The vast majority of food and vital goods arrive in Hawaiʻi via cargo ship. The big ships dock in Honolulu Harbor where Young Brothers Shipping then distributes their cargo to ports around the state. A "just-in-time" delivery model means that most shipments go directly from a ship to store shelves, rather than a warehouse. Young Brothers knows how vulnerable island communities are to a disruption of its services and is constantly on alert for the next disaster.

Young Brothers President and CEO Joseph Boivin talked with The Conversation's Chris Vandercook about the company's protocols in a disaster event and how they plan for it.