On-Island Update: How To Actually Help Hawaii Flood Victims Using Verified Local Resources with Star Dohl-Thurston

Want to help Hawaii after the floods but not sure if what you're doing is actually making a difference?

Most people have the heart to help but end up lost in outdated Instagram posts, unverified GoFundMe pages, and scattered information that wastes time and misses the people who need it most.

👉 Hit play now and walk away knowing exactly where to send your money, your time, and your skills so they reach verified families and organizations on the ground.

If you've ever wondered how to truly show up for Hawaii in a meaningful way, this episode is for you. You'll discover why good intentions aren't always enough and what to do instead to make your help count.

In this episode of Hawaii's Best, we sit down with Malama Map founder Star Dahl-Thurston to break down the most effective ways to support Hawaii flood relief so you can take real, confident action today.

👉 In this episode, you will:

• Learn how Malama Map connects you directly to verified nonprofits, skilled volunteer opportunities, and families in need
• Understand why showing up without coordinating through the right organizations can actually disrupt relief efforts
• Discover how visitors traveling to Hawaii this summer can turn their trip into a meaningful act of service

_
Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to find out exactly how to help Hawaii flood victims using trusted, verified local resources.

🤙Resources mentioned:

• Malama Map

_
📱Connect with Star Dohl-Thurston:

• Instagram: @stardahlthurston
• Website: malamamap.org

_
🎧Related episodes:

• What to know planning a trip to Hawaii in 2026

_
 🤓Chapters:

• 1:51 North Shore Recovery Update
• 3:08 How Off Island Can Help
• 5:20 Visitors Volunteering Pono
• 7:34 Why Malama Map Exists
• 9:34 How to Help
• 13:38 Wrap Up and Next Steps

_
👉 Book a Hawaii Travel Consultation

About Your Host: Bryan Murphy is the founder of Hawaii’s Best Travel & a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawaii Tourism Authority, since 2020. An HVCB member since 2019, he helps first-time & repeat visitors plan unforgettable Hawaii vacations w/ clear, practical advice & authentic cultural insight.

📲 Connect on Instagram
🌺 Hawaii Planning Facebook Group
✉️ Free Hawaii travel tips & guides at hawaiisbesttravel.com

🤝 To sponsor the show visit hawaiisbesttravel.com/partner

Hawaii travel podcast helps you plan a trip to Hawaii with clarity. Discover practical travel tips, island itineraries, & local insight to help you explore Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island.

Edge of the Ocean (w/ permission)
Ukulele and Chill (w/ permission)
Talk Story (w/ permission)

Transcript

223_On-Island Update: How To Actually Help Hawaii Flood Victims Using Verified Local Resources with Star Dohl-Thurston

[00:00:00] Disaster Relief Confusion

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Right now there are families on Oahu's North Shore who have lost everything and thousands of people who desperately want to help but have no idea where to start. The problem really isn't a lack of compassion 'cause that is definitely there. It's that the information gets scattered across social media feeds and unverified GoFundMe pages, and by the time you actually find the correct info, it's usually probably already outta date.

[00:00:25] Bryan Murphy: In today's episode, you'll discover how one Hawaiian woman took matters into her own hands and built a tool that is completely changing the way disaster relief works in Hawaii. And how you weather on island, or thousands of miles away can actually make a real difference in a way that truly matters.

[00:00:49] Meet Star and Malama Map

[00:00:49] Bryan Murphy: Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii's Best, your Guide to the Best of Hawaii. In the wake of the two devastating Kona, low storms that hit the islands, and specifically the area of the North Shore of ahu, there has been a lot of outpouring of support and care and compassion. Also, there's been a lot of misinformation as well in how to tangibly help, especially for those of us who are trying to figure out how to simply support those who are in the trenches right now dealing with the recovery efforts.

[00:01:22] Bryan Murphy: So to. Day I am just honored and stoked to have Star Doll Thurston, miss Hawaii, herself 2023, and founder of Malama Map. We're gonna talk all about that. It's a community built resource hub created in the wake of the devastating storms. So let's go ahead and let's talk story with Star from malama map.org.

[00:01:51] North Shore Recovery Update

[00:01:51] Bryan Murphy: I think the biggest question a lot of people have right now and just seeing all the news, all the headlines, the pictures, the devastation, and it's like, man, why you can't, can't get a break. It feels like, you know, just over these past five, six years. And I just want to pull back a little bit with you on ahu.

[00:02:08] Bryan Murphy: How are things from your perspective and the community's perspective?

