Hurricane Lala recovery ramped up Monday as Vibrant Hawaiʻi volunteers at the Hawaiian Acres Resilience Hub prepped the site, then handed out bottled water, groceries, chili from a community cook and 200 burritos donated by Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant in Pāhoa. More than 90 vehicles with storm-affected residents came through for assistance.
Resilience hubs in lower Puna, upper Puna and Kaʻū are being activated over the next several days to provide daily distributions of water, ice, groceries and hot meals while supplies last.
“We will be here at 3 p.m. Tuesday doing the same thing, hopefully with some ice,” said Shannon Matson, a lead volunteer with the Hawaiian Acres Resilience Hub. “We’ve been asking everyone what their biggest needs are right now, and it is mostly ice and gasoline. So if anyone is able to donate those items, that would be extremely helpful for so many right now.”
World Central Kitchen is preparing hot meals at Kaʻū hubs and will also serve at the Hawaiian Acres site during today’s distribution. Organizers urge the community to share these updates with ʻohana, friends, neighbors and anyone in need.
Hurricane Lala recovery distribution sites
Daily distributions begin at 3 p.m. at the following locations:
Kaʻū
- Pāhala: Pāhala Community Center, 96 Kamani St. #1149
- Nāʻālehu: Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, 95-5695 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd.
- Ocean View: Hope-Diamond Ministries, 92-8988 Ginger Blossom Ln.
Upper Puna
- Kurtistown: Hawaiian Acres, 16-1325 Moho Rd.
- Mountain View: Fern Acres, 11-3606 Lehua St.
- Mountain View: Fern Forest, 11-2864 Ala Kapena Dr.
- Volcano: Cooper Center, 19-4030 Wright Rd.
Lower Puna
- Keaʻau: Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Association, 15-1570 Makuʻu Dr.
- Pāhoa: Billy Kenoi Park, 15-2910 Kauhale St.
Damage assessments and urgent needs
Vibrant Hawaiʻi volunteers have spent the past two days assessing impacts and needs across Hawaiʻi Island as many residents remain without electricity as well as cell and internet service. County Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz, who co-led Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s formation, said recovery operations are being adjusted in real time.
“We have boots on the ground right now, and recovery operations are decided day by day and hour by hour,” Kierkiewicz said. “So many are still without power right now and are worried about perishables and not being able to get in touch with loved ones.”
She added that trained emergency response volunteers are ready to support communities.
Earlier Tuesday, Kierkiewicz and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda visited farms and agricultural producers to gauge the damage and discuss what will be required to rebuild.
“So many of our horticulturalists, coffee farmers and producers suffered a major blow and will need financial support to rebuild operations,” Kierkiewicz said. “It is devastating on the ground, and Hurricane Lala has put a lot of folks 10 steps back.”
How to report damage and request help
Residents are urged to report damages and needs as soon as possible so the county can align state and federal resources. A recovery form is available on the Vibrant Hawaiʻi website at bit.ly/vh-rfa. Submissions help Vibrant Hawaiʻi and its nonprofit, business, government and community partners coordinate assistance across the island. A post-disaster claims guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is also available.
County Civil Defense offers a damage report and Request for Assistance portal on the County of Hawaiʻi website. Residents can also call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031, or file reports directly using these links:
Volunteers and donations needed
While immediate volunteer support is critical, Vibrant Hawaiʻi emphasized the need for sustained help as long-term recovery unfolds across the island. The organization credits its network of 35 community hubs to dedicated volunteers who train neighbors in emergency response and can mobilize quickly.
“Vibrant Hawaiʻi is grateful to everyone who can put their lives on hold to help during this time and all our partners who are prepared to serve across the island,” Kierkiewicz said. “I donʻt like that we have to mobilize, but I am grateful that we have the people who can make it happen.”
Those interested in volunteering can email contact@vibranthawaii.org. Donations to support immediate relief and long-term recovery for residents impacted by flooding, wind damage and related emergencies are also being accepted. For more information on Hurricane Lala recovery resources, visit vibranthawaii.org/lala.
Related community support efforts include the Fill a Police Cruiser Kōkua events to aid Lala recovery, which are collecting donations at sites across Hawaiʻi Island.
