By Gina Mangieri

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A drought on Maui is a threat to the agriculture industry that has officials calling for new reservoir resources to avoid a repeat crisis.
Farmers spent the day showing lawmakers the impact of an extra dry year on the Valley Isle.

"Drought effects everyone, and what people don't realize is drought is a natural disaster," said King Whetstone, of the USDA's Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service. "As a matter of fact, it's one of the costliest natural disasters according to FEMA."

Here's how things look for some of the hardest-hit areas of the island: On the west side, Lahainaluna has seen less than 2 inches of rain this year, 15 percent of the normal rainfall at this time. Kihei usually receives nearly 10 inches by now, but only an inch and a half has fallen.

Upcountry areas like Pukalani are at about half the normal rainfall, but the 7 inches is not enough to keep many from feeling the effects of the drought.

Sen. Daniel Akaka and Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares took a close look at the Kahakapao and Piiholo reservoirs -- where farmers turn especially when rainfall is low.

Warren Watanabe, a farmer representing the Maui Farm Bureau, said readily available water is critical to farmers' viability.

"For the crops, they are not getting the water they are needing, but on Maui a lot of our crops are irrigated," Whetstone said.

The problem is, those irrigation sources are as much as 90 percent below normal volume, and together are far smaller than 300 million gallons proposed for one or more new reservoirs that could handle the most severe drought conditions.

Akaka said the need for the new resource is crucial and he says he'll try to help get federal funding for much of the $15 million cost. Meanwhile, getting through this drought will be tough.

"Particularly a concern of mine are the pasture conditions over in Maui, " Whetstone said, "because that's the main feed supply for the cattle."
Statewide cattle losses alone were estimated at $6.5 million during a drought in the late 1990s, and that's not the only threat.

"If you're not getting the rain that you're looking for, it could cause problems for disease or insects," Whetstone said. "On the bright side for people who have dry onions or crops like that, it not so bad."
And there's another silver lining -- make that a grey lining -- less rain, less potential crop damage from all this vog.

"The vog probably hasn't had that much effect because of the rain," Whetstone said. "We haven't had the rain to bring that acid rain or acid conditions to really affect the crop like you might think it would."
The drought issues aren't just a farm problem -- more than 9,000 Maui homes are on the low upcountry reservoirs.

"It impacts everyone, the entire environment," Whetstone said. "So everyone will have to cut back, whether it's washing your cars less or taking shorter showers."

The Maui water department has asked all upcountry customers to reduce consumption by 5 percent. Central and South Maui customers should cut back 10 percent. But even beyond the Valley Isle, heads up -- every island except Kauai has at least one area just about as much below normal rainfall as Maui's driest spots.

"If it's a Maui problem, then it's definitely a Hawaii problem," Whetstone said. "We're all a big ohana."

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Click here for USDA Census of Agriculture website

Story Updated: May 29, 2008 at 8:36 AM HDT

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