TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Hawaii's legacy of giving may come from the Hawaiian concept of aloha. America needs;
Hawaii givesIt may stem from a "lucky we live Hawaii" attitude. Whatever the origin, it pours forth unquestionably as individual, corporate, and small business heartstrings are tugged at by the suffering of others.
Officials at the Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii's United Way organizations and the American Red Cross know this, and have set up the "September 11th Fund" through which the Aloha State's blessings may flow.
"We knew people would be searching for a way to support what's going on, and our desire was simply to create a conduit for people to be able to do that," foundation President and CEO Kelvin Taketa said.
The Hawaii Bankers Association is making it possible for donations to be collected at all branches of all Hawaii banks. "This is the first time all the bankers are involved," said association Executive Vice President Rodney Shinkawa. Banks will forward the tax-deductible donations to the foundation, which will issue receipts to donors.
Donations to the fund may also be made online via credit card at www.hcf-hawaii.org, or mailed to the Hawaii Community Foundation, Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1300, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Taketa said publicity has so far been handled by Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations Inc., and that KFVE-TV would produce and distribute public service announcements to radio and TV stations.
The American Red Cross has a perpetual fund for such crises, to which donations are always tax deductible.
"We're realizing a lot of people want to help and donate funds to support relief efforts," Cassandra Ely, who handles disaster public affairs for the Red Cross' Hawaii Chapter.
"We're asking people to either call 1-800-HELP NOW, or they can also call the chapter here at 739-8105. They can also make a secure online donation at www.redcross.org," she said. Checks payable to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund may be mailed to state headquarters at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96815.
Tuesday's terrorism prompted proprietors of Nick's Cafe to challenge their small business brethren.
Nick and Nina Patchrapong, former operators of the "News Cafe by Nick," at 605 Kapiolani Blvd., plan to donate $500 to the cause.
"There's only so much we can give," Nina said. "We just got this location, but we want to do something." Perhaps if they start it, she said, "All the little businesspeople and merchants can do the same thing like us and make a bigger fund to help out wherever it's needed."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com