Many
visitors want a Kauai flood update. Indeed, last weekend's flood
prompted some of our guests to call and ask if our food
tours are still operating, specifically on the north shore. The
answer is yes. We start in Hanalei and end in Princeville and the damage
to Kuhio highway is about 10 minutes north of where we are. We've had
a few people cancel because of the Kauai flood, but if you are
planning to come, I encourage you to honor your visit.
Most of the island is ok and many of the businesses need your
support. If you're not visiting but would like to help, I've listed
some ways you can donate. Tasting Kauai regularly
donates to the Hawaii Food Bank - Kauai Branch. Because of the
Kauai flood, this quarter we donated to three farms that were
severely damaged: MY Kauai Honey; Kealia Farm and Haraguchi Rice
Mill. I also received an update from Malama Kauai, who has been
very active in helping the community recover.
Kauai thanks you for your support, especially in these
tough times!
Hanalei Taro & Juice Co.
You know that gorgeous taro patch
along Hanalei River? It's just to your left as you drive north and
cross Hanalei Bridge then go into Hanalei town. That's the
Haraguchi farm, which was severely damaged. Lyndsey Haraguchi asked
me to help raise awareness by spreading the word. She says updates
are @HanaleiTaro (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). Also, you can go
online to make 501c(3) nonprofit tax deductible donations HaraguchiRiceMill.org.
Kealia Farm
On the East Side, Adam Asquith
maintains a 40-acre taro farm, which was a part of our tour for
several years. He also rents the land to vegetable farmers and
beekeepers. Here's what Adam has to say:
Kealia Farm is a community of
farmer's on the eastside of Kauai that collectively farm about 100
acres in Kealia Valley. We provide everything from wetland taro to
small poi miller s and processors, to fruits and vegetables to local
farm markets and restaurants.
We are a collection of 15 farming
families, including recent Thai and Chinese immigrants, to Hawaiians
who have been on this land for a thousand years. we derive most if
not all of our income from our farms and provide a significant
portion of Kauai grown food that our island consumes
The recent flooding devastated
kealia, we lost tractors, excavators, bulldozers, trucks all of our
vegetable crops and many live stock. some of our farmer's lost
everything and will have no significant income for 3 to 6 months.
There is virtually no Federal
assistance for these small farmer's that provide local foods, we are
asking for your help in funding to clean up flood debris, repair
roads and irrigation, and repair equipment so these farmer's can
begin to rebuild and replant as soon as possible.
In addition to Kealia Farms, Kaiaulu
Papaloa, an area non-profit, is partnering with the farm and the
larger East Kauai Community, to raise funds to address damage done by
the recent floods. With volunteers we are helping people to connect
to agency services, set up a staging area at the Kealia Farms to
collect supplies for cleaning and food, assessing basic damages to
the environment from Kealia to Wailua, and helping to organize
cleanups in the watershed, coastline, and community as necessary.
Needless to write, funding is needed to do much of this work.
We humbly ask for your kokua in
helping our communities in East Kauai (Kealia to Wailua).
Mahalo piha!
For more information &
assistance please call:
Adam Asquith @ 808-635-8290 (Kealia
Farms/Donations) Kahea Tylor @ 808-346-2674 (KEO Person's
In-Need Fund For Flood Relief In-take/Donations) Aunty Lihue
Kinimaka Lopez @ 808-635-5091
(Supplies/Food/Donations) Kamealoha Hanohano Smith @
808-212-4356 (Clean-up/Fundraising)"
MY Kauai Honey
Beekeeper Michael Yulo nearly lost
his life but a 50-gallon bucket of his honey saved his life.
Here's his wife, Kristine's, Facebook account of what
happened:
"Sunday morning April 15 2018
Kauai’s MY Kauai Honey Farm at Kealia has flooded over in a matter of
minutes. 6 to 8 feet of water washed away all the bees: hives, honey
house, and work truck. Uncle Mike, owner and beekeeper, almost lost
his life when he went to go get what honey he had left knowing it may
flood over at Kealia. This is the second time he lost his bees. Last
year in February, he lost all his bee hives up Waimea due to a raging
fire believed to have been caused by an arson. By fire or by flood,
Uncle Mike continues to have faith and trust that God will continue
to provide. Last Sunday, after loading his truck and driving out, a
wall of water lifted the back of his truck washing it into an
irrigation ditch and sweeping the front of his truck into the ditch
causing it to fill up with water. He was able to escape by rolling
his window down and crawling out of the window as it was rapidly
filling the cab with water. He was able to hold on to the truck by
standing at the back of the truck bed and lowered himself to the
embankment and seeing the water continues to rise, he grabbed a 50 lb
bucket of honey to hold him down from sweeping away as a gush of
water quickly filled the area he was in. That extra 50 lbs helped
hold him down as he waded in the water (up to his chest) to walk to
higher ground and keep him from floating away with the current. That
water quickly rose to 8 feet sweeping away and submerging his truck
entirely under water along with his bee house and all his harvesting
equipment. Uncle Mike praises God every moment for watching over him.
He is asking for your prayers and believe that God will help him
recover from this disaster. Please help this loving man recover his
bee business. You can help us by supporting him at his markets at
Anahola and Kealia. Any support is much appreciated. 100 percent of your love
offering will go to rebuilding MY Kauai Honey’s bee farm."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jeanne Cooper, a Hawaii travel
specialist who writes for the SFC spoke
with Sue Kanoho, of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. Her story "Kauai Floods: What
Travelers Need to Know" acknowledges that the all
of the island is open for business, except the North Shore from
Waikoko (the north end of Hanalei Bay) to Kee.
