Situation
In September of 2016, the Iao Valley experienced one of the largest floods in Maui County’s history. The Waiuku river was reportedly flowing at velocities of 20-40 feet per second and flowed 3 billion gallons, destroying homes and properties, and sweeping entire landmasses in Iao Valley. Damage to public and private infrastructure prompted officials to declare local, state, and federal emergencies.
Solution
GBI responded the same day the County requested assistance, and immediately began clearing the stream debris basin. We mobilized a D8 and a D9 bulldozer, a 336 and a 470 hydraulic excavator, and four articulated trucks to accomplish this, hauling off more than 150,00 cubic yards of stream debris left behind from the storm. Each vehicle was in use from seven to 12 hours a day for two weeks, until the basin was clear enough to reestablish capacity.
We also coordinated with 12 residents upstream to quickly remove damaged materials, allowing them to reestablish their property boundaries from the river flooding. We used 15 on-road haul trucks per day to remove this debris until the project was completed.
Notable
The surge of rainwater picked up truck-sized boulders, uprooted giant trees and collapsed parts of Kepaniwai Park and Iao Valley State Monument. Damages to homes, public property and facilities surpassed $15 million in this historic “100-year” flood.
