Oahu AnchorPoint Safe House Supports Families After Hurricane Lala

Families recovering from a storm often need help long after the wind and rain have passed. On August 25, 2026, The Uvalde Foundation For Kids/The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation announced that its Oʻahu AnchorPoint Safe House has assisted dozens of families and youth during the response to Hurricane Lala and its aftermath.

The Foundation said it placed the Oʻahu AnchorPoint Safe House on standby as Hurricane Lala approached Hawaiʻi. Since then, the Safe House has supported families with immediate needs, including utility assistance, food, emergency shelter, temporary housing and referrals to community resources.

Although Hurricane Lala has moved away from the Hawaiian Islands, recovery needs remain. The Foundation said it will continue monitoring needs on Oʻahu and across Hawaiʻi and will respond as resources are available.

Storm recovery often continues after the immediate danger has passed.

The Safe House was placed on standby before Hurricane Lala arrived

The Foundation reported that it prepared the Oʻahu AnchorPoint Safe House as Hurricane Lala moved toward Hawaiʻi. The goal was to have a place ready for families who might need urgent help during the storm or in the days that followed.

That kind of standby response matters because disasters rarely affect every household in the same way. One family may lose food because of a power outage. Another may need a safe place to stay for a night. Another may be behind on a utility bill after missing work or paying for storm repairs. Some families need transportation, resource referrals or help finding temporary housing.

The Foundation said the Safe House has responded based on each family’s circumstances and the resources available at the time.

Daniel “Bodhi” Chapin, Founder and President of the Foundation, said the decision to prepare the Safe House came from a desire to make sure families had somewhere to turn.

“We placed the Safe House on standby because we wanted families to have somewhere to turn if they needed help,” Chapin said. “We’ve seen families need very different kinds of assistance, from keeping their utilities on and putting food on the table to finding emergency shelter. We’re going to continue helping wherever we can.”

The statement reflects one of the central challenges after a storm: support cannot always follow a single checklist. Recovery can involve housing, food, hygiene, transportation, electricity, child safety and connection to public services, sometimes all at the same time.

Assistance has focused on immediate family needs

The Foundation said the Oʻahu AnchorPoint Safe House Supports Families After Hurricane Lala by helping with basic needs that can become urgent during a disaster response.

Assistance has included:

• Utility assistance

  
  

Help aimed at keeping essential services connected when families are facing storm-related strain.

• Food assistance

  
  

Support for households that need groceries, prepared meals or help replacing food lost during the emergency.

• Emergency shelter

  
  

Short-term help for families and youth who need a safe place during or after the storm.

• Temporary housing assistance

  
  

Support for families who need more time to stabilize after displacement or unsafe conditions.

• Other immediate needs

  
  

Flexible support based on what a family is facing at the moment.

• Referrals and community connections

  
  

Help connecting families to local resources that may provide additional support.

The Foundation did not describe the assistance as one-size-fits-all. Instead, it said support has been based on each family’s situation and the Safe House’s available resources.

That distinction is important. In a disaster, some needs can be solved quickly, such as food for a household that lost refrigerated items. Others take longer, such as finding temporary housing or identifying the right agency for ongoing support. A family may receive direct help for one need and a referral for another.

Recovery needs continue after the storm has moved away

Hurricane Lala has moved away from the Hawaiian Islands, according to the Foundation’s announcement. Still, families affected by the storm and other emergencies continue to need support.

That is common in disaster recovery. The immediate threat may pass before the household impact is resolved. Families may still be cleaning up, waiting on repairs, replacing lost supplies or trying to return to normal routines. Youth may need stability, especially if their housing, school routine or caregiving setup was disrupted.

The Foundation said it will continue to respond as resources are available. That language signals both commitment and practical limits. Emergency assistance depends on capacity, staffing, supplies, funding and partnerships. When needs grow quickly, community resource networks often become essential.

For families, the most pressing question is often simple: where can help be found right now?

The Foundation pointed families toward Aloha United Way 211 for disaster resources. Families looking for shelter, food, transportation, temporary housing or other disaster resources can call or text 211 anywhere in Hawaiʻi for information and referrals to available local resources.

