The Lions Club of Kailua-Kona presents a check to the KCH Education Department. Clockwise from left: Lions Club of Kailua-Kona president Paul Cooley, AHA Training Center Coordinator Cheryl Alind, RN, KCH Education Department Iwalani Tsai, RN, Lions Club members Diane Jackson and Carla Brown. (Photo courtesy of Kona Community Hospital)

MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona Community Hospital (KCH) Education Department was recently awarded a check for $1,250 from the Lion’s Club of Kailua-Kona for training equipment.

The hospital will buy four infant CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) manikins and two AED (Automated External Defibrillators) trainers with this donation.

The Education Department at Kona Community Hospital provides American Heart Association (AHA) rescue and life saving courses to hospital staff, as well as healthcare providers and others in the community.

Approximately 70 courses from First Aid to Life Support training courses for adults, children and infants are offered. In these classes, specific training equipment is required and used to meet the AHA course curriculums.

Every year, more than 100 members of the community are trained by the KCH American Heart Association Training Center classes in BLS (Basic Life Support) and/or First Aid. Participants include Kealakehe High School, parents of toddler groups, school health aides, security/maintenance personnel at Keauhou Shopping Center, physician and dental offices, and more.

AED training is important for adult cardiac arrest. Lifeguards and tour operators have sought training, in addition to those who work at the airport, civic center, community college, and department stores.

For more information about these classes, contact KCH’s Education Department at 322-4559.

The Aloha Quilters present a custom crafted quilt to a family who has a home being built by Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii in Kawaihae.

MEDIA RELEASE

Joden Fernandez was smiling ear to ear when he was presented with a quilt with his favorite characters from the movie, Cars, at the Aloha Quilters meeting last month. He and his brother, Jax were the latest recipients of custom-designed quilts made by this group.

“The Aloha Quilters approached us about making quilts for our Habitat children and we thought that it was a wonderful gift,” stated Margo Takata, Community Relations Director. “They have completed beautifully, designed quilts for 3 of our families within the last 4 months. For most of children, it will be the first time that they get their own bedroom let alone bed to sleep on, and having a quilt of their own makes it special.”

Aloha Quilters is nearing its 25th year as a quilt group on the Big Island.  They have grown to about 50 members in recent years. The group works in traditional, contemporary, and Hawaiian styles, sharing ideas and techniques to promote quilting in Kona.

“Quilts have been an integral part of early American/pioneer life and have provided warmth and comfort down through the years,“ said Sara Alvstad, an Aloha Quilters member.  “The stories that travel with quilts of how they were made, who made them, why they were made, and where they have been are history – past and present. Donated quilts are made by members for Habitat for Humanity families and for Family Services throughout the year.  Giving quilts to others is our way to give back to the community.”  
 
You can enjoy a lot of Aloha Quilters work at the SKEA Quilt SHOW February 18-19 in Honaunau.

MEDIA RELEASE

Help us design a logo for our Blitz Build and you could win a $100 Shopping Spree at Lanihau Center in Kona!

It’s easy – Design must incorporate the Blitz Builder Logo/Name, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Logo/Name, the Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii logo/name, and the theme “Laulima Na ‘Ohana – Working Together for the Families”. It must also include the year – 2012. Please use the links below to download the corresponding logos:

• Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii logo/name
• Blitz Builder Logo/Name
• Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Logo/Name

Contest is open to everyone and entries must be postmarked/received by February 14, 2012.

Winner will be contacted by February 21, 2012. Design must not be larger than 13”x13”. It can be submitted as an original, hand drawn design (must be drawn in black), as a jpg file (at least 300 dpi), a pdf file, or on a CD as a vector file.

Entries can be emailed to pr@habitatwesthawaii.o…, mailed to Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, P.O. Box 4619, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 or dropped off at our office at 73-5576 Kauhola Street, Bay 4 in the Kaloko Light Industrial Park. Office hours are Monday through Friday 9A-4P. The winning design will become the property of Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii and will be used on promotional materials for the event.

