Oʻahu churches serve neighbors impacted by flooding

The local community continues to come together following weeks of severe storms and flooding that has displaced neighbors and destroyed livelihoods across the Islands.  

Several churches on Oʻahu have opened shelters, distributed supplies and hot meals, and helped clean up the mess.   

Inspire Mililani Pastor Clint Chinen told Aloha State Daily that this is "our first time responding to a flood emergency at this scale on our island."

"But this isn't anything new. We've done this in Lahaina," he said. "I think personally for me, this is the first one where our hands and feet are getting some mileage."

Inspire Mililani became a hub for shelters, complete with hot meals and showers, and continues to serve as a donation site. Chinen said 55 people found rest there, and the church's initial volunteer count was 100.

"We responded as a whole organization and were ready to open in less than 48 hours," he added.

He noted that three weeks prior to the storms, the church purchased a 15-seat passenger shuttle for church services. "We've transported more pounds of water than we have people in the last few days. We're using every resource we can. We’re not going to sit on stuff we have."

Yesterday, Chinen delivered thousands of donated hygiene kits by Rob [last name not given] to Haleʻiwa Distilling Co., which stopped accepting individual donations Wednesday due to “getting full” from the community outpouring.

"That’s divine response. That's how incredible God is, people are responding out of their own heart," Chinen said. "I do think Waialua is going to recover quick because people are responding to the need and the right resources are getting to the people quickly. There's not a delay. No one has to wait for government to step in. This is everybody's kuleana."

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Chinen has served for 15 years in various leadership roles at Inspire Church, which has six locations statewide overseen by Senior Pastors Mike and Lisa Kai. Chinen's congregation in Mililani is about 800 people.

"We have this saying at Inspire Church, 'Blessed are the flexible, so they will never be bent out of shape,'" he said.

The church’s mission is “to multiply leaders: equipping individuals to lead with purpose, serve others, and impact their families, churches, and communities for the Kingdom of God,” its website states.

Looking ahead, Inspire Church aims to assess and fill individual needs in the affected communities to ready for cleaning and rebuilding.

For upcoming outreach and donation opportunities, visit inspirechurch.live/storm-relief

Stay up to date on social @inspirechurchtv and @inspiremililani.

Haleʻiwa-based North Shore Christian Fellowship did not gather for a typical service this past Sunday, but rather united “to be the Church," per an Instagram post. They headed out in teams across the community “to serve, clean and help restore what’s been impacted."

Pastor Danny Angel said that one-third of the churchʻs 400-person congregation was directly impacted by the flood, yet still about 300 volunteers showed up to serve, "pray over the people and be the hands and feet of Jesus."

"Over the last couple days, our primary role is just to be sending the most help to where the greatest need is," Angel told ASD. "So, we have a system where people can come sign-up and volunteer. We give them the tools they need, and we've been sending out teams all over the North Shore. We've probably serviced 50 or more properties."

Government, church and nonprofit, as well as individual partners, have aided in the relief, he said, including Inside Outreach, Convoy of Hope and First Assembly of God churches, among others.

North Shore Christian Fellowship is now seeking donations of dehumidifiers, floor-dry powders and masks to remedy mold. Additionally, for more specialized needs once rebuilding starts, skilled tradesmen like carpenters, electricians, plumbers and more, are asked to contact 808-269-8927 or info@nscf.church.

Supplies will be available for families at Waialua Community Association Gym in Haleʻiwa until Friday, May 27. For the weekend, Angel says the church is looking for farmers to help out.

"This is our community and our neighbors. We know we’re going to be here long-term, when the cameras and help have left," he said. "We recognize the spiritual need we can help fill, especially as the church. We plan to follow-up and maintain relationships by being present, sitting and listening to people in need."

The church is “a community of followers of Christ whose mission is to preach the gospel and to ‘Love God and Love Others’ by seeking to glorify God in all areas of life,” according to its website.

Interested in serving or making a donation to its flood relief fund? Give here or direct message @northshorechristianfellowship on Instagram.

This week, One Love Ministries — with sites in Kakaʻako, Kailua and Waikīkī — collected donations and set up two hubs for distribution in Mānoa.

“One of the ladies in our church opened her home the same day as the flood to be a hub for the community and collect donations for them,” said Pastor Maiola Vivas. “She and another woman from our church have been working with Inside Outreach to connect with people in the community to find out what their needs may be and send volunteers their way.”

The church also created an Emergency Disaster Relief Fund and is seeking volunteers to help sort and pack donations. Sign-up or donate here.

St. Michael Parish in Wailua teamed up with the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, EPIC Young Adult Ministry and the community to clean and restore areas like Haona Street and Otake Camp. It also served as a sub-hub for the collection and distribution of cleaning supplies, water, hot meals and food for those affected, Parish Pastoral Associate and Secretary Joshua Kapika told ASD by email.

"Throughout the week, hundreds of volunteers arrived to assist hundreds of families in clearing flood debris from their homes," he said.

"As soon as residents were able to return to their homes, the community came together in a powerful way. People picked up whatever tools and buckets they could find and got to work — neighbor helping neighbor. Hundreds of individuals from across Oʻahu came together to support this small North Shore community, demonstrating a true spirit of aloha and solidarity in helping Waialua begin its recovery."

On Sunday for mass, he said, "the streets were packed with volunteers caring shovels and buckets, front loaders moving debris and volunteers helping to keep everyone hydrated and feed to keep the work going."

"Everyone banded together to support each other," he added. "It's even clear in the various partnerships between other groups to help achieve the mission of getting our community back on its feet."

Kapika notes that St. Michael Parish "will continue working closely with community partners and local ministries to ensure the ongoing needs of our community are met.

He added: "As we enter into Holy Week, our parish will also remain open for worship and prayer, offering spiritual support and a place of peace and hope for all those affected."

The Episcopal Parish of St. Clement in Honolulu normally operates a food pantry, offering free food to those in need.

As a result of the storms, Rev. Brian Rallison told ASD by email, “Our Food Pantry patrons have increased significantly over the past two weeks, and we’ve received multiple donations, both in kind and monetary, to support our efforts in feeding the people in Makiki.”

According to Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s website, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Waialua will be distributing food Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at 66-842 Kaukonahua Road, as will St. Stephen's - Liliʻuokalani Protestant Church starting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 27, at 66-090 Kamehameha Hwy.

As of noon Wednesday, Gov. Josh Green said that the Wahiawā Dam has been stabilized and the National Guard, among other reinforcements, will assist with cleanup efforts for recovery.

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.