Thursday, December 19, 2013

From Java on the Rock

IMPORTANT:  IndieGoGo campaign for Fukushima Kids here.  $1730 raised so far! Campaign continues till the end of this year, Dec 31, 2013. We aim to raise $13000:
http://goo.gl/aBDMWJ
---------------------------
Java on the Rock is my favorite cafe located on makai (ocean) side of Alii Drive in Kailua Kona, Hawai'i.  They have a coffee farm and roast their own famous and award winning Kona coffee, which is really popular and tasty.

Gen and I would like to walk to this place as often as we can from our house(takes about 30 minutes). It is our morning exercise and all the walk is so pleasant looking at Kailua Bay coming downand Hualalai Mountain going up.  What I like most is the sandy floor where you can put your bare feet in, in addition to the view and location where you get to see turtles and dolphins often.

The owner (Andrea, Bruce) is kindly inviting Fukushima Kids to Java on the Rock for a breakfast and we mean to do that on Dec 27, only 9 days from now.

Fukushima Kids are arriving to Kona in 3 days (Dec 21) and we are getting busier and busier. Here is an event to welcome the kids and we would like to pack the hall of 300 people at Hualalai Academy.  If you happen to be here in Kona, please join us to meet and cheer up the children from Fukushima.
We are still trying to raise money to pay for all the costs including airfares, food, lodging, transportations and activities of 8 people for 2 weeks. Hawaii is an expensive place, but it is worth the effort as this may be a life changing experience for the children.

3 boys are from the Kayak club in Fukushima and I am asking canoe clubs in Honaunau, Keauhou and Kona to sponsor the canoeing experience for the children.

I am very grateful and happy to be able to organize all of those activities thanks to the generosity of many people in Kona.

Mahalo mahalo!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Help me to raise what is lost and more: Kids are coming in 10 days

This is the first time I ever try this. I do not know how it works, but I have a reason to raise money for Fukushima Kids even more so than ever.
http://www.indiegogo.com/project/607845/widget/5608962

This is the fundraiser event we are having at the end of the year.  Be a part of great cause and meet the Fukushima kids!


Last week after the great success of Support Fukushima Kids Day and 3 garage sales, I counted all the money including small changes and separated money for each event, put it in different envelope, calculated the total and then put all the envelopes in a large brown envelope.

The next day, that brown envelope disappeared from our house.

I am afraid it was stolen by someone who knows we were fundraising. I did have many strangers in the house for the garage sale as we displayed nicer items inside the house.

When I realize money we raised was gone, I cried like a child (have not done this for some time).
I sobbed for a few hours and was depressed for days.
I was so sorry and discouraged that I did not know how to tell all the friends who helped me to raise money.

They all worked so hard.
 I am grateful for them and this is what I have to tell them?
The money is stolen now?  I wanted to report how much we raised and how grateful I was.

But now that 7 children and 1 chaperon from Fukushima are arriving on Dec 21, 2013, in just 10 days, I have no time to cry but to do what I can to raise money for them again.

What is gone is the money, $2600, but all the love and care I received from so many people in Kona for Fukushima Kids is intact. It is still with me and that is important.

$2600 is a lot for me. I guess it is a lot for anyone when the money is not yours but it is the money for Fukushima Kids we raised together. So many people, especially mothers, worked and helped.

I am so sorry it is gone now.

Please help me to regain what I lost and support the Fukushima kids.

I am inviting everyone to Fukushima Kids Welcome Festival. Bring your friend and family as it is a free event. (I hope to have enough fund raised by Indiegogo)

Mahalo for reading my blog to the end. Your support is invaluable.



Friday, December 06, 2013

Nelson Mandela, Thank you for your inspiration

Nelson Mandela passed at the age of 95 in South Africa.  He has been my hero.  As I did not have a chance to express my appreciation to him directly,  I am writing my appreciation here.

He taught me not to give up.  Forgiveness is not losing your power.  I am now going through tough situation in my life, but thinking of the life of Nelson Mandela gives me hope and courage.

Fukushima Kids Hawaii is now inviting 8 people (7 kids and 1 chaperon) to Kona for 2 weeks of respite from their radioactive environment.  They can enhance their health by eating fresh organic food (not with radiation) and playing outside without worrying about radiation freely.

At the moment, we do not have enough funding to support what we are trying to do.  If you are in Japan and would like to support Fukushima Kids Hawaii, please donate to the account below:

Postal  Transfer Account: 00150-4-728960 Fukushima Kids Hawaii
(below is in Japanese. You can show this to a post office clerk)
郵便振替口座  口座番号 00150−4−728960  
ふくしまキッズハワイ

Nelson Mandera said, "It's always darkest before dawn".

I will remember his words when I need to deal with tough situation.

Thank you, Nelson Mandera for being my inspiration.  I have been able to continue all I have done thanks to your words and who you are.

Arigato  Arigato.


*Thank you for reading. Your click below help me to get my blog reach more people.