Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013

Hundreds of keiki and adults enjoyed a free Christmas dinner and gifts for the kids at the annual Hana Hou Christmas gathering
last night in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

     LORETTA FUDDY, DIRECTOR OF HAWAI`I’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, died in a plane crash off the coast of Moloka`i yesterday after a Makani Kai Air flight took off on its way to Honolulu. Maui County Fire Department reported that all of the eight other people onboard, including DOH deputy director Keith Yamamoto and the pilot, were rescued after Moloka`i firefighters and the

Coast Guard found them in the ocean, wearing life vests.

    Donna Kekoa, who works at Ka`u Hospital Rural Health Clinic, said "Diliana (Fuddy's first name) "was a pilar of leadership. She cared about the children and famililes of Hawai`i. She was unwaiving in her expectation that we work together to improve the environment and conditions in which people live so that everyone in our state can have the benefit of good health and a good life." Kekoa said that Fuddy helped with the Ka`u Local Consortium, which sponsors activities for childbearing teens and women of Ka`u. She was a beautiful, passionate woman and very down to earth."
    Merilyn Harris, administrator of Ka`u Hospital,  said, “Fuddy was well loved by everyone and well respected by all who worked with her because she was so dedicated and focused on improving the health of the community. Her passion was those people who are the most vulnerable, certainly those who are disadvantaged. She was very active with programs that champion mothers, newborns and early childhood care.”  

Diliana "Loretta" Fuddy and Gov. Neil Abercrombie who chose her to lead the state
Department of Health. Photo from Hawai`i Childrrens Trust Fund

     Nona Wilson, deputy administrator and chief of Nursing at Ka`u Hospital, said Fuddy “had such a fantastic reputation as a community leader. but I knew her more on a personal level. She was from Kaimuki, where I am from, and my sister also graduated from Kaimuki. Loretta and I talked about small kid time. She was a local girl, very personable, very in touch with the community needs from a local perspective. She was a home-grown girl. I knew her on that level.”

     Wilson said that despite the tragedy, the pilot of the plane should be commended. “In a smaller aircraft, he did what Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenberger did on the Hudson, getting everyone in their life jackets and gliding the plane to safety in the water. From an airline perspective, that is pretty awesome.”

    “Our hearts are broken,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who appointed Fuddy as head of DOH in 2011. “Loretta was deeply loved and respected. She was selfless, utterly dedicated and committed to her colleagues in the Department of Health and to the people of Hawai`i. Her knowledge was vast; her counsel and advice always given from her heart as much as from her storehouse of experience.

    “We send our best thoughts to her family and will do all in our power to reflect her professionalism, her love of Hawai`i and the high standard she set for herself and all of us,” Abercrombie said.

      Fuddy was chair of the Hawai`i Public Health Association, president of the Association of State & Territorial Public Health Association and treasurer and secretary of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. She was recognized for her dedication to public service, advocacy on behalf of children and efforts to expand health care services for the poor.

Free photos and a shaka with Santa
drewkeiki to the Hana Hou event.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Fuddy was at Kalaupapa for an annual meeting of Hansen’s disease patients. As head of DOH, she served as mayor of Kalawao County, where the Hansen’s disease settlement is still run by DOH. Kalaupapa was also the home of two saints; Father Damien and Mother Marianne Cope both served the leprosy patients there.
      U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono said Fuddy “was a dedicated public servant who spent most of her life working to improve public health on behalf of Hawai`i’s families. It was a privilege to work with Loretta since my time in the Hawai`i State Legislature. She touched so many lives and will be missed.”

      State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim said Fuddy “embodied the very spirit and character of public service, dedicating her life to the health and well-being of all of Hawai`i’s people. Under her leadership, she fostered a transparent and collaborative environment, engaging with lawmakers, community members, health care providers and social service organizations.“

      Alice Hall, acting president and chief executive officer of Hawai`i Health Systems Corp, said Fuddy “devoted her life to all facets of healthcare improvement for Hawai`i, including healthcare provisions that HHSC has benefited from. Loretta also has served on the HHSC Corporate Board of Directors, as an ex-officio representative, since 2011. She was a wise, sincere, wonderful person who will be greatly missed.”

