When Storms Come

As we moved through another storm here on Oʻahu, I’ve been reflecting on a time over 20 years ago when I first purchased my home on the windward side of Oʻahu.

I also want to acknowledge that for many, this last storm has brought real loss and hardship. My heart is with those navigating the impact right now.

I bought my first home during 40 days of nonstop rain.

I did my home inspection with water running through the property, up to my hips. And still, I moved forward with the purchase.

What That Experience Taught Me About Owning in Hawaiʻi

It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made, and over time, I’ve come to feel that owning in Hawaiʻi can be a meaningful and rewarding experience.

That experience showed me exactly where improvements were needed. Over time, I added French drains around the yard, and today not even a puddle. What once felt like a challenge offered guidance for how to better care for my home.

But I also noticed something important. The two storm drains near my home were often clogged with sand from the beach.

So each year, I make a simple call to the City and County to request they be cleared. While they may only come every few years, I have learned that small actions matter.

With the heavy runoff from the mountains during storms, properly maintained drains can make a big difference. If you live near one, you can help just by calling and bringing awareness.

Report Storm Drain Issues: Contact Honolulu City and County — Dial 311 or 808 768 7777 if calling from outside Oʻahu.

A Simple Way to Help

I have come to believe that caring for our ʻāina is a shared responsibility. It is something we all take part in, each in our own way, and together it creates a stronger, more supported community.

From my own experience on this street, something as simple as making those calls has helped prevent flooding over the years.

In our neighborhood, we also come together as a community every few years to clear the main drainage path that carries water from the mountain to the sea. We remove large debris like tree limbs and any garbage that has collected. It has become a meaningful way for us to support one another and care for the land we share.

Supporting Waialua and Our Island Community

As many on the North Shore, especially in Waialua, have been impacted, there are meaningful ways to help.

I am also proud to share that my company, Hawaii Life, is actively supporting relief efforts through the Hawaii Life Charitable Fund.

They have launched a matching campaign for disaster relief across Hawaiʻi, pledging to match up to $35,000 in donations. As of now, the community is already halfway there, an incredible reflection of the generosity in our islands.

There is also a shared awareness that while the news cycle may move on quickly, the needs on the ground will continue. Every dollar makes a difference.

If you feel called to contribute, you can donate to the Stronger Hawai’i Fund through HLCF.

Additional Ways to Support

• Hawaii Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund
• American Red Cross of Hawaii
• Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
• Local Waialua churches and community groups accepting direct donations

Even a small act of giving or sharing can ripple outward in a powerful way.

Storms can be intense, but they also remind us of what is possible when we come together with awareness, care, and action.

Home here is more than a place; it is something we care for together.

Denise Drake
REALTOR Associate

808.780.4259
denisedrake@hawaiilife.com