleveland is a non-profit organization. Tourism in Hawaii has been depressed since the Gulf War because of the recession. Early in the day on November 19, it had organized into a tropical storm but later that same . On the day after Hurricane Iniki smashed into Kauai 30 years ago today, then-Mayor JoAnn Yukimura toured the ravaged island in a helicopter with Gov. (Photo copyright NOAA NWS), This is a false-color satellite image of the Poip area, showing the ocean, coastline, and agricultural fields. Photo Credit-Wikimedia Commons-Public Domain. These links on the Internet from around the world reminds us of what impact the day September 11, 1992 had for the people on Kauai and throughout Hawaii. Hurricane Iniki, the most powerful and costliest storm to strike the islands in recorded history, made landfall on 11 September and destroyed thousands of homes with violent winds of 145 miles per . Travelers who return now. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In 1992, Hurricane Iniki became the most . Thirty years ago, Hurricane Iniki ravaged the Island of Kauai, destroying more than 1,400 homes and leaving behind $3 billion in damage. Storm surge from Hurricane Flossie in 2007 ran up Punaluu black sand beach. On the morning of Sept. 11, the warning sirens blared early and his father woke him up to tell him he had to go to work to help people buy provisions for the storm, expected to arrive that afternoon. Extensive damage from Hurricane Iniki is seen in Kapaa in the 1992 photo. Even all these years later, Iniki remains the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in modern history. Former Kauai Mayor JoAnn Yukimura stood at the mouth of Nawiliwili Harbor on Thursday. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit Hawaii in recorded history. He wondered whether his friends and family were still alive and concluded, This island is never going to get fixed.. Waves 25 feet high caused the worst damage. He said some people say they wish they had been there. "Everyone who comes to Hawaii wants to stay on the beach.". It was the second and final named hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii since Hurricane Dot in 1959. When it seemed we had lost everything, we realized we had a lot our lives, our loved ones, our neighbors and friends, and the will to rebuild better and stronger. Extensive damage from Hurricane Iniki is seen in Kapaa in the 1992 photo. USA. The good news in the short run is that much of Kauai will be rebuilt in the next year. Iniki was accompanied by storm tides ranging from 4.5 to 6.3 feet above normal, with 20 to 35 foot storm waves. Photo by Anne Schrager, special to the Chronicle . Storm surge, an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm. The hurricane had a profound effect on the people who survived it, too. 2. . Iniki's high winds stripped foliage from trees and branches. Hurricane Iniki was by far the strongest and most destructive. Hurricane Iniki was the third most damaging hurricane in U.S. history, and the most destructive to hit the Hawaiian Islands in this century. Ten years ago, Hurricane Iwa hit Kauai with 110 m.p.h. John D. Waihee III . Some Kauai palms look as blasted on top as those in films of World War II, and occasional patches of fragile trees look like they were hit by artillery. But she also was heartened by the people she saw clearing their yards and repairing their roofs, and even some who waved at the helicopter. The county wants to impose a $750-a-month camping fee to clear parks of squatters before tourists return. 6 Hurricane Iniki Premium High Res Photos Browse 6 hurricane iniki stock photos and images available, or search for hurricane ingrid to find more great stock photos and pictures. The photos below are courtesy of the NOAA National Weather Service. A few hours before it made landfall, Iniki had sustained winds of 145 mph and gusts of 185 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane, just 10 mph under the sustained wind speed that would classify. Still, "It is remarkable how fast nature recovers from these things," he said. Photo: [David Rudawitz, N6QXQ, a Red Cross volunteer from Anaheim, California, supervises damage assessment at Poipu Beach. Photo: NOAA. Kauai took a direct hit from hurricane Iniki. Everyone is stressed out.". Kauai resident Mike Miranda was 12 when Hurricane Iniki devastated the island 26 years ago. The storm devastated the island, causing millions of dollars in damage, killing six, and injuring more than 100. blow that came with Iniki. Even the roof of this building being used by the Red Cross was not spared damage from Hurricane Iniki. (Photo copyright NOAA NWS). In addition to the considerable damage on land, boats in the harbors were hit hard, with many of them tossed onshore like toys and completely destroyed. Iniki was the deadliest and by far the costliest hurricane to ever strike Hawaii. Iwa's Formation: Iwa begun developing as a low pressure trough near the equator in early November 1982. Some. Iniki was the third most-damaging hurricane in U.S. history, after Andrew, which struck Florida in August, and Hugo, which devastated parts of the Southeast in 1989. 