MEDIA RELEASE

With the help of the AAUW, Kona Stories bookstore will host a monthly story time for children ages 3-7.

Since 1881 the American Association of University Women has been the nation’s leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change.

Kona Stories bookstore is teaming with AAUW to bring a story time to Keauhou Shopping Center. This story time features stories and crafts centered on a theme then a snack lasting for around 1 hour.

This monthly story time will happen the last Wednesday of each month. Summer meetings are 10:30 a.m. May 30 and June 27.

There will be a $5 participation fee to cover crafts and snack. Space is limited to 30 children. Check in 10 minutes early at Kona Stories Book Store.

Story time is in the courtyard of the Keauhou Shopping center on the KTA side.

For more information, call 324-0350.

MEDIA RELEASE

The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 report finds that in America’s most polluted cities, air quality was at its cleanest since the organization’s annual report began 13 years ago.

Hawaii received mixed grades for ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot), with an “A” for ozone levels in Honolulu, but failing grades in Hawaii County for both short-term and year-round levels of particle pollution.

“State of the Air shows that we’re making steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air as a result of cleanup efforts required under the Clean Air Act,” said Lorraine Leslie, state director for the American Lung Association in Hawaii. “But millions of Americans across the country, including residents of Hawaii County, are still forced to breathe unhealthy levels of air pollution as a result of air quality standards that are outdated.”

This year’s report details the trend that standards set under the Clean Air Act to cleanup major air pollution sources — including coal-fired power plants, diesel engines, and SUVs — are working to drastically cut ozone and particle pollution from the air.

Despite the improvements, the job of cleaning the air is not finished:

* More than 40 percent of people in the United States live in areas where air pollution continues to threaten their health.

* That means more than 127 million people are living in counties with dangerous levels of either ozone or particle pollution that can cause wheezing and coughing, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and premature death.

* Those at greatest risk from air pollution include infants, children, older adults, anyone with lung diseases like asthma, people with heart disease or diabetes, people with low incomes and anyone who works or exercises outdoors.

Hawaii’s air pollution problem shows up in Hawaii County, which received an “F” for short-term particle pollution and failed for year-round particle pollution levels.

Particle pollution levels can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end (short-term) or remain at unhealthy levels on average every day (year-round).

Hawaii County ranks 7th in the list of “Top 25 Most Polluted Counties” for short-term particle pollution and 2nd in the list of “Top 25 Most Polluted Counties” for annual particle pollution.

This is due in part to the fact that Hawaii is monitoring particle pollution levels more extensively than in years past. For example, volcanic smog (vog) released from erupting volcanoes is now being included.

“Particle pollution can be deadly,” said Dr. Steven Businger, president of Hawaii Weather Consulting and Certified Consulting Meteorologist. “When you breathe particle pollution, you are inhaling a toxic mix of chemicals, metals, aerosols, ash, and diesel exhaust. It can cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, emergency room visits and even premature death. There is absolutely no question regarding the need to protect public health from particle pollution. Additionally, for the people of Hawaii, the need to monitor and forecast the movement of vog is of special importance, because it allows our citizens to take preventive action to reduce their exposure.”

State of the Air 2012 reports good news for Hawaii’s smog levels. The city of Honolulu and Honolulu County were each recognized for being one of the “Cleanest Cities” and “Cleanest Counties” for ozone pollution.

Ozone (smog) is the most widespread air pollutant, created by the reaction of sunlight on emissions from vehicles and other sources. When ozone is inhaled, it irritates the lungs, like a bad sunburn. It can cause immediate health problems and continue days later.

Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and premature death.

Although air quality improvements clearly result from standards put into place under the Clean Air Act, big polluters and some members of Congress continue to propose to dismantle the law.

Recent proposals in the Congress have included delaying implementation and blocking enforcement of parts of the law, and limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to consider all of the scientific evidence regarding the harm to public health.

These challenges come despite EPA’s estimate that cutting air pollution through the Clean Air Act will prevent at least 230,000 deaths and save $2 trillion annually by 2020.

“Dangerous and potentially deadly levels of smog and particle pollution continue to affect public health,” Leslie said. “Cleanups have resulted in healthier air to breathe in other parts of the country, but people living in Hawaii County and more than 40 percent of our nation are still breathing dangerously polluted air. We must continue to fight for clean air and demand the full implementation of the Clean Air Act.”

The American people support the need for stricter limits on air pollution standards and the authority of the EPA to enforce these standards.

