COLLECTION,PREPARATION and delivery OF THE SUPPLIES:

Jan 27, 2012 posting

Information about the Humanitarian effort to help Fanning Island and it’s people was presented before and during this sailing in many ways. The passengers have said the PCM website was one of the main internet sites for getting information about the needs, what to buy and how to tour the island when visiting the island. The information gathered before sailing and during the first 5 days before arriving Hawaii, was very well promoted by the ship, Lisa the travel consultant, and during a private (non solicitation) info presentation by Rich Smith to the Cruise Critic group and others traveling on the cruise.

Like Ruth, seen here the day before sailing with her bags.

She arrived on Amtrac in early afternoon and was met at the station in order to help her with her donated supplies for Fanning. She had the satchal bag loaded with school supplies which included a couple reams of printing paper. So far this is the heaviest bag ever donated…… Would you believe she had the bag attached to her suitcase for traveling? She did! Way to go Ruth and what dedication and giving heart.

During the stays in San Diego, Honolulu, Maui and Hilo allot of supplies were purchased at the various Wal Mart, Costco, ABC, Longs and other department stores.

Honolulu Senator Glen Wakai, director of Reach Out Pacific, donated over 30 boxes which contained new T-shirts, stuffed animals books and toys.

Honolulu’s Central Baptist Church Pastor Dan Douglass dropped off supplies and support from his church.

PCM volunteer Dennis Lomas drove across the big island of Hawaii with a full truckload of boxed supplies. These were the Crock shoes and Health Center supplies donated and described in the pre cruise information.

Some of the things were then given to PCM (for proper and secure storing).

The ship also held a two hour collection event at the Lido Pool area the day before arriving Fanning. Two giant towel bins were used to collect donation items and they were then sorted for better itemizing and inventory.

The event was such a success and many people who may not have donated any supplies felt compelled to help in some other way too.

Once everything was collected by the ship it was then stored in a secure location along with the many items the staff had donated.

At Fanning Island, the supplies were delivered to the island with help of ship crew, locals and passengers.

Dec. 29th: The following picture shows the supplies held in Kailua-Kona and ready for shipping to Fanning Island.

The boxes will be transported to Hilo Jan 12th by our driver volunteer Dennis Lomas. Thanks much again Dennis!

More supplies are also expected to be put on in San Diego by PCM and other passengers. Upon arriving Honolulu, Senator Glen Wakai of Reach Out Pacific is planning on donating about 10 boxes of T-shirts. He is also looking into computers that are much requested from the Island.

In communicating with the island secondary school principal, there is also a need to help them with photo printing and other computer processes. An assessment of their needs seem inevitable during our visit.

Also to be taken and delivered to a worthy party on Fanning is a water filter donated by Jim & Fae Lumsden who visited the island in September on the Westerdam. This filter could be a worthy item to the future of safe drinking water.

Newsflash!!!  Update from the island is that the instalation of the louvered windows and security wire for the new Health Center is nearing completion, FINALLY!

Dec 18th:

One group wanting to help is the Kona Hawaii youth from the Sunday School class at Living Stones Church.

They eagerly became involved in sorting a large amount of Croc like footware that had been donated back in February by a Hawaii Volcano Rotary member. He donated them after a presentation was given to the Rotary group by Rich Smith/Pacific CARE Missions director.

Unfortunately, a few of them had been damaged by rats during their storage but the majority were in great shape.

It was a great time sorting and preparing the shoes for shipping. The many kids mentioned how fun the “workout was”. They truely did have to work fast with the many shoes, extra cleanup due to the debris inside the boxes, and time was clicking away before the main church service ended.

We also found that there were mostly large to extra large sizes. We can only hope there are big sized feet on the local people at Fanning island. We are still seeking many other youth sized type of these shoes that we can then personally give to the school children on the island. There is such an important need for footware to prevent parasites and infections from walking in the dirt and water and the unsanitary conditions that are present there.

The mother of Marley came afterwards to say how influenced her daughter was to be a part of the activity and that she may also be doing some followup presentations in the future to her school after getting more information.

