LETTER: Mahalo From Puna to Tulsi Gabbard

A big mahalo to Tulsi Gabbard for her efforts to bring supplies and help to us folks in Puna who have been devastated by the recent lava.

The day after the first lava eruption started in Leilani, I saw her in Pahoa, she was walking around greeting and listening to folks, assuring me and others that she and her office would do what they could to help, I saw pictures of her at the center command center later on in the day and I appreciated her leadership in this emergency.

Since then Representative Gabbard has:
– served in her capacity as a Major with the Hawaii Army National Guard assisting civil defense with efforts related to the eruptions.

– sent us a postcard with contact information for all the disaster services with a note of encouragement and support

– requested help in providing respirators to us from one of the aid organizations that had been helping out in Kauai. Samaritan’s Purse came through with $100,000!

– let us know that the request for FEMA help had been approved by the President.

The respirators have helped us with the hazardous vapors wafting through our neighborhoods and may save a life of someone trying to evacuate a bad situation. I feel much safer now that i have a respirator in case I need it for evacuation.

Whether on the ground, in uniform, or acting as our voice for peace and aloha in Congress, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s commitment to understanding, serving, and helping the people here in Hawaii is without equal.​​

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