A recent bipartisan survey found that about two-thirds of voters (66 percent) favor the EPA updating air pollution standards by setting stricter limits.

Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of voters believe the nation does not have to choose between air quality and a strong economy.

Methodology

State of the Air 2012 grades cities and counties based, in part, on the color-coded Air Quality Index developed by the EPA to alert the public to daily unhealthy air conditions.

The 13th annual report uses the most recent, quality-controlled EPA data collected from 2008 through 2010 from official monitors for ozone and particle pollution, the two most widespread types of air pollution.

Counties are graded for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. The report also uses EPA’s calculations for year-round particle levels.

The American Lung Association in Hawaii urges the public to join the fight for clean air and to learn how to protect themselves and their families from air pollution by visiting www.stateoftheair.org.

The American Lung Association in Hawaii is a non-profit, voluntary public health organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease in Hawaii. Our programs focus on the areas of asthma, clean air, tobacco prevention and lung disease.

For more information about the American Lung Association in Hawaii, call (808) 537-5966 or visit www.ala-hawaii.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Reynaldo Fernandez

Big Island police are searching for a 47-year-old Honokaʻa man who was reported missing Wednesday (May 22).

Reynaldo Fernandez was last seen on May 15 in Paʻauhau. He is described as a Filipino, 5-foot-6, 165 pounds, with short black hair. He has the letters “RH” tattooed onto the web of his left hand.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Officer Romeo Fuiava 775-7533 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in providing information about a man wanted in connection with a stabbing Tuesday (May 22) in Kailua-Kona.

At 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a stabbing at Laʻaloa Beach Park—also known as White Sands Beach—on Aliʻi Drive. The victim, a 39-year-old Ocean View man, had reportedly been at the park with family members when he got into a verbal dispute with another man. The other man reportedly stabbed him in the side of the neck and then fled in a white Jeep.

The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

The suspect is described as African-American, possibly in his mid-30s, with a slim build and short black hair. He was wearing sunglasses, a black baseball cap with a marijuana leaf logo on the front, and no shirt. He had a tattoo of a chain of musical notes that ran from his left shoulder down along his left arm.

Police located his vehicle—a white Jeep Grand Cherokee with the driver-side door painted gray—at an apartment complex on the mauka side of Aliʻi Drive between Poinciana Drive and Lunapule Road and recovered it as evidence.

Police ask that anyone with information on the suspect’s identity or whereabouts call Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, Ext. 238 or the Police department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

MEDIA RELEASE

Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL

NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center today announced that projected climate conditions point to a below-normal hurricane season in the Central Pacific Basin this year. The seasonal hurricane outlook is produced in collaboration with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service.

The 2012 outlook calls for a 50 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season, and a 20 percent chance of an above-normal season. Forecasters expect 2-4 tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific this season. An average season has 4-5 tropical cyclones, which include tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.

“Despite the forecast for a below-normal season, we encourage everyone to get prepared for the start of the season and stay on top of the forecasts as storms develop,” said Ray Tanabe, director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center – part of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “We’ve had two quiet seasons in a row here in the Central Pacific, but don’t let your guard down. We should all be weather- ready this and every season.”

NOAA issued its outlook at a news conference in Honolulu to urge Hawaii residents to be fully prepared ahead of the onset of the hurricane season, which begins on June 1. This outlook for a below- normal season is based on the continuing low cyclone activity era in the Eastern Pacific Basin which has been in place since 1995 and the current ENSO-neutral conditions (no El Niño or La Niña). The outlook is a general guide to the overall seasonal hurricane activity and does not predict whether, where, when, or how many of these systems will affect Hawaii.

“NOAA hurricane forecasters stand ready to track tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific Basin and warn communities of any landfall threats,” Tanabe said.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center continuously monitors weather conditions, employing a network of satellites, land- and ocean-based sensors and aircraft reconnaissance missions operated by NOAA and its partners. This array of data supplies the information for complex computer modeling and human expertise that serves as the basis for the hurricane center’s track and intensity forecasts that extend out five days.

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Working with partners, NOAA’s National Weather Service is building a Weather-Ready Nation to support community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

Hurricane info at Hawaii 24/7

On the Web:
Central Pacific Hurricane Center: www.weather.gov/cphc
On Facebook, www.facebook.com/US.NationalWe…

MEDIA RELEASE

When family life is disrupted by a natural disaster, children often feel vulnerable or frightened. Well thought out plans that involve them in pre-disaster and post-disaster activities can help calm their fears.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website, FEMA for Kids is designed for children. It has fun stories, quizzes and games that can help families prepare for a disaster. The site also has a library link for ordering free posters, videos and other items for children.