[00:02:12] Star Dahl-Thurston: Well, for full

[00:02:13] Transition: context too, I had created Malala Map as a resource,

[00:02:16] Star Dahl-Thurston: particularly for people like me who they work in an office, live in town. I'm not on the ground out in Wa Lua, so it's hard to say exactly how things are. It changes by the day, but really plugged in with my church and all of the resources out there, and so far.

[00:02:30] Star Dahl-Thurston: It looks like there has been such a move of support from community members, the state and other nonprofits to help clean up all of the mud and devastation that the flooding had caused. And right now people are starting to, I think, rebuild, like take out things that had gotten damaged and. It's gonna be a long haul effort.

[00:02:48] Star Dahl-Thurston: You know, similarly to what we've seen in Laina, that there's gonna be a lot of need for rebuilding, but the water is safe again for people to shower, bars, their teeth, to drink to cook with. And it's gonna be an interesting, I think, journey to see how it all plays out and how the state can really support the people who need that resource the best.

[00:03:08] How Off Island Can Help

[00:03:08] Bryan Murphy: Yeah, I definitely wanna talk about Malama map a bit more because I think that seems like a tangible way for people on an off island to help. What are some of the best ways that someone who is not in Hawaii can help? Right now

[00:03:23] Star Dahl-Thurston: there's a lot of nonprofits and a lot of individual community efforts being made to gather resources.

[00:03:29] Star Dahl-Thurston: Right. But previously, before Pala Map, it was really just on social media. Instagram, Facebook, these types of things, or GoFundMe efforts. And so malama Lot is like basically a resource consolidation directory where if you're not in Hawaii, there's actually a gay financially tab that you can click. And there are different nonprofits that have listed their websites, how you can financially give, how they're applying those funds to relief efforts.

[00:03:53] Star Dahl-Thurston: And then there's actually a website called Storm Cocoa. Com, I believe it could be.org. It's linked on the website. Essentially, the Bowie relief initiative during the line of fires started collecting stories and means from families and verifying that those are true and backing them under GoFundMe links.

[00:04:11] Star Dahl-Thurston: So Kuku is essentially a easy to use user-friendly website where you can see all families who were affected. Did by the recent storms, the Kola storms, but also the ina. You can read their story, you can see what their needs are, and then you can contribute directly to their GoFundMe page, which is backed by GoFundMe's 5 0 1 C3.

[00:04:29] Star Dahl-Thurston: So you can see that it's verified and safe. You can actually choose which family that you'd like to contribute, if not. To a whole bunch, to just one. If you wanna support state and nonprofit efforts, you can also go to the different ones that are listed there, like Hawaii Food Bank and Queens Medical Center, things like that, or different churches that are doing efforts.

[00:04:47] Bryan Murphy: It's important that things are vetted. I think I read a Hawaii news report. That there was like a $200,000 fraud or something already that came out of this, which is ju you know, I know we saw that in the La Haina fire as well. But it's just so sad that that is out there. You know, someone who is listening right now has a huge heart and just like is wanting do something.

[00:05:11] Bryan Murphy: Just take that extra five seconds to make sure it's a vetted and anything i, I link up in this show notes, it'll be vetted, but even just do your own due diligence. For those listening.

[00:05:20] Visitors Volunteering Right

[00:05:20] Bryan Murphy: So those listening, a lot of people are visitors and they're dreaming about Hawaii, and if spring break is here and summer is gonna be here, and there's a lot of good intentions of people who are traveling to Oahu and want to help.

[00:05:34] Bryan Murphy: Now, what's something that may seem helpful for someone coming and visiting? But actually too much help, almost feels too overwhelming. Maybe you can speak into that a little bit.

[00:05:45] Star Dahl-Thurston: Number one thing is not just driving up to the North Shore with efforts to help. I did actually hear of a couple had who had just traveled here the day that the storms hit or kind of alleviated, and they dropped off their bags at the hotel, didn't check in, and just drove to the North Shore and cleaned somebody's house all.

[00:05:59] Star Dahl-Thurston: That is just the heart of people. And I know I see it so purely, you know, like we just all wanna in love on each other and, and get support where it's needed. But right now, as we begin to consolidate and really streamline our efforts, it's important that you're going up with a group. And there are many nonprofits who are coordinating those efforts and many of them you can find on an A alumni map.

[00:06:17] Star Dahl-Thurston: So that's something that is a resource there for you to get involved and see what the needs are, how you can pitch in without being like an independent. Kind of just even noise at that point, because when there's no direction and no clarity, sometimes it can just be disruptive, you know? And that's something that I really saw a need to create Malala Map in general, just to share information.