Keoki Kahumoku's `ukulele kids provided entertainment at Hana Hou last night. Photo by Julia Neal

      In a story yesterday about Hawai`i’s recent number one ranking in U.S. health care by United Health Foundation, The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs quoted Fuddy telling the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “This reminds us how fortunate we are to live in the Aloha state.” She noted that state government has long helped the needy with coverage through Med-Quest and the state child health insurance programs.
      “We do very well for the population that’s economically challenged,” Fuddy said.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Free keiki IDs from police officers are
another Christmas gift at the Hana Hou
event. Photo by Julia Neal

THE ANNUAL HANA HOU CHRISTMAS GATHERING for keiki and their families fed close to 1,000 people last night in Na`alehu. Gifts for the kids, with funding donated by community groups and individuals, included a total of about 50 scooters and bikes, large stuffed animals, blankets, electronics and many other keiki items including coloring books. Photos with Santa and free keiki id's, courtesy of police officers were on the agenda. The meal included turkey, veggies, rice, hot dogs, chili, mac and cheese, cake and a Filipino dessert. The event is organized each year by Hana Hou owners Patty and Drake Fujimoto.

PUNALU`U BEACH REOPENED TODAY AT NOON after a county fire helicopter flyover this morning showed no presence of sharks in nearshore waters. 

      Yesterday, a body boarder was attacked by a tiger shark estimated to be between 10 and 12 feet long. Friends took him to Ka`u Hospital, where he received around 40 stitches. According to Department of Land & Natural Resources director William Aila, Jr., the victim was carrying a bright yellow camera, which could have attracted the shark.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

“FARMERS AND OTHER AG AND BUSINESS PEOPLE on the Big Island are in disbelief – to put it mildly – that Mayor Kenoi signed Bill 113, the anti-GMO bill, last week, without first putting together a group to research the science and investigate the serious, unintended consequences we know will result,” says Hamakua Springs Country Farms owner Richard Ha on his blog at hahaha.hamakuasprings.com. “Farmers are very practical and play the position that exists on the chessboard, not the position they wish they had. Most of us are moving into strategic contraction mode now.” 

      Ha decribes the current “level of uncertainty” as comparable to the Great Depression and points to it in deciding to subdivide 264 acres on his farm rather than dedicate them as agricultural land in perpetuity “so we have options as we go forward into a future that has some new uncertainties,” Ha says.

Hamakua Springs Country Farms owner has decided to leave
 his land open for subdivision rather than preserve it in perpetuity
for agriculture. Photo from hahaha.hamakuasprings.com

      “If there’s an upside to the mayor signing the bill, it’s that maybe now we will finally take a real look at the current Peak Oil crisis and how it affects the Big Island’s food self-sufficiency situation, and come to grips with finding long-term solutions.”
      “Being open to safe scientific advances when needed (a.k.a. biotech or 'GMO') would have been a way to decrease our dependence on petroleum products, such as pesticides and fertilizers, and increase our island’s food self-sufficiency.
      “This is not about the sky falling. It’s about common sense. It’s all a matter of how much risk we are willing to take,” Ha writes.

      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

COFFEE GROWERS AND OTHER KA`U FARMERS are invited to U.H. Cooperative Extension Service’s free Proper Pesticide Use and Safety Workshop Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. 

      Presenters will talk about Federal Worker Protection Standards for ag workers and pesticide handlers, use, application, storage and disposal, “which are major production, labor, marketing, legal and financial risks that growers face,” says a flyer on the program.
      For coffee growers in Ka`u who participated in the Synergist Hawai`i Agriculture Council program, this pesticide safety workshop is required for participation in the current county beauveria program as well as for consideration of future pesticide assistance programs, according John Ah San. For more information, contact him at 928-8188 or jlahsan.coffee.co@hotmail.com.
      Farmers are asked to bring their pesticide cards.
      To register, call 322-4892 or email ginab@hawaii.edu by Tuesday, Dec. 17.

      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

NA`ALEHU SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL meets today at the school’s Computer Lab at 5 p.m. The topic is a school data presentation. Coffee and cookies provided. For more information, call 939-2413.

KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE holds its annual dinner and meeting today at Tiki Mama’s, near the corner of Aloha and Hwy 11 in Ocean View. Cost is $12 per person for dinner. Entertainment at 5 p.m. features live music by the Last Fling Dance Band and magic by Allan Humble. Dinner and voting for new officers are at 6 p.m. RSVP to cytodbd@aol.com or 930-4697.

