After Hurricane Lala left parts of Hawaiʻi Island dealing with extended power outages, the Olivera family in Pāhala kept serving meals to older neighbors.
The family was preparing food for at least 50 local kūpuna, or elders, as part of a wider relief effort coordinated by The Salvation Army and local partners.
For people who could not easily travel to a meal site, a warm plate delivered to the door was more than dinner. It was a reminder that someone nearby was paying attention.
The family’s help was one small part of a much larger response that brought food, water, groceries, and other supplies to communities across the islands.
