Plans are underway for a "Kokua for the Philippines," a Hawaii-based radio, television and Internet benefit concert.
The benefit will be held Dec. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. in the wake of the devastation from Typhoon Haiyan, a monster storm that struck the Philippines last week, killing thousands.
The Air Force said two C-17 cargo jets left Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam early Wednesday morning to support the relief efforts.
The aircraft are being positioned to provide additional support to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and the Philippine government to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the areas the Philippine government deems most in need. Marine Forces Pacific is overseeing U.S. military relief efforts.
Locally, the benefit concert by Clear Channel Media, Entertainment Hawaii and Oceanic Time Warner Cable will take place at the Great Lawn at Hilton Hawaiian Village and will be broadcast live on local radio and television stations and via the Internet. Proceeds from a phone bank and on-site gifts will be donated to the American Red Cross for disaster relief. Gifts designated to other nonprofit organizations supporting the relief effort also will be accepted, and those contributions will be included in the overall event total.
Event ticket information will be made public soon. For more information and updates, visit www.kokuaforthephilippines.com.
How to help:
» Send a check payable to "American Red Cross," indicate in memo line "Philippine Typhoon" or "Pacific Typhoon" (affecting Vietnam, Philippines, etc.) and send to Hawaii Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu 96816; or go to redcross.org or call 800-REDCROSS.
» City Councilman Joey Manahan, St. Anthony’s Church in Kalihi, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Philippine Red Cross and LBC Remittance are partnering to set up drop-off centers for donations from residents who want to help in some way other than giving cash. Donations being accepted include canned goods, blankets, toiletries, towels, socks, light jackets and rice. Donations will be accepted until Nov. 30. All goods received will be shipped to relief centers in Tacloban courtesy of LBC Remittance Foundation.
» May Mizuno, wife of state Rep. John Mizuno, and the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) in collaboration with the Filipino Community Center, Kokua Philippines and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii will hold "Kokua for Philippines: A Night of Hope Concert," Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the McKinley High School auditorium. Mizuno family members are among the missing.
» Damien Memorial School students are mobilizing a "Help Damien Feed Tacloban" food drive for Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Drive-thru donations of nonperishable foods can be dropped off at the Damien parking lot.
» Beginning this week, all calls placed by Oceanic Time Warner Cable home phone and business customers to land-line and mobile numbers in the Philippines will be free through Nov. 30, and is retroactive for all calls placed since Nov. 8.
In addition, Oceanic has made The Filipino Channel available at no additional cost to digital TV subscribers through Nov. 30 on channel 688.
» Hawaiian Telcom is extending free access to The Filipino Channel (TFC Ch. 821) for its Hawaiian Telcom TV customers to Nov. 30.
» L&LHawaiian Barbecue at the Keeaumoku Street Walmart will donate proceeds from all sales from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday through the Consuelo Foundation. The restaurant will match the proceeds. Checks to the Consuelo Foundation can be sent care of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, 931 University No. 202, Honolulu 96826.
»Verizon Wireless is waiving charges on long-distance calls and text/multimedia messages to the Philippines through Dec. 7 for its monthly service customers. The company’s text-to-donate program allows U.S. customers to make a $10 donation to any of the following organizations: Text RELIEF to 25383 to give toCatholic Relief Services; text AID to 80077 to give to HOPE Worldwide; text AID to 50555 to give toOperation USA; text DONATE to 20222 to give toSave the Children; text RELIEF to 864233 to give to UNICEF; text AID to 27722 to give to World Food Program USA; text HOPE to 777444 to give to WORLD VISION. Text-messaging fees will be waived, and 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the nonprofit organization.
