Five years after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated whole towns, displaced residents and killed more than 18,000 people in northeast Japan, the coastline is still recovering.

But it’s the traumatized children left in the wake that most concerns Honolulu- based Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, which helps children cope with abuse, neglect and loss of parents. On a mission to heal young hearts, the nonprofit has visited the Tohoku region, which includes the city of Sendai, at least 16 times since the disaster.

This month, it will bring 44 of the region’s orphans to Oahu to participate in Camp Hoku Lele (Shooting Star), March 25-28. The Japanese children will network with 25 local children from monthly support groups and other Kids Hurt Too activities.

“They will come together to focus on their dreams and wishes while establishing connections to other children, the ocean and Hawaiian culture,” said Cynthia White, executive director of Kids Hurt Too, which has served 3,000 children since its inception 15 years ago.

Headquartered at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Kukui Center, Kids Hurt Too provides children with a place where they can help one another, White said. But the children from Japan lack access to similar resources, she said.

Hiro Ito, program manager for Kids Hurt Too, began making outreach trips to Japan in June 2011. Ito lived in Sendai with his mother, but she died when he was a toddler. He was then raised in Tokyo orphanages, one of which was founded more than a century ago in response to a different tsunami.

“The 2011 trip was my first trip back to Sendai since I was 2,” Ito said. “I found that I could relate to these kids because of my background.”

While the fifth anniversary of the tragedy was observed this week, Ito said, for the children of Tohoku, time hasn’t eased their sorrows.

“As their region recovers, many of them are losing their parks and playgrounds to housing reconstruction efforts,” he said. “They live in ocean towns and many of them still are scared of the water.”

Ito and White spent personal money on most trips to Japan. They had several corporate sponsorships, which have since ended. “We are looking for more donors for our work with children in Japan and Hawaii,” Ito said.

Jamie Yoshida, owner of The Bead Gallery, has stepped up. She and her husband, Jason Del Mundo, accompanied Kids Hurt Too on a trip to Japan in 2013. They went back the next year to continue the work. This year, they plan to host an arts and craft activity at the camp.

“Traveling to Japan gave us a different appreciation of what we have,” Yoshida said. “It’s very important to remember the survivors. I don’t think their grief will ever stop. The healing work will be from now until these kids die.”

White said the cost of bringing the children from Japan to attend camp was paid by the Asahi Shimbun Social Welfare Organization. She said additional donations are needed to cover activities and bedding. Also, sponsorships are needed for local children to attend the camp, which costs $236 per child. Kids Hurt Too has set a goal of sponsoring 25 local children, but so far has funding for only 15.

Ito said Japanese children will benefit from meeting local children who can teach them: “It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to play. It’s OK to smile.”

Similarly, White said, the camp will bring strength to local children who are grieving their own losses.

“Most of the children in our program know about what happened in Japan. Giving them this chance to support others is empowering and healing,” she said.

Chris Daniel said Kids Hurt Too has helped her children deal with a family loss. She expects it will have the same impact on the Japanese children who visit.

“It helps to have a place to go where everyone understands,” Daniel said. “I think the camp will be phenomenal.”