Rolling grant funding is still available for readiness, response, recovery and rebuilding after Hurricane Lala

As Hurricane Lala approached the Big Island last month, the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society prepared for heavy rain and potential flooding, but they were unprepared to experience days without power.

While their building, employees, dogs, and cats remained safe, no power meant that refrigerated medications needed ice. When employees couldn’t find any more ice, hundreds of dollars of medications became unusable.

To prevent this in the future, the humane society applied for a grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation to purchase a generator that will allow them to keep medicines refrigerated during any future power outages.

Following two devastating hurricanes, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is continuing to award grants to nonprofits working on recovery efforts and preparedness for future storms across the state.

After Hurricane Lala impacted Kaʻū and several communities across the Big Island, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has awarded nearly $667,000 to 12 nonprofits through its Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative.

The Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund is dedicated to supporting statewide disaster response and is designed to move quickly and flexibly across all islands, deploying resources to where the need is greatest at the moment it arises. The fund is available for all phases of recovery.

“When we fund for response, we’re also funding for future resiliency,” said Michelle Kaʻuhane, chief operating officer and vice president for the foundation. “Our nonprofit organizations know our communities best. They are the first to identify and address immediate and long-term needs.

“Funding allows them to do the necessary work in responding to and rebuilding after disaster, which is why we are quick to provide our support.”

Through the Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative, the foundation ensures that it funds all four phases of disaster response: risk reduction and readiness, rapid relief and response, recovery and stabilization, and rebuilding resilience.

Funding decisions are guided by community needs and an organization’s ability to serve impacted individuals, according to Keanu Lau Hee, vice president of Community Resilience and Strategic Implementation.

“Earlier this year, we made a great investment in a data collection system to get immediate feedback from people on the ground,” said Lau Hee, who also oversees the Stronger Hawaiʻi Initiative. “The ability to see in real time what the needs are helps us to make the most informed decisions.”

A couple of weeks following Hurricane Lala, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda was urging the state and counties to focus on preparation between storms.

“I think the Kona Lows and Lala are a huge reminder that Hawaiʻi is susceptible to so many natural disasters, whether it’s lava flow from the volcano or a hurricane, and our communities need to be prepared for worst-case scenarios,” Tokuda said. “Over-preparation is always better than under-preparation and I think the response would have been a lot less chaotic if every community was well-equipped and as ready as possible for unexpected circumstances.”

Nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored projects and community-based groups engaged in direct response, recovery or resilience efforts across Hawaiʻi are eligible for grant funding. Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection to the communities they serve.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis across the full network of participating funders, meaning a single submission can connect organizations to multiple funding sources. The streamlined process allows nonprofits to minimize paperwork and focus on serving communities.

There are no fixed deadlines. The rolling review ensures funding decisions happen quickly and continuously as needs evolve.

As of Sept. 14, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has provided grants to the following nonprofits for Hurricane Lala response:

• Chacah Broadcasting Network — $27,800 to restore and strengthen critical radio communications across Kaʻū, Pāhala and Discovery Harbor, helping residents access timely information and emergency alerts.
• Community First Hawaiʻi — $249,000 to provide coordinated recovery support and direct community assistance programming following Lala, including financial assistance for households and funding for community-based organizations.
• Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance — $50,000 to provide emergency animal assistance and essential resources to pets, livestock and the communities caring for them following Lala.
• Hawai’i Island Art Alliance — $10,000 to support recovery and well-being through programming for returning students and school staff at Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School following Lala.
• Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society — $20,000 to replace critical veterinary supplies lost during Lala and strengthen emergency response capacity for future disasters.
• Hawaiian Council — $100,000 to provide emergency water resources and other related response measures for local ranching operations impacted by Lala, supporting a vital source of employment and economic stability for local households now in recovery.
• HOPE Services Hawai‘i — $10,000 for food and supplies, water, emergency shelter, transportation, communication/info sharing and financial assistance.
• Hui Mauli Ola — $25,000 to provide Hawaiian healing arts programming in partnership with Moku o Keawe Nā Kūpuna, fostering healing and recovery for vulnerable families on Hawaiʻi Island.
• Kākoʻo Lāhui — $5,000 to build community resilience in Wood Valley through the development of a community hub for residents facing limited access due to road conditions.
• Kākoʻo Lāhui — $10,000 to coordinate essential resources and support services across community hubs in Pāhala, Waiohinu, Wood Valley, Nāʻālehu and Kaʻū, strengthening access to assistance for rural and isolated households affected by Lala
• The Food Basket Inc. — $100,000 to support the distribution of water, ready-to-eat food and non-perishable essentials to affected communities across Hawaiʻi Island.
• The Salvation Army Hilo Corps — $50,000 to support emergency feeding operations and ensure affected residents have access to meals and basic necessities.
• Vibrant Hawai‘i — $10,000 to assess and support immediate community needs and community-led response efforts.

According to Kaʻuhane and Lau Hee, the Kaʻū community has been dedicated to supporting long-term recovery for impacted individuals and long-term resiliency for the entire community.

“We are constantly reminded after every disaster of the brilliance of our communities,” Kaʻuhane said. “Despite the devastation and how hard these times are, it is amazing to see how the community shows up for each other amidst all the chaos. This is what aloha looks like in Hawaiʻi.”

Although these nonprofits are more equipped to help the Big Island prepare for a natural disaster, there is also a need for individuals to stay vigilant and heed the warnings from the government.

“Everyone should have a go-kit or survival kit, and understand the hazards that affect your area,” Lau Hee said. “It is also important to listen to experts and heed the warnings of government officials so you are not caught in a dangerous but avoidable situation.”

For more information on the Stronger Hawai‘i Initiative, visit the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation website.