Hurricane Lala recovery enters new phase on Hawaii Island
HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two weeks after Hurricane Lala, Hawaii Island is moving from emergency response into the early stages of recovery, with thousands of residents seeking help from community organizations.
Read more Ocean View florist works to recover greenhouses after Hurricane Lala
Vibrant Hawaii CEO Janice Ikeda said the network of community groups, government agencies and businesses that mobilized after the storm is now beginning to see a change in the needs facing residents.
“We’re really starting to see that shift from emergency response into the early stages of recovery,” she said.
Vibrant Hawaii has received more than 2,250 requests for assistance since the storm, representing more than 7,600 people, including about 3,000 children.
Food replacement has been the largest need, with more than 1,744 requests from households that lost groceries during power outages.
“The highest need that we’ve received, with over 1,744 requests, has been for food replacement,” Ikeda said.
Ikeda said the need extends beyond households receiving SNAP benefits. Some working families lost their food during the outages but may not qualify for SNAP.
Vibrant Hawaii has provided more than 400 households with $250 virtual Visa cards to help replace food and cover immediate needs.
“I’m hopeful that by the end or at least by the middle of next week, we would have been able to reach all of these requests for replacement food with some kind of support,” Ikeda said.
While some residents need financial assistance, others are still struggling to access basic information and resources.
Hope Services Hawaii CEO Brandee Menino said her organization has been working with churches in Kaʻu to reach residents who may have limited connectivity or transportation.
“Making sure the kupuna that, you know, that was not connected, didn’t have power, no access to water, had that information so then they can receive these supplies,” Menino said.
Read more Legacy of Takamiya Market: Celebrating the man behind the Maui market
Hope Services Hawaii also prepared 50 food kits with nonperishable items requested by seniors in Pahala. The kits included foods that did not require heating or cooking and were delivered to seniors at Pāhala Elderly Housing through church volunteers.
Menino said the organization is also helping residents with needs that go beyond food and supplies.
One mother who came to a food pantry after the storm was looking for help replacing her SNAP benefits after losing her card during the hurricane. Staff helped her complete the replacement process online.
“She just needed help to replace her SNAP benefits. She, you know, lost her card in this hurricane, so we helped her,” Menino said.
Menino said those individual interactions are helping organizations identify needs that may otherwise go unnoticed.
“Just really kind of filling the gaps, hearing what people need and trying to meet that need,” she said.
As power has been restored to most of Hawaii Island, the network of emergency donation centers is also winding down.
Ikeda said Saturday, Aug. 29, is the final day the community donation centers will accept physical goods. The centers have collected items including toiletries and bottled water.
Vibrant Hawaii is directing clothing donations to Goodwill and nonperishable food donations to The Food Basket, which continues to distribute food to communities affected by the storm.
Although physical donation centers are closing, Ikeda said financial donations will continue to be important as recovery moves forward.
“We will definitely still need financial donations,” she said.
Donations can be made through Vibrant Hawaii’s website.
Information about clothing donations is available through Goodwill Hawaii, while food donations can be directed to The Food Basket.
Post Comment