JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Farmer Grant Hamachi walked amid his farmland Saturday in Waimanalo. Though there was a decent amount of rain this past week, less rainfall this year has forced water restrictions at the Waimanalo reservoir. Roughly 90 farmers use water from the reservoir, including Hamachi, who grows radishes, corn and bananas on his seven acres of land.

Dry conditions grip farms in Waimanalo

Record drought raises risk of fires on Oahu

Waimanalo radish farmer Grant Hamachi is bracing for a dry summer.

"It's going to be difficult," said Hamachi, who runs a 7-acre family farm.

Lower-than-normal rainfall levels are affecting about 90 Waimanalo farmers and have fire officials on alert as summer brush-fire season approaches.

The state Department of Agriculture announced mandatory 20 percent water restrictions this month at the Waimanalo reservoir, which was at about one-third of its 60 million-gallon capacity last week.

Carl Kobashigawa, owner of Koba's Nursery in Waimanalo, said the restrictions on the reservoir have forced him to use city water at higher prices, adding up to $1,000 in monthly costs.

Seven water gauges on Oahu logged new records for the driest March since 1991, when record-keeping first started. Through the end of March, rainfall totals for all 46 rainfall gauges on Oahu were below normal; only nine had more than 50 percent of normal rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

A gauge at Poamoho, Oahu, recorded the third-highest rainfall in the state in March -- 11.96 inches, only 54 percent of normal for the year.

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Less rainfall during the first three months of this year is affecting some farmers on Oahu and increasing the possibility of fiercer brush fires this summer.

Seven water gauges on Oahu logged new records for the driest March since 1991, when record-keeping first started. Through the end of March, rainfall totals for all 46 rainfall gauges on Oahu were below normal; only nine had more than 50 percent of normal rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

March is typically one of the wettest months of the year for windward locations, according to the weather service.

While some areas of Oahu had rain in March and last week, it was not enough to boost year-to-date rainfall totals to normal levels. A gauge at Poamoho, for example, recorded the third-highest rainfall in the state in March, coming in at 11.96 inches, but that amount brought the total to only 54 percent of normal for the year.

Janelle Saneishi, spokeswoman for the department, said the low rainfall prompted state officials to talk with farmers in the area, who agreed water restrictions were needed. About 90 farmers use the water from the reservoir.

According to weather service data, Waimanalo got 2 inches of rain through March, about 14 percent of its normal rainfall.

Grant Hamachi is one Waimanalo farmer who is bracing for a dry summer season.

"Fortunately, we did have some reprieve for one week (because of last week's rain)," said Hamachi, who runs a 7-acre family farm that is currently growing red radishes. "It's the early part of the year, so it's going to be difficult."

He uses water from the reservoir but is looking to plant crops that will produce a high return with less water or considering reduced production. He also uses domestic water, which is costly for farmers.

Hamachi blames the reservoir's low water levels on a combination of sparse rainfall and poor maintenance of the reservoir.

He said he might have to increase the price of his produce, but because of high fuel costs instead of low rainfall.

Carl Kobashigawa, owner of Koba's Nursery in Waimanalo, said the restrictions on the reservoir have forced him to use city water at higher prices, adding up to $1,000 more a month during dry conditions.

With the current low rainfall, Kobashigawa believes the water situation will only grow worse.

"I think this summer we're going to be on a shortage, and the Board of Water is going to put restrictions," he said. "They (farmers) can't plant if they don't have water."

A Honolulu Board of Water Supply spokeswoman, however, said Honolulu's water supply is based on ground water and is not currently facing a shortage. The system taps water collected in underground aquifers over a period of months to years, creating a natural buffer that provides water during dry spells.

Firefighters are aware of the short rainfall totals and are watching areas that could feed large brush fires. Brush-fire season usually starts in May and continues through August.

"We're watching the situation on the Leeward Coast," said Honolulu fire Capt. Robert Main.

Firefighters are more concerned about brush growth that becomes fuel for fires, he said.

"Sometimes when it doesn't rain, the grass doesn't grow either," he said. "We just have to monitor the status of whatever brush we have out there rather than the amount of moisture we are getting."

He had no current estimate of the brush in dry areas around the island, such as Waialua and parts of the Windward side.

The rest of this week, a low-pressure system might set up northwest of Kauai, bringing southerly winds and rain to Oahu, said Eric Lau, a forecaster at the National Weather Service.

If the system builds up, windward Oahu could see rain in the morning, and central areas could have showers in the afternoon through Friday.