Saaya Watanabe, a 14-year-old disaster survivor from Namie in Fukushima, wants messages of hope from Hawaii residents.

The girl’s father, a volunteer firefighter, disappeared while responding to the nuclear disaster, and she and her remaining family cannot return to their home near the power plant for at least 30 years.

Watanabe, who found respite in Hawaii through the Rainbow for Japan Kids program, said her time in the isles was a great emotional help. She equates Hawaii with all things positive.

Also, new and used Hawaiian music CDs are at the top of the list for other people who are experiencing hardships in Fukushima, said Marian Moriguchi, a Hawaii expatriate living in Fukushima.

"Hawaiian music is always soothing and relaxing, so a group of women were discussing about having Hawaiian music CDs and they would go around to the temporary housing and start up a library of CDs to lend them out," Moriguchi said.

Moriguchi will collect words of inspiration for Watanabe and Hawaiian music CDs at: Marian Moriguchi, director; Assist-One Co.; 7-8-3 Horai-cho; Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture; 960-8157 JAPAN

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Kids Hurt Too Hawaii seeks volunteers and donations for its Kid’s Heart Project, which provides outreach to children and families in the tsunami-affected regions of Japan. For more information on the Kid’s Heart Project, visit www.kidshurttoo.org or call 545-5683.

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The Japan-America Society of Hawaii is collecting donations and volunteer support for the Rainbow for Japan Kids program. The program brings children from disaster-affected regions of Japan to the isles for respite. For more information: Japan-America Society of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1412, Hono-lulu, HI 96806-1412; phone 524-4450; fax 524-4451; email admindir@jashawaii.org