Volunteers across the Big Island helped Hurricane Lala recovery in shelters, on horseback, with a benefit concert
Volunteers reflect on Hurricane Lala response and how they were able to help their neighbors in Kaʻū recover following the devastation.
When people needed help in the rural district of Kaʻū after heavy rain and strong winds from Hurricane Lala whipped through, these local residents rose to the occasion by running a shelter, delivering supplies on horseback, and organizing a benefit concert.
Emely Salmo began volunteering with the American Red Cross during the Lāhainā wildfires in 2023, but she never pictured responding to a disaster in the rural town of Nāʻālehu, where she was born and raised.
Nearly one month ago, Salmo was preparing an evacuation shelter in the Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym for people seeking refuge from Hurricane Lala.
“When I get deployed, I don’t see it happening I see the aftermath. But when you’re here at home and it’s happening and you’re watching it,” Salmo said. “I’m feeling helpless because I can’t even prevent it from happening because it’s Mother Nature.”
Once the swirling water subsided and eventually drained, everyone began to take in the impact on the town, which was full of mud and debris. Dozens of people were unable to go home, so they stayed at the shelter with Salmo, who was ready to continue shelter operations as long as possible.
Salmo did everything she could to at least make the people comfortable, with the support of her family. Her husband, father and children helped shop for all the depleted supplies and cooked hot meals at their home to be brought back to everyone utilizing the shelter.
In the days following Hurricane Lala, the rural neighborhood of Wood Valley in Pāhala became inaccessible even by a 4-wheel-drive, lifted truck. It took community members and first responders about a day to realize the only way there was by horseback or helicopter.
Ranch workers from Hilo also joined on horseback to bring supplies to Wood Valley residents on Aug. 19 and 20.
“We packed and rode four horses and two mules full of bottled water and traversed some crazy terrain that trucks or UTVs definitely couldn’t access,” Kea Keolanui said in an instagram post.
“We were able to get to this location with our amazing animals and we dropped off a whole lot of water for all the homes and families that were literally stuck.”
Keolanui was struck by how the damage from the hurricane looked in person versus how it appeared over social media and on the news.
“It was truly the most important and heavy thing that we have ever been a part of and we were so grateful to be able to help our communities and our Hawaiian and local ʻohana,” Keolanui said.
Cari-Ann McCoy of Waimea, a musician and lead singer of the local band Cari-Ann and the BraveHearts, said the way that made most sense to her to help was by creating a benefit concert.
The “Lifting Up Hawaiʻi: Hurricane Lala Relief Benefit” featured three acts—DJ Overflow, Shane Love and DJ Rachael Scott — last Friday at Blue Dragon Tavern in Waimea.
While she doesn’t have the exact number of people who came, the room was packed.
“I love these musicians so much because they all know how to bring positive vibes to a space, get people to feel good and dance for longer than they think they can,” McCoy said. “This is a moment for people to heal their mental and emotional well-being after a time of trauma and I really feel like this will help in more ways than one.”
All proceeds were donated to Vibrant Hawaiʻi for its recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala. For those interested in donating, you can give directly on the Vibrant Hawaiʻi website.
For Salmo, it was especially personal.
“When I was volunteering in Lahaina, I would tell survivors, ‘I can’t say I understand but I feel your pain,'” Salmo said. “Nāʻālehu is the home I was born and raised in, and I feel that pain now. I want to be in service of everyone in need until the very end of the recovery process.”
While there is a long road ahead for Nāʻālehu, Salmos said she wants to be there through the very end of the recovery process.
Salmo’s family was able to support her as a volunteer and sprung into action to help make everyone feel more comfortable.
Salmo helped continue shelter operations from Aug. 8 (preparing before the storm struck) to Aug. 28 as Nāʻālehu slowly began assessing, cleaning and starting to rebuild their homes and businesses.
“There are so many people in Kaʻū who are dealing with their recovery from Hurricane Lala, but are still taking the time to help their neighbors and fellow community members,” said Shannon Carley, regional communications director at the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region. “Red Cross is proud to have Emely on our side, who is ready to serve her home base when needed.”
For those interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit the Red Cross Pacific Islands website.