[00:06:38] Star Dahl-Thurston: Because outdated information on Instagram is just noise and distraction. Not everything is updated in real time. So that's a solution that I tried to find with the website. And then also going forward, there's a big move in impact travel. You know, when people come to Hawaii. There's been a lot of talk online and social media about people who visit, feeling kind of strange about benefiting off of the land that was taken from Hawaiians and all these things.

[00:07:04] Star Dahl-Thurston: And local people really encourage visitors to get involved and give back, but there's not really a central place where you can find out the best ways to volunteer. So moving forward in the next build, as we, you know, I don't wanna take away anything from the North Shore needs. So right now the website's gonna stay what it looks like now, but eventually there's gonna be an opportunity for you to get involved with volunteering everywhere.

[00:07:24] Star Dahl-Thurston: So connecting local people, but also visitors to opportunities to volunteer with nonprofits, to really mal. To take care of the land and, and the people here.

[00:07:33] Bryan Murphy: That's awesome.

[00:07:34] Why Malama Map Exists

[00:07:34] Bryan Murphy: Maybe you could just like zoom out a little bit of how it works, how it benefits people who are wanting to help, how it benefits residents and local businesses.

[00:07:43] Star Dahl-Thurston: So it was the weekend after the storms had really. Done the bulk of their devastation and I was starting in a drop off location and posting on social media how people can basically get involved. And you know, my entire feed was just inundated with resources, locations, supply stations, volunteer opportunities, and you know, we have big Instagram hubs of local creators that are reposting things and collaborating so that they can be a main point of resource information.

[00:08:11] Star Dahl-Thurston: But I thought, you know, I don't. Why don't we have something from the state or from a nonprofit that just consolidates all this information and on top of that, needs are changing Hourly. It's really hard because you are just left to one. The information that you're gonna get is based completely on who you follow.

[00:08:26] Star Dahl-Thurston: So if you're not following the right people, you're not gonna get the real. Need information. And then on the backend for creators, you know, it takes a lot to update the graphic, to push out a new video, to post it, to make sure people see it on top of that. So the need really came from seeing that we don't have a central place where one person can go and get the information they need, where they can drop off what the need is and then just go.

[00:08:48] Star Dahl-Thurston: And we're wasting so much time on social media, you know, sometimes 30 minutes, an hour, two hours, just trying to figure out the best way to. Provide a resource when in that time we could have gotten the resource to the people that need it. The need was to create more efficiency around the way that people show up in disaster relief specifically.

[00:09:07] Star Dahl-Thurston: 'cause nobody mobilizes like Hawaii, we have the spirit of aloha. Even people that visit, everybody just wants to give and love. And I think it's important to focus on the fact that the heart is to serve people. Like people's heart is really to mu on each other. So how do we just streamline and make. That process more efficient.

[00:09:25] Star Dahl-Thurston: So Malama Map is a community resource hub to connect people in need to the people who have the resources to fill that need.

[00:09:34] How the Site Works

[00:09:34] Bryan Murphy: I'm on the website right now and it looks like people can post what they need. They can find skilled help. They can even add a listing, like if they're an organization, I'm assuming.

[00:09:42] Bryan Murphy: Is that how that works?

[00:09:43] Star Dahl-Thurston: Could be anybody, an individual or an organization to create a listing. And essentially what that does is if you're an independent plumber. Or something like that. Maybe you just do it on the side. You can offer your help that way in the skills tab. But then if you're an organization, you can put your Hawaii business license, we review it and approve it, and then you'll get a verification badge right now.

[00:10:02] Star Dahl-Thurston: Got it. Verified businesses that are legal to operate in the state of Hawaii, they get a badge if they submit their information and certified 5 0 1 C3 nonprofits can also get that badge So important too when it comes to financially giving, so you can see some clarity there. So I'm just trying to create ways that it.

[00:10:18] Star Dahl-Thurston: Feel safe and integral while also keeping the center of this, the fact that it's managed by the community and for the community. But right when you go on the site, this is really the directory point. So it says, I need help. That's where you would click if you're the one in needed resources, you need somebody who's got skilled labor, you need a supply station, you need medical aid.

[00:10:37] Star Dahl-Thurston: And then when it says I want to help, that's where you click to see different opportunities to. Be a resource, whether that means financially, a donation, drop off site, volunteer requests, that's where those people would go. And then below that where it says, I have skills that's for our skilled laborers, electricians, plumbers, contractors, roofers, anything of that sort, which that need is really increasing as we begin to start to rebuild and, and see how we can support families that wanna just.

