Songdoc, flood update?
 

Songdoc and others,

I've been absent from Kauai and this board for awhile. DH & I are actually going to Kauai May 26 after a 3 year absence!

My heart and prayers go out to those affected by the flood.

Now that you are back, Songdoc, can you give us a flood update from your perspective?

Thanks and take care!

I would think the garden island news, kitv, hawaiinewsnow and the many trip advisor threads would offer you realtime updates, unless you are one of songdocs number one cheerleaders.

I have chosen to donate to the gofundme pate. Laird Hamilton and his wife Gabby are involved. Gabby is helping to designate the funds. Boots on the ground.

https://www.gofundme.com/hanaleihaena-flooding-fund

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/04/lai...oding-in-kauai

there are many places to find updates.

Yes, I am one of Songdoc's fans! I have read many news outlet update but I was asking for Songdoc's perspective as well.

I will look into the gofundme that Laird and Gabby are doing, thanks!

I was on the mainland during the flooding. I returned and so far, I haven’t seen anything that would indicate that there was any problem. This is because the damage—which is devastating—is very localized.

Princeville, where I live (being at high elevation) was essentially unaffected. The only exception is that there is a sinkhole on Lei O Papa Rd., which provides the shortcut if you’re heading north from Princeville on Kuhio Hwy.

I read in the Garden Island News that although the brown water/bacteria alert has been lifted at the beaches, visitors reported a disgusting, strong smell of sewage and worse at Hanalei Bay. Considering that there were bison on the beach and in the water (and bison are not typically toilet-trained) you get the picture. But the bigger issue is the overflowing septic tanks. I will probably explore to see (or smell) for myself later today or tomorrow.

I drove back and forth to Costco, Walmart and the awesome nursery and landscaping place in Lihue, and saw nothing that would indicate any problem. I understand that parts of Anahola were severely impacted, but they aren’t visible from the main highway.

The areas that are most affected are north of Hanalei—Wainiha and Haena. The road remains impassable due to landslides. Supplies are being delivered — and trash is being taken away — by boat when the surf is not too rough. It will likely be months before there is access to Lumahai, Haena, Limahuli Gardens, and Ke’e Beach. They are hoping to clear one lane for emergency vehicles in the next two weeks. I read that many people in those areas are getting leptospirosis and other infections that are water-borne.

The owners of the taro fields near Hanalei were on the news. They reported that their crops and homes were destroyed. They request people to avoid that road (to the Hanalei Nature Preserve). The river that runs by it (where many people kayak) is strewn with fallen tree limbs and debris.
I have friends in Koloa, which had damage in low-lying areas. Both of their homes are fine.

A friend showed me photos of Hanalei town that were mind boggling. The Hanalei post office remains closed after flooding that soaked all the mail that was in the lower P.O. boxes. The Hanalei Dolphin restaurant had waist-deep water. But apparently, Hanalei has mostly returned to normal.

I will report back when I can give more of a first-hand report.

I went to Hanalei Bay and it was sobering. Weke Rd. between the pavilion (just past Aku Rd.) and the pier is open only to local traffic, so I did not go to the pier, which I believe is the hardest hit area.

I parked at Pine Trees--the area at Hanalei Bay where there are typically surfers. The beach was strewn with tree limbs and debris. There were pools of brown water and the ocean itself was brown. There were a handful of people sitting on the beach, but no one in the contaminated water.

The big shock came as I approached the pavilion. Literally, just before the pavilion (next to the lifeguard station) the is an enormous stream--where there never was a stream. It is DISGUSTING, filled with sludge and sewage, and is right up against a multi-million dollar home. So, there is no way to walk from the Pine Trees side of the beach to the pier--without walking through that cesspool. Incredibly, people were wading through that muck. And FYI, there have been more than 200 cases of infections treated since the flood: leptospirosis, tetanus, and others.

Afterwards, I walked down Hanalei Plantation Road to the overlook. The street is closed to traffic, but we were on foot and had no problem. From the overlook, we were able to see that a brown river runs beside both sides of the Hanalei Pier.

Yesterday, there was a community clean-up at Pine Trees. Hopefully, they are making progress.

I went to walk at the mahogany forest trail that starts at the putt-putt golf course in Kilauea and found that the trail is closed.

That's the latest ...

Songdoc,

Thanks for the updates!

It is so heartbreaking to read about Hanalei Bay! It goes without saying but heartbreaking to those affected that have lost homes and more.

Thanks again for the updates from your perspective!

What an amazing opportunity to change the "they are making progress" to "we are making progress" to aid in the community which takes many hands and hearts. Wish I was there to participate.

The latest update...

One lane of Kuhio Hwy from Hanalei to Haena is now open to residents. Only specified portions will be open at any given time, but at least residents who had to evacuate will be able to get some of their belongings. The report I read said they don't expect the highway to open to all traffic for several months.

The beach around the Hanalei Pier remains closed. The damage to the three houses closest to the pier is mind-boggling. What is left of the bathrooms the pier will be bulldozed. Other than the Hanalei post office and the Hanalei Dolphin restaurant, Hanalei town appears back to normal.

Meanwhile, we are under a new flood warning which will likely cause more brown water, but hopefully, not further damage.

I read that the average rainfall in Hanalei is 78" and 49.8" fell during the 48-hour period when the flooding occurred.

Update: Despite the flood warning, there was no additional rain.

They are hoping to open the road north of Hanalei to Wainiha, Haena and Ke’e Beach in 3 – 4 months. ALL the bridges will be replaced and the new ones will have a much higher load capacity. From what I saw on the local news the job seems daunting to say the least. Parts of the road remain under tons of mud and rocks.

Today there is an event to help Hanalei merchants and restaurant owners. Every time you make a purchase your receipt will be entered into a drawing sponsored by the Lions Club to win $1,000.

I have an acquaintance who will be vacationing on the North Shore in a couple of weeks. He had no idea there had been a flood. It’s incredible how little coverage this received on the national news.

CBS Morning News ran the flood story every morning for about a week. NPR ran the story regularly as well.

Interesting, Werth. I typically only watch the first segment on NBC in the morning and then watch CNN later. The only thing I saw was a scroll across the bottom of CNN. No photos.
Very few of my Facebook friends or my family on the mainland had any idea there was a flood. But I'm glad to know there was some coverage.

I listen to NPR almost daily and never heard about it until this posting. Not sure why I missed it.

Songdoc, have you taken a dip in Hanalei Bay yet? Is the water still brown or still smell? Have you been to any other beaches?

The area near the pier is virtually empty, except for a few people looking at the destruction. But the area around the pavilion and lifeguard station are back to normal. There are lots of people in the water--and the water looks fine. Same with Pine Trees. There are no warnings posted re: bacteria or brown water, which have been there when it was an issue.