HAWAI`I LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU’S Public Access Room offers free training to help the public follow the 2014 state Legislature today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The training demystifies the state lawmaking process and demonstrates ways people can participate in the Legislature. 

SECOND SATURDAY VOLCANO POTTERY SALE will be held at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus on the lawn beside Hale Ho`omana from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. this Saturday. Big Island potters TR Andrews, Ron Hanatani, Shannon Hickey and Carol Yamashita will show and sell a variety of their functional and sculptural work in this outdoor setting.

HOLIDAY EVENTS IN KA`U this Saturday include Christmas in Ka`u from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji. The event sponsored by Thy Word Ministries offers free lunch plates while supplies last, live entertainment and a craft fair.
      Ocean View Community Association’s Keiki Christmas Party begins at 11 a.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more information.

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.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013

Sunset at South Point, Kalae, last night, captured by Ka`u photographer Peter Anderson.

SHARK SIGHTING - KEEP OUT signs are posted at turtle laden Punalu`u Beach today following a tiger shark biting a bodyboarder 20 yards off shore in 8 feet of water at Ninole Horseshoe  around 8 a.m.. The 29 year-old Captain Cook man was paddling out to bodyboard for his second session with two friends when a shark knocked him off his board.  According to police reports, companions of the surfer identified the attacker as a tiger shark about ten to 12 feet long. Friends escorted the victim to  Ka`u Hospital where he was treated in the Emergency Room, receiving stitches and released.
      As a precaution, the lifeguard at Punalu`u posted signs along the waterfront. Swimming, wading, diving and surfing are prohibited. If no sharks are seen following a helicopter flyover tomorrow by the county fire department, the beach could be reopened by noon.
      Punalu`u waterman Guy Enriques said his sons saw a tiger shark in the bay earlier this week when they were diving at Punalu`u. This is the fourteenth shark attack in the state this year, eight of them in waters off Maui, including one leading to the death of a kayak fisherman. Until this year there were no fatal shark attacks in Hawai`i in a decade. In August, a surfer at Dead Trees in Poho`iki suffered bites to his leg and was hospitalized and recovered.
     O Ka`u Kakou, the community organization, has volunteered to help warn the public to stay out of the water at Punalu`u until the beach reopens, a statement from the State Department of Land & Natural Resources reports. Punalu`u is a favorite spot for sea turtles and hawksbill turtles, a favorite food of tiger sharks.

THE VACANT STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEAT to be left by Denny Coffman, who is resigning to help his family, will be determined through the district’s Democratic party members interviewing prospective candidates and submitting three names directly to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The governor will make the appointment of the new House member to serve west Ka`u and Kona.
     Names mentioned so far include current County Council member Brenda Ford, who said she plans to stay on the council, south Kona organic coffee farmer Una Greenway; Maile David, who ran to be Ka`u’s County Council member last election and now works for the county clerk; and Dru Kanuha, serving his first term in the County Council.

Denny Coffman resigns to care for his
 family. Photo by William Neal

     The former County Council member for Ka`u, Brittany Smart, who has been living on Maui for the last four months, called it “surreal” that her name was listed as a possibility by Civil Beat other news organizations. She said this morning that she would be unable to take the legislative position with her and her husband’s work commitment on Maui. Smart and her husband were both transferred by their company to its Maui EKO Systems composting facility. Living on Maui, she is ineligible to represent District 5 on the Big Island.
     Smart praised Coffman for his work in the legislature and said, “My heart goes out to Denny and his struggles with his family.” This could not have happened to a nicer guy.
    Chair for the Ka`u area for the Hawai`i County Democrats Committee is Dr. Richard Creagan. Chair for the island is David Tarnas.

HAWAI`I RANKS AT THE TOP AS HEALTHIEST PLACE TO LIVE in 2013, according to United Health Foundation’s annual America’s Health Rankings, released this morning. At the bottom is Mississippi. During the last 24 years, Hawai`i reached number one four times and ranked in the top six in every one of the last 15 years.
    In major measures, Hawai`i ranks third in the country for the least number of smokers and third for the least number of obese people. Hawai`i ranks seventh in the fewest number of people with diabetes. It ranks second in the determinants of good health, with a high rate of health insurance coverage and access to health care. It has one of the lowest rates for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Hawai`i boasts the highest rate of childhood immunization in the country. Eighty-two percent of people exercise regularly in Hawai`i, compared to 77 percent nationally.