Malama Kauai
"Community-based organizers
across the island are stepping into leadership positions in every
corner, things are getting more organized by the day, and the
outpouring of support from the ohana of Kauai and across the world
has been inspiring and overwhelming. A daily update and press release
will be sent out every morning and posted to Malama Kauai’s Facebook
group page, provided directly by leads in each community.
Volunteers are recommended to take
action on the below needs, connect within their moku on the Malama
Kauai Volunteers Facebook group, and follow updates provided on
Malama Kauai’s Facebook page as well as those provided directly by
their neighbors. Please see the morning update for contacts of the
day.
As of this time the following are
the updates from the ground as to the most important needs, and
updates are being provided live as we are able. There is an immense
amount of activity happening on the ground, so please stay posted to
the best contacts and methods for your requests and be patient with
response requests.
Wainiha seems to have been hit the
hardest and has been the most remote location to deliver supplies to.
The community has been requesting air drops from government since
Saturday and many boats and boating companies are supporting this
mainly all-volunteer effort. Places in Wainiha for families to do
laundry are also needed; please stay tuned tomorrow for updates.
Their wish list needs are extensive for clearing and rebuilding.
In Haena, the community has
organized a food pantry at YMCA Haena food pantry, which is open from
9am to 4pm daily. Breakfast and dinner is being served at Opakapaka
at Hanalei Colony Resort in Haena every day. Locations in Haena for
families to do laundry are needed and being organized; point of
contact will be identified tomorrow and posted - any unused vacation
rentals or others willing to help should reach out to a contact which
will be identified soon..
Hanalei has opened a communications
center and organizing hub - Kokua Kauai Halelea Center. Many things
are going on, including volunteer and service opportunities.
Volunteers should report to Hanalei Courthouse starting at 10am
Sunday & 8am Monday; and wear rain boots and gloves. Limited
supply on island. Cleanup crews are also being deployed out to
Wainiha and Haena starting tomorrow. Volunteers for staffing are
needed to distribute boots, and complete entry of needs assessment
forms. There is also an ongoing need for trucks to help families haul
trash. There is also a Waioli Huiia Church clean-up on Monday, April
23rd from 10am to 3pm.
Boat transportation will be
continuing, focusing on pickups from Hanalei Pavilion dock, bringing
supplies to Wainiha at 10, 12 and 2 pm until air drops can be
facilitated. Boats interested in helping in this effort today can
check in at Hanalei Pavilion.
Hanalei Courthouse is serving
dinners every day at 5pm. 300+ lunches to the workforce and community
from Haena to Kalihiwai are being prepared and delivered every day.
ATVs, ATUs and mules for Haena and
Wainiha community teams assisting other families. There is a sign-up
sheet for those interested in supplying equipment online or in-person
at Hanalei Courthouse.
Malama Kauai at Anini is
reorganizing their efforts, enhancing staffing, and later in the day,
relocating. On Sunday, volunteers are needed at 7am with laptops for
communications hub, and at 8am onward for loading first boat, and for
moving (flatbeds). The first boat will be leaving Anini around 10am
headed to Wainiha.
On Sunday afternoon, Malama Kauai
will be relocated from their Anini boat dock hub to Secret Beach
Organics for expanded operations to operate their communication
offices and distribution hub with storage containers. They will
reopen on Monday, with public hours of 12noon to 4:30pm for larger
supply drop offs and deliveries, and 9am other. Volunteers are
welcome to attend a morning piko and orientation at 8am if they would
like to assist with various tasks throughout the day. More info will
be announced tomorrow.
In Kalihiwai, the community has been
executing cleanup efforts and helping those whose homes have been
affected. Cleanup efforts continue on an ongoing basis and the
community is taking time to reorganize, update, and communicate
current needs.
In Kealia, farmers got together
at Kealia Farms for a clean-up on Sunday, April 22nd from 12-3pm.
Trucks are needed for dump runs, heavy equipment to move earth,
chainsaws, and other tools. Wear gloves and boots as many locations
across island are sold out.
Anahola is getting reorganized and
will provide an update after Sunday’s workday at Kealia Farms. They
are coordinating various details including food pantry site and supply
drop-off sites, TBD.
In Koloa, several community efforts
are taking place and a community-identified point of contact is still
trying to be identified by our team.
The Hawaii Food Bank is closed on
Sunday and their warehouse is full for deployments of food to key
leaders in the effective areas beginning Monday. They will begin
accepting donations again 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday.
HA Coffee will also be open on Monday
as a town center hub for non-food supply drop offs and pickups that
can be re-routed north for distribution.
Upcoming Work Parties are being
posted on the Malama Kauai Volunteers Facebook group - please connect
with each other and organize. We will keep putting the call out for
help!
The community wants to share the
deepest aloha for everyone’s kokua, donations, and resources.
Monetary donations will be distributed to community groups as needed
through Hawaii Community Foundation’s Kauai Disaster Relief Fund or
made directly online at malamakauai.org."
Whew! Mahalo Megan Fox and your team
at Malama Kauai for all you're doing.
A hui
hou,
Marta
P.S. We appreciate any support you
can give, even if it's a silent prayer. And if you have plans to
visit Kauai, please keep them =)
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