Neighborhoods have been devastated by Tropical Storm Lala, which brushed past Hawaiʻi as a hurricane.
Homes ripped off their foundations, cemeteries uprooted, schools flooded: this was the toll of Tropical Storm Lala, which nearly made landfall on the southern end of Big Island as a hurricane.
The damage caused an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in damage across Hawaiʻi, Gov. Josh Green said over the weekend.
Hawaiʻi nonprofits have started to mobilize to serve communities, particularly in the hardest-hit community of Kaʻū, which saw “complete and utter devastation,” as state Rep. Jeanne Kapela has said. Here are a few of the ways you can pitch in to help efforts across the island.

Donate money
(Note: Donations made directly on our website, civilbeat.org, support our journalism. To support relief efforts, click on a link below.)
- Vibrant Hawaiʻi: Hilo-based nonprofit that provides relief to Big Island victims, including water distribution.
- Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: Operates a Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund for disaster relief across the islands.
- Hawaiʻi Island United Way: Supports vetted victims, local nonprofits and emergency response efforts.
- American Red Cross: Operates shelters and helps with damage assessment.
- Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi: Actively works with other organizations to assess needs of Lala victims statewide.
- HOPE Services Hawaiʻi: Helps people on Hawaiʻi island who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
- Hawaiʻi Foodbank: Serves hungry families, including those affected by Tropical Storm Lala.
- The Food Basket: Hawaiʻi island’s foodbank, which delivers food across the island.
- The Salvation Army: Conducts disaster relief efforts across the state.
- World Central Kitchen: Provides meals to people in need.
- The Lāhui Foundation: Provides food, water and assistance to Lala victims across the islands.
- Nā Kia‘i O Maui: Provides food and disaster support to Maui.
- Mālama Kula: Provides ʻāina recovery efforts in Kula.
Donate items
- The Food Basket: Hawaiʻi island’s foodbank, accepts canned and dry goods, fresh produce, refrigerated and frozen items. Bring items unopened, in their original packaging. Accepts donations weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Hilo (40 Holomua St.) and Kona (73-4161 Ulu Wini Place).
- Hui o Hauʻula: Accepts food and water supplies at the Hauʻula Civic Center, 54-010 Kukuna Road, Hauʻula. Gates open at 9 a.m. For more information call Dotty Kelly-Paddock, 808-255-6944
- Simply Sisters by Lola Miller Designs: Accepts water, propane, gas and nonperishables this week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 250 Kamehameha Ave. in Hilo.
- Volcano School of Arts & Sciences: Collects sealed bottles of drinking water at the Old Volcano Road campus “bubble” Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- State Rep. Jeanne Kapela (Big Island): Collects Starlink internet devices to distribute to impacted families. Call 808-854-1148 to help.
Volunteer to help victims
- The Food Basket: Provides food to people in need.
- Hawaiʻi Island United Way: Supports Lala survivors by operating an emergency line and more.
- American Red Cross: Operates shelters and assembles disaster response teams.
- The Lāhui Foundation: Provides food, water and assistance to Lala victims across the islands.
- Volcano School of Arts & Sciences: Helps with coordination, deliveries or staffing the delivery hub. Contact ʻAuliʻi Nathaniel at 210-422-1196 or aulii.nathaniel@gmail.com.
This story will be updated. Check back for more.
Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed.
Trusted news when you need it most
Now more than ever, local news is a vital community resource: connecting neighbors, uplifting voices and sharing information that empowers people to make informed decisions in their everyday lives. Our work is especially critical in times of crises.
You can help power our coverage and nonprofit mission with a tax-deductible donation of any amount. Mahalo.