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| Ka`u residents learned about Korean Natural Farming at a workshop yesterday. Photos from Malian Lahey |
KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN and state Rep. Richard Creagan want the Department of Health to step up its actions to stem the outbreak of dengue fever. According to Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, they asked DOH Director Virginia Pressler for free testing of those without doctors or health insurance, DOH employees to travel into communities to test blood and a dengue hotline.
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| Dr. Virginia Pressler |
Yager reported that the lawmakers, both doctors, sent a letter to DOH Director Virginia Pressler saying that a dengue hotline would help the uninsured and those on poor or modest wages living in mosquito-infested homes.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings in Kona this week via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
Committees meet on Tuesday in Kona. Human Services & Social Services Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Public Works & Parks & Recreation, 9:15 a.m.; Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 9:30 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 1:30 p.m.; Planning, 3 p.m.; and Finance, 4:15 p.m.
The full Council meets on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and to view live streams of the meetings.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
“We need the Department of Health to get deep into the community,” Green told Yager. “They could contract with clinical labs and use the mobile van that the Legislature funded. They just need the will to do it.”
State epidemiologist Sarah Park told Yager that it isn’t the role of DOH to go out and draw blood and do testing itself. “We facilitate access to health care but don’t provide it ourselves,” Park said. “We’re better off leaving that to the health care providers.”
Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira said emergency services were made available at fire stations in an effort to provide some access to those who have no other means to get into the system, but the legislators told Yager this is inefficient and ineffective. Green said DOH has many personnel who could be equipped to interview, assess and test. “Simply telling people to go to their doctor will not completely solve the problem,” the letter reads. “Many do not have doctors or are being given appointments a week or more out. … Many in the community are afraid of the costs of seeking and receiving medical care and what they really need is to have their blood drawn and tested for dengue.”
Lorrin Pang, Maui’s public health officer who participated in Hawai`i Island community meetings on dengue, told Yager that coffee pickers who don’t access to health care may ignore symptoms and keep working. They move to many different areas and expose themselves to mosquitoes. According to Pang, reaching these workers is top priority.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
State epidemiologist Sarah Park told Yager that it isn’t the role of DOH to go out and draw blood and do testing itself. “We facilitate access to health care but don’t provide it ourselves,” Park said. “We’re better off leaving that to the health care providers.”
Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira said emergency services were made available at fire stations in an effort to provide some access to those who have no other means to get into the system, but the legislators told Yager this is inefficient and ineffective. Green said DOH has many personnel who could be equipped to interview, assess and test. “Simply telling people to go to their doctor will not completely solve the problem,” the letter reads. “Many do not have doctors or are being given appointments a week or more out. … Many in the community are afraid of the costs of seeking and receiving medical care and what they really need is to have their blood drawn and tested for dengue.”
Lorrin Pang, Maui’s public health officer who participated in Hawai`i Island community meetings on dengue, told Yager that coffee pickers who don’t access to health care may ignore symptoms and keep working. They move to many different areas and expose themselves to mosquitoes. According to Pang, reaching these workers is top priority.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
ELEVEN MORE CASES of denger fever were confirmed yesterday, raising the number on Hawai`i Island from 38 as of Thursday to 49 as of yesterday, Hawai`i Department of Health reported. Thirty-nine are residents, and ten are visitors. Thirty-nine cases are adults, and ten are under 18 years of age. Onset of illness ranged from Sept.11 to Nov. 7, previously Nov. 2.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Wood Valley was the site of yesterday's Ka`u Natural Farming workshop. |
KA`U RESIDENTS LEARNED about Korean Natural Farming yesterday. Drake Weinert shared his knowledge during a free workshop. According to Weinert, the method improves soil quality and boosts nutrients using non-toxic materials farmers can find in their own homes. It can also help reduce costs while increasing long-term health of farms.
Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event took place in Wood Valley above Pahala.
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A HERO OF FRANCE AND THE U.S., Tokuichi Nakano, of Na`alehu, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Ka`u Hospital. Born on June 6, 1919 at Honu`apo, Nakano was Ka`u’s eldest living Nisei World War II 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran.
He served in France during World War II, and this year the French Republic sent an emissary to the Big Island to name Nakano, at the age of 95, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
He served in France during World War II, and this year the French Republic sent an emissary to the Big Island to name Nakano, at the age of 95, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
During a ceremony on Jan. 21 at West Hawai`i Veterans Cemetery, French Consul General Pauline Carmona said her country owes the Nisei soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team a debt of eternal gratitude for the role they played in liberating France from Nazi occupation.
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| Tokuichi Nakano, right, with fellow Ka`u veteran Iwao Yonemitsu. Photo by Julia Neal |
“The people of France have not forgotten,” she said during her address. “Their children and grandchildren have not forgotten. They will never forget.”
Retired Army Col. Debra Lewis, of Hilo, said soldiers in the 442nd and 100th Battalion overcame a 314 percent casualty rate and were the most decorated for their size and duration of time they fought.
“This devotion to duty and to each other have inspired generations long after the last weapon was fired,” Lewis said. “They understood that anger against our country for unfair treatment (of Japanese Americans) was a luxury they could not afford. These brave men decided failure was not an option.”
During the ceremony, Nakano also remembered his unit rescuing a Texas battalion in WWII in Europe.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour award represents France’s highest decoration of valor.
Both Nakano and Iwao Yonemitsu also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 in Washington, D.C. The late Sen. Dan Inouye, who also received the Congressional Gold Medal, said during those ceremonies, “We, gathered here, were designated ‘enemy aliens’ of the United States. However, we did not sit by and do nothing. We petitioned the government to give us the opportunity to demonstrate our love of country and our patriotism. That opportunity was granted, and thousands of men rushed to the draft boards to volunteer for military service.”
