KOLOA — There are two more days when people have the opportunity to get free emergency water containers from the county Department of Water — today at the Waimea High School grab-and-go meal site, and Thursday at the Kapa‘a High School grab-and-go meal site.
The containers, at a limit of one container per family, are available from DOW representatives from 11:30 a.m. to noon at both sites.
“The Department of Water offices are closed because of COVID-19,” said Jonell Kaohelauli‘i of the DOW. “Our community outreach is on pause because of this. This year, the DOW is partnering with the Department of Education to get these containers out. We’re going through the grab-and go meal pickup sites because it reaches all parts of the island.”
Tuesday, the DOW team distributed about 50 containers at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School grab-and-go site during the breakfast pick up, and continued to move containers at the Koloa School site during the lunch pickup.
Kaohelauli‘i said last year, the Department of Water coordinated a similar distribution in partnership with the County Housing Agency and Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity, where Mayor Derek Kawakami personally knocked on kupuna’s doors and took the time to explain how the container works.
Denise Kalani, one of the parents waiting on her grab-andgo lunch
order in the blustery remnants of once-hurricane Christina, was part of one family getting the collapsible water container capable of holding up to 2.5 gallons of drinking water.
“This is what we needed,” Kalani said. “It’s going to come in handy.”
Koloa School instructors like Cathy Braun was able to secure containers for her family as well as those from summer-school students who accompanied her for lunch.
“The containers are provided in partnership with the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, and the participating county water agencies across the state,” Kaohelauli‘i said.
“With this continued effort, the DOW strives to promote water-emergency preparedness — especially during this hurricane season.”
A complete water-emergency preparedness tips can be found by visiting the Department of Water’s website at www.kauaiwater.org.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