For more information about the contest, please contact Margo Takata, Community Relations Director at Habitat West Hawaii at (808)331-8010 or pr@habitatwesthawaii.o…

MEDIA RELEASE

Hilo, HI – Ten Japanese American leaders from across the country will travel to Japan March 3rd-10th to meet with top officials to further develop the U.S.-Japan relationship and establish a meaningful role for Japanese Americans. Barry Taniguchi will represent Hawaii in the 2012 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Program (JALD).

Barry Taniguchi

Taniguchi runs KTA Super Stores, a chain of family grocery stores on Hawai’i Island. He is also director of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., American Savings Bank and Hawaii Employers Mutual Insurance Corporation. He is Chair Elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s Board of Directors, and is involved with numerous foundations and organizations. He is a third generation Japanese American.

“Being a Sansei, my relationship with Japan has been quite limited; we were raised to be Americans of Japanese ancestry,” said Taniguchi. “It is only later in my life that I began to seek a cultural re-connection with Japan and our mother land.” He continued, “I hope to gain a better and improved understanding of the long-term relations between Japanese Americans and Japan, and to expand our roles in advancing U.S.-Japan relations.”

When the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11th, Taniguchi was immediately reminded of the devastating tsunami that destroyed much of Hilo in 1960. As a board member for the Pacific Tsunami Museum, Taniguchi hopes to bring back valuable information from meeting first-hand with tsunami survivors in Tohoku.

For the first time in 12-year program history, the delegation will visit the city of Sendai in the Tohoku region to show support for the devastated region and learn from those living there. In Sendai, Taniguchi will participate in a March 5th symposium sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.-Japan Council focused on empowering civil society in Japan. The delegation will also visit Tokyo for a variety of exchanges with high level leaders. In past years, delegations have met with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan.

U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye will lead the delegation made up of Taniguchi and nine other Japanese Americans from across the country that are active in their communities, engaged in U.S.-Japan relations and committed to deepening ties between Japanese Americans and Japan. The 2012 delegation will join an active network of 136 JALD alumni. The program is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and organized by the U.S.-Japan Council.

The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) is a 501(c) 3 national non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst by energizing Japanese American leaders to strengthen and diversify U.S.-Japan relations. USJC promotes people-to-people relationships as crucial to deepening ties between the U.S. and Japan and provides networking opportunities for top stakeholders in the bi-lateral relationship.

MEDIA RELEASE

The statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) is donating “The World of Bananas in Hawaii: Then and Now” to six libraries on the four major Hawaiian islands, including the Kealakekua Branch in Kona and the downtown Hilo Branch.

HTFG is also contributing “Specialty Crops for Pacific Islands” by Holualoa resident and HTFG member Craig Elevitch of Agroforestry Net, Inc. to the Kealakekua and Hilo libraries.

Both books were recently published.

The banana-themed book retails for $80 and is by HTFG members and Maui residents Dr. Angela Kepler and Francis Rust. Boasting 1,900 illustrations, “The World of Bananas in Hawaii” contains pictorial descriptions for 140 living varieties and 22 kinship groups, plus illustrated keys separating similar cultivars.

The 612-page book also has information on pesticide-free care and maintenance, nutritional deficiencies, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. The comprehensive resource is the result of 30 years of Pacific-wide research and published by Pali-O-Waipio Press.

“It is the first book about bananas in Hawaii chock full of original research. It traces the banana evolution around the Pacific,” said Ken Love, HTFG president. “It is a banana bible.”

Love said the resource covers every banana in Hawaii, plus Polynesian and international varieties, including ornamentals and fei.

Published by Agroforestry Resources, “Specialty Crops” contains chapters on growing and marketing 26 existing and potential crops, including mangosteen, lychee, bananas, plantains, coconuts, black pepper, breadfruit, chili peppers, taro, ginger, moringa, tamanu, sweet potato, macadamia nut, root (tuber) vegetables, cacao, kava, coffee, tea, vanilla, pumpkins and squashes, timber trees, bamboo, macadamia nuts and honey.

Illustrated with nearly 950 photos, the 570-page book features short bios of local food producers and farmers in a section called “Example Successes.” It emphasizes sustainable growing methods and the native island custom of polyculture. The book retails for $75.

