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| Summer Fun keiki gets upfront experience with a county firefighter as the youth visited work places and hosted speakers this summer during the County program at Nāʻālehu Community Center. Photo by Elijah Navarro |
KA'U SUMMER FUN YOUTH met professionals in their community and visited workplaces during this year's session from June 12 to July 19 at Nāʻālehu Community Center. The Summer Fun Program
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| Summer fun keiki interact with a Hawai'i Police Department officer during their school break. Photo by Elijah Navarro |
Students visited Punalu'u Bakeshop and the adjacent Ke Ola Pu'uhonua cultural grounds, Nāʻālehu Library and Ka'u Coffee Mill. Guests interacting with the Summer Fun youth included county firefighters and medics and Hawai'i Police Department Officer Calican.
Elijah Navarro, County of Hawai'i Recreation Director II at Nāʻālehu Community Center, said he would like to thank the all the venues and the police and fire department representatives. He said he would also like to thank guest speakers and other programs including: John Kahiapo with state Department of Land & Natural Resources; Gemini Observatory; West Hawaii – Tobacco & HEAL Coalition: James Akau, caretaker of Kahuku Ranch; Nohea Kaawa with The Nature Conservancy; Karratti 'Ohana ranching family; CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union; and County Council member Michelle Galimba.
HAWAI'I ISLAND FENTANYL TASK FORCE WILL HOST ITS 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Fentanyl and Addictions Summit on Monday, August 5 at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A statement from
the County says, "This free event has established itself as the State's premier opioid and addiction awareness summit since its inception in 2022. It brings together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds across Hawaiʻi to tackle the opioid-driven addiction and overdose crisis affecting our communities."
"We are committed to doing all we can to protect our community from the opioid and fentanyl epidemic," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "Since November 2021, we have worked closely with community leaders and healthcare professionals to address this crisis head-on, and this summit represents a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to protect and educate our residents."
The event will feature sessions aimed at educating attendees about the dangers of opioids and fentanyl, sharing the latest facts and statistics of this crushing epidemic, and identifying actionable solutions. Attendees can expect to hear from families directly impacted by a drug overdose, participate in active discussions, and collaborate on strategies.
Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita, the Chief Executive for the Big Island Substance Abuse Council and one of the leaders of the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, emphasized the importance of community involvement: "This epidemic is much closer to your household than you might think. By attending the summit, you can become more educated and aware of this issue and learn how to protect your loved ones."
Wally Lau, another leader of the Task Force, added, "Our goal is to save lives by raising awareness and providing the necessary tools and resources to fight this epidemic. We are grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors, without whom this summit would not be possible."
Dr. Kevin Kunz, also a Task Force leader, echoed these sentiments: "The collaboration and dedication of everyone involved in this summit demonstrate our collective commitment to making a difference. Together, we can turn the tide on this crisis that is killing someone every nine days on Hawaiʻi Island and one every twenty-eight hours in the State of Hawaiʻi."
For more information on the summit and to register, please visit https://www.hiftf.org.
EXPERIENCE VOLCANO IS THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY at venues around Volcano Village. The opening oli (chant) will kick off the festival. Other cultural highlights will include creating Leī Hulu with Zenaida Sawyer, Kalo to Poi 101 with Desiree Moana Cruz, Lauhala Weaving with Ku`uipo Morales, and Hawaiian hula with Ke `Olu `Āhinahina and Ke `Olu Makani O Mauna Loa.
Participants will be able to learn about the 'ukulele and learn to play it with Wes Awana, and listen to Hawaiian jams with Keoki Kahumoku, Ti Chun, Tutu Bee, Huliau and Boni Narito.
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To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
HAWAI'I ISLAND FENTANYL TASK FORCE WILL HOST ITS 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Fentanyl and Addictions Summit on Monday, August 5 at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A statement from
"We are committed to doing all we can to protect our community from the opioid and fentanyl epidemic," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "Since November 2021, we have worked closely with community leaders and healthcare professionals to address this crisis head-on, and this summit represents a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to protect and educate our residents."
The event will feature sessions aimed at educating attendees about the dangers of opioids and fentanyl, sharing the latest facts and statistics of this crushing epidemic, and identifying actionable solutions. Attendees can expect to hear from families directly impacted by a drug overdose, participate in active discussions, and collaborate on strategies.
Wally Lau, another leader of the Task Force, added, "Our goal is to save lives by raising awareness and providing the necessary tools and resources to fight this epidemic. We are grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors, without whom this summit would not be possible."
Dr. Kevin Kunz, also a Task Force leader, echoed these sentiments: "The collaboration and dedication of everyone involved in this summit demonstrate our collective commitment to making a difference. Together, we can turn the tide on this crisis that is killing someone every nine days on Hawaiʻi Island and one every twenty-eight hours in the State of Hawaiʻi."
For more information on the summit and to register, please visit https://www.hiftf.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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| Kalo to Poi 101 with Desiree Moana Cruz during the upcoming Experience Volcano Weekend. Photos from Experience Volcano |
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| 'Ukulele lessons with Wes Awana |
Participants will be able to learn about the 'ukulele and learn to play it with Wes Awana, and listen to Hawaiian jams with Keoki Kahumoku, Ti Chun, Tutu Bee, Huliau and Boni Narito.
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| Hula performances and hula lessons will be at Experience Volcano this weekend. |
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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| The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar, A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation and the closing of the mill in 1996 |
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| 5,500 in the mail, 2,000 on the streets Volcano to Miloli'i See www.kaunews.com |
