By Alfred Acenas and Maile Tadeo
EBC Hawaii Bureau
PAHOA, HI (Eagle News) — A 10-minute drive from the lava-stricken Leilani Estates on Hawaii’s Big Island, Puuhonua O Puna was established less than a week after Kīlauea’s eruptions began on May 3. Intended as a temporary relief and information hub, the center was set up by residents from nearby communities like Pahoa and Keaau, with little or no government assistance.
According to founding volunteer Ikaika Marzo, all the donated items are free for those who need them.
Tiana Dunn, another volunteer and herself an evacuee, said the donations include bottled water, canned goods, toiletries, clothes, bedding, and other household materials. She added that one of the tents in the compound prepares hot meals and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Some evacuees, particularly families, have also taken up shelters here. Volunteers described these efforts as their way to give back to the communities impacted by the lava flows, toxic gases, and other hazards.
While Puuhonua O Puna has plenty of everything that individuals and families need at the moment, information and awareness are in short supply, especially in their overall situation. When asked about the possibility of more and larger-scale evacuations, the volunteers have heard only rumors about additional communities like Pahoa being alerted to prepare to evacuate as a precaution. Moreover, not everyone at the center is keenly aware on the conditions at or near the Puna Geothermal Venture facility, which had reportedly relocated all its pentane gas inventory, and which government officials have been closely monitoring.
Despite the hardships, Ikaika, Tiana, and many of the residents strive to remain confident and resilient, believing they still have something to look forward to, most notably going back to their homes to rebuild. Ikaika described these events as little “speed bumps” that they need only to “go right over.” Tiana likewise expressed her gratitude to Eagle News and all those who have documented their status. She believes that years from now, future generations can look back at the photos and videos taken and realize, “This was how it looked; this was how it was.”
(Eagle News Service)