Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this effort. Many people have donated their hard-earned money because they trust us to put it to work where it can have the greatest impact. We take that responsibility seriously.
We launched the Residential Repair Supplies Grant to to help qualifying households from Hanalei to Hāʻena repair storm-damaged homes and keep existing housing safe and livable. Learn more and apply below.
We are grateful for the extraordinary effort across the North Shore and throughout the island since Lowell. KIUC has done an incredible job restoring much of the power. State and County teams have stepped up and been supportive where and when appropriate. Restaurants, food hubs and volunteers continue to keep people fed. Crews and neighbors have cut trees, cleared roads, hauled debris and quietly helped one another — often asking for nothing in return.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, we shifted quickly into disaster response — moving supplies, coordinating transportation, helping with communications and logistics, and supporting local workers and families.
That work continues, but it is changing.
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We continue transporting students daily, including Hanalei School students between Hāʻena/Wainiha and Hanalei, as well as North Shore students attending Namahana School.
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We are working closely with North Shore small businesses that have been hit hard, helping communicate their needs, connect them with government agencies, and working behind the scenes to strengthen pathways to grants and other forms of support.
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We launched the Residential Repair Supplies Grant to to help qualifying households from Hanalei to Hāʻena repair storm-damaged homes and keep existing housing safe and livable.
At the same time, our primary focus for new donations is shifting toward long-term regional resilience from Hanalei through Hāʻena.
This is not a new coalition created because of the hurricane.
The Hanalei Initiative, Waipā Foundation, Limahuli Garden & Preserve and Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana have worked closely together for years. We know one another, trust one another and already share resources and solve problems together.
The opportunity now is to strengthen what each organization already does well, fill the gaps Hurricane Lowell exposed, and connect those strengths into a more resilient regional system.
The vision is a coordinated network across Hanalei, Waipā, Wainiha and Hāʻena so that when roads close, power fails or outside services are interrupted, our communities can continue functioning locally.
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The Hanalei Initiative brings transportation, logistics, communications, government coordination and supply distribution. Our electric vans can move people and supplies throughout the region, and we are working toward the charging, solar, battery storage and communications infrastructure needed to keep those systems operating during extended outages.
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Waipā Foundation already has significant food production, a commercial kitchen, refrigeration and distribution capacity. Strengthening those systems with resilient power, water storage and backup infrastructure will help keep food moving even when normal utilities fail.
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Limahuli Garden & Preserve and the Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana bring workforce, equipment and stewardship of the land, streams for spring water and nearshore resources we depend on. Strengthening that local capacity becomes especially important when roads, power or water systems are disrupted.
Together, we are working toward a regional system that can better maintain power, water, food, communications, transportation and essential services when our communities become isolated.
Immediate Relief Still Matters
There are still organizations doing important day-to-day disaster relief. If your priority is immediate food assistance or direct ongoing relief, we encourage you to also support Waipā Foundation and Nā Maka Onaona, who continue serving families in need.
The Hanalei Initiative will continue helping wherever we can be useful. But the funds we raise going forward will increasingly be invested in preparing our region before the next emergency —
Working with the community and our partners, we believe the North Shore can come out of this not just recovered, but stronger, more connected and far better prepared for whatever comes next.
Apply for the Residential Repair Supplies Grant
The Hanalei Initiative is offering limited residential repair supply grants to help qualifying households from Hanalei to Hāʻena repair storm-damaged homes and keep existing housing safe and livable.
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Total Funds Available: ~ $100,000
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Grant Amount: Up to $10,000/household
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Eligible Expenses: Residential repair supplies.
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Priority: Lower-income households with documented Hurricane Lowell damage and demonstrated financial need.