The toll free number to call is (800) 480-2520.

An important first step in helping children prepare for a disaster is to have them help stock a Disaster Supply Kit. The FEMA for Kids website explains the kit’s contents and provides information in a format children will enjoy while they are learning.

“Parents will be pleased with the non-threatening way disaster information is provided on the FEMA for Kids website,” says FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Mark H. Armstrong. “We invite parents to check out the site with their children and use the materials that are offered.”

Many things can be done with children to protect the home and family before a disaster strikes.

Here are some suggestions:

* Listen together for weather updates and stay in touch with neighbors about ways to evacuate if the order is given

* Practice Evacuation drills

* Discuss where the family will gather is separated during a disaster

* Stock up on water and non-perishable foods

* Practice with pets when doing evacuation drills; have children put identifying collars on pets

* Teach children basic first aid steps, like applying bandages

— Find out more:
www.fema.gov/kids

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiian Airlines has announced the appointment of Timothy Strauss to the position of managing director of cargo.

Hawaiian created this new marketing and sales position to support its growing cargo business in conjunction with its expanding route network and the addition of more Airbus A330-200 aircraft with greater cargo-carrying capacity. Strauss reports to Peter Ingram, Hawaiian’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Tim Strauss

“Hawaiian’s network is growing and this creates more opportunities for Hawaii businesses to ship their goods abroad. We are also moving more products between Asia, Oceania, and North America,” said Ingram. “Tim’s engaging leadership style and impressive professional background make him the ideal person to expand our cargo operations.”

Strauss brings more than 25 years of cargo experience to Hawaiian, having worked in both the airline and freight forwarding communities. He began his career with Emery Worldwide in 1987 (now UPS Supply Chain Logistics), where he worked his way up from cargo handler to vice president of transportation and logistics.

He also has extensive commercial airline experience in both global sales and operations with Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines as a vice president and managing director. Strauss has worked with thirteen international airlines, including China’s largest carrier, in management development for their cargo divisions.

Strauss advanced his understanding of the logistics industry via studies in management at The Ohio State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Cambridge Institute.

MEDIA RELEASE

Linda Lingle, candidate for Hawaii’s open U.S. Senate seat, voiced her support for the bipartisan legislation termed “Startup Act 2.0.”

Startup Act 2.0, which was written by and introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), would create new types of visas, one allowing foreign students who obtained graduate degrees in math, science and other related fields to stay in the United States, and another for immigrant entrepreneurs who grow jobs and create companies here.

It also eliminates limits on how many work-based visas the United States offers to citizens of a certain country.

“Long-term economic growth demands that we continue to grow our innovation-based economy, create an environment that is conducive to new business activities and attract and retain the best and brightest from other countries,” Lingle said.

“Many foreign-born students are educated in American universities and then return to their home country to invent new products and start new cutting edge companies that compete with American businesses. That is simply not in America’s best interest. We should be encouraging these innovators to stay in America so their talent and ideas can fuel economic growth and create jobs right here at home. I am pleased to see legislation in the U.S. Senate that will help achieve these goals, and I am excited to pledge my support for the bipartisan effort,” she said.

In 2005 alone, immigrant-founded technology companies generated $52 billion in revenue and employed 450,000 workers. Today however, no more than 7 percent of the visas each year can be allocated to immigrants from any one country.

Immigrants from large countries such as India and China have the same number of visas available as those from much smaller countries such as Iceland and Costa Rica.

In addition to the immigration proposals, the Senators’ proposal would also permanently exempt some small-business stock, owned for at least five years, from capital gains taxes; create a new, targeted research and development incentive for new start-up companies; encourage the commercialization of research started at universities; and require government agencies to undertake a cost-benefit analysis on major research funding proposals.

“As it relates to the STEM education portion of the Act, I am pleased the Senate recognizes the importance of this scholastic focus as this has been an initiative of mine since 2006,” Lingle said. “Specifically, robotics education has grown from 95 teams to over 450 teams in six different programs. Like this legislation, Hawaii’s success was born through a coordinated effort of the public and private sectors.

