Immediately after the killer earthquake and tsunami struck Japan a year ago, people in Hawaii began gathering donations for relief funds that would top $8 million.
There were large, statewide efforts — such as April’s sold-out "Kokua for Japan" concert at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which featured acts ranging from the Brothers Cazimero, Na Leo and Society of Seven to Jack Johnson, Mick Fleetwood and Willie Nelson.
And there were more personal, intimate fundraisers, such as when students at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School’s Performing Arts Center donated a night of proceeds from their performance of "Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical" to the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund.
The students had hoped to raise $1,000. Instead, the nearly sold-out performance in the school’s cafeteria brought in $1,200 — all of which went directly to the Japan relief fund, according to Nanakuli Performing Arts Center Director Robin Kitsu.
"The kids were the ones that came up with the idea — and we’re talking about a community that has its own challenges," Kitsu said. "Their concept was, ‘Let’s use our talents to help.’ For these kids to think about others, for me as a teacher that’s what makes me most proud. Hopefully they’ll carry it on for the rest of their lives."
Most of the $8 million-plus came through the massive Aloha for Japan campaign led by Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, which involved every major Hawaii bank and credit union. Colbert Matsumoto, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Island Insurance, led the administrative committee that developed the campaign’s structure.
While most of the major fundraising accounts have been closed, at least two efforts continue.
The Japan-America Society of Hawaii has raised nearly $330,000 in contributions and donated and discounted airfares and hotel rooms to bring middle-school children from three affected Japanese prefectures to Hawaii. Forty-five children came to Hawaii last year through the Society’s "Rainbow for Japan Kids" project, and an additional 22 will arrive March 18-26, said Edwin Hawkins, president of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii.
The organization hopes to bring 65 to 70 Japanese children to Hawaii annually through 2014, Hawkins said. "These children were directly affected by the tsunami," Hawkins said. "They lost a parent or a sibling, had their house wash away."
While hotels and airlines are donating or discounting rooms and airline seats, the "Rainbow for Japan Kids" project still needs cash to feed and transport the children in Hawaii, Hawkins said.
Donations can be made at www.jashawaii.org or by mailing donations to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1412, Honolulu, HI 96806.
The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui raised $160,000 through its "Aloha Initiative" to bring about 100 Japanese adults and children from disaster areas to stay with host families on Maui and Oahu, said Lynn Araki-Regan, past president of the society.
The group continues to raise money to be used for a university exchange program that will pay to have one Japanese student from an affected area study at a University of Hawaii campus while a Hawaii college student studies in Japan, Araki-Regan said.
Donations can be mailed to the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui, P.O. Box 5090, Kahului, HI 96733.
