HAWAII NEWS
Recovery efforts and funding continue to flow on Kauai By Rob Shikina April 22, 2018 Updated April 22, 2018 12:05am
As electrical power and drinking water were restored to all of Kauai’s North Shore residents, locally led recovery efforts are continuing to help friends and neighbors get back on their feet after last weekend’s devastating flooding. Darcie Yukimura, director of community philanthropy for the nonprofit Hawaii Community Foundation, said about 30 community leaders from the island’s North Shore met Saturday morning to discuss relief efforts and direct donations and services to areas where they are most needed. Similar meetings are being held multiple times a day, and Yukimura said the issues are constantly evolving, from delivering food and assessing medical needs, to getting supplies into isolated areas, finding child care while schools are closed and informing people about the dangers of mold and stagnant water. Some of Saturday’s organizing activities included assigning cooking duties so those working throughout the day on recovery efforts would have a hot meal at night. Yukimura said there is also a focus on mental health during the recovery because some families that were not able to obtain flood insurance because they live in a flood zone lost everything in the storm. “Even with that kind of (misfortune) I have not heard one complaint,” she said. “I haven’t seen anybody with their head in their hands in despair. Everybody has been working hard. They’re so appreciative of the help they’re getting.