Hawaii Red Cross

08/27/2026

Happy National Dog Day!

This month, our amazing Service to the Armed Forces therapy dog teams supported military members, families, patients, and military communities across Oahu through partnerships at 9 events with visits to Tripler Army Medical Center, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Schofield Army Barracks, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In total for this month alone so far, our volunteer dog teams made an incredible difference and brought comfort, compassion, and countless smiles with 944 furry interactions.

Thanks to dogs like these and their wonderful owners, the Animal Visitation Program is able to support Military Treatment Facilities, their outlying clinics, and special events that support military communities throughout the year.

If you would like to place a request for an animal visitation, please go to https://rdcrss.org/4zGqVWA

08/26/2026

It feels different when disaster strikes your own backyard. Emely Salmo is no stranger to disaster response having been a Red Cross volunteer since the Lahaina wildfires in 2023. But recently Hurricane Lala came to her hometown of Nāʻālehu on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

When they discovered the roads had been cut off to the town, Emely took it upon herself to find a way to feed everyone and make the space as comfortable as possible. She told her family that they were “all Red Cross now” and put them to work helping with the shopping and cooking. Since her family lives in a remote area of Hawai‘i Island she recruited three of her children and her husband to serve as a built-in Red Cross team. From their home down the road her father cooked the meals, and Emely brought it back to the shelter. Despite the challenges, she found a way to continue shelter operations and to provide as much comfort as she could.

The Red Cross is proud to have volunteers like Emely embedded in their community who answer the call to serve. The recovery effort from Hurricane Lala is ongoing and more volunteers are necessary to reach every impacted community as quickly as possible.

If you would like to become a Red Cross volunteer go to https://rdcrss.org/4ivQt2t

Learn more about Emely's story: https://rdcrss.org/4xhDKVJ

08/21/2026

Join the Red Cross Hawai'i as a Shelter Volunteer!

As we prepare for the next storm, the Red Cross Hawai'i is getting ready to open shelters across the islands if necessary. If you would like to help keep your community safe, consider registering as a volunteer and signing up for our shelter trainings today or tomorrow. By completing volunteer registration and this training you can serve as a Red Cross volunteer in a shelter as soon as this week!

Register as a Red Cross Hawai'i volunteer first by scanning the QR code or clicking this link: https://rdcrss.org/4wLMAdb

Trainings will take place via Microsoft Teams:

Tuesday, August 25 | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join the training: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/242004933037496?p=C5TgyniZr4wqgDUtnm

Wednesday, August 26 | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join the training: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/242004933037496?p=C5TgyniZr4wqgDUtnm

Thursday, August 27 | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join the training: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/242004933037496?p=C5TgyniZr4wqgDUtnm

08/20/2026

If you have had damage to your property after Hurricane Lala you may be eligible for Red Cross assistance. Red Cross teams are actively working to assess the damage across all islands.

To request a Red Cross damage assessment of your property call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Once you put in a request, a Red Cross team of volunteers will visit your property as soon as possible.

You may also submit your damage report to your county through the links and/or phone numbers below.

Hawaiʻi County:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/8726f7045657454bbffb95da8dcc54a6
(808) 935-0031

Maui County:
https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/mauiHI/request.html
(808) 270-7285

City and County of Honolulu:
Honolulu.gov/homedamage
(808) 723-8960

Kauaʻi County:
Kauai.gov/kema
(808) 241-1800

08/19/2026

The Nāʻālehu Elementary School remains an emergency shelter to support the community in Nāʻālehu. This shelter is not a distribution center and the Red Cross is not accepting supply donations at this location. If you are in need of supplies, Point of Distribution Centers have been established across Hawai'i Island.

Please refer to the Vibrant Hawai'i website for a list of distribution points: https://bit.ly/4qrafhv

08/17/2026

We are on our way to distribute emergency supplies! The Red Cross and Vibrant Hawaii will be distributing supplies on the Big Island beginning at 3pm today.

If you are in need of water, food, tarps and or clean-up kits after Hurricane Lala, you can find us at the below locations.

Pahala Community Center: 96 Kamani St
Na’alehu Hongwanji: 95-5695 Hawai’i Belt Rd
Hope DIA-Mend Ministries: 92-8988 Ginger Blossom Lane

08/16/2026

Red Cross volunteers are at Kahuku Elementary School, one of many evacuation centers open across the islands in response to Hurricane Lala.

Mahalo to our volunteers, first responders, and community partners for coming together to care for our neighbors. Please stay safe, follow local emergency guidance, and look out for one another.

Find a shelter near you: https://rdcrss.org/4gcnFcD

08/15/2026

*Updated 8/18 at 11am*

An evacuation shelter remains open at the Na’alehu Elementary School following Hurricane Lala.

08/15/2026