Drought in Big Island Interior, Hawaii

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's (CETAHR) Cooperative Extension reported poor range conditions across the entire Big Island, providing marginal and supplemental feed. They also reported grasses drying up and slow productivity. Ranchers operating in the Hamakua district of the Big Island reported poor pasture conditions, supplemental feeding requirements, and less water in ponds and creeks. Ranchers were also weaning some of the cattle early, as well as destocking cows due to lack of available pasture feed. A mandatory 25 percent water restriction in the Hakalau area of the Big Island went into effect.

Below average rainfall trends have allowed severe to extreme drought conditions to persist over the interior and upslope as well as the southeastern areas of the Big Island.