Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 1, 1 January 2019 — OHA OFFERS DISASTER RELIEF FOR KAUA'I AND HAWAI'I [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA OFFERS DISASTER RELIEF FOR KAUA'I AND HAWAI'I

HO'OKAHUA WAIWAI ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Wainiha residents Tyson Gomes and his daughter sit outside of their home, whieh was hit by extreme flood water in February 2018. Gomes along with other Native Hawaiian beneficiaries on Kaua'i and in Puna received support from OHA's relief aid efforts. Photo By: Kawena Caravatho-Mattos

When natural disasters hit Kaua'i and Hawai'i lsland, OHA Trustees and administration reached out to the community, to extend aid in various forms. On Kaua'i, an intense, record-setting deluge in April dumped 28 inches of rain on the Waipō ahupua'a over a 24-hour period. At the time, some 300 homes were evacuated. OHA responded immediately by donating fuel, then followed up when beneficiaries raised concerns that weren't being covered by the media. In May, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau Trustee Dan Ahuna led a team of OHA staff on a site visit to assess damages sustained by the Native Hawaiian communities in Wainiha and Hō'ena. At the other end of the pae 'ōina, on Hawai'i, the Kīlauea lava flow that started in May forced residents of Puna to evacuate as the lava flow entered residential subdivisions, cut off highway access, and sent toxic volcanic ash and gases into neighboring areas. Hawai'i Trustee Robert K. Lindsey, Jr. and island staff were in dialogue with community leaders to gauge the needs of those affected by the lava. As a result, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs offered $500,000 in disaster relief aid that included funds for one-time, financial assistance to qualified Native Hawaiian households on both islands and qualified kalo farmers on Kaua'i, and funds to address other healthrelated issues caused by the eruptions on Hawai'i lsland. The emergency proclamations Gov. David lge signed for Kaua'i and Hawai'i lsland allowed OHA to expedite contracting with vendors to provide these relief services. Other financing was also available through the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. Further, the agency partnered with other organizations to maximize critical resources for our beneficiaries. "We mahalo the many in our community, from the individuals to the grassroots organizations, who eame forward immediately to provide kōkua to those in need," Ahuna said. "Our community has thrived through crisis before because we always eome together. We understand that our role here at OHA is to follow the lead of the community and provide assistance as appropriate."