Hawaii News Now fundraiser supports Big Island recovery after Kona lows

The money set to flow through Hawaii News Now’s ALOHA for HAWAI‘I fundraiser comes as many Big Island households are still trying to recover from March’s Kona low storms, which flooded neighborhoods, damaged homes and triggered a federal major disaster declaration for Hawaii. The day-long event will air and stream Tuesday, May 12, with an online auction, food, music, community voices, artists, nonprofit partners, prize giveaways and other surprises.

The fundraiser is being positioned as part of a larger relief push, not a one-day showcase. Hawaii News Now said donations and auction proceeds will support recovery and resilience work in communities hit by the storms, including areas where farmers and families are still digging out from losses. On the Big Island, the storms left some residents dealing with housing instability, cleanup costs and the long tail of damaged roads and infrastructure.

Federal aid is now available for households and public agencies in Hawaii County, the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County. FEMA individual assistance and public assistance are both open, with the application deadline set for June 7. For people whose homes were damaged, officials have said the first step is to file insurance claims and then apply for federal help.

The state has already been juggling short-term housing for displaced residents. Gov. Josh Green’s office said the state secured 80 rooms at the Inn at Schofield in Wahiawā through April 30 and has also been using Hale o Laiē and short-term rentals for households whose homes were rendered uninhabitable. State and county workers have also been focused on reopening highways and clearing debris after flooding cut off access in several places.

The response has stretched far beyond shelter. The Hawaii National Guard carried out evacuations at Otake Camp during the flooding, while state and county crews deployed water buffaloes to Waialua, Haleiwa and Sunset Elementary to maintain access to safe water. Recovery measures have also included tax deadline extensions and temporary SNAP food purchasing flexibility, along with help through Aloha United Way’s 211 line and ready.hawaii.gov.

For the Big Island, the fundraiser lands at a time when recovery is still measured in unfinished repairs, displaced families and lingering losses. The event’s value will depend on how much of that help reaches the places that need it most, from Kona-area households to storm-hit communities across Hawaii.