While relief efforts continue in the wake of Japan’s major earthquake and tsunami, efforts are also still underway in New Zealand, where a powerful earthquake struck two weeks prior.
181 people died.
A small group of college students from Hawai’i went to help and are back home, trying to spread the word of the continued need in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Buildings that withstood a 7.1 earthquake in Christchurch last September crumbled with the jolt of a 6.3 quake February 22.
Clifford Kapono heard about the earthquake and decided to take action.
"I told everyone what happened and as soon as I said it everyone was thinking the same thing and it was like yah we need to go down and help out," Kapono said.
Kapono, Haunani Kane and four others had partial sponsorship but paid for the majority of their trip themselves. They were struck by the devastation.
"It was just really sad, like it was kind of your heart was breaking, just to see all these buildings and all these historic places kind of just in pieces and I think what was even more sad was when we actually talked to the people and listened to their stories," Kane said.
"We had a three step plan and the first plan was to go down and offer any kind of immediate relief," Kapono explained.
They worked with indigenous Maori tribes in providing assistance, from construction to cooking food.
"And we would help to distribute those meals and go door knocking and just talk to the people and let them know that there’s people here to help them that we care about them and see if they’re alright," Kane said.
That was phase two, hearing the voices of the people – then, to provide a voice.
"Our third one was to come back to Hawaii and to make sure people in Hawaii knew what was going on," Kapono said.
So they’re sharing their home video and invite people to learn more.
You can contact them on their Facebook page Kapu Na Keiki,
The name of their group, originally formed several years ago to raise money for abused children by paddling across the state. A remarkable group that personifies caring.
"We’re not saying you should do anything, it’s up to you whatever you find in your heart to give or to do anything it’s up to you, but we want to just be able to show people that this happened," Kapono said.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
