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Kahului storage facility to be repurposed for Maui donations

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COURTESY LT. GOV. SYLVIA LUKE
The livestream from Maui starts at 2 p.m. Click here to watch.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / AUG. 10
                                Volunteers place a tarp over donated goods at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. An outpour of donations from community members are being trucked in by the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance to Kapalua where the items are then dispersed to people in need.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / AUG. 10

Volunteers place a tarp over donated goods at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. An outpour of donations from community members are being trucked in by the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance to Kapalua where the items are then dispersed to people in need.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / AUG. 10
                                Volunteers place a tarp over donated goods at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. An outpour of donations from community members are being trucked in by the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance to Kapalua where the items are then dispersed to people in need.

Editor’s Note: Watch the livestream above or click on this link.

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UPDATE: 3:50 p.m.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke this afternoon announced a new effort to coordinate the distribution of incoming donations among federal, state and county agencies through partnerships.

Luke made the announcement from a storage facility in Kahului owned by the Department of Accounting and General Services that will be used to store, sort and inventory donated goods.

“We wanted to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and the outpouring of Aloha,” Luke said. “When people are hurting, the community steps up and takes care of each other. We have seen outpouring support of Aloha from all over the state and all over the world, and inasmuch as the priority continues to be monetary donations people feel the need to take care of the essential needs of the people of Maui.”

Due to the enormous amount of goods — as many as 60 to 70 shipping containers — being sent to Maui, there needs to be a more coordinated effort, officials said.

On Tuesday, Maui County’s donation site at the War Memorial Stadium will close and a new donation site will open at the Sears parking lot at Queen Kaahumanu Center, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Luke and Maui County officials are requesting:

>> That items not be shipped directly to Maui County unless there is an individual, nonprofit or other group to receive them.

>> That donations be dropped off at donation drop-off sites and not at the shelters, which need to focus on serving the needs of evacuees.

>> That donations from Oahu be sorted before they are shipped.

The greatest needs are non-perishable food items, hand-washing stations, outdoor sinks, water totes, and portable charging devices. Wheelchairs and tents are also being accepted. At this time, Luke said there are excess amounts of clothing.

Visit mauinuistrong.info for more information on how to donate, volunteer or get support.

Laksmi Abraham, an executive assistant to Maui Mayor’s Office, said more than 1 million pounds of food, water and supplies have been delivered to the Lahaina community in partnership with the Hawaii Food Alliance.

People can still pick up supplies from distribution sites at Lahaina Gateway Center and Napili Market, among others, she said.

Also, AT&T announced it would be providing free loaner phones to people in need, with unlimited service so people can get in touch with loved ones to be distributed through nonprofits.

The phones will be donated by Motorola, should be charged and activated, and will be available as long as needed, according to AT&T representative Elizabeth Songvilay.

The state is also looking for more places to store donated items, which will be needed for months to come, officials said.

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Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke along with other government and community leaders are holding a press conference this afternoon to discuss the coordinated distribution effort of Maui wildfire relief donations.

An outpouring of donation drives were held on Oahu, Maui and other islands to assist victims displaced by the Maui wildfires.

Additional speakers include:

>> U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

>> Shan Tsutsui, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Mahi Pono

>> Keith Regan, comptroller of the Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services

>> Elizabeth Songvilay, director of external affairs of Hawaii at AT&T

>> Laksmi Abraham, executive assistant of Maui County Mayor’s Office

>> Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura

The livestream from Kahului, Maui, starts at 2 p.m.

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