Hawaii Engineer Launched Crowd-Sourced Supply Tracker
A new platform allows Hawaii residents to share real-time store inventory updates during storm events.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Safety
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Pāhoa-based computer engineer Sean Repanshek has launched a crowd-sourced website named Help Me Find. The platform enables users to report and view local store inventory status for essential supplies across Hawaii.
Why it matters
The tool aims to assist residents in locating hard-to-find goods during severe weather and improve travel efficiency for those in rural areas. By centralizing reports, it helps the community avoid unnecessary trips to stores that may be out of stock.
The Help Me Find website tracks 10 categories of essential goods, including water, ice, and propane. The site also provides a direct link to Hawaiian Electric power outage reports.
The players
Sean Repanshek
He is a 34-year-old computer engineer living in Pāhoa who created the supply-tracking platform.
The details
Users can access the platform without creating an account or providing payment information to see availability status updated by other community members. The tool was developed to streamline the shopping process for Big Island residents during disaster-related events.
Timeline
September 2026: Sean Repanshek launched the Help Me Find website.
Seasonal Patterns
This platform follows a pattern of localized community-led digital infrastructure developed to address the logistical vulnerabilities often exposed during past Hawaiian disaster events like the 2018 Kilauea eruption. The tool reflects a shift toward using real-time crowdsourcing to mitigate supply chain disruptions in geographically isolated regions.
Residents can utilize the website to check the stock status of essential items like water and propane before leaving home, reducing unnecessary travel during storms. Users are encouraged to contribute their own inventory reports to help keep the platform accurate for their neighbors.
The takeaway
Reliable data sharing during emergencies can significantly reduce travel time and frustration for residents in rural areas. Localized tools like this demonstrate the potential for community members to solve logistical problems during periods of high demand.
Further reading
For more information on community preparedness, visit the Safety section.
More information
To report or view real-time store stock, visit the Help Me Find supply website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Island Now | Big Island News and Information.
Live Poll
Do you trust crowd-sourced reporting to accurately track supply availability in your area during storms?
