Earthquake Recovery

Ever since the 10/15/06 Earthquake, the Big Island has been trying to rebuild and recover. The list of damage has been extensive - historic structures such as heiau and Hulihe'e Palace have been damaged, the Kailua-Kona pier and Kawaihae harbor need repairs; and many trails and cliffs have been torn apart. As resilient citizens help rebuild, it is good to see that the natural beauty of the Big Island is also making a rebound.

Kealakekua Bay, a popular kayaking and snorkeling spot in South Kona, is just about where it was prior to the earthquake. You can now kayak across the bay, snorkel above its expansive reef, and even come ashore to view the Captain Cook Monument. Additionally, the trails behind the monument, coming from the road high above, are once again open to the adventurous hiker, extremem mountain biker -- and the leisurely horse-back rider. It is good to see Kealakekua Bay make a comeback.

Recently, parts of the Muliwai Trail leading up the western wall of the Waipio Valley up and over to the Waimanu Valley have been reopened. This very demanding zig-zag trail climbs a monstrous 1200 feet from the black sand beach at the valley floor and leads to an even more remote and pristine valley.

The Kohala Ditch, an irrigation source for the Kohala area was also damaged severely in the earthquake. The various trails paralleling this ditch were also damaged with overturned trees and landslides. Currently, there are ongoing operations to clear the trails and repair the ditch. A lot of work will have to be done, and many thanks to all that are contributing to help the Big Island recover from the earthquake.