Incorporated in 1989 to promote tropical fruit grown in Hawaii, HTFG is a statewide association of tropical fruit growers, packers, distributors and hobbyists dedicated to tropical fruit research, education, marketing and promotion.

— Find out more:
www.hawaiitropicalfrui…

MEDIA RELEASE

The Judicial Council is seeking interested and qualified applicants to serve on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and on the Campaign Spending Commission.

Members of both commissions serve on a voluntary basis for a four-year term.

The Ethics Commission addresses ethical issues involving legislators, registered lobbyists, and state employees (with the exception of judges, who are governed by the Commission on Judicial Conduct).

The five commission members are responsible for investigating complaints, providing advisory opinions, and enforcing decisions issued by the Commission.

The Hawaii State Constitution prohibits members of the Ethics Commission “from taking an active part in political management or political campaigns.”

The primary duty of the five members of the Campaign Spending Commission is to supervise campaign contributions and expenditures. Commissioners may not participate in political campaigns or contribute to candidates or political committees.

The Judicial Council will appoint a panel of nominees, from which the Governor will select to fill current vacancies on the Commission.

Interested persons should submit an application along with a resume and three letters of recommendation (attesting to the applicant’s character and integrity) postmarked by Feb. 29, 2012 to: Judicial Council, Hawaii Supreme Court, 417 S. King Street, Second Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-2902.

Applications are available by calling the Judicial Council at 539-4702 or visiting: www.courts.state.hi.us…

MEDIA RELEASE

The Friends of the Future Annual Report, Kapaipai (to flourish), is now available online at www.FOFHawaii.org

Kapaipai summarizes more than 20 years of work on Hawaii Island which began with a series of conversations celebrating pluralism, duality, and cultural diversity.

A nonprofit organization, Friends of the Future has provided a home to more than 40 community programs and initiatives. Some have become independent organizations, transitioned to another like-minded organization, completed their work, or are waiting patiently for the right time, right place, and right resource to be realized.

Currently 10 programs actively continue their work as part of Friends of the Future:

* Waipio Valley Community Circle
* Tutu’s House
* Na Kahumoku
* Hui Kuapa
* Hawaii Island Leadership Series – Ulumau
* Hawaii Island Health Care Alliance
* Earl’s Garage
* Collaborative Health Initiative
* Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families

Friends of the Future staff is currently collecting reflections and stories from people who are, or have been, involved with its programs.

Take a moment to let Friends of the Future know: “Why does Friends of the Future matter?” Reflections may be sent to info@fofhawaii.org or call 885-8336

To become involved in Friends of the Future or to request a printed copy of its annual report, call 885-8336 or e-mail info@fofhawaii.org

— Find out more:
www.FOFHawaii.org

(Volcano Watch is a weekly article written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.)

Volunteers Ben Gaddis (left) and Andrew Hara (right) holding a photo of Thomas Jaggar in his gas lab in 1916. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

More than 300 employees—scientists, technicians, and support staff—have worked at HVO over the past century, but the observatory could not have been as productive as it has been without the assistance of volunteers. From the expedition of Frank Perret and E.S. Shepherd in 1911 to the present day, volunteers have willingly and enthusiastically helped with many important experiments and observations at HVO.

During his 1911 expedition, Perret oversaw the construction of a wire cable suspended across Halema`uma`u Crater from which a sampling bucket and a thermal probe could be lowered. The experiment required the help of Lorrin A. Thurston, his wife, and his children to handle the cable and to relay communications from one side of the crater to the other. The Thurston family may have been HVO’s first volunteers.

In another notable experiment in 1917, Thomas Jaggar, founder of HVO, directed nine volunteers to maneuver a 200-foot long, half-inch diameter pipe into the lava lake and pull it back out two times. With each attempt, the pipe encountered increasing resistance until the pipe arched upward and would go no farther. Jaggar described the results as encountering an “impenetrable pudding” on the bottom of the lake at a depth of 50 feet.

Today, volunteers continue to provide valuable support to HVO operations. Each year, we are fortunate to have volunteer help from a number of U.S. and foreign students. After spending a few months working alongside HVO scientists, many have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and scientific careers.

