Salvation Army continues readiness to serve communities as second kona low moves across state

Committed and dedicated are more than accurate descriptions of The Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps connection with its Big Island community; however, there are no words that can speak louder than the Hawaiʻi County unit’s actions, especially its response to emergencies and disasters.

The Hilo Temple Corps, its staff and volunteers, are serving at the frontlines of relief and recovery efforts following a powerful kona low that slammed into the Hawaiʻi Island last weekend.

They and The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division units statewide also stand ready to serve their communities now as a second kona low in less than as many weeks brings additional, disastrous severe flash flooding and other impacts throughout Hawaiʻi.

Hilo unit staff and volunteers are continuing to welcome houseless seeking shelter from the storms and their impacts to The Salvation Army’s Hilo Overnight Safe Space in the Hilo downtown area. The Hilo Temple Corps also is planning additional meal services while assessments of community needs are ongoing.

“We see firsthand what the right resources at the right time can do for communities navigating a disaster situation,” said Hilo Temple Corps Officer Capt. Sam LeMar in a release from The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division.

That includes the privilege of serving warm meals to families in communities suffering from extended power outages during emergencies, such as Nānāwale and other surrounding communities in Puna following the first kona low.

Some of those residents only just had their power restored Thursday, June 19, after a week of being in the dark.

“In partnership with the Vibrant Hawaiʻi community hubs, we were able to not only serve families who came through for dinner, but also help get meals directly to homes where kūpuna, keiki and families could not leave or didn’t have access to communication due to outages,” wrote the Hilo Temple Corps in a March 17 Facebook.

What stood out most to those helping give out Domino’s pizzas during the meal service were keiki lighting up with a hot meal after days without power, parents and grandparents relieved to have something warm and ready as well as neighborhoods coming together to care for each other.

“It is an honor to step in alongside our partners to help meet that need in a practical way,” the Hilo unit’s post says. “This is what it looks like when we come together for our island.”

The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is positioned to offer the same type of response and more during evolving on-the-ground needs in association with this second kona low.

Emergency disaster services are readied for a nimble response to meet ongoing and emerging situations as the threat of widespread severe weather brings the chance for further damage, danger and disruption to already saturated and stressed communities.

“Working closely together with committed community partners and state agencies, we are aligning efforts to maximize resources and reach, and address both the immediate crisis and aftermath recovery,” said The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division Commander Maj. Troy Trimmer in a release about the organization’s preparations.

Significant support is particularly anticipated in communities along O‘ahu’s North Shore, in Maui County and throughout windward Hawaiʻi Island.

Officials continued Friday night, March 20, urging residents of Waialua and Haleʻiwa on O‘ahu to evacuate because of more than a day of catastrophic flash flooding.

All remaining roads of out Waialua were at risk of failing as of about 9 p.m. Friday, in the event of additional rainfall, and it seemed eminent Wahiawā Dam would fail Friday.

“Leave now while conditions are safe to prevent becoming stuck,” said a City and County of Honolulu emergency notification at 9:15 p.m. Friday, adding that access into Waialua would end just 15 minutes later. “Vehicles only allowed to EXIT after that. Evacuate now to avoid isolation.”

The Salvation Army has served the Hawaiʻi community for 130 years — in times of joy and hardship.

Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division swiftly mobilized March 12 as the first more powerful kona low approached the islands. The organization provided more than 600 meals to first responders and sheltered community members statewide within the first 48 hours of storm relief efforts

Units throughout Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island by the fourth day had served more than 1,600 meals to residents affected by floods and power outages.

The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division said this second kona low is impacting even greater numbers of people statewide, so it’s calling for financial assistance to amplify storm relief efforts and supplies.

“As the crisis continues, so do the needs — and they are growing exponentially,” said The Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps Officer Capt. Sam LeMar in the organization’s release.

The Hilo Temple has continued to actively serve its Big Island community in response to ongoing power and water outages after the first storm last weekend.

“We are on the ground supporting points of distribution, partnering closely with Vibrant Hawaiʻi, The Food Basket, Inc. — Hawai’i Island’s Food Bank and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency, providing direct assistance to impacted residents,” says a March 17 Facebook post by the Hilo unit.

It also is part of Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda’s Human Services Group and has worked alongside trusted community partners to ensure coordinated care reaches those most in need.

“This is a unified effort — and we are committed to standing with our community and partners every step of the way,” the Facebook post says.

Additional meal services were being planned as the Hilo unit continued to assess needs at the beginning of this week in affected areas. It thanked all of its partners for stepping up during this time of great need.

“For those in a position to give now, the most efficient and effective way to make immediate impact is to make a monetary donation. This enables our teams to provide precisely what’s most meaningful, moment-to-moment.”

The Salvation Army uses all donations designated as “disaster relief” exclusively to support disaster operations, serving those impacted before, during and after an event.

“We know many families are still facing challenges — no power, limited service and the stress that comes with it,” said the Hilo Temple Corps in its March 17 Facebook post. “We’ll continue to serve as long as the need is there.”

Visit The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division website to give online and make a difference in statewide storm response efforts.

Call 808-988-2136, click here and follow the division on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for additional information and to keep up with the work The Salvation Army is doing throughout the islands.