MILOLI‘I, Hawaii – The families living in the remote fishing village of Miloli‘i were given supplies to help fight the bite on Monday.

Non-profit Pa‘a Pono Miloli‘i set up a FIGHT DA BITE Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for mosquito nets and repellent after the seaside community learned it was a hot spot for dengue fever. Hawaii Island has been struggling to combat the outbreak since September. Miloli‘i was identified as a hot spot only last week. Ho‘okena, the neighboring South Kona village to the north, was the first hot spot to be identified by officials.

Kai Kahele led the effort to pack up the supplies and bring them door-to-door to residents. We spoke to him about the effort after the deliveries were made. He expressed gratitude for the global generosity that vaulted the campaign well beyond its goal of $3,000.

The Hawaii Department of Health reports no new cases of dengue fever since Christmas. The number holds at 181. As many as two of the 181 confirmed cases to date are potentially infectious.

Miloli‘i Beach Park remains closed to the public. The Department of Land and Natural Resources also closed the surrounding unencumbered lands in the immediate vicinity of Miloli‘i village and Honomalino Bay. Some residents said there seems to be a decrease in the number of mosquitoes in the area following the spraying done over the weekend by the health department.