Storm-scarred Kau cleans up after Hurricane Nolo brings renewed flooding

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Weeks after Hurricane Lala devastated parts of Kaʻū on Hawaiʻi Island, showers from Hurricane Nolo sent water and debris through the same communities.

Read more First Alert Forecast: Winds ease as Nolo moves away, more showers midweek

Amid renewed cleanup efforts, there are signs of resilience along with growing questions about what can be done before the next storm.

In Waiʻōhinu, debris and mud caked roads, homes and buildings as rainwater surged through streets.

Most of the devastation came from Hurricane Lala when it battered the island last month.

The destruction from Lala damaged a children’s bookstore, where young and old came together to share stories and learn. Beyond that, the community cemetery was damaged, disturbing generations who were laid to rest.

Now, the community begins to recover from Hurricane Nolo as machines move again. Crews worked to clear mud, rock and debris after another round of flooding in a community still carrying the scars of Lala.

For the people here, the water rising again came before the trauma of the last storm had time to fade.

“It just caught us by surprise,” said community leader and pastor Troy Gacayan, who relies on his faith to lift others and help the community move forward.

“We tried to help in whatever ways we could. Day one after Lala, and the Lord pulled me back and said, ‘Stop. Before you go out there, spend time with me,’” he said.

Gacayan said students reported they had post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and his ministry brought in extra counselors to support them.

As Nolo approached Hawaiʻi Island, residents kept an eye on the same waterways that caused so much destruction just weeks ago.

Read more 4 Lahaina campuses closed as most Maui, Hawaii Island schools reopen

On Saturday, county officials said the main concern was the possibility of flooding, which was happening throughout the area.

Now, crews are working to clear the roads, and neighbors are moving with equipment of their own.

Kerry Vekhov has been volunteering his time and equipment here for weeks.

“When it overflowed from the gulch on Highway 11, the water would go down the road and dump into the properties on both sides,” Vekhov said.

Vekhov arrived in Waiʻōhinu Saturday night at around 9 p.m.

“I jumped into the machine, tried to pile up some dirt just to stop water from coming onto the property,” he said.

However, the mud and debris left behind by Lala or Nolo aren’t permanent, and there are signs of what survived.

In the dirt, kalo, new growth emerging from the ground reshaped by the storms.

“God’s looking out for Kaʻū,” Gacayan said. “Beyond the ruins, there can be restoration and reformation.”

As recovery continues, the community turns towards the bigger question: What can be done to keep this from happening again?

Even during big storms, for centuries, the rains that come down from these mountains and through these streams have been a source of prosperity and life for communities like this one.

In recent history, the rain brought devastation and destruction.

Now, the community has to figure out why and address the problem.

“We can assess the weaknesses in our infrastructure, in how we relate, communicate and work with each other, and we’re going to become a stronger, better community because of that,” Gacayan said.

Gacayan added that all is not lost.

“You know, things are not lost. Yeah, we lost a lot, but with all the support and help, we’re going to just build back bigger, better and stronger,” he said.

Read more Nolo intensifies into category 4 hurricane well south of main Hawaiian Islands