While people in the Lower Mainland have lived through a few relatively minor atmospheric rivers this past winter, for the most part it’s been nothing compared to the devastation caused by a severe rain storm that decimated parts of Hawaii in late March.
Learning about the extent of damage caused to O’ahu has prompted close to a hundred people in Maple Ridge and Langley to rally together in the coming weeks to help those impacted by this natural disaster.
It was the worst rain storm in decades that caused massive flooding to the O’ahu’s North Shore. Thousands were evacuated, and home, businesses, and farms in the northern region were covered with both water and mud, houses were destroyed, trees uprooted, and roads washed out, explained organizer Peter Luongo, president of the Langley Ukulele Association.
Thankfully, reports indicate no lives were lost, but the residents have been their world turned upside down, he elaborated.
“They were getting rains like they’ve never seen. It just didn’t stop. Just kept coming down. We’ve seen it here. I mean it’s not like we don’t know what they’ve gone through. Except they don’t have some of the infrastructure in place that we do,” Luongo said.
“It’s not a well-to-do area,” he added, noting that many people in the region lost everything.
So, his group of musicians from Langley and a troupe of dancers out of Maple Ridge want to use their skills to help those victims of the flood rebuild.
To do so, a pair of shows, dubbed “Pacific Voices for O’ahu,” is being arranged for Fridays, April 10 and 17, with all monies going directly to the flood-relief efforts, explained Jessica Hokulani Demos, executive director of the Spirit of Pacific Cultural Society in Maple Ridge.
“We’re uniting voices across the Pacific in support of O’ahu’s North Shore communities – we refer to them as Ohana, the family that we have, the friends that we have in Hawaii,” Luongo said, noting that the local ukulele ensemble has been travelling to the southwest end of this island annually for 30-plus years to perform, and have developed close bonds with many of those impacted directly and indirectly by the floods.
When Luongo read a very emotion and inspiring Facebook post from one friend in particular, Kalei Gamiao, he was prompted to take act. Gamiao has been a friend for years, and is actually set to be at the LUA’s second annual Fort Langley International Ukulele Festival this coming September.
“I learned that Kalei and his family were actually working to try and help some of the other folks in the area, the North Shore area… some people are in a position where they’ve lost everything and they don’t have insurance coverage,” Luongo said.
“I felt compelled to put together something that would show the support and the care that we have for our friends in Hawaii. So, we’re gonna do two shows.”
Demos was quick to jump on board, too. While impressed with how so many on the island have come together to support each other, she said the cleanup and rebuild will be long and extensive.
“It’s hard to watch all of this unfold on your homeland and not be able to help more. We stand with the people of Hawaii and it is our kuleana (responsibility) as practitioners of this culture to help however we can. When Peter approached us with this idea it was a no brainer,” she shared.
Demos noted that the Langley’s uke ensemble and the Spirit dancers have been working together for more than 20 years – first with her aunt, and after she moved back to O’ahu, then with Demos, who took the reins of the dance troupe.
“The majority of my extended family lives in O’ahu, luckily they were mostly unaffected. But an area we are very familiar with, in the North Shore of O’ahu, had to be evacuated and the damage to homes, businesses, farms is irreparable,” said Demos, who took up hula at the age of four, and has been learning, performing, and teaching traditional dance ever since.
She shared Luongo’s desire to pitch in somehow. The shows seemed a perfect way.
The venues have donated the space. The kids are donating their talent. The association is donating its time. Guests are buying $15 tickets and encouraged to donate more if they can.
“So everything that’s made, and every donation made towards the events will go straight back to the families in need at the northern end of O’ahu,” Luongo interjected.
The event will feature music – including several Hawaiian classics – by the Langley Ukulele Senior A and B ensembles, a few LUA soloists and small ensembles, plus the evening shows will also feature several traditional Hawaiian dance numbers by the Spirit of the Pacific dancers.
The first show is at Brentwood Presbyterian, 1600 Delta Ave. in Burnaby, at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 10.
The second show will be at Willoughby Christian Reformed Church, 20525 72 Ave. in Langley, again at 7 p.m. but this one a week later on Friday, April 17.
Tickes are available at www.langleyukes.com or at the door.
Demos offers a warning to other people wanting to help.
“If people wish to kokua (support) Hawaii in other ways, please verify sources to ensure donations are making their way to the people who need it the most.”