Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017

Senators Hirono and Murkowski led women Senators in the U.C. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to observe National Wear Red Day,
which brings attention to the importance of women’s heart health. See story below. Photo from the Office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NOMINEE TO HEAD THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BETSY DEVOS, is getting a "No" vote from Sen. Mazie Hirono. "As an immigrant, I know how important education is," said Hirono. "Education is foundational and it is a great equalizer." She said she came to Hawai`i as an immigrant at eight years of age and learned English at public schools and received much mentoring and the encouragement to study hard.

    "We need an Education Secretary who actually believes in the public schools and who will want to do everything she can for all of our students in our public schools. That is not Betsy DeVos," said Hirono. "When she went through her confirmation hearings we couldn't even get her to commit to the public schools. She has spent most of her adult life pushing vouchers so that public school kids could go to private schools. That is not the kind of commitment to public schools and improving public schools that we need from an Education Secretary, so I will not be voting for Betsy DeVoss. I will not be voting to confirm her as Education Secretary. I have heard from thousands of people in my community in the state of Hawai`i who are really concerned that public schools will not get the kind of support we need with a Betsy DeVoss." The U.S. Senate vote on the confirmation of DeVos is expected on Monday.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono spoke from her office about her "No" vote for
Donald Trump's Education Secretary nominee, Betsy Voss.

"MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT BACK, but Trump’s right-wing supporters at Breitbart News (which Trump's senior White House advisor Steve Bannon founded) have tried to silence our opposition," Sen. Mazie Hirono stated in a release sent out yesterday. "They singled me out, calling my advocacy efforts 'unhinged in the extreme.' I will not stop because of Breitbart’s attacks -- not now, not ever," stated Hirono.
    Ka`u's Senator called "Trump’s Muslim ban inexcusable. It feeds the fear, hate, and bigotry that continues to divide our nation. It exploits refugees and immigrants, and ultimately puts the future of all Americans at risk.
     "When my mother brought me to America for a better future, she taught me not only the importance of working hard to raise your family, but the importance of raising up your whole community. I have seen how strong our nation can be when we stand united. Which is why now, more than ever, I know we must do everything to resist divisions based on hatred and fear. Now is not the time to become discouraged or dissuaded. It’s time for action. The fight for the future we want to see has only begun," declared Hirono.
     Hawai`i state Attorney General Doug Ing has filed a suit in federal court to overturn Trump's Executive order banning travelers from seven majority-muslim countries.
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Kukui is the current Hawai`i State Tree, with its classic leaf shape and candlenut
that Hawaiians have used for lighting and oil. However, some legislators want
to switch to Ohia. Photo from Philadelphia Flower Show

SHOULD THE STATE TREE REMAIN KUKUI OR BECOME OHIA? That is the discussion in the Hawai`i Senate, with Sen. Lorriaie Inouye, of Hilo, wanting to keep Kukui and several other Senators supporting the changing of the state tree to Ohia. The switch to Ohia was proposed by O`ahu Sen. Gil Riviere, according to a story in today's Hawai`i Tribune Herald by Avy Ashe. Ashe reports that Riverie wants to bring attendion to the plight of the Ohia, which is dying from Rapid Ohia Death fungus. Ohia, which covers many thousands of acres on the Big Island, is considered necessary to maintain the native forests and watershed. The Ohia is native and the Kukui (candlenut) is originally from Malaysia, carried here by Polynesians in their voyaging canoes.

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AMERICAN HEART MONTH IS FEBRUARY, with Hawai`i Sem. Mazie Hirono and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski having led the passing of a bipartisan resolution and bringing together women U.S. Senators yesterday for National Wear Red Day.
     “Heart disease kills three out of every ten people in Hawai`i and one in three nationwide, including a significant number of women and minorities,” said Hirono. “The bipartisan support of this resolution is a testament to the commitment by our nation’s lawmakers to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular disease and the importance of research, prevention, and treatment.”

    The Alaska Senator stated, “Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of woman in the United States. I passionately believe that we must do all we can to enable our women, families, and healthcare providers with the tools and know how to confront heart disease head on.
     “There is still so much we have to learn about this disease, and how it affects women. I will continue to work hard to support the efforts by the American Heart Association and others to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women. ”
     American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown said, “We are pleased that so many members of Congress joined together to co-sponsor this important resolution. Our tremendous thanks to Senators Hirono and Murkowski, who were integral in its reintroduction. Cardiovascular disease is the number one and most costly killer of Americans. It causes one in three deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. This resolution brings much-needed awareness to these perils of CVD and helps us remind all Americans to focus on their heart health not only during February, but every day of their lives.”

www.kaucalendar.com

 American Heart Association-Hawaii Division Executive Director Lori Suan, MPH, said, “Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading risk of death and major disability in Hawai`i, and more women in Hawai`i die of stroke than men. Fortunately, we have an opportunity to change that because 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases are preventable through lifestyle improvements. National Wear Red Day is designed to raise awareness that we all can make improvements to our health.”
    The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
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PAHALA-KA`U HIGH SCHOOL REUNION this year in Las Vegas is set for the weekend of June 23 and 24 at the California Hotel. Those attending can book directly with the California Hotel which is holding accommodates at discounted rates for Wednesday, June 21 through Monday, June 26 for Pahla Ka`u 2017 Reunion. The annual gathering is open to everyone who attended Pahala and Ka`u high Schools. There will be a reception on Friday and a banquet on Saturday, according to coordinator and 1966 graduate Neal Kanda who can be contacted at 808-284-1066.
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KA`U HIGH IS IN THE PLAYOFFS for Big Island Interscholastic Federation Boy Basketball. One playoff game for #4 seed will be this Monday, Feb. 6 with Ka`u taking on St. Joseph at the HIlo Civic at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Feb. 9, Honoka`a will  play either Ka`u or St. Joseph for the Division II Championship.

Cattle can sometimes be seen along the Pu`u o Lokuana Trail.
NPS photo 

HAM RADIO OPERATORS Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Feb. 5, Manuka Park. All American Radio Emergency Service members, anyone interested in learning how to operate a ham radio and families are invited to attend. Dennis Smith, 989-3028

PU`U O LOKUANA, Sunday, Feb. 5, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Kahuku unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn about formation and various uses of this grassy cinder cone and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū on this free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top.

The park was once the Kahuku Ranch, one of the first ranches in the Hawaiian Islands. Free.

ETHNOBIOLOGY OF HAWAIIAN FEATHER ARTIFACTS is the subject of After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.  Free at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
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