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Resources for residents who have been impacted by the storm and need assistance with shelter, food, and more.

Food Assistance

Food Assistance Finder & Distributions

Use Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s interactive Food Assistance Finder map to find a food pantry or ʻOhana Produce Plus distribution. Food Assistance handouts are also available at the link.

Additionally, food assistance is available through The Pantry by Feeding Hawaiʻi Together, a client-choice food pantry open to anyone in need. The Pantry operates by appointment only. Visit thepantry.org to register, schedule an appointment, and select food items that best meet your household’s needs.

The City and County of Honolulu is partnering with Hawaiʻi Foodbank and community organizations to provide additional food assistance to those impacted by Tropical Storm Lala. The City is providing $200,000 to Hawaiʻi Foodbank to help source and transport food for distribution to communities across Oʻahu.

Residents are encouraged to confirm the latest distribution information with the participating organization before traveling to a site, as schedules and availability may change.

Pop-up food distributions:


SNAP Replacement Benefits

Emergency Food Assistance is available for current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who were impacted by Tropical Storm Lala. This assistance is for SNAP recipients who experienced food loss due to household misfortune, such as extended power outages (over four hours or longer) or flooding across the state.

The State Department of Human Services (DHS) is now accepting applications from SNAP households statewide for SNAP replacement benefits. The deadline for recipients to submit a written statement reporting food loss has been extended to September 3, following this format:

  • Name of the SNAP participant

  • An estimate of the value of food destroyed

  • A description of what occurred and when

  • Contact information for the participant

  • Recipients can submit written statements to any DHS Processing Center statewide. Submissions will be reviewed and validated, and approved applicants will receive replacement benefits following the review process. For more information, visit the DHS website or contact the nearest DHS Processing Center.


Power Outages & Internet

If you are experiencing a power outage, please be sure to always report your outage to Hawaiian Electric online or to the Trouble Line at 1-855-304-1212 (toll free) so your specific location is provided to their crew. View the O‘ahu Outage Map here. View power outage food safety tips here.

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Lala, Starlink is providing free service through September 17 to customers in the impacted areas of Hawai‘i.

Resources for Small Businesses

The City and County of Honolulu has launched Stay Open Oʻahu, a free disaster preparedness and resilience program designed to help Oʻahu small businesses prepare for disruptions, continue operating during emergencies when it is safe to do so, and recover more quickly afterward. Stay Open Oʻahu will provide practical, accessible support at every stage of a disruption, before, during and after. Resources include:

  • An online resource hub connecting businesses with preparedness and mitigation information, nonprofit organizations and government resources

  • A Business Disaster Preparedness Guidebook with easy-to-use tools and step-by-step guidance for developing a business resilience plan

  • Free in-person workshops offering hands-on assistance to help business owners develop preparedness and continuity plans

  • Access to a trusted network of community partners and City resources before, during, and after emergencies

Free workshops

Stay Open Oʻahu will host a series of free workshops across the island to guide business owners through the preparedness planning process. Small business owners, managers, and other decision-makers can register for the following sessions:

  • Leeward Oʻahu: Thursday, September 3, 9–11 a.m.

  • Windward Oʻahu: Wednesday, September 9, 9–11 a.m.

  • Virtual: Wednesday, September 9, 3–5 p.m.

  • Honolulu: Thursday, September 10, 2–4 p.m.

  • Central Oʻahu: Wednesday, September 23, 9–11 a.m.

  • North Shore: Tuesday, September 29, 1–3 p.m.

Resources for Farmers

Resources for Nonprofits

Nonprofits seeking financial support for community response and recovery efforts are encouraged to apply through the new JustFund application available through Funder Hui’s Hawai‘i Resilience & Recovery Funder Collaborative—a statewide philanthropy network of more than 35 funders—to streamline disaster giving. Nonprofits seeking recovery funding may apply through JustFund here.

Financial Donations

Financial donations to trusted non-profit partners are the most effective way to support relief efforts, as they allow organizations to quickly respond to specific and changing needs.

Give Help

We know many people want to help, but not all assistance sites have the capacity to sort physical items—and too often, unneeded goods end up going to waste. Financial contributions are usually the most effective form of support. Here are a few meaningful ways you can help:

Where to Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering, consider reaching out to established service providers with strong community networks, such as: