Save the Children Helping Hawaii Kids ‘Heal and Return to Normal’ in Wake of Devastating Floods

National Leader in Child-Focused Disaster Response to Restore Damaged Child Care Centers, Deliver Long-Term Mental Health Support for Families.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (March 24, 2026) — With torrential rains and rising floodwaters sweeping across Hawaii this past week – evacuating families from their homes and disrupting critical services – Save the Children is working to meet the education and care needs of children and families in areas hardest hit by the catastrophic floods.

Together with local partners, the nonprofit is assessing the impact on local child-care centers, and will help restore child care and early learning centers damaged by the storm. Save the Children’s psychosocial team will also support the long-term mental health needs of children and caregivers, helping them cope and build resilience in the months ahead.  

“Floods like these don’t just damage communities – they shatter the daily routines and sense of security children depend on. Right now, families across the islands are navigating loss, displacement, and uncertainty all at once. For children, that instability can have lasting impacts if we don’t act quickly,” James Orlando, managing director of U.S. emergencies for Save the Children, said. “Restoring child care is one of the most powerful ways we can help communities recover after disaster. When a child can return to a safe, supportive environment, it helps them feel like their world is steady again. It also gives parents the ability to focus on rebuilding their families’ lives. That’s how recovery begins – and Save the Children is committed to helping Hawaii kids and families heal and return to normal.”

Save the Children has been helping America’s children recover from major disasters since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, including last year’s devastating wildfires in California and destructive flooding in Washington. The nonprofit also supported Maui families hardest hit by the destructive 2023 wildfires, and has decades of experience providing early education and emergency support in under-resourced communities.

By contributing to the  Children's Emergency Fund, you can help Save the Children protect kids in the United States when disasters like the Hawaii floods strike.

###