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| Hawai`i International Music Festival in Pahala this evening features violinist Eric Silberger, who played at various locations in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park earlier this week. He will be joined by soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra, violinist Eric Silberger, cellist Daniel Lelchuk, soprano Mikayla Sager and pianist Ian Parker. Photo by Carlin Ma |
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| The 61G lava flow continues to widen and advance. Map from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
The area of the active flow field as of Aug. 2 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow as mapped on Aug. 12 is shown in red.
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GOV. DAVID IGE and Dayton Nakanelua, state director of the United Public Workers, have signed a settlement agreement that will resolve UPW’s lawsuit and class grievance against the state. The union had sought to ensure that the collective bargaining agreement with the state was honored during the transition from state control to Maui Health System, a Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, LLC. The transition can now move forward. A similar change could possibly happen in the future at Hawai`i Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawai`i Region, which operates Ka`u Hospital.
“I am pleased that we were able to work with UPW to ensure that state workers at the Maui healthcare facilities are treated fairly during the transition process,” Ige said. “These employees are providing top-notch care for the community, and this agreement acknowledges their dedication to their patients. The settlement provides certainty to the people of Maui County that they will continue to have access to high quality health care.”
“I am pleased that we were able to work with UPW to ensure that state workers at the Maui healthcare facilities are treated fairly during the transition process,” Ige said. “These employees are providing top-notch care for the community, and this agreement acknowledges their dedication to their patients. The settlement provides certainty to the people of Maui County that they will continue to have access to high quality health care.”
“With this agreement, the governor has recognized and addressed the concerns of our members,” Nakanelua said. “He is honoring the process and the existing collective bargaining agreement.”
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| Gov. Ige announced a settlement with United Public Workers at a press conference. Photo from Gov. Ige's Office |
The state and UPW will jointly ask the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to lift its injunction and dismiss UPW’s lawsuit. Under the agreement, Maui Region hospitals will be transferred from HHSC management to Kaiser not earlier than Nov. 6. Maui Region hospitals will be operated and managed exclusively by Kaiser. UPW bargaining unit employees will work under Kaiser’s supervision and direction and still be covered by UPW collective bargaining agreements until those agreements expire on June 30, 2017.
Kaiser will offer to hire UPW employees for a period of six months starting July 1, 2017.
This agreement clears the way for the transition to Kaiser to proceed, and residents of Maui County can feel secure that they will continue to have access to healthcare.
While the transfer of hospital management has been secured, some related issues remain. In particular, Hawai`i Government Employees’ Association did not join the UPW lawsuit. Instead, the union requested severance and retirement benefits for its employees through SB 2077, which was passed during the 2016 regular session. Ige vetoed the measure based upon legal and fiscal concerns and offered a compromise measure, but the Legislature subsequently overrode his veto.
On Aug. 9, the Employees’ Retirement System filed a lawsuit against the state and HHSC asserting that Act 1 will jeopardize the ERS’ federal tax-exempt status. This lawsuit will not affect the settlement agreement signed today. HGEA employees are not included in its provisions. HGEA’s severance and retirement benefits will depend on the outcome of the litigation, and/or the union could work with the state to reach an agreement in accordance with the collective bargaining law.
“I pledged to work out an agreement with UPW because we need to honor our commitments to the Maui Region hospital employees,” Ige said. “I am hopeful that we can reach a similar agreement for employees in those facilities who are represented by HGEA.”
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This agreement clears the way for the transition to Kaiser to proceed, and residents of Maui County can feel secure that they will continue to have access to healthcare.
While the transfer of hospital management has been secured, some related issues remain. In particular, Hawai`i Government Employees’ Association did not join the UPW lawsuit. Instead, the union requested severance and retirement benefits for its employees through SB 2077, which was passed during the 2016 regular session. Ige vetoed the measure based upon legal and fiscal concerns and offered a compromise measure, but the Legislature subsequently overrode his veto.
On Aug. 9, the Employees’ Retirement System filed a lawsuit against the state and HHSC asserting that Act 1 will jeopardize the ERS’ federal tax-exempt status. This lawsuit will not affect the settlement agreement signed today. HGEA employees are not included in its provisions. HGEA’s severance and retirement benefits will depend on the outcome of the litigation, and/or the union could work with the state to reach an agreement in accordance with the collective bargaining law.
