Hawaii's recovery from Hurricane Lala is being organized through a statewide charity fund, which is good news for residents still without food and power after the storm.

• The Hawaii Community Foundation's Stronger Hawaii fund is paying local groups to run relief on the ground.
• Grants are going to the Salvation Army Hilo Temple for shelter, Vibrant Hawaii for coordination, and the Food Basket for emergency food.
• Many people lost everything in their fridge after three days without power.
• The fund covers all islands and all stages — preparation, immediate relief, rebuilding, and long-term resilience.
• It was built from lessons learned in the Maui wildfires, the Puna lava flow, and the Kona low storms, where the first days were chaotic.

Outlook: Relief money will keep flowing to community groups in Nanakuli, Waianae, and other hard-hit areas, with recovery expected to take years, not weeks.