[00:11:03] Star Dahl-Thurston: Get going on the Rebuild.

[00:11:04] Bryan Murphy: Cool Star, this is amazing. This is just kind of a grassroots thing and it's cool seeing it spread and it's just smart. I'm surprised there isn't these types of resources already out there, so way to go with that.

[00:11:17] Grace, Safety, and Respect

[00:11:17] Bryan Murphy: Anything else that you would want people on Island or maybe those who are visiting, say this summer for example, to now, right now?

[00:11:25] Star Dahl-Thurston: I think there are so many dynamics and emotions that run high in a situation like this. You know, in disaster relief, there's a lot of, you know, lessness and desperation and anger and frustration and anxiety, and I think the heart of everybody here in Hawaii is to give people who need that resource and support, but sometimes that can get lost in translation.

[00:11:46] Star Dahl-Thurston: So I think if we have a little bit more grace for one another and, and approach things more with curiosity than with judgment. And really listen to one another. I think that'll streamline a lot of the efforts that are going on. And not to say that it's out of control, you know, but like you said, with fraud cases, a lot of times, like there's a lot of money in disaster relief and unfortunately.

[00:12:08] Star Dahl-Thurston: Some people like to take advantage of that. Even I heard about as things washed up in the reservoir, that people were going and looting and stealing people's things or like homes that were left unattended. And it, it's just a really disgusting thing to see, but it's a small percentage of people and I think if we.

[00:12:24] Star Dahl-Thurston: Use our discernment and we're aware, but at the same time, keep an open heart to people who really do wanna serve and impact the community, especially visitors coming in, even in the summer, hopefully by then, we'll really have a resource there on the LAMA map for people to see where they can volunteer and organizations can even toggle on at this point in the build that's not live yet, but they'll be able to say if it's visitor friendly or not.

[00:12:46] Star Dahl-Thurston: Not because we're keeping a close. Because there are sensitive areas that you don't want to invite people who are not from there, because at the end of the day, this is not just a massive move to rebuild a park. These are people's homes that they've lived in for generations, and that's something that we wanna continue to respect.

[00:13:03] Star Dahl-Thurston: Also in, you know, forest restoration or invasive species removal, like those are sometimes really protected areas. We wanna maintain integrity and keep Hawaii, Hawaii, but also utilize resources that come our way. So we've got over 250,000 tourists on all of the islands, any given day, any time of the year.

[00:13:22] Star Dahl-Thurston: That's so many people. Even just 1% of those people give the one afternoon of their vacation. That is so appreciated and it can make a real difference.

[00:13:30] Bryan Murphy: Amazing star, thank you so much for your time and what you're doing. Truly appreciate it. Thank you.

[00:13:36] Star Dahl-Thurston: Thanks for having me.

[00:13:38] Wrap Up and Next Steps

[00:13:38] Bryan Murphy: A huge Mahalo to star again for coming on today and sharing malama map with all of us.

[00:13:44] Bryan Murphy: I think the biggest thing that came across for me, and I shared this with her when we weren't recording, was it was just so obvious to hear and see her heart into the creation of this tool. It's malama Map is such a tangible, practical way for people to help, and I hope that this episode and this conversation gave you something real to actually do next.

[00:14:06] Bryan Murphy: And it gave you a clear picture of how to show up for Hawaii in a way that truly does make a difference through the community. So if that is you and you want to help, and it probably is, since you're listening all the way through this episode, you can go check out Malama Map at Malama Map dot. Org, I'll link it below in the show notes.

[00:14:25] Bryan Murphy: Everything on there is vetted up to date, so you can give your time, skills, resources with full confidence. And I know a lot of people do listen to this podcast who are on island, who live on ahu. So if you do have those skills or if you're a local business, be sure to check out Malama Map and how you can partner up with them.

[00:14:47] Bryan Murphy: And if you found any value in this episode or any of the episodes that. I have done on Hawaii's best. I would just ask humbly ask for you to hit Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don't miss what's coming next week. So until then, my friend as always live with Aloha

[00:15:09] Bryan Murphy: Mahala for listening to Hawaii's Best. If you found today's episode helpful, make sure to hit follow on your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes. You can find all links and resources mentioned today in the show notes below. Hawaii's Best is produced by Shore Break Media Group, edited by Easy Podcast Solutions and with music by our friends.

[00:15:27] Bryan Murphy: Stick to you.