The “Lala stress” is killing me.

And I don’t use those words lightly.

Without having to measure it, I know without a doubt my blood pressure is elevated, the quality of my sleep has deteriorated, and overall I feel like crap.

For the past 10 days, from one end of our island chain to the other, we’ve all, each and every one of us I suspect, been wrapped in the anticipation and then the reality of Hurricane Lala.

Hundreds have lost their homes, some no doubt their lives. Countless friends and neighbors have incurred damage to personal property that will never be recovered. ‘Utter Devastation’: Lala Turns Hawaiʻi Upside Down – Civil Beat

The clean up will take months.

The bridges, roads, and homes that must be rebuilt – will take years to complete.

The number of us who’ve been traumatized by this event is unfathomable.

Even we lucky ones who escaped direct physical harm have been hit hard emotionally, which for many translates to our health, as there is a real cost of the cumulative stress.

So what’s next?

How do we move on?

How do we get better?

My first step this morning after checking in with my own family, is reaching out to friends on Hawaiʻi Island. Just making the call or sending the text will make both of us feel better.

If I can help friends who’ve been impacted by Lala with more tangible support and clean-up assistance, I will.

While I don’t have thousands to give to anyone, I can and will add my modest donations to that of others.

My instincts tell me to give and support first those people I know personally, and then only to those organizations I know and trust completely.

After reaching out, helping if I can, and getting my own yard and house in order – I/we then need to figure out a way to get back to normal, back on track with whatever we were doing prior to the Lala trauma.

For me, that of course is “policy and politics”.

Bad weather comes in all shapes and sizes, and the storm of corruption that engulfs our State government must also be stopped and stopped now. No doubt there will soon be many new “emergency declarations” and an increase in “non bid contracts” to deal with the disaster that is Lala.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent by government in the coming years on the recovery efforts.

My sincerest hope is that our State legislature will use the coming weeks to proactively support Lala restoration efforts AND to close the “contractor loophole” that crooked contractors and their political friends drive through regularly, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING TIMES OF DISASTER AND CRISIS.

The November 3 General Election is also coming at us.

My thoughts go out today to those candidates whose lives were already stressed and stretched thin, who now have the Lala trauma also pressing down upon them.

Many spent every last dime left in their campaign accounts just to make it through the Primary.

Now, they are faced with an impossible conundrum. They have their own Lala family impacts to deal with, AND they need to raise money for the General election.

However, political fundraising now and in the foreseeable future will be viewed as politically and morally reprehensible.

What to do?

Yes, it’s up to us, those of us who did not incur great physical damage from Lala, to step up even more. And we must not wait to be asked.

Trust me on this, a $20, $50, or $100 campaign contribution, especially to those friends seeking election to Hawaiʻi Island County Council seats AND especially at this time when it’s impossible for them to ask – is much needed and will be greatly appreciated.

That’s all I got.

And yes, I’m feeling much better now.

Mahalo for asking!

Gary Hooser