Kauai refuse stations face limits, Hanalei and Hanapēpē take bagged waste only

A June 3 status update left Kauai residents with a simple but important rule for the day: don’t show up at Hanalei or Hanapēpē with loose refuse. Both transfer stations were limited to bagged waste only, while Kapaa was still operating under partial restrictions and Kekaha remained the island’s most reliable full-service option.

The Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station, at 5-3751 Kūhiō Highway in Princeville, was not accepting loose refuse because of equipment issues. It was taking bagged refuse only, but other services remained available, including green waste from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its regular operating hours were listed as 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The Hanapēpē Refuse Transfer Station, at 4380 Lele Road, was also bagged refuse only. For residents on the Westside, that meant a trip with loose household trash could end in a wasted drive unless the material was secured before leaving home.

Kapaa, at 5051 Kahi Road, was open and initially accepting bagged trash along with recycling services for scrap metal, used oil, appliances, tires and propane tanks. Loose mixed waste was still not part of the June 3 routine, even though county officials said that service would return as remaining improvements were finished. The county later announced on June 5 that Kapaa would begin taking loose mixed waste, but with a 3-foot limit in any dimension. Mattresses and furniture larger than 3 feet were directed to the Līhue Refuse Transfer Station or the Kekaha Landfill.

Kekaha, at 6900 Kaumualii Highway, remained fully open on June 3, with normal hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a lunch closure from noon to 12:30 p.m. For residents hauling bulky items or needing the least restrictive drop-off point, Kekaha was the clearest option that morning.

The uneven service reflected a county waste system still moving through phased repairs and reopenings. Kapaa’s $14 million renovation began in November 2024 and was meant to bring the site into compliance with Hawaii State Department of Health requirements and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The project included modern stormwater and leachate management systems and covered drop-off areas for green waste, refuse, white goods and scrap metal. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said the facility plays an important role in the everyday lives of Eastside families and businesses, and the June 3 snapshot showed why those repairs matter when the island’s disposal network is under strain.

County guidance says all refuse transfer stations are open daily except holidays, with loose mixed waste still accepted at Līhue and Hanalei while Kapaa improvements are completed. Residents who needed a status check could call the Solid Waste Division at 808-241-4841 or the weekend update line at 808-212-4683. The county also said Solid Waste Division offices and related facilities would close Thursday, June 11, for King Kamehameha Day, while residential refuse pickup would remain unchanged.