But HVO volunteers are not limited to students. Nancy Ikeda, a math professor from Fullerton Community College, California, is currently here on her second stint as a volunteer in HVO’s library and photo archive. One result of her assistance is a published collection of photos documenting the effects of the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake.

HVO has also benefitted greatly from long-term volunteer efforts of Hawai‘i Island residents. One of the longest serving volunteers is Ben Gaddis, who first volunteered during the Mauna Ulu eruption in 1973 and continued through the Mauna Loa eruption in 1984 as much as his Hilo attorney practice would allow. In 2008, when Ben “mostly retired” as a Family Court Judge, he volunteered again for several HVO projects, involving digital preservation of old records and photos.

Ben and retired Judge Frances Wong of Honolulu teamed together to collect and scan Jaggar’s daily Record Books (1912 to 1955). He has also become quite a sleuth at finding historical images and is in the process of inventorying and annotating photographs of past volcanic activity archived at Bishop Museum, Hawaii State Archives, Lyman Museum, and the University of Hawai`i.

Another volunteer, the late Kent Warshauer, also known as the “Sugar Mill Spy,” collected old newspaper articles about Hawai`i earthquakes, eruptions, tsunamis, and other topics related to natural phenomena to augment HVO’s records. His legacy remains in the form of an entire shelf of binders filled with copies of these articles in the HVO library.

Volunteer Andrew Hara, a professional photographer from Hilo, provides invaluable assistance in HVO’s photo archive. His most recent accomplishment involved scanning and digitally cleaning many of the older prints that were part of an HVO Centennial exhibit at the East Hawai`i Cultural Center.

Marcie Frenz, a retired educator from Hilo, volunteers at HVO one to two days a week transferring data on earthquakes felt in Hawai`i from index cards to a digital database that now holds almost 10,000 records.

Volunteer work is not limited to data preservation. Long-time volunteers Frank Box of Volcano and Clyde Shiraki of Mountain View were instrumental in HVO’s recent seismic network upgrades during the last several years, which sometimes required working at remote locations on Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

We are profoundly grateful for the current and past volunteer contributions to HVO’s century of operations and research and hope that we can continue to attract residents and students to our many opportunities.

The final Volcano Awareness Month talk by HVO scientists in January will be a presentation about Kilauea’s volcanic gas emissions and vog at the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on January 31. For more information, please visit HVO’s website at hvo.wr.usgs.gov

MEDIA RELEASE

Lions clubs WORLDWIDE will be performing community service projects as part of the “Lions In Sight” initiative Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to raise public awareness of the vital role Lions clubs play in their communities.

As spring cleaning gets under way, the Hawaii Lions are asking people to look through dresser drawers & closets for used eyeglasses & hearing aids and donate them to the Lions Recycle For Sight program.

The glasses will be distributed to those in need within developing countries where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible. Most recently, 5000 pairs of eyeglasses were distributed to villagers throughout the mountainous terrain of war-torn Afghanistan by Hawaii Lions Club members. In most developing countries, an eye exam can cost as much as one month’s wages, and a single eye doctor may serve a community of hundreds of thousands of people.

The glasses will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions, Leos and other groups. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of approximately one-fourth of the world’s population can be improved through the use of a corrective lens.

Hawaii Lions collect eyeglasses year round and on this day, the Lions members will be out in force receiving your unwanted eyewear at Walmart locations throughout the state.

You may also place them in specially marked Lions Recycle For Sight collection boxes. Locations are also posted on the website, visit HAWAIILIONS.ORG and click on “Used Eyeglasses”

This year, in addition to the eyeglasses, hearing aids will be also collected, cleaned and tested for local distribution.

Lions are known for their commitment to being “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade against Darkness,” a challenging statement made by Helen Keller in 1925. Eyeglass collection is a year round program.

