Boxed food supplies are prepared for airlift to Molokai as Maui Food Bank and partner agencies respond to impacts from recent storms. Photo courtesy Maui Food Bank

A helicopter food delivery is headed to Molokai after the community was hard hit by two recent kona storms that left widespread flooding and damage across the community.

An airlift of food supplies to Molokai is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24. Shipments will include water, rice, frozen protein, fresh produce and shelf-stable pantry items to support partner agencies serving impacted residents.

According to Maui Food Bank, the organization is working with local partner agencies and the Maui Emergency Management Agency to support mass feeding efforts on Molokai following recent severe weather impacts.

Food supplies were pre-staged on March 19, allowing community partners to begin distribution ahead of the airlift.

Maui Food Bank said it is working with agencies on the ground to identify priority distribution points in the most affected areas, including communities in east Molokai.

On Monday, the Hawaii Department of Transportation was limiting travel to local traffic only on Kamehameha V Highway from the start of the route in Kaunakakai to the end of the route at Halawa Park while crews worked to clear the road.

Partner organizations involved in response efforts include Maui United Way, Salvation Army Molokai, Sustainable Molokai, Molokai Baptist, ʻĀina Momona, Hoʻāka Mana and community leader Kaili Purdy.

Maui Food Bank said it remains in close coordination with MEMA and will continue to assess needs as conditions evolve.

Updates from partner agencies on Lanai are still pending, and additional support may be deployed as more information becomes available.