“If elected as Hawaii’s next U.S. Senator, I will put Hawaii’s ‘people first’ by joining in the bipartisan effort to build a climate that encourages economic growth, entrepreneurs – both American and foreign-born – must be free to pursue their ideas, form companies in the United States, and hire employees. Startup 2.0 will create jobs for Americans by creating a opportunities for entrepreneurs to succeed,” she said.

— Find out more:
www.lingle2012.com

MEDIA RELEASE

North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition has named three Hawaii Island youth delegates (and two adult advisors) to attend the National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI) at CADCA’s Mid-Year Conference in Nashville, Tennessee July 23-26.

Youth delegates were selected by a team of five NHDFC leaders, based on a student essay.

Youth shared their past efforts to support drug-free communities; what they felt was the biggest risk factor for youth in North Hawaii; what ideas/actions they have to reduce underage drinking or prevent substance abuse in their local (home and school) communities; and what they are hoping to gain from attending the conference.

The youth delegates representing North Hawaii at this year’s conference are: Makanani Akau, of Waimea, attends Honokaa High School (10th grade); Hokuulaikaleiohu Pagan, of Waimea, attends Waimea Middle School (8th grade), and Kynan Kawai, of Hawi, attends Kamehameha Schools Hawaii in Keaau.

The adult advisors are: Beth Mehau from The Pantry/Mama’s House Lifeplan Program (Waimea) and David Fuertes from Ka Hana Noeau Mentorship Program (Kapaau).

Additionally, Cielito Rooney, North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition leader representing the parent sector in Waikoloa will attend.

Youth will receive four days of training to develop leadership capacity in mobilizing communities for change and will develop a plan of action to address local issues and contribute to a healthy, drug-free community.

Adult advisors receive training on how to support youth leaders and commit to helping them implement their plan in the year following the training.

North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition is a regional network of community groups and agency representatives from North Hawaii whose mission is to facilitate coordination and collaborative action among communities, organizations, and government agencies to prevent and reduce substance abuse.

North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition is a project of Five Mountains Hawaii.

— Find out more:

fivemountains.org/

Rep. Bob Herkes points to a change in the state House boundaries during a September 2011 meeting of the State Reapportionment Commission in Kona. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

A panel of three federal judges has rejected a challenge to the new state reapportionment and redistricting plan, and issued its 55-page ruling Tuesday.

The judges said they could not endorse invalidating the plan and ordering the State Reapportionment Commission to start from scratch, as that would be “spawning chaos rather than confidence in the election process.”

The judges also found “the equities and public interest weigh decisively against granting the preliminary injunction” and “tip overwhelmingly in the Commission’s favor.”

Also, they ruled methods used by the Commission were rational and passed Constitutional scrutiny.

The plan – finalized in March – was the second adopted by the State Reapportionment Commission and most notable in that it shifted one of the state’s 25 Senate seats from Oahu to the Big Island.

Eight Oahu residents sought a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court that would have stopped the state from using the latest map that outlines House and Senate districts.

Tuesday’s ruling in Honolulu – by U.S. District Judges J. Michael Seabright and Leslie E. Koba­ya­shi of Hono­lulu and 9th Circuit Judge M. Margaret Mc­Keown of San Diego – means the state Office of Elections, candidates and voters can now plan around those districts.

The Oahu group claimed the plan was unconstitutional and discriminatory because it excludes approximately 108,000 non-permanent residents – largely military personnel, their dependents and students who pay out-of-state tuition.

They also claimed excluding people violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution and led the commission to draw up districts of unequal size, which in turn means unequal representation in the state Legislature.

State officials maintained those people should not be counted and cited previous federal rulings that support their position.

During public hearings throughout the year, the Commission heard both sides of the issue. Some said transient military personnel and students from other states and countries should not be included in the population because they don’t vote here; others said they should be counted because they use resources and facilities, such as roads, hospitals, schools and libraries.

In arguments last week, state attorneys said the planning process for the Aug. 11 Primary Election is well underway and the injunction would only lead to delays and disruption. They pointed out it could mean two Primary Elections – one for federal offices and a second for state offices – and could even impact November’s General Election, which includes the presidential race.

Previously, the Commission presented a state map that included most of those populations. That version was challenged in Hawaii State Supreme Court by Big Island residents and attorneys, who claimed the Commission was bound by its own mandate and the state Constitution to exclude them.

