The recent Kona Low storm systems delivered a sobering reminder that food insecurity and disaster response are deeply interconnected across Hawaiʻi. Torrential rains, flooding, landslides, power outages and infrastructure damage affected communities statewide, with severe impacts on Oʻahu’s North Shore, Windward Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Hundreds of homes were damaged or deemed uninhabitable, while farms, ranches and local food producers suffered widespread crop and equipment losses. For Hawaiʻi’s food and agriculture sector, the storms highlighted the fragility of local supply chains and the importance of coordinated community response.
The Oʻahu Feeding Task Force (FTF) is a Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (DEM) initiative collaborating with Hawaiʻi Foodbank, nonprofit, and private sector partners to streamline emergency food distribution during disasters. The FTF was formed in 2025. Even though the Kona Lows were the first time the FTF has activated they were able to respond swiftly to the communities’ need for food, water, and hot meals.
In addition to the Honolulu DEM and the Foodbank, the FTF includes a broad network of emergency food-response partners coordinated across Oʻahu during disasters, including Aloha United Way, nonprofit relief groups, shelters, businesses, HFIA, restauranteurs and community distribution hubs. As the Kona Low storms approached, this network shifted into emergency activation mode, sourcing food, water and supplies to support displaced residents and flood-impacted communities across Oʻahu.
As communities began assessing flood damage, coped with extended power outages, and began the clean-up and recovery process the FTF continued to asses needs and adjust to ensure that impacted communities had continued access to safe and nutritious food. Building on lessons learned from previous emergencies, including the Maui wildfires, COVID-19 response, and the government shut down helped the FTF handle their first response well, while continuing to take on new lessons to improve for the future.
This activation demonstrates why the Oʻahu FTF’s disaster-feeding framework can achieve success: a coordinated public-private response designed to rapidly stabilize food access during major emergencies while supporting longer-term community recovery after severe weather events.
As the FTF lead, the Hawaiʻi Foodbank would like to mahalo all of our FTF members and the following private sector partners whose generous support and donations provided for impacted communities during the Kona Low Storms and beyond: Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, Safeway, Coca-Cola Bottling of Hawaii, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Armstong Produce, Tamura Enterprises, Pepsi Hawaii, BQF, Waiakea Water, Pint Size Hawaii, Fiji Water, Diamond Head Seafood, HPF Foods, Sun Noodles, and Menehune Water. We know that many other local businesses also contributed directly in their communities and were on standby to assist further. Mahalo to you all!
