Posted on: Tuesday, July 24, 2001

Hamakua Ditch request 'not legally feasible'

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Mayor Harry Kim said a state lawmaker's request for county relief to help struggling farmers who depend on the Hamakua Ditch is not legally feasible.

Kim said he cannot invoke emergency powers to provide free water to farmers along the 24-mile irrigation system because he can take such action only in situations that involve water distribution for human consumption.

State Sen. Lorraine Inouye (D-1st, Hawi, N. Kona, Waimea), who made the request to Kim, said she understands the mayor's position but believes the county "has some responsibility for these farmers."

The 90-member Hamakua-North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative has been trying to establish crops and livestock pastures on 8,500 acres of former sugar land. At its peak, the ditch, built in 1910, was delivering 35 million gallons a day.

Kamehameha Schools acquired the holdings of the failed Hamakua Sugar Co., and state and federal officials have worked since then to plan for repairs to keep the ditch going. But lack of maintenance and a prolonged drought have seen the water situation worsen almost daily.

Farmer Zack Gibson said he has been forced to lay off 17 of the 22 workers at his Pu'u'ala Farms near Pa'auilo because of crop failures after going nearly six months without water. Other farmers have abandoned their land, and crop losses have been estimated at $11 million.

The present troubles were triggered by a flume collapse earlier this year. But even if that is fixed, state officials said tunnel repairs in Waipi'o Valley could delay the eventual resumption of water until next spring.