12:14 PM EDT, Thu August 23, 2018. "It's just another experience in life," said Henry Ohara, sitting in the half-gutted ground floor of his $7 million beachfront home at Poipu, his second-story lanai broken off to topple onto the sand. Hurricane Florence. In all, Hurricane Inikis $3 billion in damage made it one of the costliest storms in American history at the time. winds, mild compared with the 165 m.p.h. But some island properties were so badly damaged they won't be open until next fall. Another house with a roof of blue tiles appeared to have come apart like it was built out of Legos.. Loss of tourism revenue is estimated at $250 million to $500 million. According to the National Weather Service, this year, being an El Nio year, will be a busy . The director was with his cast and crew on the island filming, what would become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, Jurassic Park. Hawaiian landfalling hurricanes are historically pretty rare. Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane in recent memory to hit the Hawaiian Islands. The problem, explains Tom Telfer, district wildlife biologist for Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, is that the double-blow of Iwa and Iniki has knocked out native species and given non-natives, such as the weed clidemia, room to take over. Yukimura said she grew emotional as the aircraft approached the south side of the island and she had trouble recognizing the landscape. . 2023 Cable News Network. When Hurricane Iniki was south of Kauai, winds were estimated to be between 145 mph-175 mph wind, as it moved over Kauai, the wind miles per hour dropped to 130-160. Hurricane Iniki On September 11, 1992, the residents of the state of Hawai'i were awakened at 5:30am by Civil Defense alarms. After the 1982 hurricane, home-building codes were relaxed for a year to speed reconstruction. That made it the third-costliest United States hurricane at the time, behind Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, one month prior to Iniki. Depending on who is doing the counting, the island experienced at least $1 billion (federal-government estimate) or $2 billion (county of Kauai) in damage. Long lines of cars could be seen at gas stations and grocery stores were packed with people scrambling to prepare for the storm, which had made a sudden and unexpected turn toward the islands. KAUAI COUNTY, HAWAII (KITV4) -- Thirty years ago, Hurricane Iniki ravaged the Island of Kauai, destroying more than 1,400 homes and leaving behind $3 billion in damage. The crew was in their final days of filming scenes when the Category 4 storm struck the island chain. Download Hurricane Winds stock photos. Hurricane Iniki, the most powerful and costliest storm to strike the islands in recorded history, made landfall on 11 September and destroyed thousands of homes with violent winds of 145mph. Total cost of damages was around $1.8 billion (which is more like $3 billion in 2016 dollars). I found that non-native trees had a 2-3 times the chance of falling down than did the native trees. It was adesignated shelter, and about 1,200 people took refuge from the hurricane there. Many Kauaians already are forced to hold more than one job because of the high cost of living. The destructive force of hurricanes in Hawaii was powerfully demonstrated on 11 September 1992 when Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai with sustained winds of 130 mph and caused over $2.3 billion in property . Fifteen years on, you'd think the rebuilding had all been completed . Hurricane Iniki made landfall in Hawaii on September 11, 1992. In actual dollar value, this would make Iniki the . Comparing Iniki to Irma on the 25th Anniversary | Maui Now. In 2015, Hawaii faced three Category 4 hurricanes at the same timeKilo, Ignacio, and Jimena. Local officials reported that 12,000 people were accommodated in public shelters after the storm, according to a 1993 government report. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. On Sept. 11, 1992, roaring 145-mile-per-hour winds gusting up to 225 miles per hour slammed the Garden Island. "By the time the hotels are rebuilt, it will be difficult for tourists to notice the damage.". Activate your Digital Account now. Kauais economy only returned to pre-Iniki levels seven or eight years after the storm, according to the 2014 study by the UH Economic Research Organization, and still hadnt rebounded in terms of its population and labor force. redistributed. Iniki was the third most-damaging hurricane in U.S. history, after Andrew, which struck Florida in August, and Hugo, which devastated parts of the Southeast in 1989. . It was during the 1991-1994 El Nino that hurricanes such as Iniki were formed along the Central Pacific. The Steven Spielberg production crew filming the movie "Jurassic Park" was trapped by the hurricane at the Westin Kauai and rode out the storm in the ballroom with other guests. Across Kauai, residents boarded up their windows and thousands of visitors were at Lihue Airport hoping to get off the island. