Ka`u News Briefs Dec. 11, 2012

South Point is one of the Hawaiian sites of megatsunamis, according to researchers reporting at
American Geophysical Union's annual meeting. Photo by Peter Anderson

A TASK FORCE MEETING TO DISCUSS how the Medicaid Buy-In program will affect over 58,000 adults with disabilities statewide takes place today at the state Capitol. The Medicaid Buy-In Task Force is a joint legislative task force created through Act 200, SLH 2012, to explore the development and possible implementation of a Medicaid Buy-In program.

      Hawai`i is one of the last five states that does not have a Medicaid Buy-In program. The proposed program would offer Medicaid coverage to people with disabilities who are working, with a premium payment. Once they are enrolled in the program, they would have the opportunity to earn more and save more than the allowable limits for regular Medicaid, while still retaining necessary healthcare coverage through the state’s Medicaid program.
      The program would allow people with disabilities on Social Security Disability Insurance to go back to work without fear of losing their Medicaid, as long as they share in paying for their Medicaid services. Many persons with disabilities will utilize SSDI in their lifetime, particularly those utilizing the DD Waiver for Home and Community Based Services and persons with mental health disabilities.
      For additional information on Medicaid Buy-in, contact Hawai`i Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, Hire Abilities Hawai`i, at mig@hawaii.edu or 808-956-9353.

A megatsunami occurs when land slides and displaces ocean water.
Image from wikipedia

SOUTH POINT IS ONE OF THE HAWAIIAN SITES OF MEGATSUNAMIS, according to a report presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Gary McMurtry, a professor at UH-Manoa, said megatsunamis occur when volcanoes collapse and create landslides. Huge boulders about 30 feet from the shore were deposited by the huge waves, said Fernando Marques, of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. He said the boulders were originally deposited more than 800 feet upslope and are now closer to shore because the island is slowly sinking due to its massive weight. 

      Becky Oskin, of OurAmazingPlanet.com, reports that McMurtry’s team found two younger and slightly smaller tsunami deposits at South Point, one 50,000 years old and one 13,000 years old. He suggests the tsunami source is the two Ka Lae submarine landslides from Mauna Loa’s flanks. The waves carried corals and three-foot boulders 500 feet inland.
      “Giant landslides seem to happen during periods of rising sea levels, when the climate is also warmer and wetter,” said volcanologist Anthony Hildenbrand. Researchers speculate that the change from lower to higher sea level may destabilize a volcanic island’s flanks, and heavier rains could soak its steep slopes, helping trigger landslides, Oskin reported.
      See more at ouramazingplanet.com.

HAWAI`I COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT continues its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over program through the holidays, with roadblocks and patrols checking for drivers under the influence. So far this year, there have been 37 traffic fatalities on Hawai`i Island compared with 20 during the same period last year, an increase of 85 percent. Of the 37 fatalities, 28 were related to drugs, alcohol or a combination of both. 

HAWAI`I COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is accepting online applications from students seeking financial assistance to fund their college or vocational education. Students apply with one common application for more than 170 different scholarship opportunities established by individuals, families, businesses or organizations and, if eligible, can be awarded from one or more of these funds. Deadline for applications is Feb. 22, 2013.
      HCF distributes $4.5 million in scholarships to students each year, with individuals receiving an average scholarship award of $2,200, making it the third largest private scholarship provider in the state.

      “With the cost of college tuition rising, these scholarships help to ensure that Hawai`i’s students have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams and seek a college education,” said Amy Luersen, director of philanthropic services at HCF. “With the help of our generous donors, we are pleased to offer hope for thousands of students.”
      In addition to the application, students must submit supporting documents, including a full Student Aid Report, grade transcript and personal statement. Some of the scholarships require additional information such as letters of recommendation or essays.
      To submit an application, search for a scholarship or find more information, visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/scholarships.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets today at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. The agenda and other information is available online at kaucdp.info. For more, contact planner Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

HANA HOU RESTAURANT’S Keiki Christmas Party is tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Na`alehu. The event includes buffet dinner, lucky number prizes, keiki ID and photos with Santa.

Suzanne Marinelli offers legislative training Thursday at
Na`alehu School. Photo by Julia Neal

LEGISLATIVE TRAINING for the public will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu School Cafeteria. Suzanne Marinelli, Public Access coordinator for Hawai`i State Legislature’s non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, teaches how to follow legislation being considered during the 2013 session and how to give input. She shows participants how simple it is to follow subjects like fishing, surfing, education and taxes by entering keywords into an online search engine. She also explains how legislation makes its way through the complex and often chaotic process. See more at hawaii.gov/lrb/par.

Santa is expected to return to Christmas in Pahala
again this year on Friday.

CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA, WITH MUSIC, IS FRIDAY at 5:30 p.m. around the Christmas tree at Pahala Plantation Cottages at the corner of Kamani and Ohia Streets. Food and gifts will provided by `O Ka`u Kakou with many additional donors from the Ka`u community, including Olson Trust and contractor Mike Munnerlyn.

THY WORD MINISTRIES hosts Christmas in Ka`u Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji Hall. The annual event includes a craft fair, live entertainment and free lunch while supplies last. For more information and to sign up for a booth, call Kahu John at 854-7406 or Pastor Bob at 936-9114.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER’S Keiki Christmas Party takes place Saturday at 11 a.m. The event features food, face painting, storytelling and games including a mac nut toss and a fishing pond with prizes. Each child receives a photo with Santa, a gift and one ticket for a drawing for six bicycles.

HOLIDAY COMEDY IS THE THEME of Ho, Ho, Ho! Volcano Comedy Show! Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. The shows are expected to sell out. Tickets are $12, or $10 for Volcano Art Center members, and can be purchased in person or by calling 967-8222.  

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

FIND MORE OF OUR DECEMBER 2012 EVENT PHOTOS ON OUR FLICKR ACCOUNT.