Weekend Rain Improves Abnormally Dry Conditions

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company crops in Central Maui. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Heavy rains late last week helped to improve abnormally dry conditions for the state, according to a weekly crop weather report issued by the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture in coordination with the US Department of Agriculture.

The report showed considerable rainfall with at least one location in the state — Laupāhoehoe on Hawaiʻi Island — receiving a daily rain total on Friday that exceeded three inches.

On March 18, US Drought Monitor reported that 45.8% of the state was abnormally dry or drier, down more than 10% from the previous week, the report said.

In Maui County, agricultural officials said some areas received continuous rainfall through Sunday with reservoirs supplying the Upcountry area reaching capacity.

On Molokaʻi, the irrigation system was marked at 24 feet or 528 million gallons a day on Friday, up 1-foot from the previous week’s reading, according to the report.

Weekly rain totals for the island of Maui for the week ending March 23, 2014, included: 0.62 inches in Hāna; 0.65 inches in Kula; 1.62 inches at Lahainaluna; and 0.91 inches in Wailuku.

According to the report, harvesting and planting activities for orchards and vegetable farms continued in most areas, but heavy rain over the weekend hindered some field work on Maui.