(BIVN) – An intensive effort to restore power and road access to Hawaiʻi island residents continues in the wake of Hurricane Lala, and intensifies with the approach of another tropical system from the southeast.
Some living in remote areas of Kaʻū have been left isolated by the damage, with no way to obtain needed supplies.
Video footage shows an emergency helicopter operation that delivered approximately 1,500 pounds of critical provisions to stranded families – food, water, batteries, and other necessities. The operation was organized and documented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, working in close coordination with the County of Hawaii, Vertical Worx Precision Aviation Services, the Three Mountain Alliance, KTA Superstores, Home Depot and local community members.
OHA has taken an active role in helping the Kaʻū community, where many beneficiaries reside.
An OHA news release says four priority areas were identified: Wood Valley, Kalaʻīkī/Makanau, Lower Moaʻula and Haʻao Springs. “OHA and its partners established a community point of contact and identified a safe helicopter landing area in each location, helping ensure that supplies could be delivered safely and distributed to families with the greatest need,” an OHA news release reported.
OHA noted their aerial observations revealed extensive damage to the landscape and infrastructure. Severe flooding carved new channels into hillsides, destroyed sections of roadway, and significantly altered portions of the district. Some homes and properties also sustained severe damage. It could be another couple of weeks before power to this region is fully restored.
“This operation was about responding quickly to an immediate need and using the relationships OHA has built in our communities to reach families who might otherwise remain cut off from assistance,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson and Hawaiʻi Island Trustee Kaialiʻi Kahele in a news release. “Our Kaʻū ʻohana have demonstrated tremendous resilience and resourcefulness, and OHA is honored to do our part to kōkua them during this difficult time. We are deeply grateful to every partner and community member who came together to make these deliveries possible.”
