08/12/2023
The weight of this tragedy is so heavy. As a community, Hawaiʻi people are supporting the many affected ʻohana in every way that we can manage. In that sense, we show our aloha by helping them to support the heavy burden, so they may stand strong again and heal from the deep wound left on their ʻohana, community, and ʻāina.
E makaʻala kākou. Tragedy can strike any of our communities at any time. It is absolutely a chilling thought. Perhaps even a conversation that many would avoid at a time like this, but in truth, this is the perfect time to analyze the gaps in prevention, preparation, and response to disasters and emergencies... while it is fresh in our hearts and minds. THIS is just another way to offer support, to ensure that we are all in a better position to handle future disasters and emergencies, to mitigate the damage and to save lives.
Meaningful change can sometimes be hard won, but it can also be a way to heal and work through past trauma. ʻApoākea invites you to have these hard conversations with us in a safe space. Letʻs discuss how we should prepare for the most vulnerable among us: the disabled, the chronically ill, children, elderly, and our houseless population. Letʻs discuss how our local food systems need to be supported and made resilient, so we can sustain ourselves locally should outside resources become scarce or unavailable. Letʻs discuss how each community is unique and therefore has unique needs in these situations. We must learn to prepare and to evolve our response, so no person is left without consideration and care.
Please join the discussion and channel our collective pain into something productive.
![=== COMMUNITY RESOURCE ===ʻApoākea has prepared the Hawaiʻi Emergency Response Registry [H.E.R.R.] as a free and volunta...](https://img5.ngos1.com/753/774/679616667537740.jpg)