KAUAI ONLY for further info, contact Paul Steinfort (808) 346-7980 or email pasteinfort@gmail.com
OTHER ISLANDS, call Alice Kudo 456-7278 or email pback@hawaiiantel.net

MEDIA RELEASE

Humpback whales in Hawaii. Photo by Benjamin L. Richards/NOAA

Hawai‘i National Park, HI – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park encourages volunteers to help count humpback whales during the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count held the last Saturday of January, February and March (Jan. 28, Feb. 25, and Mar. 31) from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Hawaii Volcanoes’ Ka‘ena Point, at the end of Chain of Craters Road, is one of 22 Sanctuary Ocean Count sites island-wide where volunteers onshore monitor humpbacks in nearshore waters for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Residents and visitors enjoy this yearly event which provides important population and distribution information about humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands.

“This is an ideal opportunity for the community and for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to work together as stewards of our ocean,” said Park Ranger Adrian Boone, site leader for the Sanctuary Ocean Count. “These magnificent creatures swim more than 2,000 miles to Hawai‘i from Arctic waters every winter, and the annual count is one way we can help observe and record their behavior, and ensure their future,” he said.

Volunteers can sign up on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary website: hawaiihumpbackwhale.no… or call 1-888-55-WHALE ext. 253

MEDIA RELEASE

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs recently awarded Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii a grant in the amount of $100,000 for their “Build the Foundation” home building project.

“Our project specifically addresses the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strategic result of Stability in Housing, and is aimed at families earning between 40 – 80% of the median income for the County”, said Patrick Hurney, Executive Director of Habitat West Hawaii. “At Habitat for Humanity, we believe that simple, decent housing is the foundation for a healthy and hopeful lifestyle. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, similarly, is the foundation for meaningful programming for native Hawaiians”.

The main purpose of this project is to provide a sustainable positive impact on the low-income native Hawaiian population by offering home ownership opportunities to 10 eligible families, allowing them to have a stable living environment and an asset they can pass on to their children.

Applicants for this opportunity will be screened for income, means, and a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Once selected, the partnership lasts throughout the life of a twenty-year mortgage, and includes such activities as financial literacy training, house repair and maintenance solutions, and employment retention strategies. Each family must contribute 500 hours of sweat equity towards the building of their own home.

“The mission of Habitat for Humanity, and particularly this project, is completely aligned with the core values and guiding principles of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,” said Bob Lindsey, OHA Trustee, quoting two of the OHA core values:

Kākou: E alu like mai kākou i ka ho‘okō ‘ana i ko kākou mikiona. We work together, unified to accomplish our mission.
Po‘okela: E hana kākou me ka ‘oi a e ho‘omaika‘i iā kākou iho. We do our absolute best and continuously seek improvement.

Hawaii Island Humane Society Executive Director Donna Whitaker accepts Subaru Hawaii's "Share the Love" donation presented by Sean Charlston, Kona Subaru sales manager. (Photo courtesy of Subaru)

MEDIA RELEASE

Subaru Hawaii has announced its “Share the Love” sales event has raised $2,300 for Hawaii Island Humane Society. The check presentation was Monday at Kona Subaru.

Subaru Hawaii ’s Share the Love event donated $250 for every new vehicle sold by Subaru Hawaii dealers from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011. In total, the Share the Love event raised $25,300 for a group of great causes.

In addition to Hawaii Island Humane Society, the other four non-profits were Hawaii Wildlife Fund, SPCA Maui, Hawaii Literacy and Oahu SPCA.

The public also had an opportunity to vote for their favorite participating non-profit organization on Subaru Hawaii ’s Facebook page.

At the end of the sales event period on Dec. 31, Hawaii Wildlife Fund received 45 percent of all votes and earned an additional $5,000. In total, Subaru Hawaii will be donating $11,700 to Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

“We are delighted to give back to the community by supporting our local non-profit partners,” said Glenn Inouye, Senior Vice President, Servco representing the Subaru Hawaii Dealers. “The Facebook contest, in particular, was very well received by the public. It was a very close and exciting race right up to the very end.

“We were so happy to be one of Subaru Hawaii ’s designated non-profit beneficiaries and we are always thankful for opportunities that help raise awareness of our organization,” said Donna Whitaker, Executive Director, Hawaii Island Humane Society. “This donation from Subaru’s Share the Love campaign will go a long way in helping us help the animals of Hawaii Island.”

