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| Hawai`i County Schools will benefit from more that $10.6 million in federal Title 1, Part A grants for 2015-2106. Photo of Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School by Julia Neal |
HAWAI`I COUNTY WILL RECEIVE MORE than $10.6 million in U.S. Department of Education Title I, Part A grants for school year 2015-2016.
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| Sen. Mazie Hirono |
Title I grants to local education agencies provide financial assistance to school districts for services that improve the teaching and learning of children at risk of not meeting academic achievement requirements. Based on a variety of factors such as per-pupil expenditures, poverty and population estimates, Title I Grants are targeted to help students who reside in high concentration areas of children from low-income families.
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| Sen. Brian Schatz |
Preliminary allocations per counties in the state are as follows: Hawai`i County, $10,653,162; Honolulu County, $29,380,200; Kaua`i County, $2,054,375; Maui County, $4,925,038. Final allocations are expected to be released by the U.S. Department of Education in June.
“Our keiki deserve a high-quality education, and the opportunity to gain the tools and skills that will best equip them for success and a bright future,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. “Strong schools and good teachers can help break the cycle of poverty that trap many families, but only if they are given the resources and support needed to empower students. We owe it to our next generation of leaders to give them every opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they come from or their socioeconomic status.”
“Our keiki deserve a high-quality education, and the opportunity to gain the tools and skills that will best equip them for success and a bright future,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. “Strong schools and good teachers can help break the cycle of poverty that trap many families, but only if they are given the resources and support needed to empower students. We owe it to our next generation of leaders to give them every opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they come from or their socioeconomic status.”
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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard |
Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said, “Investing in our children’s education is one of the best ways to help them reach their full potential. But too often, schools in underserved communities lack the necessary resources to make that happen. This funding will give schools across Hawai`i the resources they need to help our children succeed.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “When I came with my mother from Japan to Hawai`i as a small child, I enrolled in Hawai`i’s public schools without knowing any English. If it were not for my teachers and my mother’s high expectations, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I know firsthand that quality education opens the door to opportunity, and it is critical that our schools have essential resources to ensure success. Investing in our keiki is the best investment we can make, and these funds will help our public schools and students most at need.”
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TESTIFIERS REGARDING CARLETON CHING’S nomination to head the state Department of Land & Natural Resources addressed the state Senate Water & Land Commission yesterday, and after more than four hours of listening and 2.5 hours of questions, the committee recessed and will reconvene this afternoon to consider Gov. David Ige’s choice of Ching.
Ching works for Castle & Cooke, one of the largest developers in the state. He served on the board of the Building Industry Association and the Land Use Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to promote the interests of the development industry.
Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “When I came with my mother from Japan to Hawai`i as a small child, I enrolled in Hawai`i’s public schools without knowing any English. If it were not for my teachers and my mother’s high expectations, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I know firsthand that quality education opens the door to opportunity, and it is critical that our schools have essential resources to ensure success. Investing in our keiki is the best investment we can make, and these funds will help our public schools and students most at need.”
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
TESTIFIERS REGARDING CARLETON CHING’S nomination to head the state Department of Land & Natural Resources addressed the state Senate Water & Land Commission yesterday, and after more than four hours of listening and 2.5 hours of questions, the committee recessed and will reconvene this afternoon to consider Gov. David Ige’s choice of Ching.
Ching works for Castle & Cooke, one of the largest developers in the state. He served on the board of the Building Industry Association and the Land Use Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to promote the interests of the development industry.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
Ka`u’s Sen. Russell Ruderman, a member of the committee, asked Ching why LURF supported weakening requirements for environmental reviews and eliminating the state Land Use Commission, according to Anita Hofschneider, of Civil Beat. Ching replied, “I never understood that LURF was trying to reduce EIS law.”
When committee Chair Laura Thielen asked Ching why LURF supported the Public Land Development Corporation, Ching said he personally didn’t support the PLDC. He described LURF as “very macro.”
Ching said, “The executive director (of LURF) has a lot of latitude in taking positions.”
In a Facebook post after yesterday’s hearing, Thielen voiced her concerns about the nominee: “I am taken aback by the fact that the nominee says he was not familiar with any of the positions to gut all zoning and land use regulations, including supporting the PLDC, that were taken by the lobbying group (for) which he was Vice President or President on the Board of Directors for the past decade,” Thielen said.
When committee Chair Laura Thielen asked Ching why LURF supported the Public Land Development Corporation, Ching said he personally didn’t support the PLDC. He described LURF as “very macro.”
Ching said, “The executive director (of LURF) has a lot of latitude in taking positions.”
In a Facebook post after yesterday’s hearing, Thielen voiced her concerns about the nominee: “I am taken aback by the fact that the nominee says he was not familiar with any of the positions to gut all zoning and land use regulations, including supporting the PLDC, that were taken by the lobbying group (for) which he was Vice President or President on the Board of Directors for the past decade,” Thielen said.
“It seems irresponsible for someone who was on a Board of Directors for nearly a decade to be completely unfamiliar with repeated lobbying positions taken by his employee over that entire period of time… .
