North Shore resident Kim Johnson, wife of musician Jack Johnson, recalled looking at the list on GoFundMe of Hawaiʻi families in need after the floods and recognizing some of their faces from her own community.
“Jack and I, we're making a large donation [to GoFundMe] and to several individual GoFundMe fundraisers, as well as different groups that are contributing,” she told Aloha State Daily. “Anyone could plug in, even $20 goes a long way.”
The Johnsons recently announced a commitment of $500,000 for flood recovery and rebuilding efforts through their Johnson ʻOhana Foundation, including a donation to GoFundMe’s Hawaiʻi Flood Relief Fund. GoFundMe's Hawaiʻi Flood Relief Hub was also created "to provide immediate assistance to verified families and community members working to rebuild," the announcement notes.
“The North Shore is my hometown, and this flooding is affecting our community in a very real way,” said Jack Johnson in a statement. “Many of our friends, neighbors, and local farmers were hit hard. Recovery will take time, and we hope this pledge encourages others to come together to support the people who need it most.”
His SurfFilmMusic tour is still on track, though, public sales for the May premiere at Honolulu’s Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall were postponed due to the storm, according to Kim Johnson. The tour includes a new documentary, music and more.
She told ASD that their home and vehicles were affected by the back-to-back storms last month, but not to the same degree of devastation as others in the area.
“We know firsthand how much work it is to clean up,” she said, adding that their Kōkua Learning Farm in Haleʻiwa had no equipment or structural damage. It did, however, lose crops.
“The farm is doing well despite some flooding,” she noted. “For immediate food relief, we donated produce and protein from the farm stand to Chef Hui, and they're using that to cook and give out to families and volunteers.
Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, also run by the couple, will host Farm Fun(d) Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 3, at Kōkua Learning Farm, 66-249 Kamehameha Highway.
The fundraising event is free to attend and includes community connection, arts and crafts activities, food, music and more. Donations are welcome and will benefit the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation. Pre-register here.
“Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation is planning workdays on farms and mobilizing large groups to help clean up, recover lost equipment, things like that,” Kim Johnson said. “We’re excited to raise money for farmers and will also be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to Hawaiʻi Foodbank.”
When asked about how to get involved, she added: “Give time. Give supplies. Give money. Give aloha.
“It’s been amazing to see this community come together. … We should be asking everybody how they are doing, giving them space to share in a real way and making sure we’re all taking care of each other,” she continued. “There’s a call out now for skilled tradesmen: contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc. If you have a skill you can share, reach out directly to organizations filling those needs.”
How can I support?
The following organizations are assisting affected communities:
- Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation: Supporting farmers and rural communities as they rebuild Hawaiʻi’s local food systems
- Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund: Supporting statewide disaster response and long-term resilience (ASD coverage)
- Help Maui Rise: Supporting outreach and in-person verification statewide, using the same grassroots model they developed after the Lahaina fires, which raised and distributed $18 million directly to survivors. The organization also runs stormkokua.com.
- Kākoʻo Oʻahu Emergency Fund: Delivering immediate relief and ongoing support to those affected by this disaster (ASD coverage)
- Lāhui Foundation: Providing food, supplies, and coordinated support for families impacted across the North Shore
Looking for support?
Families who have been impacted can create a GoFundMe fundraiser to receive direct assistance. Instructions available here. Help Maui Rise can also be of assistance.
Aloha United Way 2-1-1: Call 211 for updates on emergency shelters, food distribution centers, and other non-emergency needs.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list. If we missed something that matters to you, please email us.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