Hui Malama provides health services and education in Ka`u.
Photo by Julia Neal

These are more of the Hawai`i highlights, which also show some challenges, according to the America’s Health Rankings report:
• In the past year, smoking prevalence decreased from 16.8 percent to 14.6 percent of adults; however, more than 150,000 adults still smoke.

• Nationally, Hawai`i has one of the lowest prevalence of obesity; however, there are almost 250,000 obese adults in the state.
• In the past year, the violent crime rate decreased from 287 to 239 offenses per 100,000 population.
• In the past five years, levels of air pollution increased from 4.6 to 9.1 micrograms of fine particulate per cubic meter.
• Hawai`i has the lowest rate of preventable hospitalizations in the nation. In the past 10 years, preventable hospitalizations decreased from 34.8 to 27.4 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. 

     In addition to the low rate of obesity within the population dominated by Asian, multiracial and Caucasian residents, the health of Native Hawaiians, who have previously registered some of the shortest life spans in the country, has also improved in the last decade, Hawai`i based studies show.
     Local education through Native Hawaiian programs, such as Hui Malama, based in Na`alehu, urges and supports preventative care and teaches a move away from fast foods toward simpler, locally grown nutrition, which gave Hawaiians a healthy and fit lifestyle in ancient times. While obesity rates among Hawaiians are going down, obesity rates within the U.S. population are soaring, rising from around 13 percent in 1990 to 28 percent in 2011. 

    Nationally, diabetes rates have risen since 1996 from under 5 percent to around 9 percent.
     Another organization deep into health education is Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc., which is helping local residents sign up for insurance through the Hawai`i Health Connector. Its executive director Jessie Marques also helps organize health fairs, training for careers in health and organizing studies of lung health in the wake of volcanic emissions. See www.krhcai.com.
     Reaching out to the community to improve health care is Ka`u Hospital which urges residents to fill out its survey online or in person. See surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX.

        Another advance in Ka`u health care is the recent opening of the new Bay Clinic facility in Na`alehu for medical, dental and mental health services. The staff sees patients regardless of whether they have health insurance. 

     Making a big impact on preventative health care is the HMSA health van which gives free physicals to student athletes in Ocean View and on the campus of Ka`u High School, as well as free care to anyone.
     The 2013 America's Health Rankings are not only based on lifestyle choices, availability of medical and preventative care, but also the amount of pollution in the environment. Hawai`i has a low rate of pollution, but more particulates in the air in recent years due to the ongoing volcanic eruption.    

    According to a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser this morning, State of Hawai`i Director of Health Loretta Fuddy said the number one ranking “reminds us how fortunate we are to live in the Aloha State.” She noted that state government has long helped the needy with coverage through Med-Quest and the state child health insurance programs.
     "We do very well for the population that's economically challenged," Fuddy said.

A STRONG VOICE FOR CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE is what Gov. Neil Abercrombie calls his participation in the President’s Task Force on the issue. Abercrombie attended the first meeting yesterday at the White House’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. On the task force are seven other governors, numerous mayors and Native American tribal officials.
   A statement from Abercrombie said, “The President established the task force to advise his administration on how the federal government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are currently dealing with or anticipate extreme weather, sea level rise, and other impacts of climate change.”
 Named to the task force last month, Abercrombie attended along with Deputy Chief of Staff Blake Oshiro and Hawaii State Sustainability Coordinator Jacqueline Kozak Thiel.
     Cited as factors in his selection for the task force were Abercrombie’s congressional experience (including serving on the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, and as a senior member on the Natural Resources Committee) “along with his ability to provide insight into the needs of the Asia-Pacific region,” the statement from his office said.

HAWAI`I LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU’S Public Access Room offers free training to help the public follow the 2014 state Legislature tomorrow, Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The training demystifies the state lawmaking process and demonstrates ways people can participate in the Legislature.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL WAHINE VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM fell to the Konawaena Wildcats last night, 11 - 69. Denisha Navarro led the Trojans , scoring 6 points. Ka`u Wahine basketball will host the Kea`au Cougars on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL team spent four days at the Waiakea - Kea`au Classic Basketball tournament in Hilo from Dec. 4 - 7. On Wednesday, Ka`u defeated Kea`au Two, 57 - 41. On Thursday, Konawaena defeated Ka`u, 58 - 20. On Friday, Kea`au Defeated Ka`u 59 - 40, and on Saturday, Kaiser defeated Ka`u 69 - 32. The next preseason tournament will be on Dec. 19 - 21 hosted by St. Joseph High School.

