The mission of VASH Hawaii Island is to share Aloha spirit through providing support services to visitors who are victims of crimes or other misfortunes during their vacations.

Description:
VASH receives referrals primarily from law enforcement agencies and hospitals. A volunteer is then assigned to make telephone contact with vacationers who have been a victim or have suffered another adversity such as a medical emergency or death of a family member.

Often in the aftermath of transgressions or accidents, people just aren't able to think clearly about all the steps they may need to take. Sometimes they are confused by procedures. Other times they just need a liaison with the police, hospitals or even the mortuary. VASH volunteers provide referral information, help explain procedures, provide emergency transportation and garner needed resources.

By sharing their Aloha, volunteers help to ease a victim’s feelings of vulnerability in unfamiliar surroundings and support the visitors in coping with their losses.

Volunteers may also serve as interpreters for travelers from foreign countries.

VASH along with local hospice services have formed an alliance to provide specially trained bereavement response volunteers when emotional support is needed for critically ill visitors or for families of visitors who have died while vacationing on the Big Island.

History:
VASH services were originally started by the Rotary Club on Oahu in response to a specific visitor need. Services were started on Hawaii Island in 2001 -- first in Hilo, then in Kona. VASH now serves the entire island.

The agency is funded primarily by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Additional resources through donations and in-kind gifts help support the organization and ensure that visitor needs are met.

The program currently serves 600-700 visitors yearly.

Contact people:

Tricia Muramoto, Program Director, (phone), (email) Jeanine Acia, Program Director, (email) Linda Allen, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 669 Kailua Kona, 96745

Web Site: http://www.vashbigisland.org

Directions:

VASH West Hawaii has an office on Kuakini Hwy next to McDonalds in the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Bldg.

Overall Experience   
True Aloha

This is a message for the "angel" Nicole Rudy Hallo from Germany, we stayed at Hilo from March, 8th til March, 16th, becaus my father had a heart attack on the cruise ship "Summit". Miss Nicole Rudy from VASH was very nice and helped us very much in our situation. Please say thank you to her. Has she got an email address? Mahalo for answering Kerstin Srbeny from Germany posted by Srbeny on April 10, 2007 posted on April 10, 2007