Isle visitor
watches from afar
as disaster keeps
him from his family

» First Hawaiian accepting donations for Katrina victims

In Hawaii, Hurricane Katrina has separated a tourist visiting from New Orleans and his family, and in New Orleans the hurricane has kept four Hawaii emergency workers from their families.

James Green, the visitor from New Orleans, saw on TV that the subdivision where his home was being built was 25 feet underwater. "We've lost everything that's a part of us," the 42-year-old said.

"I'm looking at the stuff on television," Green said. "Reality hasn't set in."

Green, a Coast Guard Reserve officer who helps families with special-needs dependents, is in Honolulu attending a military conference to share resources in helping spouses of active-duty members.

But he is helpless to aid his own family.

The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii provided moral support yesterday along with meal vouchers, a bus pass, a goodie bag and a brand-new green aloha shirt, which made him smile, said Jessica Lani Rich, VASH president and executive director.

"He's got the weight of the world on him now," she said.

Green's brother was stuck on a rooftop last night. Green's wife and 11-year-old daughter were evacuated to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La. His mother fled to Houston, where she is in a $79-a-night hotel room.

Green expects to get a flight out Monday to Houston or Dallas, and then will rent a car to Shreveport.

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, four Honolulu emergency workers thought yesterday morning they had bought their way to Houston -- to safety -- with $75 bus tickets.

But their hopes were dashed when the military commandeered the buses last night.

Paramedics Melinda Shiraki, Jill Takayama and Doreen Kitagawa, and emergency medical technician Rochel Ortiz were in New Orleans for a paramedics conference.

"They were told to go back to their hotel rooms," said Hoku Takayama, Jill's husband.

Jill called Hoku just before 6:30 p.m. Hawaii time to inform him of the bad news.

"They're breaking down a little bit," Hoku said. "Jill's crying on the phone."

He said she had to provide him with the strength early in the ordeal, but it was now his turn to be the stronger one.

"I said, 'You know you're coming home,'" he said. "'Now it's just a matter of time.'"

They had "false hope that they were getting out tonight," he said yesterday. Last night, they did not know when or how they were getting out.

"What's wearing on them more is the prisoners ... got taken out today ... but they left them there," he said.

They expected a school bus would pick them up, head north and make various stops before heading to Houston.

Takayama said the women gave up their food and water to a family with four children when they thought they would be leaving the city. The only food they had last night was a piece of chocolate and a cracker, but no water, he said.

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First Hawaiian Bank
accepting donations
for Katrina victims

First Hawaiian Bank is taking up a collection for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Anyone wanting to assist with relief efforts can make a donation at any branch of First Hawaiian Bank to benefit the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The bank kicked off the Katrina Relief Fund with a $25,000 donation.

The tax-deductible donations can be made at any of the bank's 61 branches. Checks should be made payable to the Salvation Army Katrina Disaster Fund or American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning today that donors should be alert to those taking advantage of people's eagerness to help disaster victims. Such situations include possible scams by phone solicitors that might allege to be calling from well-known charities, only to be cons seeking credit card or other information. The bureau recommends asking the caller to send written information before making a donation decision.

Also, the bureau warns of online "phishing" scams, asking for contributions, where the messages link to a fake Web site.

The bureau also asks donors to beware of new charities that spring up promising to aid victims but lack the means and experience to deliver aid quickly.

The bureau reminds donors that only U.S.-based charities with charitable tax-exempt status can be deductible as charitable gifts for tax purposes.

Those willing to volunteer should remember that relief agencies need volunteers with disaster experience and might need local help with routine activities such as manning phones, the bureau said.