Attorneys Stan Roehrig, of Hilo, and Bob Kim, of Kona, argued that case, acting on behalf of Big Island residents Malama Solomon, Patricia Cook, Louis Hao and Steven Pavao.

The Supreme Court agreed with arguments by Roehrig and Kim and in January ordered the commission to re-draw the map.

At one hearing in Kona last year, members of the Commission and its staff admitted that culling each and every military member, military dependent, out-of-state student and other non-permanent resident would not be possible within the Commission’s deadlines.

With the latest ruling, the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers remains June 5.

This court case dealt specifically with the state redistricting plan. The county redistricting map, completed late in 2011, was not named in the court case.

Reapportionment is mandated every 10 years following the U.S. Census.

The State Reapportionment Commission included chairwoman Victoria Marks, vice chairman Anthony Takitani, Dylan Nonaka,
Clarice Hashimoto, Harold S. Matsumoto, Lorrie Lee Stone, Terry E. Thomason, Elisabeth N. Moore and Cal Chipchase, IV.

— Find out more:
State Office of Elections: hawaii.gov/elections

For the complete ruling, click the PDF button below:

Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz meets with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Governor's Office)

MEDIA RELEASE

Lt. Governor Brian Schatz, House Speaker Calvin Say, Senate Vice President Donna Kim, and Sen. Ronald Kouchi met with newly re-elected Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to discuss areas of mutual interest, including tourism, energy and defense.

In December of 2011 President Obama put Taiwan on track to become a “visa waiver” country. Final approval is expected by the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security in the latter part of 2012. After this status is granted, Hawaii officials are optimistic that tourism will increase exponentially.

Since South Korea was granted visa waiver status, Hawaii has seen rapid growth in the Korean tourism market. Schatz also expressed a desire to establish direct flights between Honolulu and Taipei, and Ma and Schatz agreed to work together on issues related to travel and tourism.

Ma’s inauguration address highlighted clean energy as a national priority. To that end, Schatz signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu, establishing a collaboration on clean energy, energy efficiency and green growth. 

Ma also discussed the long-term collaboration in defense, and the critical role that the U.S. Pacific Command on Oahu plays in that relationship. Schatz says the meeting with President Ma was productive and relatively informal.

“We had a great discussion. President Ma has a lot of aloha for Hawaii,” he said. “We agreed to strengthen our existing relationships in terms of tourism, defense and culture, and to work on new areas together, especially clean energy.”

Say said Ma’s vision for Taiwan and his policy priorities – clean energy, a strong defense, supporting local culture, and social justice – are core values for Hawaii as well.

“We have a friend in President Ma, and the relationship between Hawaii and Taiwan has never been stronger,” Say said.

Kim also spoke of the need to more aggressively promote Hawaii in the Asia-Pacific region. “These kinds of visits are critical in order to grow these markets. The potential is there, but it is based on personal relationships – this was a productive first step,” she said.

Kouchi, the vice chairman of the Senate tourism committee, said, “These interactions will bear fruit for Hawaii’s economy. Even though we had a record year for Hawaii tourism in 2011, we can do even better and our efforts in the Asia-Pacific region will enable that to happen.”

Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a collaboration on clean energy, energy efficiency and green growth. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Governor's Office)

MEDIA RELEASE

Death rates for people with diabetes dropped substantially from 1997 to 2006, especially deaths related to heart disease and stroke, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Deaths from all causes declined by 23 percent, and deaths related to heart disease and stroke dropped by 40 percent, according to the study published today in the journal Diabetes Care.

Scientists evaluated 1997-2004 National Health Interview Survey data from nearly 250,000 adults who were linked to the National Death Index. Although adults with diabetes still are more likely to die younger than those who do not have the disease, the gap is narrowing.

Improved medical treatment for cardiovascular disease, better management of diabetes, and some healthy lifestyle changes contributed to the decline.

People with diabetes were less likely to smoke and more likely to be physically active than in the past. Better control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol also may have contributed to improved health. However, obesity levels among people with diabetes continued to increase.

“Taking care of your heart through healthy lifestyle choices is making a difference, but Americans continue to die from a disease that can be prevented,” said Ann Albright, Ph.D., R.D., director of CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “Although the cardiovascular disease death rate for people with diabetes has dropped, it is still twice as high as for adults without diabetes.”

Previous studies have found that rates of heart disease and stroke are declining for all U.S. adults. Those rates are dropping faster for people with diabetes compared to adults without diabetes.

