Kauai transfer stations update: Hanalei bagged trash only; Kapa'a closed

Equipment failure at the Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station left the North Shore site accepting only bagged trash, a change that reshuffled drop-off options for island residents and haulers. The county also closed the Kapaʻa Refuse Transfer Station for renovations through March 2026, while keeping limited green waste service and scheduled bagged trash drop-off at an alternate base yard.

Hanalei’s transfer station, located at 5-3751 Kuhio Hwy in Princeville, continued to operate regular hours from 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with green waste open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but due to equipment problems only bagged household trash was being accepted until further notice. Residents who depend on the North Shore site for bulky or loose loads will need to bag refuse or travel to other facilities for full services.

Kapaʻa’s transfer station at 5051 Kahi Rd was closed for renovations, with the county keeping green waste collection open at that site. To accommodate residential customers, the county arranged for bagged trash to be accepted Friday through Sunday at the Kapaʻa Base Yard, 4900 Kahau Road, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Regular Kapaʻa hours are 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., but the closure means weekday access to that transfer station is unavailable until renovations finish in March.

Elsewhere on the island, Līhuʻe and Hanapēpē transfer stations were operating normally. Līhuʻe’s facility at 3450 Ahukini Road accepted all services during regular hours of 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., but users were reminded to cut construction and demolition debris to 3-foot lengths and quarter pallets before drop-off. Līhuʻe does not accept scrap metal or appliances. Hanapēpē’s transfer station at 4380 Lele Road was also fully open during standard hours.

The Kekaha Landfill at 6900 Kaumuali‘i Hwy was accepting all services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch closure from noon to 12:30 p.m. All county transfer stations remain open daily except on holidays.

For residents, the immediate impacts include longer drives to access full refuse services, more demand at Līhuʻe and Kekaha for unbagged or bulky items, and the need to follow size and preparation rules for construction debris to avoid rejected loads. North Shore households and contractors should plan to bag household trash at Hanalei while the equipment problem is unresolved, and Kapaʻa residents should note the weekend bagged-trash window at the base yard through the renovation period.

The county advises checking transfer station rules and schedules before hauling. For more information, visit kauai.gov/transferstations or call the Solid Waste Division at (808) 241-4841. Weekend updates are available at (808) 212-4683.

For Kaua‘i’s tight-knit communities, these operational changes underscore the importance of planning ahead and sharing space at the remaining open facilities as renovations and repairs proceed. Expect continued updates and adjust disposal plans accordingly in the weeks ahead.