A much appreciated thank you to this group of kids who wanted to help meet the needs of the people on Fanning Island.

I personally will be traveling on the Jan 4 2012 Rotterdam sailing so if you have questions or supplies you need help with please let me know. RICH SMITH

It is very strongly suggested that all the items have an address label on the box or suitcases to a designated receiver on Fanning Island. Otherwise, the island council will obtain the items for their discretion as to what to do with the items. The following addresses will be ok at this time to ensure your supplies will get to a proper person/location, If you have any questions please contact Rich Smith/Pacific CARE Missions Director.
1: For general school related items address to:
Principal or Deputy Principal (Ben Oten)
Meleang Tabai Secondary School (MTSS)
Napali, Fanning Island

2: For primary and secondary school related items address to:
Pricipals; MTSS, JSS and FITA (Fanning Island Teachers Association)

3:For general Clinic supplies address to:
Fanning Island Health Center
C/O Nurse Kantarawa

Presently I have been in communications with HAL and awaiting their response and approvals to allow everyone the same privileges as has happened on previous Rotterdam sailings. I will keep updating and post here for new developments.
Feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have or if you desire to get any immediate updates when the approvals come to me.
Recent note from head nurse: Donations are always needed to those remote islands but NEVER DONATE EXPIRED DRUGS, USED DRUGS AND ANY KIND OF MILK.
Because in the Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Institute Workshop we were taught to encourage the mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively until they are 6 months old then foods and drinks are introduced and still breast feeding. It has evidence proven that breastfeeding is nutritious, clean, always ready and no cost for the children.

CURRENT WISH LIST UPDATES OF NEEDED SUPPLIES for FANNING ISLAND:
From Fanning Island Mayor (sorry for his language and spelling but I didn’t feel I should correct it):
Our humble request if you possible accept concerning some other need of our people related to their seaweed plantation (their main job for life ) We would like to help them by requesting you if you could provided for them too.
a) Bundles of ropes (size 6mm /5mm ) for seaweed planted
b) Children supplies
c) Pre-school & primary supplies
d) Youth – sport materials e.g. volleyball balls, soccer, basket, table tenis
e) School bus – spare tyres & tube size # 16-7.50LT
f) Office – stationeries’ & photo copy papers. Manual typwriter with replacable ribbons
g) Health centre- any clinical first aid and cleaning materials 

From the secondary School representative:
1, sport equipment; basketball, volleyball and soccer ball
2, reading books relevant to secondary schools level
3, reference books for students reserch.
4, Exercise books (square & lined)
5, pens & pencils
6, Laptop computers and printer

Have a wonderful sailing!

The ship was able to make a sucessful visit to Fanning Island and many items were doanted and the passengers were also able to deliver their donated supplies!!!! More pictures of that to be added soon.

NOTE: If you are a future visitor to the island with supplies to donate, please contact me directly to find out the best method of giving the supplies to a trustworthy representative of the council, clinics or schools.
RICH SMITH
Pacific CARE Missions director

11/27/2010

The November 22-December 22, 2010 Holland America ms Rotterdam Cruise was truly a special sailing with over three pallets (about 50 boxes) of donated supplies delivered to Fanning Island on Dec. 4th. The January 2011 sailing also donated additional supplies and they successfully delivered them upon their arrival to the island.

The ship and the many staff members have really gone out of their way to meet the needs of the islanders and the passengers who wanted to help donate their supplies.

On the November 2010 sailing, the ship did approve and allow 3 private information presentations given to the passengers by Rich Smith / Director of Pacific CARE Missions.

The last half of each presentation was alloted for question and answers to be addressed. Each gathering consisted of over 150 people who heard about the presentations thru the Cruise Critic and Vantage tour group members and by word of mouth advertising during the meals, other activities and/or other ship tour presentations.

