Drought persists in Maui County
Though there were some rains mid-May statewide, the National Weather Service said Thursday that it wasn’t enough to ease drought conditions in Maui County.
There was slight easing of drought along the southeast flank of Haleakala, between Kaupo and Kepuni, but extreme drought was still in place in the Kihei area and over a large portion of west Molokai, NWS said.
In the lower leeward slopes of Haleakala, from Maalaea to Maui Meadows, pastures are “in very poor condition” and have not been able to support livestock.
NWS said that feral deer have been making the problem worse by foraging in farmlands, and wildfire ignitions in Maui`s central valley have increased over the past month.
Maui County’s Department of Water Supply reported that Upcountry reservoir levels have been dropping due to the ongoing dry conditions, prompting residents to voluntarily conserve water to prevent having to declare a water shortage with attendant mandatory cutbacks in use.
Satellite-based vegetation health data continue to indicate very poor conditions along the lower slopes of Lanai and over most of west Molokai.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Honolulu County, Hawaii County, and Maui County as primary natural disaster areas due to drought.
The designation allows funding to be used for emergency loans and compensation for grazing losses, according to NWS.
As most of the state has entered the dry season, the current drought conditions are expected to intensify and increase in coverage through the summer months, especially in the leeward areas of the state.
The next Drought Information Statement will be issued on July 14 or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in conditions.