Millions in relief aid headed to Hawaii communities after Lala

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A major relief effort is rapidly expanding to help Hawaiʻi communities recover from Hurricane Lala, with millions of dollars now being committed to the cause.

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The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has launched a $300,000 relief fund and is already putting those resources toward immediate needs. The organization says $50,000 will initially be used for cesspool pumping and debris cleanup in some of the hardest-hit areas.

Council CEO Kuhio Lewis says the organization aims to move quickly and avoid delays in getting assistance to communities.

Another major part of the relief effort is clothing. UNIQLO is working with four organizations—Aloha United Way, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Global Empowerment Mission and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement—to distribute clothing to families impacted by the storm.

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UNIQLO USA is donating up to 50,000 clothing items, while UNIQLO founder Tadashi Yanai is personally contributing $3 million toward relief efforts.

Relief organizations are now working to determine what families need most, including clothing sizes and the types of items needed for keiki and seniors.

People who want to donate to the Hawaiian Council’s relief fund can find more information at HawaiianCouncil.org or Kakou Mai.org.

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