Drake Fujimoto invites all keiki to the annual Hana Hou Christmas party today
 at 5 p.m. Photo by Julia Neal

HANA HOU RESTAURANT’S KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY is today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Na`alehu. The annual event includes buffet dinner, lucky number prizes, keiki ID and photos with Santa. Call 929-9717 for more information.

KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE holds its annual dinner and meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 12 at Tiki Mama's, near the corner of Aloha and Hwy 11 in Ocean View. Cost is $12 per person for dinner. Entertainment at 5 p.m. will feature live music by The Last Fling Dance Band and magic by Allan Humble. Dinner and voting are at 6 p.m. RSVP to cytodbd@aol.com or 930-4697.

SECOND SATURDAY VOLCANO POTTERY SALE will be held at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus on the lawn beside Hale Ho'omana, from 9 am - 4 pm. this Saturday, Dec. 14. Big Island potters TR Andrews, Ron Hanatani, Shannon Hickey and Carol Yamashita will show and sell a variety of their functional and sculptural work, in this outdoor setting.

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues its exhibit featuring artist-designed holiday wreaths and ornaments continues, in addition to the fine art that the gallery features year-round. The gallery is open from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. every day but Christmas Day from now until the end of the year.

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.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013

Hawai`i Legislature's Public Access Room offers training on the lawmaking process Thursday at Pahala Plantation House.

WEST KA`U’S STATE REP. DENNY COFFMAN is resigning. Coffman recently lost his wife after a long illness, and his daughter is currently battling cancer. He plans to move to the mainland to help care for her and his grandchild.

Denny Coffman

      “I am extremely honored to have been elected by the people of Hawai`i Island and to serve three terms in the Legislature,” he said in a statement. “It is with a heavy heart that I made this decision, but as a father and grandfather, I am firmly committed to my family and will be there for my daughters and grandchildren in their time of need. I leave knowing that I have represented the communities of Hawai`i Island and the state to the best of my ability.”
      Coffman was chair of the House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection during the 2011 and 2012 sessions. He also currently serves on the Judiciary, Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs committees.
      “Denny served our country and state with great honor and strength of purpose,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “He represented the people of Hawai`i Island well and helped set the state on a viable path to a responsible and economically sustainable energy policy, which will benefit generations to come.”
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I DEMOCRATIC CHAIR DANTE CARPENTER said Coffman “has done a helluva job for West Hawai`i and the state of Hawai`i. We wish him well in tending to his daughter’s physical ailment at this time.”
      According to a story in Civil Beat, Carpenter said talks are underway regarding the process of nominating Coffman’s replacement.

Brenda Ford

      Hawai`i’s Democratic Party has 30 days to submit a list of three names for consideration by the governor, who, according to Hawai`i law, has 60 days from the time of the resignation, Dec. 20, to appoint a replacement.
      Sen. Josh Green said, “Denny stands out in how analytical and nonpolitical he was as a legislator.” Green and other lawmakers pointed out Coffman’s contributions to ethical standards and energy policy, including development of renewable sources such as geothermal.
      See civilbeat.com.
     To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRENDA FORD said she does not plan to pursue the seat being vacated by state Rep. Denny Coffman. “I am staying on the council through the end of this term,” Ford said. “That is all that I am planning for at this time. I feel I can best serve my constituents by district and the island by staying on the County Council.
      “I feel a strong sense of duty here. I think I can do more here at this time.”
      Other names being considered, according to Civil Beat, are County Council District 7 member Dru Kanuha, representing portions of South and North Kona; former District 6 Council member Brittany Smart, who sought state Rep. Bob Herkes’ vacated seat in the last election; and Maile David, a candidate for County Council District 6 in the previous two elections.
      See civilbeat.com.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY is available for area residents to fill out online to help guide the future of health care in the district.

