Kona farmers call on province to take action after Big Island earthquake | news

HONOLULU (ISLAND NEWS) – When the earthquake struck, a local farmer said damage inside his home was immediate.

“Everything that was glass or breakable was on the ground and broken,” said Kulhor Pondera, a farmer at Kanalani Ohana Farm. “So it took us a long time to get out to see what was happening.”

But it wasn’t until he got out of the house that he discovered a bigger problem.

Nearly two weeks after the Big Island earthquake, some farmers in South Kona are still dealing with its aftermath. The earthquake damaged hundreds of water tanks, leaving many residents without a reliable water source.

“I heard water, and I lost my cool for a minute, because I knew it wasn’t raining,” Pondera said.

He followed the sound and found that the water tank on his farm had exploded.

“I also knew at that moment that there was nothing I was going to do about it, so I never looked at it again. I just left it as it was, but I could tell by the flow of water that it was all history,” Pondera said.

Like hundreds of other residents who depend on watershed systems, he suddenly found himself without a reliable water source.

He says finding replacement materials has not been easy and believes county officials need to be more proactive when disasters strike.

“I think we need a better ability to respond to emergencies and handle emergencies as if they were an emergency,” Pondera said.

More than 150 people attended a community meeting at Yano Hall in South Kona last week to discuss recovery efforts.

Big Island Mayor Kimo Alameda says the county is working to connect residents with resources while seeking additional funding.

“We’re like a liaison; the county acts as an intermediary, but we’re also looking for funding as well. The states are willing to help us, so we’re exploring funding opportunities,” said Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda.

The mayor says the county is helping residents get water, replacement linings and federal assistance programs, while also reviewing lessons learned from the event.

“It’s a team approach, working with our residents and farmers and with the county, but you know, we all have to work together to make sure we’re prepared for any disaster, including an earthquake,” Alameda said.

For some, the most reliable support yet is neighbors helping neighbors.

“I think in the short term, to answer your question, it’s just going to have to be community support, because there’s nothing else we can count on,” Pondera said.

As the recovery continues, many farmers say community spirit may be their most valuable resource.

For more information, check out the GHawai Farm Bureau at https://hfbf.org/.

This is the website to submit comments and concerns to the county. https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/mayor/comments-and-concerns

For disaster recovery, you can click here bit.ly/CDDisasterRecovery or call Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

Impact of the earthquake on local businesses on the Big Island

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