Recent CDC studies also have found declining rates of kidney failure, amputation of feet and legs, and hospitalization for heart disease and stroke among people with diabetes.

Because people with diabetes are living longer and the rate of new cases being diagnosed is increasing, scientists expect the total number of people with the disease will continue to rise. The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has more than tripled since 1980, primarily due to type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to a rise in obesity, inactivity and older age.

CDC estimates that 25.8 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of them do not know they have the disease.

CDC and its partners are working on a variety of initiatives to prevent type 2 diabetes and to reduce its complications. CDC leads the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a public-private partnership designed to bring evidence-based programs for preventing type 2 diabetes to communities.

The program supports establishing a network of lifestyle-change classes for overweight or obese people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“Diabetes carries significant personal and financial costs for individuals, their families, and the health care systems that treat them,” said Edward W. Gregg, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and chief of epidemiology and statistics in CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “As the number of people with diabetes increases, it will be more important than ever to manage the disease to reduce complications and premature deaths.”

Controlling levels of blood sugar (glucose), cholesterol and blood pressure helps people with diabetes reduce the chance of developing serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney disease.

In 2001, the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a joint effort of CDC and NIH with the support of more than 200 partners, developed a campaign to raise awareness of the link between diabetes and heart disease and reinforce the importance of a comprehensive diabetes care plan that focuses on the ABCs of diabetes – A1C (a measure of blood glucose control over a two- to three-month period), Blood pressure and Cholesterol.

Last year CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched Million Hearts, an initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. The initiative focuses on two main goals: empowering Americans to make healthy choices and improving care for people, focusing on aspirin for people at risk, blood pressure control, cholesterol management and smoking cessation.

More than 2 million heart attacks and strokes occur every year, and treatment for these conditions and other vascular diseases account for about 1 of every 6 health care dollars. Up to 20 percent of deaths from heart attack and 13 percent of deaths from stroke are attributable to diabetes or prediabetes.

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2009 and is the leading cause of new cases of kidney failure, blindness among adults younger than 75, and amputation of feet and legs not related to injury. People with diagnosed diabetes have medical costs that are more than twice as high as for people without the disease. The total costs of diabetes are an estimated $174 billion annually, including $116 billion in direct medical costs.

— Find out more:
www.cdc.gov/diabetes
www.yourdiabetesinfo.org

millionhearts.hhs.gov

MEDIA RELEASE

Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamanaopono Crabbe has officially announced his senior executive team, which includes two new faces and a couple of promotions from within the organization.

The six-member team is anchored by former OHA controller Aedward Los Banos, who has been elevated to chief operating officer. Known for his command of numbers, the 33-year-old Los Banos will help lead an executive team expected to inspire support and confidence in OHA’s efforts to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians.

To assist him:

* Hawley Alamodin, who has an ability to forge strong relationships, will retain her existing duties as chief financial officer & director of resource management. The 36-year-old Alamodin was initially appointed to the position in March 2011, when she was promoted from OHA controller.

* Breann Nuuhiwa, who is best known for her expertise in federal Indian law as well as Native Hawaiian law and policy, has been named chief advocate. The 32-year-old Nuuhiwa steps into her new role after spending the past nine months as OHA’s public policy manager.

* Lisa Watkins-Victorino, Ph.D., has been appointed director of research and brings impressive academic credentials to the position. The 49-year-old Watkins-Victorino comes to OHA from the state Department of Education, where she was an evaluation specialist.

* Kehaunani Abad, Ph.D., has been named to the newly created position of director of community engagement and is considered incredibly knowledgeable about the Hawaiian community. Prior to joining OHA, the 48-year-old Abad was the director of Kamehameha Publishing.

“The new leadership team has the right combination of skills and experience to assist my efforts to restore OHA’s integrity in the Native Hawaiian community,” said Crabbe, whose appointment to the top job at OHA took effect March 16, 2012. “They all will be passionately involved in nurturing a sense of commitment to empowering Hawaiians and strengthening Hawaii.”

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is a unique, independent state agency established through the Hawaii State Constitution and statutes to advocate for the betterment of conditions of all Native Hawaiians, with a Board of Trustees elected by the voters of Hawaii.

OHA is guided by a vision and mission to ensure the perpetuation of the culture, to protect the entitlements of Native Hawaiians, and to build a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation.

— Find out more:
www.oha.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) plan to ensure efficient and timely completion to various State construction projects.

