Need Help? Want to Kokua? - Community Resources

These are not ordinary times and many here in our Waimea community are committed to helping our ‘ohana and neighbors get help as needed, and/or provide help by volunteering and/or contributing in many ways. Please see below for possibilities and programs and please share info with us if you are doing something to kokua and welcome others: waimeacommunityassociation@gmail.com

We are assembling an up to date roster of food programs and more including where to donate food and how to volunteer time and other resources. If able to donate, most of the Waimea food programs welcome your help direct and are non-profits. Also, quite a few partner with Hawai’i Food Basket year-round.

Hawai’i Food Basket is a valuable Waimea community partner - they are able to stretch every dollar received 3-4-5x, they have the expertise, facilities and equipment to buy smart, handle and distribute efficiently, and they manage their funding transparently with annual audits. www.hawaiifoodbasket.org

Please also see flier below with contact information for Vibrant Hawai’i D9 Navigator Po’ana Fuertes. She is trained to help individuals identify resources, opportunities and to help them register too! She’s a helpful problem solver - able to come meet face-to-face too. MAHALO Vibrant Hawai’i for providing this expertise!

Please check back regularly for updates. Whenever possible, updates also posted as quickly as possible to www.Facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation

PS: Like most of our Waimea food programs, we’re all volunteers who love Waimea - doing the best we can in challenging times. Help and patience appreciated.

Hawai’i Food Basket offers many different programs - DaBox, Da Bux, Kupuna Pantry and lots more.

More information: www.HawaiiFoodBasket.org

Vibrant Hawai’i is standing up its ALOHA IN ACTION community response. More info go to: www.VibrantHawaii.org/AlohaInAction

The above locations across Hawai’i Island will hold weekly distributions sponsored and/or coordinated by Vibrant Hawai’i. These are intended to compliment the larger food distributions by Hawai’i Food Basket. Must apply - see criteria above and go to www.VibrantHawaii.org/AlohaInAction to apply.

Vibrant Hawai’i has a team of NAVIGATORS to assist with the application process and to answer questions and help find the programs and services as needed. This can include even gas cards and other urgent help. www.VibrantHawaii.org/navigators

For help with housing and utility relief, etc., go to www.VibrantHawaii/community-response for links to Catholic Charities and other related providers.

Help Available for Waimea's Hungry Children, Families, Kupuna and Friends; Kōkua Always Needed!


The need for food assistance here in Waimea - and across the island, state and country - is greater than even at the height of the pandemic. And Hawai’i Island children, kupuna and families are some of the hardest hit, exacerbated by the soaring cost of living including housing and food, and now, federal workers WORKING but not receiving a regular paycheck.

Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green has stepped in to address the possibility that EBT recipients are assured they will receive their November benefits (perhaps a bit late), and coverage will continue into December if needed. Gov. Green has also worked with his departments to set up funding opportunities for rent and utilities and has re-opened the application process for healthcare (aka ACA - also known as Obamacare).

But this honestly isn’t enough and we are fortunate here in Waimea - in large part due to the incredible generosity of Waimea's faith community, farmers and ranchers, not-for-profits, businesses, schools and neighbors, that additional help is available - and our kōkua is needed and welcome.  What follows are the food programs available here in Waimea to assist those in need and they all welcome your help - both funding and/or helping hands!
 

Waimea Community Meal @ St. James

‘Building Community One Meal At A Time’
Thursdays, 4:30-6PM – Dine-In with Music! (No drive-thru but take-outs welcome)
65-1237 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743

Everyone welcome to enjoy a fresh-from-scratch meal. There are many ways to kōkua including donating fresh produce, home-baked cookies, volunteering to prepare and/or serve or direct parking, or by full or partial sponsorship of a week’s meal.  Tax deductible donations may be made payable to St. James with a note on check that it’s for the community meal and mailed to P.O. Box 278, Kamuela, HI 96743.  For info, eat@stjameshawaii.org or call (808) 885-4923.

stjameshawaii.org/ministries/community-meal-2/

Annunciation Community Food Pantry

4th Tuesdays, 8AM – Drive Thru Only While Supplies Last
65-1235 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743

All needing help are welcome to drive thru to pick up a hefty bag of shelf-stable items and fresh produce.  150 bundles are handed off on distribution days with each intended for a family of four for three days.  Larger families are given additional bags.  Recipients are asked to fill out a card with basic info - name, address, number in household.

