A series of relentless Kona Low storms has left Hawaii’s agricultural community reeling, with record-breaking rainfall causing what officials describe as the worst flooding the islands have seen in decades.
Between March 11 and March 15, the National Weather Service reported that some areas received more than 30" of rain. A second system followed less than a week later, with the University of Hawaii recording staggering localized totals of up to 61". In total, an estimated 2 trillion gallons of water were dumped on the state’s countryside, leading Hawaii’s governor to label the event the most severe flooding since 2004.
A Significant Blow to the Workforce
The impact on the farming community is widespread. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, reports that the scale of the destruction is historic.
“At least 1 in 3 farmers, ranchers and producers were negatively impacted,” Tokuda says.
Data from Hawaii Agriculture Disaster Response, based on self-reported farmer information, indicates that as of Thursday afternoon at least 500 farmers had been affected. The damage spans more than 4,000 acres, with estimated losses already exceeding $31 million. Farmers on Oahu have been hit particularly hard, accounting for over $20 million of that total.
Legacy Crops Wiped Out
The losses are not just financial but also generational. Tokuda says she visited a coffee farm in Kona that was preparing to plant as the storms struck.
“They were just about to plant 20,000 saplings in their fields ... completely wiped out and gone,” Tokuda explains. “They had legacy trees that were originally planted over a hundred years ago by their founders — gone and lost.”
Beyond the loss of plants, the physical geography of the farms has changed. One of the most urgent requests from producers is for topsoil.
“They can’t sell their crops, which means they can’t pay themselves or their employees,” Tokuda adds. “They need to replace seedlings; they need to replace equipment.”
Long-Term Concerns for Food Security
Areas of Hawaii enjoy a nearly year-round growing season, farmers planting different crops in the wet and dry seasons. The timing of these storms was catastrophic for those in the middle of a harvest.
Amanda Shaw, a nonprofit leader for Agricultural Stewardship Hawaii, helped create the state’s farmer response platform. She says even her home area, Waimanalo, which avoided the worst of the flooding, still saw devastating losses.
“A lot of our farmers lost 90% of what they had in the ground,” Shaw says. “If it was leafy greens, that was totally gone.”
According to Shaw, coffee and macadamia nut growers likely sustained the heaviest long-term damage, while vegetable producers lost significant rotations of squash and leafy greens.
The primary concern now is whether the industry can recover. Shaw says while farmers are known for their resilience, the financial burden of this event may be a breaking point for some.
“We are concerned that if folks see significant damage on their land that they’re not able to recoup from, that it could be a pathway out of farming for some folks,” Shaw says.
Farmer Aid and Ways You Can Support
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity on April 1 announced 333 Emergency Farmer Relief grants. The department reports it received over 1,600 eligible forms and continues to look for more funds to give producers. The grants provide a producer $1,500 to address immediate needs. FEMA granted Hawaii federal assistance for recovery efforts.
The Hawaii Agricultural Foundation and Hawaii Farm Bureau are accepting donations for farmers through the Hawaii Farmers’ Disaster Relief Fund. Tokuda lists a number of assistance programs for farmers on her website.
