Hope Services Hawaiʻi Aided Unsheltered Residents During Hurricane Lala, Now Prepares for Another Storm

Hope Services Hawaiʻi deployed about 15 case managers ahead of Hurricane Lala on Hawaiʻi Island and is now preparing for another storm expected this weekend.

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The response highlights how rural geography and limited shelter capacity shape emergency outreach coordination for unsheltered populations during recurring storm events.

Hope Services Hawaiʻi, the largest unsheltered service provider on Hawaiʻi Island, mobilized its outreach team ahead of Hurricane Lala and is now preparing for another potential storm expected this weekend. As a storm watch escalated to a warning on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, the organization deployed roughly 15 case managers and housing navigators to canvass known encampments, focusing on coastal communities and people needing to reach higher ground. The county had not yet opened emergency shelters at that point, but Hope Services Hawaiʻi had about five shelter beds available and began bringing in vulnerable individuals, while also purchasing supplies for people heading to shelters and those who chose to remain outside.

When the storm arrived, a smaller team returned to the streets for approximately three to four hours, providing transportation to shelters and distributing tarps, blankets and food. Some residents who had initially refused shelter changed their minds once they felt the rain and wind, and the team arranged transport for them. Carrie Hoʻopiʻi, Director of Outreach for Hope Services Hawaiʻi, noted that the island's rural geography, with unsheltered people spread across a large area, made early outreach and partnerships with the county and other service providers essential.

Following the storm, some individuals returned directly to Hope Services Hawaiʻi seeking shelter and supplies, and Hoʻopiʻi said people previously reluctant to accept services are showing greater willingness to engage as a new storm approaches. The organization is now coordinating with partner organizations across the island, adding volunteers and maintaining active communication to determine which groups can cover which areas and provide which resources. Hoʻopiʻi encouraged the public to share accurate information about emergency shelters and storm updates with people living outside.