 

      Survey questions ask where Ka`u residents are receiving health care, from emergency services to cardiology, cancer and other ailments. There are questions about insurance and needs for improvements as well as the satisfaction of Ka`u residents with current services. The short survey can be taken at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS HELPED 15,318 seniors in Hawai`i save a total of $35,300,393 on their prescription drug costs so far this year, according to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. “The Affordable Care Act is saving Hawai`i’s seniors real money on their prescription drugs,” Schatz said. “The implementation of the law needs to be improved, but this is good policy that is helping seniors, and we can’t go back to a time when seniors were choosing between food and prescriptions. We need to all work together to make sure the law works and keeps delivering benefits to seniors and people across Hawai`i.”
      The data, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reveals that beneficiaries have saved an average of $921 each – equivalent to the national cost of approximately four months’ worth of groceries for Americans 71 and older.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

MORE THAN TEN PERCENT ARE UNINSURED. That’s the word on Hawai`i Island population’s health insurance coverage. Statewide, as of the end of last week, 574 residents had signed up for health insurance through the local insurance locator service, Hawai`i Health Connector, said its spokesman Bobby Lambrix.

Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. helps local
residents sign up for health insurance.

      In a press release yesterday, Hawai`i Health Connector’s new manager Tom Matsuda said, “I’m committed to devoting my full attention and energy to continuously improve the Connector. Although the Connector has made major strides forward in comparison to some of the other state marketplaces, we have more room for improvement. The Connector team will continue to focus on ongoing process improvements, and I will be responsible for keeping all of our stakeholders apprised of our progress on a regular basis.” Health Connector representatives said they hope many people will sign up by Dec. 23.
      Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. has received a $125,000 grant to help sign up people locally. Call 928-0101. The organization’s offices are at 96-3126 Puahala St. in Pahala. Email krhcai@yahoo.com. Its website is krhcai.com. Hawai`i Health Connector's website is hawaiihealthconnector.com.
     The Kokua role for KRHCAI is to reach and educate individuals, families and small business owners. The grant also supports providing jobs in the local community and providing impartial information about health insurance plan options.
    “Partnering with Hawai`i Health Connector allows us to work directly with our community to provide critical health coverage information," said Jessie Marques, KRHCAI executive director.

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD is asking constituents to support an increase in the minimum wage. “Millions of people in our communities go to work every single day and still come up short, relying on social programs to support their families. Right now, a family with two children and a parent earning minimum wage lives below the poverty line.
      “For over four years, the federal minimum wage has been frozen at $7.25 an hour, even though the prices of everyday necessities are going up. Congress has the opportunity right now to raise it.
      “Now is the time to raise the minimum wage. It’s the right thing for our hardworking families, and it’s the right thing for our economy.

Tulsi Gabbard

      “There’s just no way that families can survive on $7.25 an hour. As we’ve watched our economy grow, the minimum wage has remained the same.
      “The solution is simple, but despite the clear benefits and overwhelming support by a majority of Americans, opponents in Congress continue to block minimum wage legislation. We can’t stand by and allow this to happen.”
      Gabbard asks interested persons to add their names to the list of people supporting an increase to the minimum wage at increasetheminimumwage.com.

BLAISE DE LIMA, FROM REP. TULSI GABBARD’S OFFICE, meets with Ka`u constituents tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pahala Community Center to hear ideas and concerns and bring them to Gabbard’s attention. For more information, call 808-541-1986.

AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN A DECADE on the mainland teaching `ukulele and guitar at Santa Barbara City College and performing throughout California, Hilo native Carl Ray Villaverde performs music from his new CD Hawaiian Magic this evening at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park program.

Participants weave lauhala bracelets tomorrow.
NPS Photo by Jay Robinson

LAUHALA WEAVING IS THE TOPIC tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park when members of `Aha Puhala O Puna share the art. Participants weave their very own bracelets from leaves of the hala (pandanus) tree. Lauhala ornaments crafted by the club will be available for sale.

HANA HOU RESTAURANT’S KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY is tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The annual event includes buffet dinner, lucky number prizes, keiki ID and photos with Santa. Call 929-9717 for more information.

HAWAI`I LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU’S Public Access Room offers free training to help the public follow the 2014 state Legislature Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The training demystifies the state lawmaking process and demonstrates ways people can participate in the Legislature.

KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE holds its annual dinner and meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Tiki Mama's, near the corner of Aloha and Hwy 11 in Ocean View. Cost is $12 per person for dinner. Entertainment at 5 p.m. will feature live music by The Last Fling Dance Band and magic by Allan Humble. Dinner and voting are at 6 p.m. RSVP to cytodbd@aol.com or 930-4697.

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.