Cross-sector COVID-19 Emergency Response for Hawaiʻi Island
A concerted effort to bring people together and activate an islandwide network of resilience.
Priority #1: Food Access
With the world basically shut down, and the need to ensure food security, we took a multi-pronged approach:
Community Needs Assessment: We conducted an islandwide survey to identify both those in need and individuals or organizations with resources to offer. This provided valuable data for partners like Vibrant Hawai‘i and The Food Basket.
Strategic Hub Activation: Based on the survey results, we strategically activated a Resilience Hubs network and brought new ones online in areas completely unserved.
Local Partnerships: We partnered with restaurants and farmers to create ready-to-eat meals or food boxes. This not only provided immediate food assistance but also supported local businesses.
#FeedThePeople
Food is a basic need that provides more than just sustenance. It brings people together, nourishes our bodies, and fuels our local economy.
Amidst the disruption to our social structure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we leveraged a unique opportunity to accelerate our food sustainability goals, strengthening our food security, supporting local food producers and chefs, and providing for our most vulnerable and underserved communities.
Driven by the spirit of ALOHA, caring for one another, and supporting the “buy local” concept that drives our desire to remain connected, to serve, to build community and economic resilience for our state. Activate Hawai‘i Aid partnered with Chef Hui to bring Feed the People to Puna. This initiative empowered families with meal kits featuring locally sourced ingredients and recipes from local chefs to make 2 ‘ohana-style meals, promoting healthy cooking with new flavors.
Recognizing gaps in existing food assistance programs, we focused on Puna, a community with significant need. Between May - December 2020, our community volunteers distributed a staggering 14,4000 meal bags, totaling 99,868 pounds of food, through 24 distributions throughout Puna. Each week, our project served between 500-1,000 households, not only nourishing them but also stimulating the local economy and fostering family connection and culinary confidence.
The project’s success was a collaborative effort. Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz and Puna resident, Mariah Williams (co-owner of The Poke Market) served as Hawai‘i Island leads. Support was provided by BRIDGES, Suisan, Hilo Products, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Mindful Living.
This is the power of food – empowering families, fostering connections, and building resilience in our island’s food system, one delicious meal at a time..
Rapid Response
The pandemic caused many Hawai‘i residents to lose their jobs, leaving them struggling to pay rent or their mortgage while waiting for unemployment benefits, SBA loans, and other financial assistance.
To prevent a surge in evictions, our office led a multi-sector team to develop a Rapid Response Landlord Tenant Mediation Program. This program, offered through West Hawai‘i Mediation Center and Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, provided timely conflict prevention and resolution services for both commercial and residential landlords and tenants, brokering frank dialogue about finances before bills pile up and situations escalate.
Click below to listen to a discussion Council Member Kierkiewicz had with Kehau Costa, Julie Mitchell, Eric Paul, and KWXX about the establishment of this program, which is still going strong today and has expanded to serve communities statewide.
Activate Hawai‘i Aid Keiki Care Packs <3
Activate Hawai‘i Aid Keiki Care Packs <3
Once the Dept. of Education announced extended school closures because of COVID-19, a hui of parents part of the Activate Hawai‘i Aid collective banded together to figure out a way to support our keiki, serving their physical and emotional well-being. Hence, Keiki Care Packs was born.
Between March-May 2020, 8,700 Keiki Care Packs were distributed to keiki around Hawai‘i Island. These care packages included essential food stuffs and snacks, fun activities, recipes for families to try together, and mental health support resources. We are grateful to our community partners for volunteering to pack, transport, and distribute these care packages so keiki could be supported during this challenging time.
Established
Resilience Hubs
Co-led development of a community-driven Economic Development Strategy
“More Than Essential. Loved.” was a project to honor 1,300 Hawai‘i Island nurses who showed up every day to take care of our people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council Members Aaron Chung, Maile David, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Sue Lee Loy, and Tim Richards, along with their staff, came together to make this initiative possible.
Nurses were showered with aloha in the form of flowers, soaps, coffee, and heartfelt handmade cards. A big mahalo to everyone who helped express gratitude for our amazing nurses!