First Hawaiian Bank raises $600,000

First Hawaiian Bank has raised more than $600,000 for Japan disaster relief, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Don Hor­ner said yesterday.

In addition, First Hawaiian’s parent company, BNPP, recently announced that it was donating $1.2 million to the Japa­nese Red Cross Society.

First Hawaiian established the Japan-Hawaii Relief Fund on March 11 and donated $100,000 to the fund. Donations are being accepted through March 31 at any First Hawaiian branch. All donations will go to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii for the benefit of the Japa­nese Red Cross Society.

To further support disaster victims and their families, First Hawaiian is waiving all wire transfer fees from the U.S. to Japan for its personal customers.

The bank has also agreed to participate in "Aloha for Japan," a statewide effort to raise funds for the Japan-America Society of Hawaii.

Long-lived albatross survives tsunami

The albatross Wisdom, who is more than 60 years old, is alive and has returned to Midway Atoll, dispelling fears she might have been killed in the March 10-11 tsunami, the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex said yesterday.

In the face of tremendous losses, including an estimated 110,000 chicks and 2,000 adult albatrosses killed, biologists were thrilled to discover that Wisdom had survived, said Barry Stieg­­litz, the complex’s proj­­ect leader.

Stieglitz said Wisdom’s survival reinforces the importance of breeding adults in the population.

Wisdom is still producing chicks.

"It’s very humbling to know this 8-pound bird has been producing chicks longer than I have been alive," Stieg­­litz said.

Students donate proceeds from show

The Nanakuli High and Intermediate School Performing Arts Center will donate proceeds from its final week of performances of "Disney’s Camp Rock the Musical" to the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund.

The musical is based on the Disney Channel movies "Camp Rock" and "Camp Rock, the Final Jam."

All performances are in the Nana­kuli High and Intermediate School’s multipurpose building.

Performances are April 1-3 and 7-10. Proceeds from the April 8-10 performances will be donated to the Red Cross.

"The students felt very fortunate to have received all the support from the community for their Scotland trip and, in return, wanted to help the people of Japan who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami," Nana­kuli Performing Arts Center Director Robin Kitsu said.

Tickets for adults are $10 pre-sale and $13 at the door, $5 for students in high school and younger, and $3 for children under 12. Go to www.nhispac.com or call 668-5823, ext. 256, for ticket information.

Famed chefs to cook for the cause

Three well-known chefs are combining their talents for a culinary benefit for Japanese disaster relief. "For Japan — Culinary Artists for the Japan Relief Effort" will be April 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hau Terrace restaurant at the Hale­ku­lani hotel.

Halekulani executive chef Vikram Garg, visionary of beyond ethnic "universal cuisine"; chef Nobu Matsu­hisa of Nobu Waikiki; and chef Yuji Wakiya, known for haute Chinese cuisine, will present 3 cooking stations featuring Indian, Japa­nese-Peruvian and haute Chinese cuisine.

Donations are $95 per person. All proceeds will go to the statewide campaign "Aloha for Japan," with the Japan-America Society of Hawaii as the designated recipient benefiting the Japa­nese Red Cross Society.

For reservations, call the Hale­ku­lani at 931-5040.

Tokai College to host benefit sale

Hawaii Tokai International College will hold a flea market Friday and Saturday to raise money for Japanese disaster relief. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day in the cafeteria of the college at 2241 Kapiolani Blvd.

People who wish to donate items for the sale may drop them off at the school’s front lobby through Friday. Monetary donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to the Japa­nese Red Cross Society.