Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2001

Concern grows over Big Island drought

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The effects of the Big Island drought extended to much of East Hawai'i over the weekend, with North and South Hilo added to areas of Hamakua previously ordered to conserve water.

Hawai'i County agricultural officials said the situation is not good but so far, farmers are not at a crisis point.

"It's gradually getting worse," said Margarita Hopkins of the county's Research and Development Department.

State officials said the hardest hit people are the ranchers in North Kohala, but that the reduced rainfall month after month is raising concerns almost everywhere.

As of yesterday, the year-to-date Big Island rainfall totals were at about 63 percent of normal.

Daryl Ikeda, drought manager for the Hawai'i County Department of Water Supply, outlined for residents a list of water conservation measures that include not filling up the bathtub and halting lawn sprinkling and dust control.

Water conservation ordered for those on the Hilo, Papa'ikou, Pauka'a and Honomu water systems is aimed at both residential and farm use. Farmers were directed to irrigate only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. to reduce evaporation.

Water users at Kukuihale and Kapulena in Hamakua were ordered last week to cut back by 25 percent.