“But the most discouraging part to me was that he didn’t understand that the very development permits that he supported eliminating are the exact permits that our Supreme Court ordered the State and counties to make sure that traditional and cultural gathering rights are protected, and public rights to access public beaches are protected.
“If you don’t have these permits, then there is no way to ensure that coastal developments can’t cut off access to shoreline for surfing, gathering, swimming, or spiritual refreshment for our many residents who are jammed into lower-rent housing in our inland areas.”
“And he called these issues “details.”
“He had no knowledge of the seminal Hawai`i cases where the Courts held our beaches are public lands, which means every one of us has the right to access them. He had no knowledge that native Hawaiians have extra constitutional rights for traditional and cultural access.”
Today’s meeting is live-streamed at capitol.hawaii.gov. Click on broadcasts.
“But the most discouraging part to me was that he didn’t understand that the very development permits that he supported eliminating are the exact permits that our Supreme Court ordered the State and counties to make sure that traditional and cultural gathering rights are protected, and public rights to access public beaches are protected.
“If you don’t have these permits, then there is no way to ensure that coastal developments can’t cut off access to shoreline for surfing, gathering, swimming, or spiritual refreshment for our many residents who are jammed into lower-rent housing in our inland areas.”
“And he called these issues “details.”
“He had no knowledge of the seminal Hawai`i cases where the Courts held our beaches are public lands, which means every one of us has the right to access them. He had no knowledge that native Hawaiians have extra constitutional rights for traditional and cultural access.”
Today’s meeting is live-streamed at capitol.hawaii.gov. Click on broadcasts.
See civilbeat.com.
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THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee’s meeting today at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church. For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.
KA`U CHAPTER OF HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED meets Saturday, March 14 at 9 a.m. at Gilligan’s Café in Discovery Harbour. Topics include a review of the organization’s mission, a legislative update and, tentatively, a guest speaker on marijuana legislation.
For more information, email Marla Hunter at ekenuifarm@aol.com.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of the Big Island encourages Ka`u residents to attend its third annual Youth of the Year Banquet & Awards Ceremony Friday, March 20 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The theme is Inspiring Youth, and participants can dress as what they wanted to be when they were young.
To purchase tickets and for more information, contact Gail Hamasu at gail@bgcbi.org or 961-5536.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Sen. Josh Green |
A STATE SENATE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE health insurers, mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment has moved to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Ka`u’s Sens. Josh Green, chair of the Health Committee, and Russell Ruderman introduced SB 791.
The bill calls for each individual or group accident and health or sickness insurance policy issued or renewed in the state to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism to the policyholder and individuals under eleven years of age covered under the policy.
Requirements would not apply to accident-only, Medicare, Medicare supplement, student accident and health or sickness insurance, dental-only and vision-only policies or renewals of six months or less.
Progress of this and other bills can be tracked at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U HIGH GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM WON its first game in four years yesterday. The Trojans beat Hawai`i Prep 9-8. Sheri Lynn Freitas got 10 hits; Aysha Kaupu, three; Kehaulani Ke and Alysha Gustafson-Savella, two each; and Shyann Flores-Carvalho and Staysha Ault, one each.
Freshman Analei Emmsley-Ah Yee, playing her first game for the Trojans, won the game with a hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The team travels to Kealakehe tomorrow for a game at 3 p.m.
Requirements would not apply to accident-only, Medicare, Medicare supplement, student accident and health or sickness insurance, dental-only and vision-only policies or renewals of six months or less.
Progress of this and other bills can be tracked at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U HIGH GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM WON its first game in four years yesterday. The Trojans beat Hawai`i Prep 9-8. Sheri Lynn Freitas got 10 hits; Aysha Kaupu, three; Kehaulani Ke and Alysha Gustafson-Savella, two each; and Shyann Flores-Carvalho and Staysha Ault, one each.
Freshman Analei Emmsley-Ah Yee, playing her first game for the Trojans, won the game with a hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The team travels to Kealakehe tomorrow for a game at 3 p.m.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Entry forms are available at kaucoffeefestival.com. |
KA`U COOKS CAN NOW ENTER Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest. Applications are available to download at kaucoffeefestival.com. The free cooking competition takes place at Ka`u Coffee Mill on Saturday, April 25. Entries are accepted in pupu, entree and dessert categories, with all recipes made using Ka`u coffee.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee’s meeting today at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church. For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.
KA`U CHAPTER OF HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED meets Saturday, March 14 at 9 a.m. at Gilligan’s Café in Discovery Harbour. Topics include a review of the organization’s mission, a legislative update and, tentatively, a guest speaker on marijuana legislation.
For more information, email Marla Hunter at ekenuifarm@aol.com.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of the Big Island encourages Ka`u residents to attend its third annual Youth of the Year Banquet & Awards Ceremony Friday, March 20 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The theme is Inspiring Youth, and participants can dress as what they wanted to be when they were young.
To purchase tickets and for more information, contact Gail Hamasu at gail@bgcbi.org or 961-5536.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2105.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_March2015.pdf. |
