New and additional details continue to be reported about damages caused by the major magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22, in South Kona on the west side of the Big Island.
The quake was felt widely throughout the islands, including on Kaua‘i.
Hawai‘i County Civil Defense said Wednesday, May 27, that it had received more than 200 damage reports from the temblor, 85 of which were from properties with major damage.
A total of 8 homes also are considered destroyed.
Konawaena Elementary School third-grade teacher Grayce Ray and her family — including her husband who is a nurse at Kona Community Hospital and son who just graduated from University of Hawai‘i at Hilo — are some of those severely impacted by the earthquake.
“Our dry stack foundation, [built] around 1950, toppled down into our basement. We have cracks in the ceiling and floor and our doors won’t close.” said Ray in a Tuesday email to Big Island Now. “We’re not sure if the structure can be saved or how we are going to afford the repairs. We just heard back from our insurance agency, who [says] that we didn’t have earthquake coverage on our policy.”
The county is working with Vibrant Hawai‘i and American Red Cross to help those in need of immediate housing and other assistance.
The quake’s epicenter was about 8 miles south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo at a depth of about 14 miles below sea level on the west flank of Mauna Loa volcano.
Extent of damages started to come into focus Saturday, May 23, and continues to unfold as the island cleans up from what scientists confirmed was the strongest earthquake since 2018 to strike Hawai‘i and one of the strongest since the 1950s recorded in the Hōnaunau area.
Hawai’i County is hosting a community informational meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in Captain Cook — which is not far from the quake’s epicenter — to give residents an opportunity to hear updates from county officials about the temblor’s aftermath and recovery efforts.
“Following last week’s earthquake, our priority remains supporting our community and making sure residents can get back on their feet,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda in an announcement about today’s scheduled meeting. “We encourage residents to join our team to share their needs and get connected to our nonprofit partners.”
Alameda on Wednesday signed an emergency proclamation covering the districts of North Kona, South Kona and Kaʻū. The proclamation allows the county to streamline its response and coordinate resources following the earthquake.
Civil Defense continues to urge residents and businesses to report damage from the earthquake.
Damage reports assist the county with seeking state or federal disaster assistance, as well as identify priorities and focus resources if assistance becomes available.
“This was not normal. This thing was like a jackhammer. … I’ve never felt anything like that, and I’m … still a little bit shaken up from it,” Papa Bay resident Kevin Tadlock told Oʻahu media outlet KHON2. “I’m here trying to blow the whistle and say we need help. … Because there are some houses out here and people out here whose lives are devastated, and I don’t know how that’s going to be repaired.”
News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this report.