When Nakano, Yonemitsu, Inouye and other members of the 442nd returned to Hawai`i, they “found themselves declared to be members of the most decorated military unit in the history of the United States. Seventy years ago we were enemy aliens, but today, this great nation honors us in this special ceremony,” Inouye said during the Gold Medal ceremonies.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Inurnment follows at 12 p.m. at Hilo Veterans Cemetery Two.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
Retired Army Col. Debra Lewis, of Hilo, said soldiers in the 442nd and 100th Battalion overcame a 314 percent casualty rate and were the most decorated for their size and duration of time they fought.
“This devotion to duty and to each other have inspired generations long after the last weapon was fired,” Lewis said. “They understood that anger against our country for unfair treatment (of Japanese Americans) was a luxury they could not afford. These brave men decided failure was not an option.”
During the ceremony, Nakano also remembered his unit rescuing a Texas battalion in WWII in Europe.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour award represents France’s highest decoration of valor.
Both Nakano and Iwao Yonemitsu also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 in Washington, D.C. The late Sen. Dan Inouye, who also received the Congressional Gold Medal, said during those ceremonies, “We, gathered here, were designated ‘enemy aliens’ of the United States. However, we did not sit by and do nothing. We petitioned the government to give us the opportunity to demonstrate our love of country and our patriotism. That opportunity was granted, and thousands of men rushed to the draft boards to volunteer for military service.”
When Nakano, Yonemitsu, Inouye and other members of the 442nd returned to Hawai`i, they “found themselves declared to be members of the most decorated military unit in the history of the United States. Seventy years ago we were enemy aliens, but today, this great nation honors us in this special ceremony,” Inouye said during the Gold Medal ceremonies.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Inurnment follows at 12 p.m. at Hilo Veterans Cemetery Two.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES have proposed to expand their time-of-use rate options to help customers gain more control over their electric bills, support increased use of renewable energy and promote the adoption of new technologies such as energy storage and electric vehicles.
Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai`i Electric Light Company proposed new voluntary time-of-use rates for residential customers that encourage use of power during times when solar and wind resources are most productive. In addition, the companies proposed revised time-of-use rates for electric vehicle charging aimed at continuing to support the growing EV market.
Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai`i Electric Light Company proposed new voluntary time-of-use rates for residential customers that encourage use of power during times when solar and wind resources are most productive. In addition, the companies proposed revised time-of-use rates for electric vehicle charging aimed at continuing to support the growing EV market.
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| Jim Alberts, of HECO |
“We want to give our customers options to help them manage their bills and encourage the use of more low-cost renewable energy,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service. “Rate options like these can give customers choices and help us collectively achieve our state’s 100 percent renewable portfolio standards goal.”
Residential time-of-use rates would be most beneficial for customers who are able to use more electricity during the middle of the day until 4 p.m., for example, to wash and dry clothes, wash dishes, charge an electric vehicle, cook or cool the house. Next best would be to move some energy usage to after midnight by using timers to do laundry, run dishwashers or charge an electric vehicle, for example.
Actual savings will depend on how much customers are able to change their use patterns to the middle of the day when the amount of solar power is greatest or to overnight hours when wind farms are typically productive and to help avoid the need to run additional utility generators to meet the evening peak demand. This will help reduce the state’s reliance on oil and make the most efficient use of renewable resources.
In addition, customers with energy storage systems can store lower-cost energy generated by their rooftop PV systems during the day and then use some of that stored power to meet some of their needs during the evening peak period. This can help customers better manage their bills and maximize their investment in their rooftop PV and energy storage systems.
Based on current fuel prices and other surcharges, if the proposed rates were effective on Hawai`i Island today, they would be as follows: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 17.2 cents per kilowatt hour; 12 a.m. to 9 a.m., 19.3 center per kWh; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., 46.9 cents per kWh.
The rate for non-TOU residential customers would be 30.3 cents per kWh.
Residential time-of-use rates would be most beneficial for customers who are able to use more electricity during the middle of the day until 4 p.m., for example, to wash and dry clothes, wash dishes, charge an electric vehicle, cook or cool the house. Next best would be to move some energy usage to after midnight by using timers to do laundry, run dishwashers or charge an electric vehicle, for example.
Actual savings will depend on how much customers are able to change their use patterns to the middle of the day when the amount of solar power is greatest or to overnight hours when wind farms are typically productive and to help avoid the need to run additional utility generators to meet the evening peak demand. This will help reduce the state’s reliance on oil and make the most efficient use of renewable resources.
In addition, customers with energy storage systems can store lower-cost energy generated by their rooftop PV systems during the day and then use some of that stored power to meet some of their needs during the evening peak period. This can help customers better manage their bills and maximize their investment in their rooftop PV and energy storage systems.
Based on current fuel prices and other surcharges, if the proposed rates were effective on Hawai`i Island today, they would be as follows: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 17.2 cents per kilowatt hour; 12 a.m. to 9 a.m., 19.3 center per kWh; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., 46.9 cents per kWh.
The rate for non-TOU residential customers would be 30.3 cents per kWh.
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| Interested Ka`u residents can register by tomorrow to participate in Friday's forest restoration project. Photo from FHVNP |
KA`U RESIDENTS WHO WANT to participate in Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Forest Restoration Project on Friday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. should register by tomorrow. Email forest@fhvnp.org or call 352-1402.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings in Kona this week via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
Committees meet on Tuesday in Kona. Human Services & Social Services Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Public Works & Parks & Recreation, 9:15 a.m.; Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 9:30 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 1:30 p.m.; Planning, 3 p.m.; and Finance, 4:15 p.m.
The full Council meets on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and to view live streams of the meetings.
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/Directory2105.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf. |