“I pledged to work out an agreement with UPW because we need to honor our commitments to the Maui Region hospital employees,” Ige said. “I am hopeful that we can reach a similar agreement for employees in those facilities who are represented by HGEA.”
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Silicon Valley USPTO Regional Director John Cabeca joined
Sen. Mazie Hirono in answering audience questions.
Photo from Office of Sen. Hirono |
U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO YESTERDAY hosted John Cabeca, Regional Director of the Silicon Valley U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, at an informational seminar to help small business owners and entrepreneurs in Hawai`i navigate the patent and trademark process and protect their intellectual property. The High Technology Development Corporation’s Innovate Hawai`i co-hosted the event.
“Helping our small businesses and entrepreneurs protect their intellectual property is critical to our efforts to build a high-tech economy in Hawai`i, Hirono said. “The process of applying for patents and trademarks can be daunting, particularly for start-ups. There’s a lot of work that happens before applying for a patent, and I want to thank USPTO for coming to share information with Hawai`i’s business community.”
“I’d like to thank Sen. Hirono, a champion of entrepreneurship and innovation in the pacific region, for hosting today’s seminar,” said Michelle Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “Now that we have a national footprint with the creation of four regional offices it is vital to bring these resources to citizens in all corners of the country. I applaud the combined efforts of our West Coast Regional Office team, led by Director John Cabeca, and Sen. Hirono, working together to ensure that inventors in Hawai`i are equipped with the tools they need to further catalyze the state’s growing technology and creative industries such as biotechnology, medical diagnostics and sustainable energy into a thriving innovation economy.”
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“I’d like to thank Sen. Hirono, a champion of entrepreneurship and innovation in the pacific region, for hosting today’s seminar,” said Michelle Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “Now that we have a national footprint with the creation of four regional offices it is vital to bring these resources to citizens in all corners of the country. I applaud the combined efforts of our West Coast Regional Office team, led by Director John Cabeca, and Sen. Hirono, working together to ensure that inventors in Hawai`i are equipped with the tools they need to further catalyze the state’s growing technology and creative industries such as biotechnology, medical diagnostics and sustainable energy into a thriving innovation economy.”
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| Polls are open in Ka`u and throughout the state until 6 p.m. Photo by Julia Neal |
VOTE TODAY UNTIL 6 P.M. Polls are open at Cooper Center in Volcano, Ka`u High School Cafeteria in Pahala, Na`alehu Elementary School, Ocean View Community Center and Miloli`i Halau.
Ka`u voters can choose among candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep. District II, state Senate District II, state Representative Districts III and V, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Hawai`i County offices on the ballot are mayor, prosecuting attorney and Council
District VI.
For more election information, call 961-8277.
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| Mikayla Sager |
HAWAI`I INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL comes to Ka`u today. Soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra, musical director and pianist Carlin Ma, violinist Eric Silberger, cellist Daniel Lelchuk and soprano Mikayla Sager present a concert at 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Special guests include pianist Ian Parker.
$25 tickets support Hawai`i Public Radio’s effort to extend signals throughout Ka`u. For priority seating, purchase tickets in advance at himusicfestival.bpt.me.
Ka`u Coffee growers offer a tasting at 5 p.m.
Ka`u Coffee growers offer a tasting at 5 p.m.
PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, its many forms and flower on a free, easy, one-mile walk tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
See nps.gov/havo.
See nps.gov/havo.
VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS are a week from today. On Saturday, Aug. 20 at Cooper Center in Volcano Village, Half Marathon racers take off at 7 a.m. The 10K begins at 7:45 a.m., and the 5K start time is 8 a.m.
Free keiki runs in age groups 1-4 and 5-7 take place at 10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.
Winners receive awards at 10:30 a.m.
A Zero Mile event at 11 a.m. benefits Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Registration closes at 9:30 a.m.
Packet pick-up and late registration is available at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Also on Friday, Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers a Lu`au Buffet for $15.25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A hula performance begins at 7 p.m.
A Zero Mile event at 11 a.m. benefits Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Registration closes at 9:30 a.m.
Packet pick-up and late registration is available at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Also on Friday, Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers a Lu`au Buffet for $15.25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A hula performance begins at 7 p.m.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM ANDKAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| Click on document to enlarge. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_August_2016.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
