Lahaina Divers Sponsors Benefit Dive for Japanese Children Orphaned by Tsunami

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Benefit Dive for Japan
Although much of the attention paid to the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear power plant disaster has significantly diminished, the need for aid for the Japanese people continues. To bolster support for the country, Lahaina Divers is sponsoring a dive trip to benefit Japanese children orphaned by the disaster.

On July 31, 2011, Lahaina Divers will sponsor Benefit for Japan, a 2-tank boat dive with 100 percent of the funds collected being donated to Japanese relief organization Ashinaga Ikuei Kai, which supports children who lost their parents in the disaster. Lahaina Divers is donating the boat and crew for the charter, along with a deli lunch offered between dives.  Attendees check-in at the Lahaina Divers store located at 143 Dickenson Street in Lahaina, Hawaii. Approximate return time from dive is 12:30pm. 

Divers must be certified, but all are welcome onboard as passengers or snorkelers. Minimum donation is $150 per person,  all of which goes to the relief effort.
Make reservations or get additional information by calling 667-7496 or 1-998-3483.

To donate directly to Ashinaga Ikuei Kai, visit the English version of their website at www.ashinaga.org/en/

More information on disaster survivors and Ashinaga Ikuei Kai:
There are reportedly 1,101 children who lost their parents as of May 31st 2011. For children who lost their parents or guardians in the disaster or who have a parent or guardian affected by a severe disability resulting from the disaster, Ashinaga has implemented the following measures:

* Establishment of one-time relief payments for children (from infants to graduate-school students) ranging from 100,000 yen (US$1,250) to 400,000 yen (US$5,000).
* Grace periods for repayment of regular Ashinaga educational loans.
* Dispatch of staff members to affected areas to identify children in need of psychological support. These efforts are based on 16 years of experience and know-how that have been accumulated through the psychosocial care activities undertaken at Kobe Rainbow House, established after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.