Hurricane Shades

Living on Kauai often feels like paradise, but it does mean accepting certain trade-offs. Nine months out of twelve, living here means steady trade winds, salt air, and a lanai you can use daily. But the other three months are hurricane season, when a storm in the channel can turn that same lanai into a liability overnight.

Window Trends has been helping island homeowners manage that trade-off since 1978. As a family-owned, locally operated business and the only dedicated window covering storefront on Kauai, we handle both sides of island living: the interior treatments that make a house comfortable and the exterior systems that protect it.

Our exterior product line includes solar and lanai shades, Bahama shutters, and retractable awnings. Here, we're covering the category built for the worst weather Kauai can deliver: hurricane shades.

What Are Hurricane Shades?

Hurricane shades (sometimes called hurricane screens) are retractable outdoor screen shades engineered to seal a patio or lanai opening against storm conditions. Unlike aluminum roll shutters, they don't black out the space. The fabric uses aramid fibers, the same material found in bulletproof vests, and it doubles as a shade screen during ordinary weather.

Instead of hauling furniture indoors and boarding up openings when a storm is approaching, you simply press a button. The screens deploy, the perimeter seals, and everything inside stays where it is. Because these retractable hurricane shades disappear into a discreet housing when not in use, your view stays open the other 360 days of the year.

Lanai with retractable Fenetex hurricane shades lowered halfway.
  • Certified Strength: Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens complete the full testing and certification process required to qualify as hurricane shutters in the most demanding jurisdictions and withstand wind speeds up to 185 mph. They also last longer and offer more functionality than competing systems.

Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens

We install Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens, engineered specifically for hurricane-rated protection. These Fenetex® screens meet the certification standards of the most demanding agencies, including the High Velocity Hurricane Zone of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which enforce the strictest storm standards in the country.

Key Features and Enhancements

Retractable Fenetex hurricane shades partially extended over a covered patio entrance.
  • Certified Strength: Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens complete the full testing and certification process required to qualify as hurricane shutters in the most demanding jurisdictions and withstand wind speeds up to 185 mph. They also last longer and offer more functionality than competing systems.
  • UV Resistance: The fabric blocks 91% of the sun's rays and shields spaces from wind, rain, insects, dust, and debris. Blocking that heat also reduces transfer into the home and lowers cooling costs.
  • Protective Perimeters: Prepping for a storm becomes a single action. Close the screens from a wall switch or a mobile app to protect everything inside.
  • The Perfect Fit: We build every screen to order and manufacture it to your exact opening.
  • Dual Protection: MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens pair with other Fenetex® screens in a single installation. Each screen operates independently, so you can run an insect or shade screen day-to-day and deploy the hurricane screen only when the weather calls for it.

How Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens Fit with Our Other Exterior Products

Most homeowners we work with are solving more than one problem, and hurricane shades are usually one layer of a larger plan.

  • Solar and lanai shades handle glare, heat, and insects during everyday use, and they can be installed alongside hurricane screens on the same opening.
  • Bahama shutters offer a fixed, traditional island look with adjustable shade and privacy.
  • Retractable awnings extend usable shade over a deck or patio without the need for a permanent structure.

If you're weighing which combination makes sense for your property, get in touch with our team for a no-pressure consultation. We'll discuss important factors to consider, such as exposure, opening size, and how you regularly use your space.

Hurricane Shades Near Kalaheo, HI

Kauai homes face conditions that inland products simply aren't designed to handle. Salt air, intense UV, and real hurricane risk all shorten the lifespan of exterior products not engineered for the tropics, so we've spent decades learning which systems hold up in our slice of paradise, and which ones fail early.

Our showroom is on Kaumuali'i Highway in Kalaheo, and we install Fenetex® MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens near Kalaheo, HI, and across the island, including Princeville, Lihue, Kapaa, and Poipu (Koloa), Hawaii. Whether you're protecting a private lanai, a vacation rental, or a commercial patio, we'll help you find the right hurricane shades for your space.

Schedule Your Consultation

Ready to talk through hurricane shades for your home or business? Schedule a consultation or give us a call at (808) 332-9844, and one of our design consultants will be happy to help. At an in-home consultation, we'll measure the space, talk through how you use it, and go over which options make sense for your exposure and budget. From there, we'll provide you with a clear, zero-obligation quote. If you'd rather see the products first, stop by our showroom during business hours, and we'll be glad to walk you through your options.