The responses were overwhelming, and the ship and the staff also became involved because of great information lectures from the ship’s Travel Consultant Lisa Kimsey and the Human Resource department leader Natalie Ansari got the word out to the employees who collectively donated personal items. The corporate office of HAL in Seattle also gave approval for the ship to donate many ship supplies such as old table cloths, cutlery and medical supplies (surplus). There were even some boxes of fruit donated from the culinary department to bless the local Donation Committee members who rarely get to enjoy those luxuries and much need food items.

Hotel Director Hans Dernison and the Safety, Environmental and Health officer Ronald de Bloeme need to be commended for their extra effort to help in this life-saving and gift giving time so close to the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

The information received from the island council, during their days of sorting and distribution after the ship departed, was the members were overwhelmed with so many supplies for the schools, medical clinics and the people. We are confident that after the upcoming January and March 2011 sailings donate their supplies, the island will be so much better off. There rarely are only a few cargo ships arriving with bare essentials for sale.

After the final follow-up presentation was given in the ship movie theater by Rich, a comment/survey sheet was provided to the passengers. The overall consensus was that Fanning was the highlight of their trip and they asked that HAL would allow future presentations and information to be given so the passengers would know more about Fanning Island before their arrival to Hawaii, and definitely the island itself. This rarely happened on previous cruises and always the passengers would complain “I wish I would have heard about Fanning before going there because I would have helped, or known better what to do when visiting there”. Thankfully, this was not the case for most of the passengers on this sailing, because the ship allowed for people to be informed before arriving to Hawaii and Fanning Island, and after visiting Fanning.

HIGHLIGHT NOTE from RICH SMITH: One exciting experience I had during our visit to Fanning was laying out over 200 pair of new donated Croc shoes on a narrow strip of sand between the beach and the donation/information booth.

We quietly let the nearby officials select one pair of shoes for themselves and we marked their wrist with a magic marker so they would not try to return for more. In just a few minutes there were about 50 people then seconds later about 100 children, teens and adults crowding in to get a free pair.

It became so difficult to hold the people off that we just had to jump out of way and let them go for it.


In 15 seconds it was over and the crowd began to disappear. Later we could see many wearing their new brightly colored shoes. Some, for the first time.
What a treat to see the smiles of the people again and that a pair of shoes just might save their life. I can only remember how one pair saved my life last year from a dog bite while visiting Washington Island!

This newsletter update is currently being edited. Please return in near future to see any new updates of information and more pictures. Thanks for checking this page.

to see a current short news blog from Holland America, please see: HAL blog Tabuearan

Many Mahalos and God Bless!

NOTE: If you are a future visitor to the island with supplies to donate, please contact me directly to find out the best method of giving the supplies to a trustworthy representative of the council, clinics or schools.
RICH SMITH
Pacific CARE Missions director

   There are still many needs for materials to finalize the exterior and interior of the building. An exterior shower and toilet facility is being planned along with a catchment water storage system, plumbing and electrical are also needed to complete the project.
Currently (January 2011), there is a strong need to gather financial support to purchase and ship window glass and jalousie mechanisms to be sent on the March 2011 cargo sailing of the Kwai. The materials would allow completion of the back and two sides of the Health Centers windows.

  This new facility is such a blessing to the nurse and the people as the three roomed building, now with donated gurneys and exam tables, makes treating people more effective.

Many thanks to all who have helped and donated to make this facility possible to help save lives at Fanning island.

NOTE: If you are a future visitor to the island with supplies to donate, please contact me directly to find out the best method of giving the supplies to a trustworthy representative of the council, clinics or schools.
RICH SMITH
Pacific CARE Missions director

THE FOLLOWING WAS POSTED:  May/June 2009  NEW CLINIC being built on Fanning

A new Health clinic is presently being constructed with the help of local Fanning Island volunteers and materials donated from Hawaii.

note: BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE VISIT FANNING PAGE AS WELL FOR INFO ON VISITING THE ISLAND DURING A CRUISE

   Over 45 boxes of supplies consisting of medical surplus and Crock shoes and various sandals, donated from local residents and businesses of Kona Hawaii, were given to the newly opened Fanning Health Center and to the local residents who were gathered at the market area when the cruise ship passengers arrived.   

