As of this time, the following are the updates from the ground as to the most important needs and activities. The Kauai community continues to show up for one another. Mahalo to all the volunteers, donors, and team leaders making so much incredible work and relief activities happen each day!
There is a large swell, so boats are not planning to take supplies out to Haena/Wainiha today. Many communities are still organizing and streamlining their efforts around needs and key contacts, which should be solidified by the end of the weekend.
New! IN KOLOA – Lead contacts are currently Teddy Blake and Alana Mears. In Koloa, volunteers are working to rebuild multiple homes that were flooded, and have been applying Sheetrock, and preparing to install cabinets and appliances which were donated. Big Mahalos to Kauai Beachboy Hotel and Sheraton Kauai for donating much needed appliances!
Volunteer needs in Koloa today are:
- Need 4 volunteers at Koloa Sugar Mill to assist DoW and Kauai ATV to unload two containers this morning, a 40’ and a 20’
- Need 6 volunteers at Koloa Sugar Mill to prepare and deliver pallets of needed items to specific flood victim.
- Need 4 volunteers to load and transport washer/dryers from Kauai Beachboy Hotel to Koloa flood neighborhood
- Need 3 volunteers to load and transport refrigerators from Sheraton Kauai to Koloa flood neighborhood
- Most needed items for Koloa are: Cleaning supplies, can food and school supplies for 2 families, gift cards to clothing places like Ross or Kmart to help with many who lost most of their clothing and personal items.
IN HAENA – Cleanup and supply delivery are ongoing. On Thursday, an acupuncture clinic was set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hanalei Colony Resort. Thirty-two residents received treatment from a team of five acupuncturists, including two who were also trained in in emergency response by “Acupuncturists without Borders.”
There’s been an outbreak in the keiki of Haena of congestion, runny noses and respiratory issues. Workers delivered Children’s Dimetapp to help treat, as well as an additional case of antiseptic skin cleanser to clean cuts, wounds, etc.
IN WAINIHA – Volunteer leaders are creating tool sharing system so residents can get the equipment they need for repairs, and are assisting residents in filling out relief paperwork for utilities. The community is working together constantly to ensure the hard work is being done, mahalo nui! Those affected should communicate their needs to Community Leads Mahina Laughlin and Elijah Frank to be included in daily updates and supplies distribution.
Most needed items for Wainiha are: Big camping tents and dehumidifiers. Supplies should be packaged, labeled WAINIHA and be held until further notice to distribution so we can route to most appropriate transportation route at the time. Please check back frequently!
IN HANALEI – On Thursday, 20 boat runs delivered supplies out to Haena/Wainiha area in anticipation of large swells that may close out boat deliveries for the next few days, potentially until Tuesday. Workers planned out supplies at both ends to ensure everyone is prepared to stay on whichever side they’re on for the next few days.
On Thursday, volunteer leaders contacted the State VOAD (Volunteer Org Assisting Disasters) to make them aware of the new Kauai Flood Kokua (KFK) flow chart for this affected area, and will be participating in the State wide VOAD call today. Volunteers at Hale Halawai assisted individuals having problems with cell phone providers, SNAP program replacement and fielded questions. Teams are working with the County on an appropriate location for a DARC (Disaster Area Recovery Center). Team leaders are also working with the Lions Club to issue vouchers for appliances based upon the Needs Assessments filled out by residents.
There is a medical team at Hanalei Courthouse through Sunday. The Lifeway Pharmacy kindly donated six boxes of over-the-counter today at Hanalei Courthouse for those in need of immune support or to treat other specific conditions. Workers
IN KALIHIWAI – A crew came down with chipper and chainsaw to tackle the huge green waste piles in the valley. Donations of gift cards were delivered to neighbors in need. Big mahalo to everyone who helped to coordinate! Monday will be a bulky item pick up in the Kalihiwai area.
