Catie Bellenger/American Red Cross

In Hawaiʻi, showing up is more than just being present. It reflects kuleana, a shared responsibility to care for one another, for the land and for the community. In the wake of devastating flooding, that spirit was felt in quiet and powerful ways inside a community resource center.

At the center, Maka Casson-Fisher, community equity liaison, City and County of Honolulu, whose family was also impacted by the storm stepped forward to help lead operations. Like many others, he was facing his own loss and uncertainty. Each morning, he gathered volunteers in a pule, a traditional Hawai’ian prayer, creating space to pause, reflect and prepare for the day ahead.

During these moments, he reminded volunteers that their role was not just to provide services, but to carry the honor of supporting people during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

It set the tone for the work that followed.

The American Red Cross was privileged to participate in the center alongside local partners, providing services and stepping into the role of navigators when needed. Just as importantly, Red Cross volunteers learned from those partners, gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to hold space for people, place and community in a way that reflects Hawaiʻi’s values.

Inside the center, one of the most important roles was the navigator. These volunteers did more than guide people from table to table. They would talk story, sitting with survivors, listening first and building trust. Then they would walk alongside them, connecting them to the resources they needed.

This approach helped ease the burden many survivors face after a disaster. 

Sharing what happened can be exhausting and emotional. For many, it means reliving loss again and again. Navigators helped ensure each person only had to share their experience once, carrying that story forward as they guided them through the recovery process.

In many ways, this reflects a deeper Hawaiian tradition.

For generations, Hawai’ians have practiced wayfinding, navigating across the ocean by reading the stars, winds and currents. Navigation is not only about direction. It is about awareness, connection and trust.

That same philosophy was present inside the resource center.

Volunteers were not simply directing people. They were listening, creating space and walking alongside each person at their own pace. They helped individuals find their way forward, not only through available services, but through the emotional weight of what they had experienced.

Through this experience, Red Cross volunteers carried forward an important lesson from their local partners. Showing up in Hawaiʻi means leading with humility, listening first and honoring the connection between people, place and culture.

Sometimes, the most important thing you can offer is not just help, but presence.

A dedication and thank you:

Mahalo to the communities, partners and community leaders across Hawaiʻi who welcomed us with openness, trust and generosity of spirit.

In a time of loss and uncertainty, you allowed the American Red Cross to stand alongside you, not to lead, but to listen, to learn and to support in ways that honored your communities and your culture. You showed us what it truly means to hold space for one another, to move with intention and to care for people, place and community as one.

We are also grateful for the collaboration between local Red Cross teams and those who traveled from across the country to support this response. Together, guided by local knowledge and leadership, we worked to ensure care was delivered in a way that reflected the values of the communities we served.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this work and to walk beside you during this time. Your leadership, strength and commitment to one another will continue to guide this recovery long after the immediate response has ended.

It is an honor to serve with you.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.