Responding to severe flooding across Hawaiʻi through CVA

NEW YORK, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi are providing cash-and-voucher assistance (CVA) to people on Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu who have been displaced by the March subtropical cyclone. 

From March 10 to 16, Hawaiʻi faced its worst flooding emergency in over 20 years. A Kona Low cyclone brought up to 40 inches of rain in some areas, damaging homes, airports, schools, roads, farmland and a hospital, disrupting daily life and forcing many residents into temporary shelters. Flash flooding across Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu downed power lines and left 40,000 people without electricity. Rescuers pulled more than 200 people from floodwaters. 

The CVA from Episcopal Relief & Development and the Diocese of Hawaiʻi will support people in meeting their most urgent recovery needs, including temporary lodging, food, transportation, clean-up and the replacement of essential household items lost or damaged in the flooding. 

"CVA provides rapid, flexible and dignified support in the early recovery phase," shared Kalani Holokai, Community Relations Coordinator for the Diocese of Hawaiʻi. "While the assistance will provide critical aid, we also intend to be a bridge between those in need and our community connections as long-term case management needs arise," Holokai added.

Episcopal Relief & Development has been partnering with the Diocese of Hawaiʻi since the devastating 2023 Lāhainā fire on West Maui. Natural barriers that mitigated flooding were damaged in the fire, leaving many areas exposed and vulnerable to heavy rainfall.

"Climate change-related weather events like the recent Kona Low are becoming more intense and they affect under-resourced groups at unequal rates," said Race Hodges, a Senior Program Officer at Episcopal Relief & Development. "Grounded in our faith and the call to love our neighbors in times of hardship, we are walking alongside island communities to strengthen resilience, support recovery and ensure people are not facing these challenges alone," he added.

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For over 85 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has worked with an extensive network of faith and community partners to advance lasting change in communities affected by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change. Inspired by our faith, we reach over three million people each year by focusing on four interconnected priorities: nurturing the potential of caregivers and young children, reducing violence against women and girls, strengthening communities' resilience to climate change and facilitating humanitarian response to disasters. Together with our partners, we leverage what's working well to drive impact, learning and sustainability. Together, we create lasting change. Join us: www.episcopalrelief.org/sign-up

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SOURCE Episcopal Relief & Development