(BIVN) – Before Tuesday’s meeting of the Hawai‘i County Council Environmental Management Committee got underway in Kona, Hilo councilwoman Sue Lee Loy took a moment to give thanks to the Pana‘ewa community that came together in the wake of yesterday’s destructive weather event.

During the March 26th Kuhio Day hula celebration at the Pana‘ewa covered playcourt, a sudden, powerful gust of wind – described by some as a mini-twister – tore through the neighborhood, damaging multiple homes on Pohai Street.

Lee Loy said that a foreman for Isemoto Contracting lost his roof in the wind burst, and since his fellow workers had suspended work for the day due to the danger of lightning strikes, the team converged on Pohai Street to help with the repair job.

Lee Loy recognized the contractors by name, and also gave thanks to the first responders and the utility workers who quickly fixed the downed poles in the area.