Maui to Host 2nd Kōkua Puna Drive for Puna Evacuees, June 9-10

A second Kōkua Puna collection drive is planned for this weekend on Maui, in response to the escalating conditions faced by evacuees fleeing the Kīlauea volcano eruption on Hawai’i Island.

The hana hou donation drive will be held in the parking lot of Kahului Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, 2018.

“We are grateful for the generosity of Young Brothers for waiving the shipping cost and to A&B, Quick Tow and Na’auao Traffic Control for their support,” said Mahina Martin, on of the Kōkua Puna organizers on Maui.  “This second drive for Puna is a result of evacuees and community organizations on Hawai’i Island reaching out for kōkua.  We needed to move quickly to be able to help with escalating conditions happening in Puna and the fact that these companies didn’t hesitate to give their support along with the outpouring of encouragement for another drive from our community is a testament to Maui being truly nō ka ‘oi.”

Co-organizer Tiare Lawrence said the 20-foot container will be shipped to Hilo to nonprofit Food Basket Hawai’i who will coordinate distribution to various grassroots organizations working on the front-lines, including to Hawai’i Lava Flow Animal Rescue Network. “Our hope is to send a full 20 foot container as another gift of aloha for Puna to help offer much needed relief. Our hearts go out to them, it’s a really difficult time and we want to help,” said Lawrence.

Martin, Lawrence and Zeke Kalua who just several weeks ago combined separate efforts to organize a community drive for a shipment of a 20-foot container of donations to Kaua’i following a flooding disaster, also led a drive in response to Puna evacuations three weeks later. “When we held the donation drive for Puna just a few weeks ago, we saw how much Maui cares,” said Kalua. “People gave what they could and every donation mattered. We filled up the shipping container and sent it to Hawai’i Island knowing that it was going to make a big difference.”

Items needed are:

Safety respirators, non-perishable food, bottled water (5 gallon bottled water is encouraged), baby items (wipes, diapers), pet food (dogs, cats, birds, etc), pet supplies, solar outdoor lights, personal and feminine hygiene items, outdoor gear (tarps, pop-up tents, camping tents, cots), flashlights, batteries, bug repellent, small to medium size coolers, trash bags, laundry soap, can openers. Walmart and gas station gift cards are also requested.

Used clothing is not being accepted. Donated items should be in new condition.

To volunteer or for more information call 280-9111 or 276-7685.

Volunteers in Hilo prepare the container load of Maui donations for distribution to Puna evacuees and frontline community service groups.

Volunteers and staff from Hilo-based Food Basket Hawaii pose in front of the container of donations from Maui upon its arrival in Hilo in May.

Vehicles line up to drop off donations in Kahului in the first Kōkua Puna drive in May.

Volunteers and staff from Hilo-based nonprofit Food Basket Hawaiʻi unload the 20 ft container of donations from Maui.

Kōkua Puna hana hou event flyer.