HONOLULU — Six children from the Japanese region most affected by the largest nuclear accident since Chernobyl are in Hawaii for some rest and relaxation. HONOLULU — Six children from the Japanese region most affected by the largest nuclear accident
HONOLULU — Six children from the Japanese region most affected by the largest nuclear accident since Chernobyl are in Hawaii for some rest and relaxation.
Organizers of the Hearts for Fukushima Kids program want the children to spend their summer vacation outdoors and to breathe the clean, fresh air of the Hawaiian Islands.
The children landed on Hawaii Island in late June and will visit Oahu later this month.
The initiative was started by Fukushima resident Marian Moriguchi, who was born and raised on Oahu, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
She said many parents in Fukushima won’t let their children play outside for more than 30 minutes to an hour because of radiation concerns.
“On weekends some parents try to drive about 30 or 50 miles outside of Fukushima so their children can play outside and breathe fresh air,” Moriguchi said.
However, sometimes they aren’t warmly received because people in these other areas wrongly think that interacting with the children will pose health risks to them.”
The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant went into multiple meltdowns after the March 2011 tsunami. Decommissioning the plant is expected to take decades.
More than two years later, Moriguchi estimates that hundreds of thousands of Fukushima residents still live in temporary housing.
Many residents also are afraid to drink their city’s water or eat the food.
“We want the children to be able to spend their summer vacation outdoors and to breathe the clean, fresh air of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as provide such educational opportunities in which they will be able to learn, grow, play with the children of Hawaii and experience its aloha spirit,” she said.
On Hawaii Island the children will get a tour of the kitchen at a McDonald’s, visit the volcano, take yoga and cooking lessons, and play with other children.
On Oahu, Moriguchi said, the children will have a chance to swim at Ko Olina, go camping, visit the Tendai Mission of Hawaii and make pareos in Waianae.
“Hawaii has been very generous,” Moriguchi said.
The Fukushima Kids Hawaii Project, an initiative of mothers in Hawaii and Japan, is hosting a Zumba Party from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hualalai Academy’s Bridge Building to raise awareness and money for the children from Fukushima.
The six children, ages 12 to 16, visiting the Big Island are staying in Kealakekua, Captain Cook and several locations through Aug. 16.
Tickets will be sold from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at Pacific Island Fitness and Walmart.
The cost of tickets was not immediately available Monday.
By local and wire sources