— Find out more:
www.subaruhawaii.com
www.hihs.org

Lions Club members clean and package donated eyeglasses. (Photo courtesy of the Lions Club)

Special to Hawaii 24/7

On Jan. 7, around 25 Lions Club members in West Hawaii and a couple of Leo Club members from Konawaena High School, gathered at Yano Hall to clean and pack more than 3,000 recycled prescription eyeglasses that were donated over the last two years by members of the community.

The donated glasses have been shipped to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where they are being categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions and other groups to developing countries where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.

Also, Lions Club of Kona along with the Hawaii Lions Clubs announce additional sites for its annual collections of used eyeglasses.

The next collection is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Hawaii Lions statewide will be collecting used eyeglasses, sunglasses and hearing aides at neighboring Walmart Stores.

In addition, the Lions Club of Kona has set up additional sites in the West Hawaii area, which includes Choicemart in Captain Cook, KTA Keauhou, and KTA Kailua-Kona (Kailua Kona Lions club). Look for the familiar yellow Lions Club vests.

The Lions Club of Kona has 75 members and meets 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at Teshimas Restaurant.

For more information or to get involved with the Lions Club of Kona, contact Cecilie at (808) 258-4018 or Mitch at 756-3838; or email lionmitch@gmail.com

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

— Find out more:
www.lionsclubs.org

MEDIA RELEASE

On Friday March 2, enjoy the unique opportunity to come aboard Holland America Line’s ms Oosterdam in Hilo Harbor and enjoy a fabulous cruise-style luncheon.

Adding to the fun, guests will also have the opportunity to bid on a variety of great auction items and will have time to explore the ship prior to the 2:15 p.m. disembark time.

Holland America Line is hosting the event as a benefit for VASH Hawaii Island. In addition to assisting visitors who are victims of crime, VASH is often called upon to assist cruise ship passengers when medical emergencies require local hospital care.

In 2011, VASH helped 81 cruise visitors who had medical situations that required them to disembark, spend unplanned time on Hawaii Island, and make alternate arrangements for returning home.

VASH works closely with Holland America Line’s “Care Team” to help ensure that visitors have information, resources and assistance to cope with and make these changes as conveniently as possible.

Reservations for the luncheon are $40 per person and must be made by Friday, Feb. 17 with all required security information provided.

Parking is not available on the pier; parking will be at Wong Stadium with shuttle buses departing for the ship promptly at 9:45 a.m. and returning from the ship at 2:30 p.m.

VASH is also seeking items for the onboard auction to be held immediately following the luncheon. This is a great way to showcase a product or service … and support VASH’s services to visitors in need.

For a copy of the official invitation, reservation form, event details, and auction donation forms, email info@vashbigisland.org or call Linda at 756-0392.

MEDIA RELEASE

More than 500 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii physicians and staff members volunteered their time today working on community projects on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The volunteer effort was led by the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, which was formed in 1960 to provide care to all Kaiser Permanente members in Hawaii.

“Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is honored to join President Obama and the rest of the nation in declaring Martin Luther King Jr. Day a time to give back to our local communities through volunteerism and service,” said Geoffrey Sewell, MD, president and executive medical director of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group.

“It’s up to all of us to create healthier and more vibrant communities together. As Dr. King once said, ‘the time is always right to do the right thing,’” he added.

Eight years ago, in honor and recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his advancement of civil and human rights, Kaiser Permanente established an annual day of service that takes place on Martin Luther King Day.

This approach to celebrating Dr. King’s life has enabled thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians to provide valuable services to our communities and to further advance the Kaiser Permanent legacy that parallels Dr. King’s value.

Rather than taking a holiday on that day, Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians take part in a “day on” of volunteering dedicated to the memory of Dr. King.

On Oahu, Kaiser Permanente physicians and staff members volunteered at Wilson Elementary School’s sustainable gardens preparing the soil for plantings, and engaging in campus maintenance and beautification activities, which included gardening, repainting walkways and replacing screens in the cafeteria.

