E Mākaukau Kākou — Let Us Be Ready
Recent events have reminded us how quickly life can change. Hurricane Lala tested communities here at home, while the tragedy in Nepal reminds us that when people suffer anywhere in the world, Rotary may be called upon to help.
In Hawaiian culture, mākaukau means to be ready, prepared and equipped. Readiness is more than having a plan. It means knowing our kuleana, building relationships before they are needed and understanding how each of us fits into the response. That is the purpose of our new Rotary District 5000 Disaster Response Program — Coordinate Statewide. Respond Locally. Recover Together.
We have now developed both a District Disaster Response Operational Plan and a 90-Day Implementation Scorecard to turn that vision into action.
What does being mākaukau look like?
- Prepare our clubs. Every club will be asked to designate a Club Disaster Response Officer who becomes the club's emergency point of contact and helps account for our Rotary ʻohana when disaster strikes.
- Build one Districtwide system. Hawaiʻi Island, Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi will be connected through Island Coordinators, District leadership and a common communications structure.
- Work with the experts. Rotary should complement — not duplicate — the work of organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, HIEMA, Hawaiʻi VOAD and our county emergency-management agencies.
- Mobilize what Rotary does best. We bring people, relationships, businesses, professional expertise, resources and financial support together to meet verified community needs.
- Help beyond Hawaiʻi. Our plan also provides a pathway for District 5000 to support major national and international disasters through legitimate Rotary and recognized relief channels. When communities in places like Nepal need help, our Rotary network gives us the ability to respond responsibly and effectively.
- Train and test before the emergency. Over the next 90 days, we will build the structure, train our clubs and ultimately conduct a Districtwide tabletop exercise to make sure the system actually works.
Our Call to Action
I am asking every Rotarian in District 5000 to become familiar with our District Disaster Response Plan, now available on the District 5000 website.
Club Presidents should begin discussing disaster readiness with their members and prepare to identify their Club Disaster Response Officer. And all Rotarians should begin asking a simple question:
When our community — or our Rotary family somewhere in the world — needs help, what can I contribute?
We cannot know where or when the next disaster will occur.
But we can make certain of one thing:
Rotary District 5000 will be ready.
E mākaukau kākou.
Aʻohe hana nui, ke alu ʻia — No task is too great when we work together.
Benson Medina
District Governor