Presented in partnership with Hawai’i Island Food Basket.  Volunteers are needed to help shop for and pack food bags and/or to assist on distribution days.  Donations of fresh produce, other foods and re-useable bags needed.  Tax deductible monetary donations are most welcome, payable to Annunciation Church with a note on check that it’s for the food pantry. 


Kokua Christian Ministries Food Pantry

@ New Hope Christian Fellowship - Waimea
Wednesdays, 9:30AM – 12:30PM – Food Bundles To-Go
65-1078 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743

All in need are welcome to stop by for a to-go bundle of mostly shelf-stable food.  Volunteers work in partnership with Hawai’i Island Food Basket.  Donations of fresh produce and non-perishable food welcome.  To coordinate drop off, call Laurie Ainslie (808) 895-3056 or email: ainslie808@gmail.com.  Tax deductible donations also welcome; mail checks payable to Kokua Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 231, Kamuela, HI 96743.   

Waimea Answers to Hunger 24/7/365!  

Waimea’s ‘Friendly Fridge’

Side Porch of Waimea Preservation Association Office In the Historic Tax Office @ Waimea’s Main Intersection - Next to Waimea Senior Center and Kamuela Post Office

“The Friendly Fridge” was dreamed up by Donni Sheather with Waimea’s Rescue Food Program but it might more appropriately be called “The Hungry Fridge” because while it’s generously stocked daily with both fresh produce and shelf-stable items, it regularly helps feed some of our community’s most food insecure so is often empty by the end of the day.   New addition: Essentials such as blankets and warm clothing, socks, hygiene products and other items can be found on a nearby shelf; donations also welcome!

The food is free and anyone in need is encouraged to help themselves.  For those who might want to contribute, please stop by and put items in the fridge (including canned goods – no expired items please), or send a check payable to Friends of the Future and indicate that it’s to support the Rescue Food Program – P.O. Box 2655, Kamuela, HI 96743.   

Waimea’s ‘Blessings Box’

Streetside of New Hope Christian Fellowship - Waimea - 
Just Honoka’a side of Historic Church Row Park

The “Blessing Box” is just as its name implies – blessings for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.  Church congregation members and community friends stop by regularly to fill the shelves and more community kōkua is needed.  Please – no expired items.  Coordinated by New Hope Christian Fellowship.  If you’d like to contribute with a tax-deductible donation, checks can be payable to New Hope Waimea with a note that it’s to support the “Blessing Box” and mailed to 65-1078 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743.  

Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Umeki ‘Ai

On Hold. For more information, contact: Tricia Hodson: 808-960-2648 – email: waimeahomestead@gmail.com

Weekly Feed the Keiki & Kupuna Meal

Every Friday from 4-5:30 pm at the Honoka'a Hongwanji

Drive-Thru Grab & Go. All welcome!

Sponsored by the Peace Committee. Info and to contribute or kokua, email: Miles Okumura: misterokumura@yahoo.com

Hawai’i Island Food Basket

Provides year-round including assistance in partnership with many local, state and federal food supports programs and local food producers and distributors! They welcome our help too!

 1.      HawaiiFoodBasket.org/find-food-now – For emergency assistance or to kokua.  Staff will help with SNAP-EBT card applications and answer questions.

2.     DaBoxCSA.org – Subscribe for a weekly or bi-weekly box of locally produced fresh produce.  Must sign up. SNAP-EBT card holders enjoy 50% discount. 

3.      DaBux Double Up Food Bucks – 50% discount on local produce for all SNAP-EBT cardholders from participating grocery stores.

NOTE: All Waimea Elementary and Waimea Middle School students automatically enjoy free breakfast and lunch.

NOTE: Joining New Hope in this collection drive are Imiola Congregational Church, Mana Christian ‘Ohana and New Beginnings.

