Local fund helps
survivors, families
of Ehime Maru

More than $160,000 has been
raised from nearly
1,600 donors

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Nearly 1,600 people have contributed more than $160,000 to a fund started shortly after the sinking of the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru by a U.S. nuclear submarine on Feb 9.

Earl Okawa, executive director of the Japan America Society of Hawaii, said the gesture of sympathy and support for the families of the 35 crewmen and passengers aboard the vessel was overwhelming.

"It was a good outpouring of support not only from the Japanese American community, but from other communities as well," said Okawa, who plans to visit Uwajima, where the Ehime Maru came from, later this month. There were even 277 donations from Japan, he said.

Accompanying Okawa will be Ken Saiki, president of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii, and Joanne Ninomiya, president of JN Productions, which specializes in Japanese television programming. They, along with the Japanese Cultural Center, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and KIKU television, were among the original sponsors of the fund drive.

"This island community normally just pours out their heart to show their support ... that's the strength of Hawaii," Okawa said.

The Ehime Maru was returning to Japan on Feb. 9 when it was struck and sunk by the USS Greeneville nine miles south of Diamond Head. The submarine was demonstrating an emergency surfacing maneuver for 16 civilians touring the boat that day. Nine Japanese, including four teenage students from the Uwajima Fisheries High School, died.

The Navy has stripped the Greeneville's skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, of his command and reprimanded four other crewmen. Waddle also plans to go to Uwajima this month to apologize to the families, crewmen and the high school.

Okawa said that $4,000 already has been given to each of the families of the nine Japanese killed.

The remaining 26 survivors each received $1,000.

Okawa said the plan is to donate the rest of the money to the high school.

Tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Tokai University the Japan America Society will hold a panel discussion at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Tokai University. Participants will talk about the lessons learned from the Ehime Maru incident, including Japanese demands that the trawler be raised from its watery grave to recover bodies.