WAILUKU - Ongoing dry conditions have led to the designation of Maui County, and the rest of the state, as federal disaster areas by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer, Hawaii U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka announced Friday.
"Our local farmers are hurting," said Inouye, pointing out that Maui sugar operations have been cut back because of the dry weather. "The emergency, low-interest loans that will now be available can be a lifeline for Hawaii farmers."
The disaster declaration opens the process for Hawaii farmers who meet eligibility requirements to seek low-interest loans from the U.S. Farm Service Agency to offset drought-related crop losses. Eligible producers may borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, not to exceed a total of $500,000.
"We're excited about it. We feel it will help all of our farmers," said Warren Watanabe, executive director of the Maui Farm Bureau.
The bureau is making sure farmers are aware of the program and that they enroll if need be, he said.
Watanabe said recent rains have helped farmers, "but I think most of the farmers are struggling along."
Because of the drought some farmers have cut back on their planting so now their production is less, he said.
Watanabe could not immediately provide specific numbers on how the drought has affected farmers' production. But "all I know is couple of the farmers I talked to, they couldn't fulfill their orders," he said.
Those farmers cultivate "leafy greens" that rely on overhead irrigation, unlike some onion crops that have flourished during the dry season and can rely on drip irrigation, Watanabe said.
National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Kodama said windward areas of Haleakala have been getting some needed rain, which has flowed into East Maui Irrigation Co. ditches.
"It's helping," he said, but substantial drought relief is not expected until the beginning of the normal wet season in October.
Although more frequent rains are expected by then, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting below-normal rainfall for Hawaii into December, Kodama said.
According to a report of recent Hawaii hydrological conditions by the U.S. Geological Survey, rainfall was 31 percent below the average amount for Maui from April through June. And, as of June, rainfall at Puu Kukui in the West Maui Mountains, was "well below" average for nine of the last 12 months.
Maui also recorded well below normal stream flow for June, with Honopou Stream 20 percent below its median for June, which was the second-lowest June stream flow recorded since 1912.
For Maui's groundwater levels, the USGS reported decreasing levels through May, with water levels in the Iao aquifer area decreasing in April and May to "near record-low levels" for this time of year.
In an announcement of the USDA program, Akaka said parts of Maui "are now experiencing severe drought conditions that are ruining harvests."
He pointed out other areas hard-hit by the drought, saying that "Windward Oahu farmers are dealing with a 30 percent mandatory restriction on irrigation water use from the Waimanalo reservoir; Big Island farmers are suffering from drought conditions spreading throughout the island; (and) northeast Kauai is facing reduced reservoir levels, which continue to hamper farmers."
The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor showed all islands continue to be abnormally dry, with several areas in drought, including Waimanalo in extreme drought, and Central Maui and west Molokai in severe drought. Upcountry Maui was classified in moderate drought.
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