Kokua International  Bringing aid, hope and relief
"We become whatever we are committed to." -Rick Warren The primary focus of our organization is to extend aid to the poor and underprivileged of the world, typically during times of crisis. Kokua  is a Hawaiian word meaning, "to help and to bring aid." Kokua International  was established in Hawaii and is registered both in Hawaii and in Washington state.	Banda Aceh Trip: January 16th - February 3rd Aceh's Disaster The news clips shown on CNN world news were unbelievable in the early days of the disaster, but it was beyond belief to see the devastation first hand. As the bus rolled into Aceh, Kokua team members watched with shock at the sight of the utter destruction that had taken place in the city. In some areas, the rubble had not yet been touched for cleanup. They traveled to one area that was swept away, leaving only small pieces of brick or stone which at one time had been houses. In this area, the trees were stripped of their bark over 40 feet high from the force of the water. Areas of the city were completely demolished. People stood and poked at the rubble, but little is left to rebuild with. Most of it was being pushed under with bulldozers. Mud covered everything, and flies buzzed around areas that hadn’t been cleared of bodies. The devastation went down the coast and it seemed to have touched most areas bordering the ocean. Whether it was a small village or the larger city of Banda Aceh, nothing within reach escaped the wrath of the earthquake and waves. It was sobering to see it firsthand, but for the people who live there, it is a nightmare. Meeting basic medical needs The team members were medically equipped, thanks to donations of churches and individuals, to meet the need that was present in the villages near Banda Aceh. The first episode the team experienced was a man who had tangled with a tiger. The medical team pulled out their kits filled with antibiotic cream, gauze bandage, pain killers, and a series of antibiotics to stem infection. The man returned  to have the team  check his wounds, and his arm healed without infection. Other medical conditions were evident: dysentery, fevers, flu-like symptoms, colds, wounds, and infections from wounds received during the tsunami.  Solar Water System met the need The principal of a local school came to the team and said, “Many children in our village are sick from drinking bad water. Do you have a way to help us?”  Kokua was glad to report to him that they came ready to provide clean water. The water systems Kokua took to Sumatra operate by solar power. The machines take water from a stream , pipe or well as a  source. Flowing  through a carbon and a particle filter,  the water then passes through a UV light filter. The result is purified drinking water that doesn’t require electricity to produce. The team installed a water system at a stream in one village and at a well for another. This solved the problem of the water for the children. Kokua's hope is to continue to address needs like these as they come up. A personal glimpse of one survivor This little girl came with her grandmother to the camp to see the team. Her grandmother explained that she was the only one left from her immediate family. All of them were swept away in the tsunami. Although the little girl was smiling, it was obvious that she seemed distracted from life, and seemed to be caught in her own little world. Some of the worst trauma is yet to come as people unveil their memories and stories of losing all or part of their family members. Some are still holding out hope that they will be found in some hospital or clinic, and have posted signs at the airport and other public places. The grandmother of this little girl expressed her fear of how she would care for this little girl as she was elderly and could no longer work. This is a real concern, and one of many that her caretaker will face in the future.   9 of the 10 Kokua Team members (plus one from another team)
	Kokua International is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit organization.