   The day was cloudy and had off and on rain showers that added to the wet and flooded conditions due to about 2 weeks of rain before our arrival. It made for difficult walking and truck tours available by one of the local touring type trucks. Each passenger could pay about $10 and travel with approximately 12 other people on the island’s only main road for a couple miles thru some of the nearby villages. The people definitely get an idea of how primitive and beautiful the island was. I am sure it was not the easiest, nor the smoothest ride, but well worth the adventure with cameras in hand and sharing the trip with others. The intermittent showers and cloud covering was actually a comfort from the usual hot and sun-baked conditions the island has.

  Once all the supplies were delivered to the government building, we were then allowed to take over 500 pairs of crocks and slippers to the flagpole area, and with the help of a local police officer and a couple of coordinators the foot-ware was freely given to those lucky locals that were there.  

   In the matter of minutes, all the foot-ware was freely given away, and even the large empty boxes became gifts to the people. I am sure they probably needed them to store things in, for firewood and a couple of them actually ended up at the dancing area where they were used as drums during the singing and dancing shows.

  Many of the guests from the ship, who attended our few Q & A sessions, enjoyed taking a walking tour to see the new Fanning Island Health Center. It was a great opportunity to see the clinic enclosed and being used to treat the local people.

  There were also a couple of serious health needs that got examined by the two visiting ship doctors who volunteered their time to help the local people.

    After our visit to the island, those guests that did tour the island had such a positive attitude and desire to help the people of Fanning Island. Much of the around the dinner table conversations for the next couple of days were filled with Compassion to help the island and Hope that someone would follow-up with meeting the peoples needs on the island. As with many similar voyages that called on Fanning Island, the concerns and desires to help seem to be a very short term feeling. Thankfully, there are some who have attended our Question and Answer periods, and are compassionately helping in some small or large way.

 A commentary from Rich:

 If the Holland America ship would allow public guest lecture presentations while on the way to Hawaii, and then also before arriving the island, so much help could be given to the locals and their health clinics. Many of the complaints from the passengers are “I wish the ship would have told us about Fanning Island before getting there because I would have bought or brought some things to donate or help the people with.” They also have said: “Why doesn’t the ship give presentations or let you tell us about Fanning Island. It would have been so helpful to us?”  All I could usually reply to them is “I am sorry but the ship has a strict policy on Guest lectures and can not allow a Guest lecture unless approved for the Seattle office.

I hope those of you who are reading this now will understand the praises and disappointments of this last mission. All in all, it was a very positive and life saving opportunity to help the people of Fanning Island. Presently I am looking to do the November 22^nd Rotterdam sailing with more supplies. I do need your assistance with getting more supplies, covering the expenses of shipping and delivering and helping the new Health Center get finalized.  Please view our Needs page on this website to see what supplies are desired and requested by the nurses. There is also many needed materials to complete the new Health Center.  Please also note that school supplies are another continual need. For more infos click on the visit FANNING tab.
 Thank you for taking the time to read this information and help in some Compassionate way.
 May God bless you and meet your needs.

NOTE: If you are a future visitor to the island with supplies to donate, please contact me directly to find out the best method of giving the supplies to a trustworthy representative of the council, clinics or schools.
RICH SMITH
Pacific CARE Missions director

2010 Cruise Mission to the Pacific Islands
Saving lives in the Pacific with Medical Surplus

Goal: to help provide health care supplies and educational needs of the  Pacific Islands

Presently, donated supplies are being sorted, boxed and ready to be shipped for an upcoming January 4 2010 Cruise Mission to help the Islands of Fanning, Christmas, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Papeete Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa and Nuku Hiva.

Holland America Cruise Lines has scheduled three sailings to the Pacific Islands for this upcoming 2010 New Year. I have made a commitment to travel as a passenger on the first HALsailing to Fanning Island. Our hope is to deliver many of our donated supplies that have been collected this year, with the approval and help from the ship.

