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HONOLULU (KITV) — “Walking out and seeing what the Kona lows did to the farm was very drastic and traumatic in a way,” said Cheyenne Adams, Marketing manager for Waimanalo Country Farms.
That trauma came after the March Kona Low storms.
“You could hear like the crackling of the wind and rain coming down over the mountain, and then you could see in the mist the wind whipping,” said Adams.
Now, another storm is on the horizon.
“We’re still in recovery mode. So being hit with another potential hurricane is daunting,” said Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda.
For many, the concern goes beyond the forecast.
“People are still picking up the pieces. We are still recovering from the Kona low, from the earthquake,” said Alameda.
Waimanalo Country Farms is still feeling the effects from the first storms.
“There are only so many fields that we are able to use because some of the other ones are still damaged,” said Adams.
Now, they are hoping this storm passes without setting them back again.
“We’re just praying that it’ll just pass by and not damage those crops because if not, we’re going to be delayed again,” said Adams.
But even just preparing can be a setback.
“Now it’s like we have to pause and now go back to, okay, now we have to go into like survival mode, right? And then go back to work after that,” said Adams.
But the disasters have also taught communities to prepare and rely on each other.
“The earthquake and the Kona Low really made it so that neighbors were reminded to be supportive of one another and work together and with each other. And I think that’s very fresh in people’s minds and experiences,” said Colehour Bondera, an organic farmer on the Big Island.
And while preparation can bring some peace of mind, the fear of what comes after remains.
“The biggest worry is not knowing if you’d be able to recover or assessing the damage,” said Adams.
So for now, it’s prepare, wait and hope this storm doesn’t add another chapter to a year of recovery.
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