On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced FEMA gave Lanakila Pacific a grant of $1.5 million.

The upgrades will help the Honolulu nonprofit, which operates the Meals of Wheels program, protect its reserve food supplies.

What You Need To Know

  • The upgrades will help the Honolulu nonprofit, which operates the Meals of Wheels program, protect its reserve food supplies

  • The grant is the second round of funding to Lanakila Pacific by FEMA, which previously awarded $229,000 to the organization to harden its Liliha headquarters

  • The FEMA grant was announced when NOAA predicted an "above normal" hurricane season for Hawaii and the Central Pacific

“Super Typhoon Mawar and its devastating impact on our Guam and Northern Marianas ohana drive home yet again that we must assume and fully prepare for similar direct hurricane and other severe storm impacts on Hawaii,” said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and its Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which holds federal funding and oversight authority over FEMA. 

“Lanakila Pacific is a critical part of our overall preparedness, especially for our seniors and others who will need special support with food and other essentials during a severe weather disaster,” Case said.

The grant is the second round of funding to Lanakila Pacific by FEMA, which previously awarded $229,000 to the organization to harden its Liliha headquarters. Case said the funds would go to repair the roof, replace and install new impact-resistant doors in place of exterior perimeter gates, and strengthen air conditioning systems, among other structural improvements.

“Working with FEMA and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to fortify the structural integrity of our roof and building entrances will safeguard Lanakila Pacific’s resources so we are ready to assist with feeding the community in the aftermath of a disaster, including the seniors and people with disabilities who rely on our Meals on Wheels program,” said Lanakila Pacific president and chief executive officer Rona Yagi Fukumoto.

The FEMA grant announcement coincided with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issuing an “above normal” hurricane season outlook this year for Hawaii and the Central Pacific. The agency forecast four to seven tropical cyclones this season versus the normal four to five cyclones. The forecast counts all tropical cyclones, not necessarily just those that make landfall.

This week, President Joe Biden approved emergency assistance coordinated by FEMA for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to address Mawar.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.