Popular Big Island tour operation Flumin' Da Ditch has closed following the Oct. 15 earthquakes.

Flumin' Da Ditch kayak tours stopped operating after last month's earthquakes damaged the 16-mile Kohala Ditch system, where the tours were conducted. A company spokesman said it was unsafe to continue operating the tours and that the company's HMV Tours Hummer safari operation is also closing because it's too small to sustain business.

"We regret to inform you that 'Flumin Da Ditch' and HMV Tours are closed permanently for any future tours," said a notice on the company's Web site. "We appreciate all the support you have given us during the past 10 years that enabled us to bring over 150,000 guests to Kohala to meet our great local guides and enjoy the beauty and history of our home."

The company laid off 11 of its 15 employees, with the remaining staff working on closing the business.

The Kohala Ditch system, owned by Surety Kohala Corp., was among three Big Island plantation-era irrigation systems that were damaged by the earthquakes. Repairs to the Kohala Ditch will take six months to a year or longer, said Surety Kohala Corp. treasurer Hermann Fernandez.

"The stability of the ground there is in question, so we just don't know how long it will be before we can put a person safely out there," Fernandez said. "We can't put a time frame on how long the repairs will actually take."

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.