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Monday, November 13, 2000




By Darlene Javar, Special to the Star-Bulletin
Flooding on the Big Island ruined many roads such as
this section of Highway 11, south of Pahala.



Kau residents
cheer bypass road

Part of Highway 11 was
washed out by the recent flooding


By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

Kau residents rejoiced this weekend when a bypass road was officially opened to take them around the portion of Highway 11, washed out by flood waters two weeks ago.

After the Pahala side of the gravel road had been blessed, residents like Charlene Hart hopped in their cars and caravaned to the other end at the 46-mile marker of the highway, which was also blessed.

Hart noticed gulches had been widened to 20 to 30 feet wide. "They brought in massive amounts of dirt" to build up gulches where the bridges had been washed out, Hart said.

Highway 11 is Kau District residents' lifeline to Hilo, where most work, shop and do business.

The Nov. 1 and 2 flood waters caused Highway 11 to buckle and break, cutting off the communities of Pahala, Wood Valley, Punaluu and Ocean View.


Hawaii County workers have worked around the clock to build a bypass road The gravel road runs through abandoned state land, cane haul roads and a half-mile portion of the Kapapala Ranch. It had previously been used by ranchers and hunters with four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The state has already begun working on another, shorter, better bypass road running from the 49-mile marker to Pahala, said Wendell Hatada, Hawaii County Civil Defense plans and operations officer.

This second, more permanent access road will be finished in several weeks, Hatada said. But fixing the main highway will take months.

While some were celebrating yesterday, carnation farmer Stanley Mizuno said, "We're in a disaster area, so there's no reason to."

Mizuno lost about $2,000 worth of his crop.

"We cut and dumped the flowers," said the third-generation farmer.

But the Wood Valley farmer said what caused the most difficulty was getting his workers who lived in Pahala to the farm. Although just five miles apart, the two communities are joined by six bridges, four of which were washed out.

His workers got through via a macadamia nut orchard road.

C. Brewer & Co. had to haul their mac nuts out, so a road was cut through their fields. People began using the muddy path to get to the highway.

San Diego visitor Jan Gottfredson and her husband had to drive that path. Fortunately, the rental car company insisted they take a Jeep. "That has been a godsend," she said.

Red Cross checks on flood victims' needs

The American Red Cross in Hilo is sending out teams to find out why many flood victims have not come in for help and what kind of assistance, if any, is still needed.

Food, clothing, urgent household needs, basic health-related items and housing are still available. In addition, counselors are on hand for families with disaster-related stress.

The American Red Cross Service Center will remain open until Nov. 19 to provide emergency help to individuals and families.

As of Saturday in Hawaii County, 275 families had applied to the Red Cross for assistance. The Red Cross assisted 210 families. Others were referred to appropriate agencies.

Of single-family dwellings, 29 were destroyed, 104 had major damage, 130 minor. Of mobile homes, 4 destroyed, 3 major damage, 2 minor. And of multifamily units, 20 had major damage, 6 minor damage.

Federal aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Hawaii State Civil Defense are opening a Disaster Recovery Center at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo at 1 p.m. today.

Residents may obtain information about disaster assistance programs, discuss needs, update registration information and get help filling out Small Business Administration loan applications or learn how to reduce risk of future loss. Residents must first register for assistance by calling FEMA at 1-800-462-9029. The hearing- or speech-impaired can call 1-800-462-2585 (TTY).



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