Earthquake Devastates Water Supply Systems in Kona, Hawaii

A recent 6.0-magnitude earthquake has severely impacted Kona, a region on Hawaii’s Big Island known for its coffee farms. Among those affected is Roy Santana, an 80-year-old farmer whose water catchment tank broke during the quake.

The quake has compounded the difficulties of a spring already filled with significant flooding. Many farmers in Kona rely on rainwater, as there is no county water infrastructure in parts of the area. With the earthquake, the catchment tanks were destroyed or damaged, leaving many without immediate access to water.

KayLynne Santana, 71, describes the panic as the earthquake struck. “Things just started falling off shelves and crumbling,” she said. Her husband used a flashlight to inspect the water tank, only to find it had collapsed. The rock walls around their farm, which they had built over the years, were also damaged.

The Santanas, like many in the region, have lived without county water for decades. They have adapted to conserving and maximizing the water they collect. The loss of their water tank is a significant setback.

The situation highlights the vulnerability of the Kona district’s water supply system, which relies heavily on collected rainwater. The earthquake’s impact has forced many farmers to confront the immediate challenge of finding alternative water sources until infrastructure is repaired or replaced.