Waimea Farmers Markets

Waimea Town Market: Every Saturday from 7:30 AM - Noon @ Parker School

Kamuela Farmers Market: Every Saturday from 7:30 am - 1 pm at Pukalani Stables

Kuhio Hale Farmers Market: Every Saturday from 7 am - 12:30 pm at Kuhio Hale

Waimea Mid-Week Market: Every Wednesday from 9 am - 2 pm at Pukalani Stables

Community Safety

  • Crime Stoppers (808-961-8300) - Make an anonymous tip and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

  • Kuleana Hotline (808-961-2219) - Designed to prevent tragic events in public places. Your tip could help authorities intervene before warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.

  • Neighborhood Watch (808-887-3080) – Call the South Kohala Community Policing Officer to find out if there’s a watch already established in your neighborhood or how to start a watch.)

  • Emergency Alerts: Sign up to receive alerts from local agencies including severe weather, criminal activities, severe traffic, missing persons, local events. Text your zip code to 888777 to opt-in or go to www.nixle.com

  • Hawai’i Police Department recent news releases: https://www.hawaiipolice.com

  • County of Hawai’i Hazard Impact Map

South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee

Run by volunteers, the advisory group’s monthly meetings are an open forum for residents from all communities in the district, as well as elected officials, County employees, police staff, representatives from the State Department of Transportation, and the County Department of Public Works’ traffic and highway maintenance divisions.

SKTSC’s main purpose is to educate the public, and comment on state and County planning and design proposals for major projects that can impact roads and traffic in South Kohala. Although traffic safety committees have existed in all nine Big Island districts in the past, currently the South Kohala branch is one of the remaining few.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 5-6PM and are currently hybrid - both in person and via Zoom. Please email SKTSC Chair Gunner Mench: sktscsecretary@gmail.com to confirm location (rotates between Tutu’s House and Waikoloa Village Assn.) and for the monthly agenda, zoom link and more information.

Suicide Prevention Hotline & Help

If you or someone else you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can also go to www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Or: Text 741741. There is help and it will get better.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Are you dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety due to COVID-19? Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hawaii Chapter at (808) 591-1297 to receive free support, information, and resources for yourself or a loved one during this difficult time. info@namihawaii.org

Invasive Species

FROM OUR JULY 1, 2021 VIRTUAL TOWN MEETING: Everyone needs to watch this - a new video documenting a devastating threat to our pasturelands and ranching industry here on Hawai'i Island. We thank Carolyn Wong w/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, who is a State Grazing Lands Management Specialist, and Elena Dosamantes w/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, who is a Range Technician for briefing our community during the virtual WCA Town Meeting about the very destructive Two-Lined Spittle Bug that's already wreaking havoc in mauka pastures of Kona and been found in Waiki'i.

https://vimeo.com/user133290894

Invasive Species Hotline: (808) 643-7378

FAA Honolulu Flight Standards
Report a low-flying helicopter.  Statewide: (808) 837-8300

Animal Control Services

  • Priority 1 - Injured animals, any animal that is a public safety risk, animal cruelty. Police Dispatch - (808) 935-3311

  • Priority 2 - Lost or found pets and non-emergency issues. Animal Control - (808) 327-3558

  • Priority 3 - Deceased animals on the roadway. Department of Public Works Highways Division (808) 961-8349

Crisis Line of Hawai’i
Suicide hotline, refer-rals and outreach for youth and adults. Statewide: 800-753-6879

Suicide and Crisis lifeline: call 988

Hawaii Cares - free mental health and substance use hotline: (808) 753-6879

Recovery Supports {many meetings daily/weekly across our district and island)

West Hawai‘i Mediation Center
Provides conflict resolution services to community members and organizations.
Waimea: 808-885-5525

DLNR Hotline
Enforcement of natural resource violations. Statewide: 808-643-3567

Hawai’i Public Housing Authority
Provides assistance and information for public housing projects.
Hilo: 808-933-0474

Aloha United Way helpline: call 211

Legal assistance: 

Hawaii landlord-tenant hotline: (808) 586-2634

Housing assistance:

Police non-emergency line: (808) 935-3311 (call 911 for emergencies) 

Hawaii County Civil Defense: (808) 935-0031

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency

Invasive Species Hotline: (808) 643-7378

Hawaii County Concerns & Complaints Services Website

  • For potholes, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, street lights, and other issues.