In partnership with Hawaii Island School Garden Network (HISGN), Kaiser Permanente volunteers on the Big Island worked in sustainable gardens at Waimea Middle and Kahakai Elementary Schools in Kailua-Kona weeding, pruning and planting crops.

HISGN helps Big Island schools increase consumption of locally grown foods through sustainable food production.

On the Hilo side, Kaiser Permanente volunteers performed similar work at Waiakea High School weeding, clearing brush and cleaning the campus.

Kaiser Permanente physicians and staff on Maui contributed their time sprucing up areas of the Ka Hale A Ke Ola homeless resource center in Wailuku.

Physicians and staff also provided free medical care as part of their day of service. Polynesian Voyaging Society crewmembers received their pre-voyage physicals at Kaiser Permanente’s Mapunapuna Clinic.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary 2012 Sanctuary Ocean Count

Saturday, January 28, February 25, & March 31 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Get involved in this fun volunteer event!
Volunteers count the number of humpback whales which can be seen around the islands over a four-hour period and record their behavior. This year, the Sanctuary Ocean Count will be conducted at over 60 different shore sites around the islands of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu (see online site descriptions). Counts will be conducted the last Saturday of January, February, and March. Select the date(s) you would like to take part in and register online today!

Want to be even more involved? Join as a site leader!
The sanctuary is also recruiting a limited number of site leaders. Site leaders must be able to participate in all three counts and must attend training. Please call for more information.

Find Out More and Register Now!

hawaiihumpbackwhale.no…

sanctuaryoceancount.or…

Toll Free 1-888-55-WHALE ext. 253
O‘ahu 397-2651 ext. 253

MEDIA RELEASE

Kaiser Permanente physicians and staff members are partnering with Hawaii Island School Garden Network volunteering their time working in sustainable gardens at Waimea Middle and Kahakai Elementary Schools, and at Hilo High School sprucing up the campus to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

This volunteer effort is part of several community initiatives being initiated by more than 500 Kaiser Permanente physicians, staff members and other volunteers on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu.

WHO: KAISER PERMANENTE HAWAII
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16
WHERE:
* Waimea Middle School, 67-1229 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea
* Kahakai Elementary School, 76-147 Royal Poinciana Drive, Kailua-Kona
* Waiakea High School, 155 West Kawili St., Hilo

NOTES:

Eight years ago, in honor and recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his advancement of civil and human rights, Kaiser Permanente established an annual day of service that takes place on Martin Luther King Day.

This approach to celebrating Dr. King’s life has enabled thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians to provide valuable services to our communities and to further advance the Kaiser Permanente legacy that parallels Dr. King’s values.

Rather than taking a holiday on that day, Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians take part in a “day on” of volunteering dedicated to the memory of Dr. King.

— Find out more:
www.kp.org

Some of the 52 volunteers with Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary. (Photo courtesy of Kona Community Hospital)

MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona Community Hospital (KCH) Auxiliary met Monday, Jan. 9 for its annual general membership meeting featuring guest speaker, Senator Josh Green, M.D. It drew a crowd of 60.

As the current Health Committee Chair and Emergency Physician at Kohala Hospital, Green discussed today’s healthcare climate, as well as the key bills in the new legislative session. He also talked about the challenges and opportunities that rural health facilities face.

He said, “Volunteers such as you make a difference at our hospitals.”

Joy Nelson, Volunteer Hours Chair and Past-President, presented volunteer pins to those who met milestone volunteer hours.

Kathy Golitzen, who knits newborn baby hats for the Obstetrics department, was the volunteer with the most hours at 1,112.

In 2011, the total number of volunteer hours provided by the Auxiliary was 8,652 which equates to a contribution of $184,807 in services.

The newly elected 2012 officers consist of President Mary Quinn, Vice-President Pat Fornatano, Recording Secretary Beverly Page, Corresponding Secretary Phyllis Hanson, Treasurer David Clarke, and Directors – Christine Hoffman, JoDee Humme, Roger Knoblauch, Jean Leitch, Lorraine Miller and Joy Nelson.

The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Ralph Jackson and Kathy Golitzen.

