Waialua's flood survivors rebuild after devastating nighttime evacuations
Waialua District Park becomes lifeline after floods
Chest-high floodwaters forced Cyprian Valmoja-Galbiso to evacuate his family and his neighbors to safety before losing everything, leading him to join other evacuees Thursday on the first day of the city's Waialua Community Assistance Center which offers aid and information to victims.
Valmoja-Galbiso, 23, came in with his mother and siblings, looking to replace vital documents and essentials such as food and water.
Like others who came to the new center at Waialua District Park, however, Valmoja-Galbiso cannot forget how he and his family fled for their lives from their home in Otake Camp as stormwaters rose just before midnight Sunday.
"Some of us were crying, some of us were only just in our underwear," he said.
Some 25 organizations showed up on Thursday, offering services such as insurance assistance, economic relief, streamlined building permitting and document replacement.
"This was our way of kind of augmenting what had already been established by the community and provide a one-stop shop for residents affected throughout the island," said Nate Serota, spokesperson for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
The site was designed to complement "hubs" that emerged immediately after the storm, including one across the street at the Waialua Sugar Mill that continues to distribute food, water and fuel.
"The community was the boots on the ground getting those initial hubs solidified," Serota said. "We're really trying to tailor it as much to what the community needs."
The center is scheduled to operate daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parking is available at Waialua District Park, with additional parking at Waialua Elementary School on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, while TheBus offers a free direct route to the center on Route 521 Waialua-Haleiwa.
City leaders described the effort as a community-driven response supported by staff from multiple departments and nonprofit organizations.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi called it "an incredible community-led, government-supported effort."
The center is especially needed to help North Shore storm survivors, many of whom are low-income individuals.
And nearly every one of the owners and renters who spoke to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Thursday said they had no separate flood insurance, which state insurance officials say they need to get reimbursed for damage and replacement that typical homeowners or renter's insurance policies don't cover.
"No flood insurance, no rental insurance," Valmoja-Galbiso said.
Agencies that were represented at the assistance center on Thursday included the Department of Planning and Permitting, which is trying to help residents begin rebuilding by offering expedited and waived permits.
"We can help them understand what the process is and that they can actually start work immediately and then put the permit in the next following day," said DPP Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna.
State health officials are advising residents on contamination risks, cleanup procedures and mental health impacts after the disaster.
"After disaster, it's a stressful period and there could be some trauma associated with that," said Cortenay Matsu, the Health Department's deputy director of behavioral health.
The Department of Health is also helping residents replace lost vital records, which is critical to get aid.
"It's a good opportunity to come in person and get your record instantly because the normal process ... may take up a bit more time," said Valerie Kato, DOH's deputy director.
Nonprofits at the center are already addressing shifting needs, from food access to financial assistance, as residents move beyond the immediate aftermath.
"The needs change so quickly with everything that's going on," said Jared Kawatani of the Hawaii Foodbank.
Other groups are distributing essential supplies such as toiletries, baby items and household goods while also planning for continued outreach.
"Don't wait to have an organized event like this to come and show your support," said Mufi Hannemann, president and chief executive officer of the Hawai'i Lodging and Tourism Association.
Animal welfare organizations are also responding to the disaster, providing care and supplies for displaced pets and stray animals.
"We're here providing free medical care as well as free dog food, free cat food," said Baylee Ledward of the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
For evacuees, the center offers a place to begin navigating recovery after sudden and devastating losses that unfolded within minutes.
"Everything happened within five minutes," said Douglas Ayonon, who fled with his children as floodwaters rushed into his home.
Many families reported losing furniture, appliances and irreplaceable personal items, including photos and keepsakes tied to loved ones.
"I can't get back any of our baby photos, my mom's photos ... all of the stuff we had of our dad because he had passed a couple years beforehand," Valmoja-Galbiso said.
Residents also described the emotional toll of displacement and uncertainty as they face rebuilding without insurance or clear timelines.
"The hardest part of this ordeal is just accepting that our house is gone and that we can't go back," Valmoja-Galbiso said.
Cleanup efforts have been largely driven by volunteers and neighbors, several evacuees said.
"There was probably ... 200 people around our house digging out the mud," said Carla Stroh-Palalay, who's helping her 90-year-old mother-in-law get the deed to her home after it was destroyed.
Residents emphasized that community support has been critical, with people across the island providing food, labor and shelter.
"There's a lot of really wonderful people out there that's given us a lot of hope," Stroh-Palalay said. "... They brought me to tears every day."
Some evacuees are still searching for basic necessities while staying with family members or in temporary housing.
Officials said the center will continue to adapt as recovery progresses, with additional services added based on feedback from residents.
"We're flexible," Serota said. "We want to try to make this as reflective of what the community needs as possible."
Officials and residents both stressed that recovery will take time and require coordination across government, nonprofits and the community.
"It's not an easy fix, but it is fixable," Blangiardi said. "I would say just have hope. We understand the hurt. We understand the need."
Many evacuees pointed to the response from neighbors and volunteers as a source of strength and hope moving forward.
"It's the amount of love and kindness the community has given us," Valmoja-Galbiso said. "Our families have been ... a lot more giving and a lot more willing to take us in in the moment of need."
