Isle efforts ramp up to
aid hurricane victims

» Isle rescue workers will return home soon
» UH, HPU welcome displaced students
» Police teaching disaster safety

Donations began to pour in yesterday to fund-raising drives in Hawaii set up to aid relief efforts in the areas hard hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Kaiser Permanente pledged $3 million, while First Hawaiian Bank donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to help their relief operations in New Orleans and parts of the Gulf Coast that were devastated by the deadly storm.

"As we know all too well in Hawaii, hurricanes can devastate lives and property at any time," said Don Horner, president and chief executive of First Hawaiian Bank. "We want our neighbors on the mainland to experience our aloha at this difficult time."

Aloha United Way, Foodland and Sack 'n Save stores also are accepting donations. A donation box at the state Capitol collected $860 in its first day of operations yesterday.

Here is a look at what is happening around the state:

Donations

» Honolulu city officials will be collecting donations for Operation Katrina Kokua on Monday at the conclusion of the city's Parade of Baseball Champions at Queen's Beach. The money will go to the American Red Cross.

» First Hawaiian is accepting Hurricane Katrina relief donations to the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross at its 56 branches statewide.

» Foodland and Sack 'n Save stores statewide are accepting donations to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Foodland Super Market Ltd. and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation. The money will be given to the American Red Cross. Customers can make donations up to $249 at checkout using their Maikai Card. The donation amount will be added to the customer's grocery purchase and will appear as Hurricane Relief on the receipt.

» General Growth Properties has set up donation displays in all of its shopping malls where people can get remittance envelopes for the American Red Cross. The displays went up yesterday at Ala Moana Center, Victoria Ward Centers, Windward Mall, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Queen Kaahumanu Center and Whalers Village.

» The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is donating $500,000 each to United Jewish Communities and Catholic Charities USA to assist hurricane survivors.

» Hawaii Foodbank is collecting donations for affiliate food banks in the Gulf Coast. Checks should be made payable to Hawaii Foodbank with reference to Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and mailed to 2611 Kilihau St., Honolulu 96819. People can also send contributions to the Foodbank's national organization America's Second Harvest, Donation Processing Center, P.O. Box 8929, Topeka, KS 66608-8929.

» Kaiser Permanente has pledged $3 million for hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region. The first $2 million will go to launch the national Centers for Disease Control's Hurricane Katrina financial response efforts to support public health department assistance in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The other $1 million is for long-term hurricane recovery relief.

» State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers is accepting checks to assist police officers from New Orleans and other affected areas who have lost their homes yet continue to work around the clock. Checks should be made payable to the NAPO Relief Fund and dropped off at any of SHOPO's offices on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. Contributions to the National Association of Police Organizations Relief Fund are tax-deductible.

» The Hawaiian Humane Society on Oahu is accepting donations for the rescue of animal victims of Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana. Checks should be made payable to Hawaiian Humane Society and designated "Katrina Animals." The money will be directed to animal rescue efforts already under way and for sheltering and reuniting animals with their owners. People can make their donations by mail, by credit card over the telephone at 356-2213 or online at www.hawaiianhumane.org.

Fund-raisers

» Dixie Grill on Ward Avenue is donating all the proceeds from its barbecue chicken plate lunch sale Monday to the American Red Cross. Customers can pre-order or purchase the $8 lunches at the restaurant starting at noon. The company is also accepting donations at its Aiea restaurant.

» Oldies band Flashback will be giving a special benefit performance for victims of Hurricane Katrina on Thursday at Ige's Restaurant and 19th Puka in Aiea. Donations will be accepted for the American Red Cross. People who donate $10 or more can sing with the band. The restaurant is at 98-761 Oihana Place. Music starts at 7:30 p.m.

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Isle rescue workers
will return home soon

Four Honolulu emergency workers stranded in New Orleans will be heading home soon, although no one knows exactly when.

The four, unable to leave the city before Hurricane Katrina hit, survived on little food and water and ended up rendering aid to other victims.

Paramedics Doreen Kitagawa, Melinda Shiraki, Jill Takayama and emergency medical technician Rochel Ortiz were taken to Baton Rouge yesterday.

"They're eating at Burger King and looking forward to their first hot shower in five days," said City Emergency Medical Services Chief Patty Dukes in a news release issued by the Mayor's Office.

Dr. Libby Char, director of the city Department of Emergency Services, said, "They have a car, and they'll head for a major city to try to get a flight home."

The women had attended a paramedics conference in New Orleans, which ended last Saturday, and could not get a flight or rental car out of the city before Katrina hit.

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UH and HPU welcome
displaced students

The University of Hawaii at Manoa is taking in five students from colleges and universities affected by Hurricane Katrina, and all 10 UH campuses and community colleges are inviting more students from the area to apply for admission this fall, said UH-Manoa spokesman Jim Manke.

UH might also grant tuition waivers to these students.

In a press release Thursday, UH-Manoa said it been contacted by four students from Tulane University and one from Loyola University of New Orleans about enrolling.

"We want our local students attending schools on the mainland affected by this devastating event to know that the University of Hawaii will do whatever it can to assist them in continuing their higher education," said UH Interim President David McClain.

The UH initiative is similar to that of dozens of colleges and universities across the country as a response to the storm's devastation.

Hawaii families with students on the mainland who wish to take advantage of this enrollment offer are advised to call the campus of their choice.

Students may also enroll at Hawaii Pacific University with proof of admission or enrollment to a college or university in the areas affected by the hurricane. HPU will be open today and all next week to assist them.