Water catchment damage, generator shortages challenge storm prep efforts in West Hawaii

KAILUA-KONA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Kona residents are preparing for another round of severe weather this weekend while continuing to repair damage left by Hurricane Lala.

Read more From picky eater to ‘Good Boy’: Oahu canine inspires local gourmet dog food line

Located next to the Kona Costco, Tradewinds Hawaii has served as a community hub, distributing water, goods, and supplies for residents and animals in hard-hit areas of Kaʻū.

The Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society and Kona Dance are also operating as community hubs, accepting donations during business hours.

State Rep. Jeanne Kapela, D-South Kona, said lawmakers are helping coordinate logistics. Because the need in Kaʻū is so critical, officials want supply distribution coordinated to prevent community hubs from being overwhelmed.

“The state and county is doing everything that they can to ensure that we are supporting our community at this time, trying to keep the roads clear, clear them as much as we possibly can, and also prepping the community with tarps and generators,” Kapela said.

“We have no generators available on the island at this point, so unless people are donating their personal generators or we’re shipping them in, our community is really trapped,” she added.

Water catchment damage and preparations

In the meantime, residents are working to repair damaged water catchment systems, which many depend on for drinking, running water, and flushing toilets.

Read more National Guard outlines storm recovery as response wraps on Oahu, Kauai

In Hōlualoa, one home’s catchment system was struck by a fallen tree.

Pacific Blue Catchment owner Corey Yeaton said water catchment businesses are dealing with a couple hundred systems damaged during Hurricane Lala nearly a week ago.

“I think people are sort of dealing with what’s in front of them now and hopefully thinking ahead as far as what’s going to happen, maybe what trees they should be clearing,” Yeaton said. ”I see a lot of people with excavators in their yards, sort of prepping and sort of taking down trees that might be susceptible.”

Ongoing power outages

Power outages continue to affect Ocean View, leaving thousands of residents without electricity and unable to pump water.

Hawaiian Electric reported that as of 8:30 a.m. Friday, crews had restored power to approximately 83% of impacted customers on Hawaiʻi Island.

Kona resident Kimberly Evans described the wind and rain from Lala as extreme. “It was very scary. It was a wake-up call,” she said.

“I feel like as prepared as we thought we were, we are not prepared enough,” Evans said. ”I’m freezing blocks of ice. We’ve got an extra chainsaw now. We’re just doing what we can, expecting something bigger.”

Read more Upper Pahala residents freed after roads cleared of Hurricane Lala storm debris