Faithful on Kauai make sure everyone is taken care of in the wake of the latest storm to buffet Hawaii
By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
When Hurricane Lowell swept past Kauai Sept 7 and 8, it was no match for this seasoned island community. Residents did what Kauai locals do best — they banded together and helped one another with food, water and cleanup efforts.
“We’re tough people in Kauai,” said Father EJ Resinto, pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Kapaa, on the island’s east side.
Born and raised on the island, Father Resinto said his main concern was to make sure everyone was safe before the storm hit.
“I think what everyone was worried about, with it headed toward Kauai, was just another Iniki (the devastating hurricane that hit Kauai in 1992 and caused $3.1 billion in damage),” Father Resinto said. “I lived through Iniki; I was only about 6 years old at that time, but this really cannot even compare.”
Working together
According to the University of Hawaii, rain from Lowell began to impact Hawaii Sept. 6, as the Category 2 storm’s outer bands brushed the western islands while the center was still far to the southeast.
Hurricane Lowell passed west of Kauai and Niihau from the afternoon of Sept. 7 until early Sept. 8, dumping more than 23 inches of rain in 24 hours on Mount Waialeale, producing dangerous surf and creating heavy winds.
Winds averaged about 56 miles per hour, but since Kauai’s weather stations are at lower elevations, experts estimate the true wind speed reached approximately 100 miles an hour on higher-elevation ridges, according to UH.
Lowell knocked out power to 90% of the island, according to news reports. Hundreds of customers were still without power weeks after the storm passed.
On Sept. 8, a group comprising Father Resinto; his parents, Eddie and Shanyne; parochial vicar Father Francisco Sanchez; seminarian Deepak Bobbarala; and Sister Rachel Marius of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians began the preliminary damage assessment, picking up debris, though there was no damage to the church property except for a few missing shingles.
But with electricity not expected to be restored anytime soon, St. Catherine social ministry members made the best of their trial.
“A lot of the meats were starting to defrost in the (parish) food pantry, so we decided, ‘We’ve got to use this,’” Father Resinto said. “I said, ‘Let’s just do a big pot of chili and cook rice and just put it out there for whoever needs it.’”
They fed about 300 people.
“People who came to pick up food also brought avocados and mangoes,” Father Resinto said. “They’d just rather just share it with people.”
The social ministry also gave out items like bread, hot dogs, bacon and cheese that would otherwise have gone bad.
“There was one family (who came for chili) who said they haven’t eaten a hot meal since Sunday night (Sept. 6),” he said. “A lot of people were picking up for their kupuna neighbors that didn’t have any hot meals. Whatever we had, we provided.”
Raina Bautista, social ministry leader and members of the parish social ministry team, took about 150 meals to St. Sylvester Mission Church in Kilauea, feeding a total of about 450 people. The St. Catherine food pantry also brought cases of water to St. William Mission Church in Hanalei and to St. Sylvester.
“With the feeding of the people, I shared with them (his parishioners), the joy of seeing people helping each other. It reminded me of why I became a priest,” Father Resinto said.
“We’re very blessed. Kauai people, we’re resilient,” he added. “We’re kind of hardheaded, but we are good people, and we will take care of each other.”
Swift response
La Salette Father Edwin Conselva, pastor of St. Theresa Church in Kekaha, and La Salette Father Ronaldo Guzman, pastor of St. Raphael Church in Koloa, followed the instructions of the diocese and weathered the storm with La Salette Father Danilo Galang, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo. There was no major damage to Holy Cross, and power was lost only briefly.
The parishes are situated along Kauai’s southern and southwestern sides.
For two days following the storm, volunteers distributed food and water to the community at Holy Cross. The crew included parishioners and volunteers from the wider community, such as faithful from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the United Church of Christ.
The Kauai Food Bank provided much of the food, which was supplemented by donations of fresh produce like bananas, cucumbers and string beans.
“It was truly a remarkable display of compassion, generosity and solidarity,” Father Galang said. “And of course, the overwhelming support demonstrated the strength of our community as people came together to care for one another during a time of need. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed in any way.”
One surprise volunteer was U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who flew to Kauai to assess the damage and offer assistance.
Father Conselva said that when he got back to his church, he was surprised to find the beach, which is usually across the road from his church and rectory, washed up to his doorstep.
“My whole front fence got washed away and there were boulders (from the beach across the street) in front of the fence,” Father Conselva said. “And then a lot of the lattice that covers the bottom of my house all fell down.”
He said the parish hall took the “biggest brunt, with blown-out windows and doors. The rectory bathroom ceiling was leaking. The church didn’t sustain any damage, but there was debris of pinecones and branches covering the whole property. The school roof lost shingles and their new front gate was damaged.”
On Sept. 10, parishioners joined forces and cleaned the property. The next day, they tackled the St. Theresa School grounds, and on Sept. 14 they headed to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Mission Church in Waimea to help there.
“This community is unbelievable,” Father Conselva said. “When people need help, people come out and help. I’m so grateful for the people here.”
Wendy Souza, principal of St. Theresa School, began storm preparations with her staff the week before the weather hit to have the facilities “buttoned up” by the Friday before the storm.
The faculty and staff of the pre-K through eighth grade campus had completed the same preparations just a few weeks earlier for Hurricane Lala, and they kept families informed with weather reports for both storms.
Souza was in college in 1992 when Iniki hit. Her family home in Kalaheo was lost in the hurricane, and she flew back to help her parents rebuild before completing her studies.
“Making sure that all of our families and our staff are set personally is very high-priority,” Souza said. “What happens to the building, happens to the building and is fixable. But I feel like as long as I did my part to keep everyone informed and safe, that’s where the pressure is.”
Souza said she had expected the school cleanup to take two days, but with the large number of volunteers who showed up to help, the work was finished in three hours.
“We’re pretty proud of the way our community comes together,” Souza said. “I was really impressed with how many of our families brought their kids to the cleanup and said they have to be a part of this. The kids are picking up what they can, and they’re a part of it. They get it. It gives them ownership of their island, and they played a part in recovery. I think that’s really important.”