By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Kim Ickler, Louis Ickler and David Nottage tape up a
package for delivery to Fanning island.

Residents of southern
atoll to receive a
ton of aloha

Clothing, computers and other
items have been donated for
folks on Fanning island

Star-Bulletin staff

Residents of Fanning island, an atoll 1,100 miles south of Hawaii, are learning what aloha spirit is all about.

Kaneohe Yacht Club members David and Nancy Nottage, and Lou and Kim Ickler, organized a drive to collect clothing, computers and other items to help the estimated 2,500 residents of Fanning, who accepted the Kiribati government's recommendation to move to the atoll to ease overcrowding on Tarawa.

"The people there are our friends, and we're just sending over stuff they need to make life more comfortable for them," David Nottage said.

"I imagine what Fanning is like now must be what Hawaii was like 150 years ago."

The Icklers, who leave on a Norwegian Lines cruise Friday which will stop at Fanning, will personally deliver over a ton of items to the residents.

Nottage said residents also receive help from the Pacific Islands Relief Organization.