Hawaiian Council mobilizes $300,000 for Lala relief and recovery

As communities across Hawaiʻi begin recovering from the impacts of Lala, Hawaiian Council has committed $300,000 to immediate relief and recovery and has begun deploying resources to impacted communities.

Initial assistance includes providing free cesspool pumping in high-risk and impacted areas to address immediate health and sanitation concerns, particularly where flooding can overwhelm wastewater systems and create unsafe conditions. 

“This is a time when our communities need us to move quickly,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council. “Families are dealing with damaged homes, flooded properties and uncertainty about what comes next. We have people, equipment, relationships and resources that can help right now, and we are putting them to work.”

Lewis added, “Unfortunately, we know what recovery looks like. We have responded alongside communities following the Maui wildfires, the recovery of our beloved Lahaina and the recent Kona Low storms. We also know how powerful Hawaiʻi can be when we come together. Lala will be no different. We will show up, we will listen and we will stay for as long as our communities need us.”

While damage assessments continue, Hawaiian Council is working with community leaders, government agencies and partner organizations to identify where assistance is needed most.  Initial efforts include:

• $300,000 committed for immediate relief and recovery; 
• Free cesspool pumping for families in high-risk and impacted areas; 
• Deployment of personnel, equipment and resources to affected communities; 
• Assessment of household and community needs; and 
• Development of additional direct assistance and longer-term recovery programs as needs become clearer.

Hawaiian Council will prioritize working alongside local organizations, community leaders and grassroots partners already mobilized in impacted areas. Rather than duplicating efforts, Hawaiian Council will help strengthen work already underway by providing funding, resources, capacity and other support where it can have the greatest impact. Those on the ground have the deepest understanding of their communities’ immediate and evolving needs, helping to ensure that resources are guided by the people and communities they are intended to serve.  

“When disaster strikes, there is an immediate instinct in Hawaiʻi to kōkua,” Lewis said. “Our responsibility is to turn that aloha into action. We also know recovery must be community-driven, coordinated and sustained beyond the immediate crisis. That means getting resources to family quickly, listening to what communities need and remaining besides them throughout the recovery.” 

The $300,000 committed is intended to address urgent needs while creating a bridge toward longer-term recovery. Hawaiian Council will continue assessing conditions and working with community partners as additional needs emerge.

For those looking to kōkua, donations can be made to Hawaiian Council Relief Fund — Kāko’o Mai at www.kakoomai.org. Contributions provide flexible resources to impact immediate relief, recovery and evolving needs of communities impacted by Lala.