Kauai CC rallies behind students after Hurricane Lowell

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In the wake of Hurricane Lowell, Kauaʻi Community College is stepping up to support students.

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The college hosted a hurricane recovery event for students on Wednesday.

Dominos Pizza donated 50 pizzas for attendees, who connected with campus and community resources, including Kauaʻi United Way and Catholic Charities.

Students also received assistance applying for emergency aid, connected with mental health counselors from Kapiʻolani CC and Honolulu CC, and had an opportunity to visit the college’s new sensory room.

Kauaʻi CC Chancellor Margaret Sanchez said that while the administration is flexible to support students academically, they are also working to help students struggling to fulfill basic needs.

“We’re looking at meeting students where they are with what they need,” Sanchez said.

Preliminary survey results revealed 80 percent of students had coursework disrupted.

Second-year nursing student Stephanie Cram, a single mother, spent a week without electricity while her daughter’s daycare was closed.

“For me, the biggest challenge was adapting to continuing my education while not having power for a whole week,” Cram said. “We had an exam scheduled for the Monday of the week we returned back to school, and I had no way to study, and my daughter’s daycare closed because they didn’t have power. Navigating through having fewer resources, like not having a fridge and worrying about school, caused me a lot of stress and anxiety.”

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Classmate Kelsea Carrasco went nine days without power in Hanalei. Cram brought her a generator, gas, water and Starlink internet.

“It was a big deal for us to have somebody that I’ve only known for a few months reach out and be so generous,” Carrasco said.

She said neighbors also came to check on them everyday, bringing water, food and ice.

“Iʻm grateful for the college, Iʻm grateful for my community, Iʻm grateful for this island,” Carrasco said. “You know, we are so strong.”

Kauaʻi has also hosts a food pantry and hot meals for students, with more planned.

“Actually, the food pantry here at KCC is really helpful,” Cram said. “They have a lot of canned goods. First day back all of us students went there and took what we needed. So that was helpful.”

To view the campus resource guide or to help support recovering students, go to kauai.hawaii.edu.

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