Maui drought
forces layoffs90 sugar workers temporarily lose
their jobs due to a continued
shortage of irrigation water
About 90 Maui sugar workers have been laid off temporarily because of continuing drought on the island, which last month had the third lowest rainfall in its watershed in 79 years.
Mandatory water restrictions may be needed if there's no relief from dry conditions in the next month, George Tengan, county water director, said yesterday.
Steve Holaday, general manager of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., said planting was suspended June 3 because of a shortage of irrigation water, resulting in the layoff of the workers until planting can resume.
A few workers also were laid off temporarily in April because of the drought, which seems to be a lot earlier this year, he said.
"It rained one night here and in one day, blooop, everything was back down."
The ranches on Maui have been dry for so many years that they have cut back already, Holaday said.
"It has been very dry for a series of years, and for the last nine or 10 months it has been unusually dry," he said, noting the low rainfall in the watershed last month.
Holaday said about 760 HC&S employees are still working, and "if we happen to harvest in an area we can pump water to, we'll start planting those fields."
Workers who are off the job temporarily are losing paychecks, but they will continue to get benefits, he said.
Tengan said consumers were asked in December to cut back normal water usage by about 10 percent, and that is continuing with good cooperation. A reminder was issued to users at the end of last month, he said.
Because of the conservation efforts and ability to pump water from a treatment plant further up on the mountain, he said, "We're at a level where we need not ask for mandatory restrictions."
However, he added, "We're concerned because we're headed into a drier month right now. So, unless they (reservoirs) receive a lot of moisture, there's going to be a need for mandatory restrictions."
Tengan said some rain in the mountains last week resulted in an increase in storage levels, but it was only temporary.
Kahakapao Reservoir, normally at 100 million gallons, was down to 63.2 million gallons. The Piiholo Reservoir had 49.6 percent of capacity at 24.8 million gallons.
The National Weather Service's seven-day forecast doesn't show any substantial rainfall on the horizon.
Typical tradewind conditions are expected with windward and mauka showers mornings and nights, said lead forecaster Jeff Powell.
"The weather is going to be pleasant for casual visitors to the islands, and not those concerned with droughts."
But single rain events seldom break droughts, he pointed out. "You can have flood events during droughts, which result from long-term rainfall deficits."