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. This time the storm destroyed 50% of the islands power lines. Iniki was a small but intense hurricane (minimal category Four) which made landfall on Kauai where it killed six people and caused $2.5 billion in damage. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Yeah, there were sections of roof that had lost their tile, but the sections where we were occupying were in pretty good shape and housed us pretty well," said Nakaya. Residents described this place as looking like a "plucked chicken" after Iniki, the worst hurricane in Hawaiian history, struck Sept. 11. Telephone service was lost. The hurricane damaged or destroyed 14,350 homes on Kauai, according to Red Cross figures. Seven tents at Niumalu hold homeless Kauai families; the rest hold construction workers. Storm surge ripped parts of the coastal areas to pieces. Iniki's high winds stripped foliage from trees and branches. The damage was assessed at $1.8 billion. Without a plethora of media sources, many tourists on the island didn't know about the impending disaster, including a man named Steven Spielberg. Free with trial. Hurricane Iniki was the third most damaging hurricane in U.S. history, and the most destructive to hit the Hawaiian Islands in this century. The storm finally passed late that afternoon, into the early evening. FEMA . Watch video of Hurricane Estelle damage to Puna in 1986. (AP Photo) Updated on Jul 27, 2020 12:49 PM IST Share Via Hurricane Iniki formed up in the South Pacific, slowly approaching Hawaii in a very indirect route, approaching and veering alternately as sort of a tease. The storm caused over $1.8 billion in damages, 1,400 destroyed homes and resulted in six deaths. FROM THE ARCHIVES: 20 years later, Kauai residents remember Iniki, Hurricane Iniki Twenty Years Later - Monday Report with Dan Cooke, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Iniki was a small but intense hurricane (minimal category Four) which made landfall on Kauai where it killed six people and caused $2.5 billion in damage. Copyright 2017Hawaii News Now. Finally, in early September 1992 Hurricane Iniki bore Comparing Iniki to Irma on the 25th Anniversary | Maui Now It passed directly over the island of Kauai on September 11 . On Sept. 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki scoured . PHOTOS: The aftermath of Hurricane Iniki. One woman on Kauai died of a heart attack when part of her house fell on her, while a man was killed by flying debris as he was dashing to a neighbors house with his own residence falling apart. . Dickie Chang, who worked at a resort in Kauai at the time, told CNN affiliate KHON last year that the memories of the storm and its brutal aftermath are still vivid for him. Zephyr Insurance is the leading provider of residential hurricane coverage in Hawaii. After two bad hurricanes, he said, the state shouldn't allow rebuilding on Poipu within 100 yards of the beach. It knocked down thousands of utility poles, cutting off power. More common are stripped trees sprouting new growth, or dead ones with a fast-rising understory once more cloaking the mountains in green. Richard says. Not knowing that he had not been told yet about the impending hurricane," said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. Hurricane Iniki: 20 Years Later. There is still. As it intensified into a major hurricane, a large trough caused Iniki to turn northward and accelerate toward the island of Kauai where it made landfall on September 11th as a category-4 hurricane, the strongest on record to ever impact Hawaii. Despite the widespread damage, only a few people lost their lives during Iniki. It hit on Sept. 11, 1992 the strongest storm in modern Hawaii history. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. (Photo copyright NOAA NWS), Storm surge ripped asphalt into pieces and knocked over palm trees. Many were guests, but a majority of them were from the community. Take, for example, the state of hotels on Kauai after Hurricane Iniki, which inflicted $1.6 billion in damage on Sept. 11, 1992. The next morning, the crew cleared the road into the hotel, arranged for supplies from California, and loaned the hotel the portable generators they had used for jungle filming. The arduous cleanup and rebuilding would go on for years, with one Poipu hotel not reopening for 16 years. With a rare storm hitting Hawaii during the filming for the 1993 movie, it is any fan's guess on what scenes were added or scrapped due to the impacts of Mother Nature. Kauaians remain remarkably cheerful. Print subscriber but without online access? Kauai remains the most verdant island in the Hawaiian chain. Hurricane Iniki caused more than $3 billion in damages - an amount that would be around $6 billion today due to inflation. Hurricane strikes on the fiftieth state are rare, but a major hit is even more extreme. Iniki caused six deaths and more than $3 billion in damages to the state . Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. Web Design : https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg. It hit on Sept. 11, 1992 the strongest storm in modern Hawaii history. John Greco, co-owner of Bubba's Burgers, said it was too late and too dangerous to take a look around. When it seemed we had lost everything, we realized we had a lot our lives, our loved ones, our neighbors and friends, and the will to rebuild better and stronger, she said. Hurricanes cause widespread and extensive damage from high winds, dangerous surf, and flooding. Hurricane Iniki was a small, but very intense hurricane; classified as a minimum category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The dilapidated structure sits on busy Kuhio Highway despite proposals by a number of developers over the years to bring the resort back to life. Until the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, Iniki was the thrd most destructive hurricane in U. S. history and the most destructive to hit the Hawaiian Islands in the 20th Century. Some 4,000 others sustained serious damage. Adjusted for inflation, Iniki caused roughly . The county is scrambling to try to find alternative housing for the workers. It was the second and final named hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii since Hurricane Dot in 1959. The storm was aptly named, as Iniki means strong and piercing wind in . So much insurance money has been paid out on Kauai that Hawaii's insurance companies say they're essentially going under and issuing no more policies, a plan that has temporarily halted the real-estate and mortgage markets. It passed just west of Kauai, causing severe property damage, minor physical injuries and one death. The storm caused over $1.8 billion in damages, 1,400 destroyed homes and resulted in six deaths. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - At 8 a.m. on Sept. 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki reached its peak intensity and was headed straight for Kauai. All rights reserved. webpack prettier-eslint She went straight to the historic county building in Lihue, with its emergency operations center in the basement, and helped secure last-minute public shelter arrangements. Photos from the Coco Palms Tour. The main shopping center is crowded with Christmas shoppers and Santa Claus decorations and Christmas trees appear all over the island. "The night before, I was on the Valley House set thanking Steven Spielberg for filming here. Annually, between four and five tropical [] like Iniki, to cause extensive damage to any island. Such precautions seem to havehelped Stephanie Reid's home, which escaped Iniki unscathed. All Rights Reserved. Yet she made a trip to Japan recently to promote tourism recovery. Kawakami said hes saddened by the 30-year plight of the Coco Palms, considering its illustrious past as one of Hawaiis premier resorts. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Popular Poipu restaurant Brennecke's Beach Broiler survived, but took a beating. Cars crushed by utility poles were a common sight in Lihue the morning after Iniki passed through Kauai. Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992 were especially destructive, causing billions of dollars in damage, especially on Kaua'i. County leaders say it took about a. 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Ten years after Hurricane Iwa, a Category 1 storm, ravaged the island, Kauai was decimated again. Two doors down there was a house that looked like it was hit by a bomb, Kawakami recalled. (Murray Close/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images), Jurassic Park falls. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. It was a small but intense hurricane which was classified as a minimal category Four on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Travelers who return now will find fewer amenities, scenes of awesome destruction, uncrowded beaches and viewpoints, and mixed emotions from islanders. Kawakami said the island will be ready the next time a hurricane hits. You're reading a premium story. Saturday, September 26, 1992 iSIctin FROM PAGE ONE . . "It was devastating. Physical reconstruction of the 551-square-mile island (about a quarter the size of King County) is following more slowly. 1992, Hurricane Iniki: This was the most devastating hurricane to ever strike Hawaii. Hurricane Iniki (/ i n i k i / ee-NEE-kee; Hawaiian: iniki meaning "strong and piercing wind") was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. state of Hawaii in recorded history. During the scene when a storm hits the imaginary island, waves are splashing upon the rocks and the shore as John Hammond, the CEO and creator of Jurassic Park, called for the evacuation of the dinosaur tour. Yukimura is the first mayor to be elected on Kauai who has expressed some skepticism of development, winning on her third try. The island of Hawaii had massive amounts of rain, it's the island that saw the worst effects. In 1992, Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai, causing 2.4 billion dollars in damage. The hurricane impacted filming of Jurassic Park and caused significant damage in Hawaii. All In 1992, the property was struck by Hurricane Iniki, resulting in damage that forced it to close. A different kind of repair job is going on in the natural world.