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HANALEI, Kauai — Early Monday, residents of Kauai’s flood-ravaged North Shore organized an effort to transport flood victims from Haena and Hanalei Bay since the roads were closed due to landslides.

I was on the first boat out of Anini Beach with volunteers and a collection of water and supplies.

We were unable to unload at Hanalei when we arrived, but while we were in the bay we witnessed the Hawaii paniolo working to capture a stray buffalo that had been swept downriver into the bay.

Our skipper decided to head out to Tunnels Beach in Haena to deliver water and pick up flood victims in that area.

There was a large enough swell that the boat ride was very rough. I was doing my best to protect my equipment as water splashed over us with each wave.

Once we arrived, I had to remain at Haena so the boat could transport people back to Hanalei. People were coming out to the beach where we were dropped off to collect the water we delivered.

Many of the people I spoke to were frustrated with the lack of information and no sign of military assistance. A few hours later we started to see the National Guard flying overhead.

By this time, the private boats had already made two runs from Hanalei and back. Each boat was able to take about 10 people with a bag or two in tow.

I was then able to get on one of the boats back to Hanalei Bay, where I went ashore to talk to the folks involved with the rescue effort.

It was only a matter of minutes walking inland before I came across the flood damage next to Hanalei Pier, where a pile of vehicles, downed power lines and a public restroom had all fallen into a sinkhole at least 10 feet deep.

Once I walked out onto the pier, I could see the National Guard’s Chinook landing to pick up more flood victims.

As I made my way into Hanalei, I walked past homes that had fallen off their stilts and into the sink holes that opened up during the flooding.

After being in Hanalei for a few hours, I heard that crews had opened the road into the area. Hitchhiking out of Hanalei, I came across the heliport in Princeville where the county helicopters were dropping off flood victims.

After getting back in my own vehicle at Anini Beach, I came across this sinkhole in Kilauea that was roughly 40 feet deep on both sides of the road, with the guardrail still intact. As I shot this photo, I could hear rocks hitting the water below, which meant the hole was still collapsing.

It was amazing to witness this tight-knit community coming together so quickly to help each other and visitors.

You can see more of my experiences with the local volunteers in my posts on .

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