JAKARTA, Indonesia — During the past four days, military representatives from Hawai'i and from 24 countries have mulled over a disaster scenario to practice working together and avoid the chaos the world community saw in December 2004 when a tsunami killed more than 120,000 in Indonesia alone.

The first-of-its-kind exercise in Indonesia centered on how local military commanders should coordinate aid from foreign countries and humanitarian agencies.

It also worked through the logistics of a disaster, requiring the Indonesian military to determine how it would evacuate millions of people, how it would get aid to them and provide them with shelter and how it would start the cleanup process.

The scenario for the exercise was on a giant scale: Nearby Krakatoa erupts and kills 1.5 million in Jakarta and covers the city in several feet of ash, making any response difficult.

"This exercise has tried to minimize the chaos to determine which country has the capability to reach the disaster area in the fastest way," said Lt. Col Suyono Thamrin of the Indonesian navy.

Thamrin was in hard-hit Aceh in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, and said hundreds of humanitarian groups and military units offered goods and services. The difficulty arose in coordinating the relief efforts, he said.

The exercise started Tuesday and concludes today.

More than 200 members of military units from around the world participated, including several dozen Hawai'i National Guard and Pacific Command soldiers who were helping kick off a new partnership between the state and Indonesia.

The agreement is aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness, and strengthening ties between Indonesia and the United States.

"The main purpose of this exercise is to build up Indonesia's ability to respond," said John Miller, of the Pacific Command.

While in Jakarta, Gov. Linda Lingle and her delegation toured the exercise site at the Borobodur Hotel and discussed its importance with military commanders.

Participants were placed in three groups: top Indonesian military leaders, local leaders and foreign military representatives. The Indonesian military was charged with deciding how to respond to and communicate with other countries on what was needed.

Leaders on the ground had to work through the logistics of getting aid to people. And international groups offered up information on what they could provide.

"Everyone is there to provide help, but someone needs to provide leadership," said Lt. Col. Zakaria bin Tahir of Malaysia. "This will guide us to be on the right track."

Meanwhile, Lingle left Indonesia yesterday and arrived in Japan for the second leg of her Asia trip.

Her schedule for today includes a tour of Ohta Flower Market in Tokyo to observe an auction and promote Hawai'i's floral industry. She also is to serve as a panelist in a women's forum and meet with U.S. Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer.

Tomorrow, Lingle will meet with officials from the Grand Kabuki Theatre, which will close for renovations soon. During the closure, the troupe will go on a world tour, and Lingle wants to convince them to come to the Islands, her office said.

Lingle will remain in Tokyo until Tuesday, then fly to Okinawa. Her Asia tour ends next Friday.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.