Kohala Ditch Restoration and Preservation

12/31/2024

03/14/2023

https://bigislandnow.com/2023/03/13/gov-green-requests-state-funding-for-kohala-ditch-kona-hospital-pohoiki-boat-ramp/

Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green has included in his budget request to the State Legislature funding for three long-desired Big Island infrastructure projects.

12/08/2021

As some of you may not know, on April 5th, a rockslide in Honokāne Nui Valley took out the main flume of the Kohala Ditch, effectively shutting down water feeding North Kohala, disrupting and in some cases completely devastating several farming operations in this community, along with other profit-making ventures.

The Kohala Ditch water has been part of the agricultural lifeline of Kohala, bringing affordable water to users from Pololū to Māhukona. These users involve large and small enterprises, some of which have been assets during the pandemic in terms of food security. While currently there is a pipeline project that will be a temporary fix to some of the users, in the long run is not going to be able to provide enough water. Running from Makapala to Halaula, it will also be costly for those not in that area, who will need to incur costs to build the infrastructure to access that water. While the Ditch Company and Kohala Ditch Co-op said they are trying to seek out financial assistance for that, the long term, bigger goal that will help everyone is restoring full flow of the ditch. Raising the funds for that is the kuleana of our committee.

This space will be used to provide updates, as well as, calls to action for those who want to help their neighbors and this community.

If you are a user who has not heard from the Kohala Ditch Restoration and Preservation Committee (formerly the Kohala Ditch Foundation), and would like to be added to our contact list, or are an interested advocate, please contact [email protected]

Also, watch for our new website, that will contain more information.

In the meantime, A'ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu'ia (No task is too big when done together by all)

Mahalo,

The Kohala Restoration and Preservation Committee

07/22/2016

Well TS Darby is 300 miles from Hilo traveling at 12 mph and is projected to impact us after midnight tonight. The following info was sent by Surety Kohala this morning to all ditch users.

Subject: Kohala Ditch Status, RE: Tropical Storm Darby
Good Morning Kohala Ditch Users:

Here we go again with the storms.

The latest projection (5:25am) on TS Darby is indicating a hard glancing blow along the Hamakua and North Kohala windward coasts. Even if the projections are off by a few degrees it appears that we will be getting some very significant rainfall amounts, possibly exceeding 10 inches per hour at times

Given the anticipated forward speed of the storm, we could find ourselves getting soaked for a good 8-12 hour hours. Accumulations could get pretty interesting.

As a result, to lighten the flumes in case the streams blow-out their foundations, we will be shutting down the ditch at Kanea'a (in Pololu) this afternoon after 2 pm. The ditch should run dry by late tonight.

We anticipate doing damage assessments Monday morning and if things look good, we'll turn the ditch back on Monday afternoon. If things don't look good...then we'll just have to deal with it like we always do.

As usual, be prepared to switch over to your alternate irrigation water sources in the event things don't go well with the storm and we find ourselves with an extended shut down. If you have storage capacity, you may want to consider topping it off just in case.

Prepare yourselves and try to stay dry.

05/18/2015

Flumin Kohala is now closed.

— the — Kohala Ditch Hand drilled and blasted over a century ago out of solid rock deep in the canyons of Kohala, “The Ditch” brought water and prosperity to the people of Kohala. Hundreds of brave men risked their lives, and many perished in its construction. To this day, the Ditch remains witness…

05/17/2015

Kohala Ditch at Kynnersley Road. We've Got Water!!!

05/14/2015

Amazing Awesome Beautiful New Flumes thanks to Surety Kohala and Bill Shontell. Please check out pictures!