Red Cross Disaster Team On Molokai

Red Cross Hawaii News Release

The Red Cross is growing their cadre of disaster volunteers on Molokai. Free disaster training was provided on Molokai at the end of October and new volunteers were trained.  Currently, the Molokai Red Cross disaster team consists of 23 individuals, ready to respond on island to disasters that may occur.  All disaster response and training of disaster volunteers are free of charge.

Halona Kaopuiki is one of the newly trained Red Cross volunteers.  “I was very impressed on the Red Cross orientation classes on Molokai,” he said.  “When I saw Lester Keanini helping victims on the news in Louisiana, it made me feel proud to see a Molokai boy volunteering his services away from home. So I am grateful to be involved with this program and hope to continue and move forward.”

Long time Molokai volunteer Phyllis Murakami-Siu added, “In times of need, people of Molokai huki as ohana.  Molokai Red Cross is growing as part of Molokai Ohana reaching out to help.  Each volunteer brings added energy, skills, mana’o, and pono.  E komo mai!  I am humbly thankful, ha’a ha’a.”

Michele Liberty, Red Cross Maui director, described the Molokai disaster team as an impressive group of people.

“It is heartwarming to know how committed these volunteers are to ensuring that they are prepared to respond if and when an emergency or disaster happens on Molokai,” she said.

If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer or for more information about upcoming trainings, please call the Maui office at 244-0051.
The Red Cross encourages all families to make a disaster plan to include an evacuation plan with two different routes of escape, a communications plan to help families reconnect after disaster and a disaster supplies kit that is readily available to aid in a quick evacuation.  Information on developing a family plan is available to the public at redcross.org/hawaii.