Needs for Kalihiwai area include: 1) Diesel fuel and large tank to replace local resource destroyed by flood; 2) Volunteers this weekend to help with demolition of 3 homes. Construction background and/or strong backs needed!
IN ANAHOLA/KEALIA/KEAPANA – Cleanup and rebuilding efforts continue. Volunteers are assisting with Needs Assessments and distributing donations to families affected by the flood. Volunteers leaders are organizing a free ear acupuncture clinic for affected Anahola residents next Wednesday.
Most needed item for Anahola is a Porta Toilet for Work Days at the Taro Patch
IN HULE‘IA – Hule‘ia is need of Bobcat, Gloves, Masks, Shovels, Buckets, Bleach, Hydrogen Peroxide; Fencing Resource.
Malama Kaua‘i shifted their operations from Anini Beach to a larger and more secure setting in Kilauea for two distribution centers and a centralized communications office. They will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday at Common Ground in Kilauea for receiving, picking/packing and distributing supply requests from Community Leads in each area. Volunteer needs include strong receivers to organize container shipments and community donations, pickers/packers for supply deployment, and various administrative support volunteers.
When opening their new center, Malama Kaua‘i will be taking requests for supplies directly from a key contact person identified in each community for streamlining and efficiency. Individual distribution is not happening at this site – all individual and family requests should be facilitated through the identified community contact person, which is posted on the Malama Kaua‘i website on their flood relief page.
On the farming side, the organization is gathering and condensing resources for farmers and will be hosting farmer meetings in each community. They have also formed a partnership with HAPA (Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action) to provide mini-grants to farmers, since many farmers have been devastated and may not qualify for other government programs.
If you have programs or financial resources available for farmers, please contact Emilie Kirk at CTAHR; for farmer needs and site visits contact Oshi Grady; for those who want to make financial contribution for the farmer fund, contact Anne Frederick anne@hapahi.org or Gary Hooser ghooser@hapahi.org at Hawa‘ii Alliance for Progressive Action.
The Hawaii Food Bank is deploying food resources to all sites’ key food pantry contacts for on the ground relief and daily feeding programs as needed. This week they will be accepting donations of non-perishable food from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bottled water is currently no longer needed at this time. Items can be dropped off at the Hawaii Foodbank – Kauai Branch warehouse at 4241-A Hanahao Place in the Puhi Industrial Park, Lihue.
HA Coffee will also be open on as a town center hub for non-food supply drop offs and pickups that will be re-routed north for distribution to Malama Kaua‘i’s new distribution center. Only bring specific items needed. Used clothing, bedding, and bottled water are no longer being accepted.
Upcoming Work Parties are being posted on the Malama Kauai Volunteers Facebook Group – which provides a centralized location to connect with each other and organize by moku for work parties, volunteers, and more. Some we know of:
Work crew volunteers accepted at Hanalei Courthouse daily starting at 9 a.m,
Volunteers needed every day at Anahola Taro Patch (Kiko‘o Rd.) 10 a.m. to dusk
Anahola “Riverhouse” needs volunteers to help any days this week. Immediate needs are demo: dig out mud and sanitation. Plumber and Electrician needed please! Contact Rhadna Kauai, (4240 Kuhio Highway) 9 a.m. to noon.
Distribution and admin/communications volunteers needed at Malama Kaua‘i’s distribution and communications center at Common Ground starting Monday.
Islandwide beach cleanup happening this Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. organized by @Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter. Meet at Anahola, Kahili (Rock Quarry), and Pine Trees.
The community wants to share the deepest aloha for everyone’s kokua, donations, and resources. Small boxes of in-kind donations (especially rain boots!) that need to be shipped can be mailed to Malama Kauai, ATTN Flood Relief, P.O. Box 1414, Kilauea, HI 96754. Those with pallets or containers should contact Keone Kealoha at keone@malamakauai.org to coordinate directly. Monetary donations for flood relief can made directly online at malamakauai.org.
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Megan Fox is executive director of Malama Kauai.
