MEDIA RELEASE

Weather Review

Last week’s weather was generally very mild in comparison to the previous week. The northern counties of Kauai and Oahu continued to receive heavy showers early in the week, remnants from the storm the week prior. By Thursday, skies were slowly starting to clear with light and passing showers over the northern islands. In the southern portion of the State, Maui and Hawaii counties received little rain with most locations receiving less than an inch over the course of the week. Most rain fell between Thursday and Friday. The National Drought Monitor showed improvements for the Big Island. Extreme [D3] drought conditions were removed completely from the Kohala region. The area affected by severe [D2] drought was decreased and confined to a narrow band in the North Kohala region. Also, Moderate [D1] drought was shown to be improving as conditions shifted towards abnormally dry [D0] status on both the leeward and windward sides of the Big Island.

NOTICES: Qualified farm operators are eligible to apply for low interest Emergency Loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) due to the Presidential Designation of Hawaii, Maui, and Honolulu counties as major disaster areas due to tsunami losses on March 11, 2011. The designation was made on April 8th and farmers have eight months from this date to apply. For further information, please call your local FSA office. For Maui County call 871-5500 extension 2, Honolulu County 483-8600 ext. 2, and Hawaii County 933-8381 ext. 1. ALSO: Deadlines for the Conservation Innovation Grant and the Organic Initiative, offered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are quickly approaching. Applications for both programs are due by May 20, 2011. For further information, please call the Maui County NRCS Service Center Office at 483-8600 ext. 109 or the NRCS Service Center in your county.

Hawaii County
The Big Island experienced varying weather throughout the week. Generally, skies were partly cloudy with passing showers, mostly on the windward side. The Waimea Irrigation System’s water level was marked at 45.5 feet on Friday, May 13th; an increase of 5 percent from the previous week’s reading of 43.5 feet. The current conservation status remains unrestricted.

Maui County
Precipitation was light to none over Maui County during the week. Partly cloudy skies and breezy trades were the norm. The Molokai Irrigation System water level was marked at 18.25 feet on Friday, May 13th; a decrease of 1 percent from the previous week’s reading of 18.5 feet. Phase III mandatory conservation measures remained in effect. Measures included a MANDATORY 30 percent conservation in usage from all nonhomestead users.

Honolulu County
Although the heavy showers ended, partly cloudy skies with localized showers remained until the weekend. The Waimanalo Irrigation System water level was marked at 61.25 feet on Friday, May 13th; an increase of 1 percent from the previous week’s reading of 60.5 feet. The current conservation status remains unrestricted.

Kauai County
Intense rains that pounded the Hanalei area over the last two weeks finally let up by the end of last week. While accustomed to wet weather, heavy rains over the past weeks dropped 10% of an entire year’s worth of normal rain totals in the course of two weeks.

Agricultural Highlights

Orchards
Orchards continued to be in varying condition based on location. Most areas experienced better weather than in the week prior.

Vegetables
Vegetables also continued to be in fair to poor condition. Conditions were wide ranging throughout the state and throughout the week.

Livestock and Pasture
Pastures were in good condition, especially on the Big Island and Kauai, with soil moisture still good after the past weeks’ downpours. Maui County has not been as fortunate in terms of rain and pastures were not in prime condition as of the end of last week.