Relief effort for
Samoa under wayA headquarters and collection
site opens today in Honolulu,
accepting donations
A relief effort for victims of Cyclone Heta in Samoa will open a headquarters and collection site today for donations.
Gus Hannemann, chairman and organizer of Samoa Cyclone Heta Relief Effort, said he has been flooded with phone calls offering food and other items but had nowhere to store them prior to shipping.
Space at the NCR Building at 720 Kapiolani Blvd., at the corner of Cooke Street, has been provided by Unity House for use as a headquarters and collection site. Donors can make drop-offs there, and volunteers can begin picking up large donations to be taken there.
"I'm excited because the infrastructure is all in place," Hannemann said. "Now I can make stone soup for my people."
Donors can also take nonperishable food and clothing to 12 Oahu fire stations: Hauula, Hawaii Kai, Kailua, Kalihi Kai, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Kuakini, Mililani Mauka, Moanalua, Waianae, Waikiki and Waipahu.
"I was surprised so many people came the first day," said fire Capt. Scott Mosher, of the Kaneohe Fire Station. He said people showed up Friday with cases of canned goods and clothes.
Cyclone Heta devastated the independent nation of Samoa and neighboring American Samoa Jan. 4 with winds gusting to nearly 200 mph.
Shipping company PM&O Line (through its agent Island Maritime Agencies) has provided two shipping containers, which will be parked at the site, and will ship them to Samoa for free.
The first shipment will go out Jan. 26, Hannemann said.
The nation of Samoa, which was hit harder by Heta, will be the initial focus of the relief effort because it is not entitled to federal aid available to American Samoa, a U.S. territory, Hannemann said.
What the cyclone victims need most are canned foods, rice, sugar, flour and saimin, Hannemann said. "The immediate need is food products," he said.
He said the steady high winds destroyed the taro, banana and breadfruit people grew in backyard gardens.
"We're not accepting money," he said, since it would be difficult to distribute the funds. "A can of corned beef or a can of Spam, that's what I'm looking for.
"They need clothes, too, but the first need is to feed the tummy," Hannemann said.
Many of the 180,000 people in Samoa live in traditional open-air "fales," and for them, a pillow, sheet and towel "are three priceless possessions," he said.
Several businesses have also offered their help. Island Movers will pick up large items. Weyerhaeuser is donating cardboard boxes to pack food. United Laundry will provide sheets and pillowcases. Hilton Hawaiian Village and Pagoda Hotel are donating sheets and towels. Hawaiian Airlines has also offered to help.
For further information, call Hannemann at 847-1998, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or 375-7800. High Chief Galeiai Lilomaiava, who is coordinating efforts in the Laie-Hauula area, can be reached at 293-1335.