With 52 active volunteers, the KCH Auxiliary is the largest volunteer organization at the hospital. There are numerous volunteer opportunities such as helping in the infusion center to assisting in office work.

They coordinate the Recycling Program, Gift Shop, Friday Bake Sale, and more. Monies go toward hospital activities and nursing scholarships.

For more information, call 322-4577 or visit www.kchauxiliary.org

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NOAA’s Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, is seeking applicants for six seats on its advisory council.

The council provides advice and recommendations to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, a division of the National Ocean Service, and ensures public participation in management of the country’s largest marine conservation area.

“As members of our community, the advisory council plays an important role in the protection and management of our vital marine resources,” said Allen Tom, Pacific Islands Regional Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “We look forward to working with our new members.”

Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and views regarding the protection and management of marine and cultural resources.

Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve a two-year term, or until a different advisory body is created pursuant to Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument’s management plan.

“I strongly encourage the public to consider serving on the advisory council,” said Tim Johns, council chair. “It’s a great way to make a positive difference on behalf of our community and future generations.”

The council is accepting applications for two primary seats (Native Hawaiian and Ocean-Related Tourism), and four alternates: Conservation, Native Hawaiian Elder, and Native Hawaiian (2).

Members serve without pay but will be provided airfare and lodging to attend meetings if coming from other islands. The advisory council meets on average four to five times a year for one to two days each meeting.

The Advisory Council consists of 15 primary and alternate members representing a variety of public interest groups. It also includes 10 governmental seats representing: Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Department of State, Marine Mammal Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Science Foundation, U.S. Coast Guard, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

Applications are due Jan. 31, 2012.

To receive an application kit, or for further information, contact the Reserve Advisory Council Coordinator Wesley Byers via e-mail at wesley.byers@noaa.gov, by phone at 808-694-3920, or by mail at Wesley Byers, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Pacific Island Region, 6600 Kalanianaole Hwy, #300, Honolulu, HI 96825.

Application kits can also be downloaded from the website: www.papahanaumokuakea….

The Reserve encompasses an area of the marine waters and submerged lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, extending approximately 1200 nautical miles long and 100 nautical miles wide. The Reserve is managed by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Executive Orders that established the Reserve in 2000.

The Reserve is within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

Harold Hughes (left), vice president and area manager at First Hawaiian Bank - Kamuela Branch, and Vicki Hasty, vice president of First Hawaiian Bank Business Banking and Team Leader West Side of the Island of Hawaii, present a check to Hawaii Preparatory Academy's Keawe Liu, assistant headmaster for external relations, and Lindsay Barnes (right), headmaster. The group is pictured in front of one of the school's two new buses purchased with grant funds from the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation.

MEDIA RELEASE

WAIMEA, Island Of Hawaii—Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) has received a $70,000 grant from the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, according to an announcement today by HPA Headmaster Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr.

The grant was used to purchase two buses that will transport HPA students to their many off-campus activities.

“This generous grant by the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation could not come at a more opportune time,” said Barnes. “The grant will contribute greatly to the safety of our student transportation operations and enhance our educational program as we offer our young people opportunities to participate in many events and activities around the island on a weekly basis. We extend our deepest appreciation to everyone connected with the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation.”

“We are proud to be supporting Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s efforts to provide its students with access to educational opportunities in the community,” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank’s president and chief operating officer. “There is a great deal of learning done outside of a traditional classroom setting that can have a very positive effect on a child’s education.”

First Hawaiian Bank and its Foundation have a long history of supporting Hawaii Preparatory Academy; the first gift of $26,000 was presented to the school in 1957. First Hawaiian Bank and its Foundation have provided consistent support to many regular HPA events over the years, such as the annual Headmaster’s Golf Tournament and biennial Scholarship Auction. Since 1989, the Bank and its Foundation’s overall contributions to the school have exceeded $250,000.

Founded in 1949, Hawaii Preparatory Academy is a coeducational, college-preparatory boarding and day school offering a full range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for 606 students in grades K-12 and post-graduate. HPA offers a boarding option for students in grades 6-12 and draws its diverse student body from the Hawaiian Islands, 17 other states and U.S. territories, and 18 other countries.