The way a community responds in a crisis speaks volumes about the shared values of its people. Although more than a month has passed since the historic flooding on Kauai, the recovery here is still underway. There’s a long road ahead to normalcy, yet there’s a spirit of resilience that I believe is possible because of the close-knit, small-town relationships between people on this island.
I was born and raised on Kauai, and I’ve worked for the local utilities for the past 36 years. Time and time again, I’ve seen our community come together during and after natural disasters. We did so after Hurricane Iwa, again after Hurricane Iniki, and now once again after April’s storm.
We’re a community where neighbors know each other and look out for each other day to day, and those strong relationships become magnified a hundred times in a crisis.
We should also be proud and grateful for how quickly and effectively emergency response agencies, businesses, nonprofits and community volunteers responded to this most recent disaster. The actions I’ve witnessed truly embody the spirit of kinaole — a Hawaiian word that is significant for us at Hawaii Gas that means doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason.
Hawaii Gas crews work on resetting propane tanks at customers’ homes after the storm so families could cook and heat water again.
Hawaii Gas
From the outset of the disaster, our team at Hawaii Gas has worked closely with emergency response agencies. Our first priority was to take care of our customers and our community. Due to the multiple landslides on Kuhio Highway, we coordinated with the Kauai Emergency Management Agency to seek access to the North Shore and begin assessing the damage to propane tank and cylinder customers.
Since there was limited space on barge and helicopter movements, our crews were allowed to enter the area with two small pickup trucks as soon as the highway was opened to one lane for vehicles under 5,000 pounds.
About 500 Hawaii Gas customers from Hanalei to Haena were affected by the flooding, as well as some customers in low-lying areas of Keapana, Anahola, Aliomanu and Koloa. There were also many customers whose gas service was unaffected and who were able to continue cooking and heating water with gas while the power was being restored. In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, propane gas is a critical fuel, in the home or for the grill.
Our crews were putting in long hours to restore propane service in the most hard-hit areas, and we were able to restore about 95 percent of the customers who were affected within two weeks of the flooding. Many customers followed the proper emergency procedures to turn off their propane when they were notified to evacuate and secure their tanks by tying them to a tree or structure. Our crews were resourceful in recovering the handful of propane tanks that floated away.
A Hawaii Gas crew member carried a tank across washed out roads to homes impacted by the flooding.
Hawaii Gas
Despite the stress and challenges of their situations, our customers and fellow community members have responded to us with kindness and appreciation. Most of them understand the logistical challenges we face and appreciate how we’ve worked to upkeep and restore propane service.
Hawaii Gas was also able to support those in need by donating 50 tanks of propane (213 gallons) for the local nonprofit Malama Kauai to distribute. Malama Kauai has done a tremendous job in taking the lead to coordinate volunteer efforts and donations. Kauai County has also shown leadership and strong communication throughout the disaster and response.
Their representatives at the emergency command center at Hanalei Colony Resort have kept residents informed every step of the way, including the latest update that deliveries to Wainiha and Haena gas customers will continue to be limited for the next three months while Kuhio Highway is restored.
It’s been 60 years since Hawaii Gas first began serving Kauai in 1958. We’re proud to be part of this community, and our crews know that being ready to help with recovery is a big part of our responsibility to our customers and residents.
At a time when relationships can be fragmented or superficial online, Kauai remains a place where people connect with each other. Our resiliency comes from believing in the goodness of our neighbors. We bounce back by watching out for each other, making sacrifices for the greater good and showing aloha for this place we call home.
Thoughts on this or any other story? Write a Letter to the Editor. Send to news@civilbeat.org and put Letter in the subject line. 200 words max. You need to use your name and city and include a contact phone for verification purposes. And you can still comment on stories on our Facebook page.
The post Going The Extra Mile For Each Other On Kauai appeared first on Honolulu Civil Beat.