The Mokupuni COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Ahuwale ka poʻokela i kāu hana iā haʻi : It is through the way you serve others that your greatness will be felt

We are a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving native Hawaiian beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 (HHCA). Mokupuni CDC is committed to uplifting beneficiary voices, strengthening pathways to land, and ensuring that recovery, development, and future planning are rooted in self-determination and stewardship of ʻāina.

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ABout the 2026 Kona Storm Assesment Survey

This survey builds upon the preliminary field assessments carried out in the immediate aftermath of the Kona Low storm events and is rooted in the Native Hawaiian practice of kilo—a method of intentional observation used to read environmental conditions, recognize patterns, and understand impacts across ʻāina and community.

MCDC has led multiple on-the-ground response efforts, serving as trusted community-based responders embedded within impacted homestead neighborhoods- identifying and responding to needs in real time.

Drawing upon both lived experience and working knowledge of emergency management systems, MCDC developed a culturally-

informed assessment tool designed to align with disaster response frameworks while reflecting the realities of Hawaiian Home Land communities: the 2026 Kona Storm Assessment Survey. The survey draws both technical and native Hawaiian, ʻike based observation methods to asses the following:

• Structural impacts to homes and infrastructure

• Movement and accumulation of water across ʻāina

• Soil saturation and drainage system failures

• Wastewater system vulnerabilities, including cesspool integrity

• Environmental conditions affecting health, safety, and habitability

• Public health threats, including potential waterborne disease exposure

Hereʻs What We Found So Far:

• Over 110 homestead lots impacted across Hoʻolehua, Kalamaʻula, Kapaʻakea,

  and Kamiloloa/One Aliʻi.

• After heavy rain or flooding—like Kona Low events—moisture trapped inside homes and buildings that allow mold and mildew to grow within 24–48 hours.

• Uninhabitable homes due to structural failure, roof damage, and flooding which displaced families

• Documented cesspool failures and ground cave-ins, leading to elevated risk of water contamination

• Significant disruption to agricultural production and subsistence practices

what was accomplished within two weeks

WITH PARTNERSHIPS,

• Activation of 7 Food Hubs across the island

• Launched MEMA Damage Assessment Self-Report

• Molokaʻi Cares activated to provide support and supplies to those affected families

• Red Lightning conducted 24 assessments, removed trees, electrical fixes, emergency roof repairs, bathroom mold demo, floor repair, sandbags, delivery, clear out homes, provide accommodations for the displaced, train volunteers in mold remediation, expand Starlink access to affected communities without existing service.

• Debris removal, clean-up, and staging of roll-off bins

• DLNR-Division of Aquatic Resources performed water quality testing