Saturday, March 04, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, March 4, 2017

Ka`u Rural Health Community Association is asking Ka`u residents to sign up for its annual meeting by next
Friday, March 10.  Photo from KRHCA
A CALL TO ACTION CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF DRUGS, DOMESTIC ABUSE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE is the headline of Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc.'s 19th Annual Rural Health Conference set for Friday, March 17 at Pahala Community Center. Sign up by Friday, March 10 by calling 928-0101.
        KRHCAI's founder Jessie Marques said that the meeting has drawn sponsorships and presentations by the state Department of Health Maternal & Child Health Branch; the Sexual Prevention Program of the Family Health Services Division; the Office of Primary Care & Rural Health; Hawai`i Medical Services Association and Hawai`i Island Rural Health Association.
      All Ka`u residents are invited to attend.
       KRHCAI operates the Ka`u Distance Learning Center at  96-3126 Pauahi St. in Pahala.  The Center hosts the new HMSA-sponsored health care kiosk where residents can access physicians through video. The organization is also working to educate residents on how to use an automated external defibrillator. Through Hilo Medical Center Foundation's Be a Lifesaver Program, a class was given in February.
       KRHCAI has co-sponsored and lobbied for studies and education regarding living in a community with vog events from nearby volcanic activity. The organization has partnered local health career students with University of Hawai`i School of Medicine and other research institutions to learn more about vog and public health. 
      KRHCAI also offers long distance education and onsite classes in the health field. See www.KRHCA.com.

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STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE,  whose district is Hilo but supports south Big Island issues and programs, particularly in his family village of Miloli`i, is asking for help with the following bills still alive in the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. Click on the links to these bills to read more about them and provide testimony directly to the Hawai`i Legislature:
Sen. Kai Kahele
     SB1292 SD1 - RELATING TO THE HILO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DISTRICT. Establishes the Hilo Community Economic District located in East Hawai`i.
 SB1162 SD1 - RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I PROMISE PROGRAM. Establishes the University of Hawai`i Promise Program to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any campus of the University of Hawai`i System.
     SB848 SD1 - RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION. Expands the Hawaiian Language College's functions. Authorizes a Hawaiian language medium general education coursework pilot project.
     SB849 SD1 - RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT. Reduces the minimum Hawaiian blood quantum requirement of certain successors to lessees of Hawaiian Home Lands from one-quarter to one thirty-second.
     SB272 SD1 - RELATING TO RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawai`i at Hilo for programs, studies, and activities related to rat lungworm disease.  
     SB1290 SD1 - RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX. Adjusts allocation of transient accommodations tax revenues to the tourism special fund.
      "If these bills are approved next week, they'll crossover to the State House for further deliberations by our colleagues. In turn, House approved bills will crossover for further deliberation by the Senate," said Kahele.

EAST KA`U SENATOR RUSSELL RUDERMAN'S BILL to establish an agricultural park in Puna, and another to establish a long distance learning center there, is still alive,  It passed Senate Ways and Means and goes to the Senate floor this week.

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A WOMEN'S DAY GATHERING, SPONSORED BY WOMEN'S MARCH HAWAI`I,  is set for Tuesday, March 8 in Kona. It is a companion event to an International Women's March on the same day in Honolulu, when women and men will march to the Trump International Hotel in Waikiki. Women's March Hawai`i is the organization that inspired the movement that grew into hundreds of marches across the U.S. including the one in Washington D.C., the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.
Marches in Kona and Hilo drew thousands on Jan. 21.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Organizer Yonghee Overly said the Kona gathering will take place at Pahoehoe Beach Park north of Kahalu`u Bay, 77-6434 Ali`i Drive, at 4 p.m. There will be an international potluck. She suggested wearing international clothing that  represents a home country or favorite country or wear pink. Bring photos of women who have been inspiring. Organizers are asking people for donations for West Hawai`i Food Bank, and clothing for women and children for the Kona Women Shelter.
     An announcement about the events says:  "Each year on March 8th, women and men around the world celebrate women’s achievements while calling for gender equality. Women’s March - Hawai‘i is partnering with AiKea Movement, UNITE HERE Local 5, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association and organizing an International Women’s Day event to honor the women workers who persisted. The event will include a march to Trump International Hotel Waikiki, rally and program.
     “Women and people of color experience higher rates of workplace injury, sexual harassment, unequal pay, and other forms of injustice at higher rates. In fact, International Women’s Day historically has focused on the working conditions of women. We want to send a message to the businesses and policymakers that men and women stand together to defend women’s rights and workers’ rights. This is our way of honoring women workers who persisted.”  See www.womensmarch.com.

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PUNALU`U BEACH PARK REOPENED on Saturday morning for ocean activities after being closed on Friday for a shark sighting.

Hawaiian Cordage Workshops, Tue, Mar 7/28, 1 – 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center.
With Gary Eoff. 967-8222

Unforeseen Consequences of Sandalwood Trade, Tue, Mar 7, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Paul Field, park volunteer and retired professor of History at Windward Community College, discusses how the sandalwood trade impacted relations between commoners and chiefs, altered the concept of mana and led to the first official interference of the U.S. government in affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Free; park entrance fees apply.