Aloha and Kokua: The Strength of our Puna Communities

Hottest commodity after the hurricane was ICE! Ice and other supplies were passed out daily by local businesses and neighbors volunteering to kokua area residents until power and water were restored.

Last month I took some time off from staging to help the residents of Nanawale get their community back to normal after Hurricane Iselle's visit to this gorgeous east-side of the island. It was an amazing sight to see the extent of the hurricane damage that literally bounced off the east side when it hit the island, which spared the rest of the island from much devastation. However the coastal east side neighborhoods and communities still suffered damage with un-passable roads and smashed homes and vehicles from downed massive albizia trees. It looked like a war zone.

We passed out supplies, ice and information for the residents after hurricane Iselle left her damages.  Talking story and  listening to their concerns with many expressing feelings of being blessed that the damage wasn't worse.  It's a miracle no one was seriously injured from the storm  and that was echoed all day.

That day I saw the strength of this community, the aloha and kokua everyone has for their neighbor and the determination to get their lives "back to normal". Now these same communities face another possible hurdle of Pele's encroaching lava flow.  But these families are strong, and not only do they know how to work together, they know how to be respectful of Pele and Mother Nature, working with it instead of fighting against it. My prayers for these families and their homes as we all await to see where Pele's path leads us. But whatever path it takes, aloha and kokua will keep these communities strong and surviving.
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