KIUC employees return from helping in Samoan hurricane recovery effort

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Engineering and Operations Construction Coordinator Samisoni “Soni” Tupou and newly promoted Primary Troubleman John Ludington returned from Samoa this week.

Tupou and Ludington spent the past two weeks in Samoa assisting in electrical restoration efforts in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Heta.

They were assigned to separate powerline teams, Tupou in the western district, and Ludington in Pago Pago and Leone.

Ludington recalled to the Samoan press what happened on Kaua‘i in the aftermath of Hurricanes ‘Iwa and ‘Iniki.

“There was a lot of work to be done, a lot of people out of service, so when we heard that Samoa got hit pretty badly, I wanted to go so that I could help restore electricity and help in any other way, too,” Ludington said.

“We all got along so well with our teammates that we felt right at home working alongside them,” Tupou said.

“I know I will miss them. I appreciated all they did for us,” said Tupou. “My favorite memory is the experience of working with those guys.”

Both men told local newspapers in Samoa that they would definitely consider volunteering again, should the need arise.

“If something happens again,” Tupou said, “I’ll be there in a heartbeat — if it’s okay with KIUC.”

In addition to much-needed manpower, KIUC employees and board members pulled together to collect, assemble and ship emergency supplies of canned food and dry goods, including flashlights, batteries, sleeping bags, clothing and tarpaulins, to Tutuila.

Aloha Airlines officials donated space and flight time for the emergency supplies.

Tropical Cyclone Heta lashed American Samoa and neighboring Samoa on Jan. 4, the first tropical cyclone of the season and the first to brush Samoa in more than a decade.

Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis can be reached at pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).