(BIVN) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting on Monday, during which the board voted to establish the Lala Emergency Relief Fund, in order to facilitate “emergency assistance for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and communities impacted by the Lala Weather Events, with initial priority given to the severely affected Kaʻū region of Hawaiʻi Island.”
The first program was designated the Kōkua Kaʻū Relief Fund.
“The impacts of this disaster are being felt by our beneficiaries right now, particularly in Kaʻū, where communities have suffered severe and widespread damage,” said Kaialiʻi Kahele, Chair of the OHA Board of Trustees. “Kaʻū is one of the most rural and geographically isolated regions in our state, where access to critical services and resources is already limited, and approximately 35 percent of its residents are Native Hawaiian. The scale of this disaster, combined with the remoteness of these communities and the significant number of our beneficiaries directly affected, demands an urgent response.”
From the Office of Hawaiian Affairs:
The Board authorized the immediate redeployment and carry-over of $184,511.43 in remaining I Ola Emergency Aid funding, with priority given to Kaʻū communities including Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu and surrounding areas. These resources will help address severe flooding, loss of homes and personal property, disruption of transportation and utilities, isolation of communities and other continuing impacts in the region.
Trustees also authorized the distribution of 244 unused Foodland gift cards valued at $350 each and 218 KTA gift cards valued at $175 each, totaling $123,550, to provide flexible essential-needs support to Native Hawaiian households and, where appropriate, Native Hawaiian-serving community organizations assisting affected Hawaiʻi Island communities. In addition, the Board authorized $30,407 in remaining ʻInaʻi Kōkua Gift Card Program funds for direct disaster aid grants to verified Native Hawaiian individuals and households impacted by the Lala Weather Events.
In total, the Board action makes $338,468.43 in existing funds and gift-card resources available for immediate emergency response and assistance.
“This emergency relief is intended to help our beneficiaries address immediate and continuing needs as communities begin the difficult work of recovery,” said Summer Sylva, OHA Interim Chief Administrator. “In a crisis, ordinary processes can become barriers to getting help where it is needed most. Our kuleana is to meet our beneficiaries where they are and respond in a way that is both compassionate and responsible. The Board has given OHA the flexibility to streamline assistance so we can move quickly while maintaining appropriate fiscal and eligibility safeguards.”
Assistance will prioritize beneficiaries experiencing immediate or continuing disaster impacts, including damage to or loss of homes and personal property, displacement, loss of income or essential resources, and interruptions to utilities, transportation, communications and other essential services.
Under the Board’s authorization, the Interim Chief Administrator will work collaboratively with OHA staff and community partners to determine eligibility and appropriate forms and amounts of assistance, award disaster aid grants to eligible Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and establish streamlined procedures to expedite relief. These efforts will remain subject to appropriate verification and accountability measures, with timely reporting to the Board on awards, expenditures, remaining balances, geographic distribution and beneficiary reach.
Additional information on eligibility, how to apply for assistance, distribution locations and other details for the Kōkua Kaʻū Relief Fund will be announced by OHA as implementation details are finalized.