The sailing will depart San Diego California, for a full itinerary of visiting various far away Pacific Islands, and return back to San Diego 33 days later. The ship will first sail to the Hawaiian Islands, and visit the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. During these various stops, the donated supplies that have been collected (and possibly will be purchased during the cruise) will be loaded onto the ship for delivery to Fanning Island, where most of the clinical and school supplies are needed.

The supplies will include many new ladies slippers that were donated last year from the two NCL ships that have discontinued sailing here in Hawaii and to Fanning Island.

There will also be many “Crock” rubber shoes, which have recently been donated by a couple of Kona business people, and were sorted and boxed by the Kona Living Stones Church youth group

The people who receive the footwear, and wear them, would then benefit from the safety the footwear can provide while walking in brush, on rough terrain and contaminated parasitic and infectious soil conditions the islands have.

Another important need for going on this voyage will be to assess the new, and soon to be completed, clinic on Fanning Island.

The final stages of the finish work are taking place, and many needed materials for the completion to take place are being requested by the island council, to a fellow developer here in Kona. Information that will be collected will help the developer to determine the next package of supplies needed to be sent by a cargo sailing vessel that deliver supplies to Fanning Island about every four months.

It is everyone’s hope that we will be able to transport a very large amount of supplies during this cruise. If you would like to help with the financial needs to make this possible please feel free to contact us. A tax receipt is available for any donated supplies and financial donations towards purchases necessary to fulfill the needs of this mission.

Thanks you so much for your partnership and compassion to especially meet the needs of the people in the Pacific Islands thru our ministry.

Please do view the various media clips provided on this website to obtain more information.

NOTE: If you are a future visitor to the island with supplies to donate, please contact me directly to find out the best method of giving the supplies to a trustworthy representative of the council, clinics or schools.
RICH SMITH
Pacific CARE Missions director

Aloha and Mauri to you,

I wanted to let you know that our team and I have finally returned safely and well from our recent medical/supply mission to help the people of the Line Islands. It was a grand adventure and many lives were impacted by the things that were done through us and with the help of you and many other people. There were more than 3 pallets of supplies sent, distributed and used during the mission.

We had an awesome adventure flying into Christmas Island on a small passenger twin engine prop plane and then sailing on Chuck Corbett’s chartered sailboat with many of the supplies to be delivered to Fanning and Washington Islands.

We first sailed towards Washington Island (2 ½ days sailing) and during the night we had a problem with the main sail. This caused us to detour to Fanning Island and do about 4 days of missions-work there before sailing up to Washington Island to do another supply drop off, assessment of their needs and dental mission.

Looking back we feel it was meant for us to arrive at Fanning first, when we did, to tend to our friend Brunno who was seriously infected with a leg wound. I believe we saved his life by being there those first days to tend to his wound and see the nurse be taught how to keep dressing and bandaging the wound.

Along with helping Brunno, many people were treated by our team member Bill, a 70 yr. old retired dentist, who pulled over 600 teeth (about 200 + patients) while sitting on a 5 gallon plastic bucket, most of the day, for about 4 total missions!

Thanks for the prayers for protection and divine appointments as they were answered. Especially for protection, as I was bitten on my left toes by a dog at Washington Island while riding a motorcycle. Thankfully, I was wearing a new pair of Crocks (with a rather thick toe material) I bought in Kona, before going on the mission, and just happen to decide to wear them that morning because I noticed my slippers were about to give out. I thought I would take the Crocks as backups. If I had been bitten without the Crock on, it could have been a very serious thing with four days of sailing to get back to the main hospital at Christmas Island. I just know it was something covered by prayers as the dog really should have gone for the leg/ankle and not the toes on my left foot. What a close call! How many other close calls we had, we will never know.

At this time, I wanted to share with you that the local TV station KHNL news 8 has aired a short video interview (if available) about this recent mission. Please view it at the following address http://www.khnl.com/global/story.asp?s=9816264 or read below to understand more about what happened.

All in all, what a powerful mission/adventure and team effort. Thanks much for your friendship and partnership.

RICH