Salvation Army mobilizes meal services on Big Island for people displaced by Hurricane Lala

The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division has deployed emergency disaster services teams across Hawaiʻi, including the Big Island, in the wake of Hurricane Lala.

The organization will provide meal services at county-run shelters and focus on communities where storm impact is greatest on Hawai‘i Island.

The Salvation Army is navigating operational complications compounded by washed-out roads and widespread power outages to serve remote and rural-area needs.

The Salvation Army has partnered with Hawaiʻi County, The Food Basket, Vibrant Hawaiʻi, Walmart, World Central Kitchen, local restaurants and The American Red Cross. They will service county-determined distribution hubs in impacted areas of Hawaiʻi Island beginning Monday as conditions allow.

The collective disaster relief effort will include meals and boxes of food, shovels, rakes, tarps and industrial garbage bags for affected residents.

The Salvation Army Hilo Overnight Safe Space Shelter served 245 meals out of its temporary building location provided by the county and will return to its regular location at Hilo Temple Corps on Monday.

While Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday, Hawaiʻi continues to be battered by strong wind gusts, dangerous surf, heavy rain, and regional flash flooding, with reports of at least 100 homes lost. EDS teams will remain nimble to support immediate needs and recovery strategies as the situation evolves in real-time.

“We know a storm system this devastating and widespread brings moment-to-moment uncertainties for communities — from where to find a warm meal to how to rebuild what was lost,” said Major Troy Trimmer, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division.

Hilo Walmart has donated a Starlink unit to The Salvation Army to provide reliable satellite internet connectivity for emergency response teams operating in areas where cellular service and power infrastructure are disrupted by the storm.

“In our disaster responses, communication challenges are greatly amplified when power lines are downed and when serving remote areas,” said Captain Sam LeMar with The Salvation Army in Hilo.

Logistics are in development to move kits of cleaning supplies from Oʻahu to Hilo on Monday. Additionally, The Salvations Army’s teams are actively seeking restaurant partners to help supplement some of the upcoming statewide meal services for the community and first responders.

To learn more about The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services supporting all Hawaiʻi communities in the wake of Hurricane Lala, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org. Donations to The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services help provide meals, essential supplies, and emotional and spiritual care to neighbors in need: https://fundraise.salvationarmyhawaii.org/lala.