The 211 line can help connect callers with services in their area. That may include shelter information, food resources, transportation support or other local assistance, depending on what is available at the time of the call.

Why flexible disaster support matters for families and youth

A hurricane can create both visible and hidden hardship. Flooding, wind damage and road impacts are easy to see. Other problems are quieter. A parent may have to choose between paying a bill and buying groceries. A caregiver may need safe housing for children while sorting out repairs. A youth may need a stable place to sleep before adults in the household know what comes next.

The Safe House model described by the Foundation responds to that mix of needs. Rather than naming only one form of aid, the announcement lists several kinds of practical support. That matters because families rarely experience emergencies in neat categories.

A household that needs food may also need transportation. A family seeking shelter may also need help contacting another service provider. A utility bill may become urgent because the same household has already spent money on evacuation-related costs, storm supplies or temporary lodging.

The Foundation’s role, as described in the announcement, is both direct and connective. It has provided assistance where possible and helped connect families to community resources when another provider may be better suited to meet a need.

Preparedness and recovery both depend on practical everyday supplies.

Community referrals remain a key part of the response

The Foundation’s announcement names referrals and community connections as part of the Safe House’s assistance. This is a critical piece of disaster response because no single organization can meet every need.

After a major weather event, families may need help from several places. A local nonprofit might help with food. A public agency might provide shelter information. A community group may know about transportation options. A utility provider may have a process for hardship support. A family resource center may help connect caregivers with longer-term services.

Referrals help turn a confusing search into a clearer next step. They can also reduce the number of calls a family has to make during a stressful time.

For families on Oʻahu and across Hawaiʻi, Aloha United Way 211 is one central starting point. The Foundation’s announcement specifically encourages families looking for shelter, food, transportation, temporary housing or other disaster resources to call or text 211 anywhere in Hawaiʻi.

That message is especially useful because needs can change over time. A family that had food yesterday may need transportation today. A household that stayed with relatives for a few nights may later need temporary housing. Calling or texting 211 can help families find current information about services that may be available locally.

The Foundation says it will keep monitoring needs

The Uvalde Foundation For Kids/The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation said it will continue monitoring recovery needs on Oʻahu and throughout Hawaiʻi. It also said the AnchorPoint Safe House will continue providing assistance as resources are available.

That ongoing monitoring is important because the number and type of requests may shift. Right after a storm, emergency shelter and food may be the top needs. Days later, families may need utility support, temporary housing or help connecting with recovery resources. Some needs may appear only after families return home and assess damage or costs.

The Foundation’s statement also recognizes that Hurricane Lala is not the only emergency families may face. Even after the storm has passed, households can still face overlapping hardships. A disaster can expose or worsen problems that were already present, including housing instability, food insecurity or difficulty paying essential bills.

The AnchorPoint Safe House’s work after Hurricane Lala shows how local emergency aid can meet families at different points in that process.

Organized supplies help response teams meet different household needs.

What families in Hawaiʻi can do now

Families affected by Hurricane Lala or other emergencies can take a few practical steps as they look for help.

Keep track of immediate needs first. Food, shelter, transportation, medication access, child safety and utility service should take priority. If several needs are urgent at once, write them down so nothing gets missed during calls or intake conversations.

When contacting a support organization, be ready to explain the household situation in simple terms. Helpful details may include whether children or youth are in the home, whether the family is currently housed, whether utilities are at risk, and what type of help is needed first.

Families looking for shelter, food, transportation, temporary housing or other disaster resources can call or text 211 anywhere in Hawaiʻi. Aloha United Way 211 provides information and referrals to available local resources.

The Foundation’s announcement makes clear that support through the Oʻahu AnchorPoint Safe House depends on available resources. Still, the response has already reached dozens of families and youth, and the Foundation says it plans to keep helping where it can.

The storm may have moved away, but recovery is still happening household by household. For families on Oʻahu and across Hawaiʻi, knowing where to turn can be the difference between facing the aftermath alone and finding the next safe step.