Not since Hurricane Iniki in 1992 has the spirit of aloha been more evident than after the recent record rainfall that inundated the North Shore of Kauai on April 14-15, causing massive flooding and numerous landslides. The official rainfall tally from the National Weather Service was 49.6 inches of rainfall in 24-hours!
Kauai Ohana Coming Together
The people of Kauai are still digging out. But they are doing it together, as ohana (family). The community response has been extraordinary! Even before government assistance could arrive, local residents sprung into action to evacuate stranded residents and visitors alike. The community came together and started mobilizing via social media.
Work crews were organized, fundraising sites were set up, and calls went out for buckets, shovels, gloves, boots, trash bags, and chainsaws. Residents posted “needs” — everything from diapers to dehumidifiers — and volunteers distributed donations. Churches, restaurants, and community members cooked and fed the emergency work crews and displaced residents, while local tour boat operators transported supplies to areas cut off by landslides.
Help arrived by air and sea: food, water, earth-moving equipment, medical teams, and supplies. But the outpouring of love and support at the grassroots level—from the local paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys) who rounded up stray bison on the beach, to the teachers who offered free yoga classes to help residents cope with stress — has been amazing!
Open for Business
Except for the northernmost communities from Wainiha to Haena, which are temporarily closed, Kauai is “open for business” and welcoming visitors, who can help with the recovery by patronizing restaurants, shops, stores and activities that support the livelihoods of area residents. Visitors planning a trip to Kauai can contact the Kauai Visitors Bureau Call Center at 1-800-262-1400 or visit the county website for the latest updates.
Donate
To date, the Hawai’i Life Charitable Fund has raised $87,000 to support the relief efforts of non-profit organizations including Malama Kauai and the Kauai Red Cross.
Online donations can be made at:
[Please earmark your online donation to “Your Local Red Cross”]
You may donate directly to the above listed non-profit organizations at the links provided. Hawai‘i Life agents, brokers, and clients, or members of the public wishing to donate directly can do so online at give.hawaiilife.com. Your donations will be redirected to one of the non-profit organizations listed to assist our Kaua’i community with the ongoing recovery from this natural disaster.
Mahalo nui loa for your contributions to the ongoing recovery from this natural disaster.
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