Recently, South Kona farmer, Una Greenaway, shared with me some changes she has noticed on her farm in the last few years. Kona’s summer rainy season now seems to extend into October or November, months that historically were quite dry. Some farmers have clocked over three hundred rainy days a year since late 2020. Many others, including our farmer friend Bonnie Perata, have also noticed changes brought about by what Bonnie refers to as “global confusion” based on the changing climate and politics worldwide.
Although Una and many other South Kona farmers have lived successfully on catchment water for many years, they often had three to four months of dry weather, mostly during the winter. Those dry months, followed by winter storms or spring rains, are what caused coffee trees to bloom. This weather pattern made Kona a perfect location to grow coffee. Now, dry weather is unpredictable and the seasons are mixed up. These days, most catchment tanks remain full year-round and dry spells are shorter and less frequent.
Una explained, “The lack of a dry season, keeps the water table high and our soil never dries out.”
During the winter of 2020 and 2021 there was essentially no dry season and the soil remained wet all year. This resulted in massive puddles on the farm during those summers. Though 2023 weather seems closer to normal, the next few months will tell if Kona’s climate is back on track.
Constant moisture in the soil can cause many problems. It can lead to root rot in some plants while encouraging diseases in others. The recent spread of the fungal disease, coffee leaf rust, in Kona may be a result of the high humidity the rains have caused. The deadly disease anthracnose also thrives and spreads in moist soil. Damage caused by another killer, root knot nematodes, seems to have increased in the soil that remains damp.
Una keeps close tabs on the weather on her farm and the effects on her plants. She has recorded fewer dry months in Kona over the last ten years. She has also noticed that the dry spells sometimes occur in the middle of Kona’s summer rainy season. In 2022, for example, she recorded a short dry spell in June and July.
In addition to the changing climate causing an increase in diseases, the wet soil can hamper a plant’s ability to flower and fruit. Her golden dorsett apple as well as her dragon fruit didn’t fruit for two years. She has also seen coffee trees die with constant puddles at their base.
“In 2021, we lost a thriving carob tree to root rot,” she reported.
Much of Una’s farm is devoted to agroforestry. This means she has planted a diversity of plants to form a forest of edible plants. This system of farming provides shade for plants that need filtered light, while reducing the spread of diseases that monocropping can encourage. Climate change has created so much uncertainty, she can no longer predict the timing of the wet and dry cycles.
The constant rains have undermined some of the benefits of agroforestry. The shade that some taller trees provide keeps the soil below them very wet. The constantly wet soil forms puddles, small lakes and streams throughout the property, which encourages root rot and other diseases.
The effect of this noticeable change in climate causes problems for farmers beyond damage to plants. Una reported that for almost two years, she was unable to drive down to the bottom of her property, even in her 4-wheel drive vehicles, because of the puddling. Rural roads in South Kona are often flooded as well and can become nearly impassable during heavy rains.
Una pointed out, “I didn’t see puddling on my farm for forty-five years. I used to claim it could rain ten inches and I wouldn’t see puddles. That’s no longer true.”
When asked what can be done, Una reported some encouraging information resulting from current research as well as her attempts to remedy the problems resulting from our changing climate.
She reported that another South Kona farmer, Colehour Bondera, has received a grant to research the possibility of increased nutrition to battle coffee leaf rust. He is working with other farmers, Melissa Johnson from PBARC as well as Hector Valenzuela from UH CTAHR. Early results suggest that besides IMOs (indigenous
micro-organisms) farmers might add foliar feeding to their increase in fertilizer use.
Kuaiwi has been an organic farm for nearly forty-five years and Una reports that continuously supplementing her soil with organic matter has helped her plants resist the worst results of the changes in our climate. Healthy soil tends to drain well. She recommends paying strict attention to the affects of weather on your plants and taking any steps you can to help them thrive as we all weather these changes, knowing that climate patterns can change at any time.
Gardening Events
•Tuesday, April 25:
“Environmental Impacts of Our Food Choices” 9 to 11 a.m. online. With Peter Lehner, managing attorney at the Sustainable Food &Farming program at Earthjustice. Overview of the impacts of modern agriculture on the environment, public health and climate change. Add to your calendar at https://www.addevent.com/event/uV16455398 or search for the Microsoft TEAMS “join a meeting” webpage and enter this information: Meeting ID: 222 439 680 104 Passcode: kjfgMJ.
•Saturday:
“Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Visit the website www.amygreenwell.garden/get-involved/volunteer-1/ and sign up for the weekly email for more information on work days.
•Save the date – Saturday, May 13:
“Kona Orchid Society Mother’s Day Orchid Show &Plant Sale” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Event Pavilion at the Old Airport Park in Kailua-Kona at 75-5560 Kuakini Hwy. Vendors from around the island will have orchids, air plants, succulents as well as fruit trees and vegetable starts for sale. Crafts, jewelry, jams and jellies as well as some educational talks round out the offerings. Admission is $2.
•Save the date: June 15 – 17: “Hawaii Coffee Association’s 2023 Annual Conference &Cupping Competition.” A live event at the Kauai Beach Resort &Spa. For more information go to https://www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/Events.
Farmer Direct Markets (check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
•Wednesday:
“Ho’oulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay
•Saturday:
“Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center. Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables.
“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
•Sunday:
“Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu.
Tuesdays &Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4893 or walk in Mon., Tues. &Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