By Administrative Directive, Abercrombie declared the State of Hawaii will use PLAs on a variety of construction projects in order to address obstacles that might arise due to a lack of labor coordination.

“A Project Labor Agreement provides a mechanism for collaboration on certain projects to prevent potential conflicts among labor unions,” Abercrombie said. “Our local economy has shown signs of improvement, but we cannot afford to lose this momentum by prolonging projects from getting done in a timely manner.”

Building Trades Council President Reginald Castanares, Jr. said, “We’re grateful that the Abercrombie Administration is supportive of the working men and women of Hawaii. The Governor’s Directive speaks volumes to his desire to create jobs and work on necessary projects that will benefit the State.”

The governor also announced five state construction projects that have been identified by various state departments that will fall under the PLA. These are:

* University of Hawaii – Hilo College of Pharmacy: This $38 million project will include classrooms for new pharmacists and research labs for the discovery and synthesis of new drug entities. A Honolulu-based firm, WCIT, is the lead architect and has completed more than half of the design.

* Princess Victoria Kamamalu Building: Total project estimated cost is $32.9 million. It includes major renovation of the existing building; asbestos removal; and infrastructure, electrical and plumbing repairs. The scope of work also includes design and construction that meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

* Maui Regional Public Safety Complex: Total project estimated cost is $225 million. It is the construction of a new jail facility in Puunene, Maui that will include adult male and female secure housing and support facilities, security support facilities and administrative offices. The design of this Complex will meet LEED standards.

* Ewa Elementary School: This $11 million project is the construction of an eight-classroom building to meet growth and enrollment projections in this fast growing community. It will include six general classrooms, a self-contained special education classroom, and a computer resource room.

* Honolulu International Airport Mauka Concourse Project: Estimated project cost is $213 million. It will include extending the interisland terminal with the addition of six wide body and 11 narrow body gates, additional concessionaire space, airline lounge, and restrooms.

Labor unions and employers that work on these projects will enter into a PLA when the contract is awarded.

Abercrombie added, “These projects are prime examples of addressing immediate job growth and building better infrastructure for the future as outlined in my New Day Plan.”

By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a high wind warning for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa for elevations over 8,000 feet until 6 p.m. Wednesday (May 23). The Mauna Kea Access Road is currently closed due to hurricane strength winds on the summit.

Winds are coming from the East at 35-50 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. The winds are expected to increase in strength overnight and remain strong through the day Wednesday. Winds this strong can make driving and hiking difficult.

A small craft advisory for the Kaiwi Channel, Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward and Southeast waters is also in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday (May 24).

For information about Mauna Kea Access Road conditions visit – http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/road-conditions/

MEDIA RELEASE

This is a Department of Water Supply water emergency restriction notice for Tuesday afternoon May 22, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.

The Department of Water supply reported yesterday the QLT Well in North Kona above Mamalahoa Highway failed. As a result, water storage dropped, and remaining sources of the system were not able to keep up with normal demand. North Kona customers were immediately issued a water restriction notice, and were advised to restrict water consumption to essential use only. Water restriction means a 25% reduction in daily water use.

At this time, backup sources are on line, and water tank levels remain low. Though the system has water, north Kona water customers remain on water restriction because these sources are not able to meet normal demand. Customers on restriction are in the following areas:

• Ka‘iminani Street, Hinalani Street and upper Palani Street including all side streets and subdivisions off of these roads
• Along Mamalahoa Highway from Keopu Heights to Kona Ocean View/Pu‘ukala including all side streets and subdivisions off of these roads
• Along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway from north of Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Airport including NELHA, Keahole Ag Park, all commercial/industrial areas, side streets, and subdivisions off of these roads.

At this time, Department of Water Supply has procured an emergency repair contractor who mobilized to the site to begin pulling the pump out. After the pump is pulled, an investigation of the cause of failure will ensue, and a determination of the necessary requirements and timeline for the repair will be made. Until this information is available, it is unknown when repairs can be completed.

At this time, due to the current status of the North Kona water system, the following advisory is in effect: water spigots off fire hydrants are set up for customers to access water during this emergency in the vicinity of Kealakehe Parkway mauka of the West Hawaii Civic Center and at the intersection of Keanalehu Street and Puohulihuli Street above Kealakehe High School.

Again, The Department of Water Supply reports the QLT Well in North Kona is down. Back up sources now online are unable to keep up with normal demand. Customers in the affected area are advised to restrict water use to essential use only. It is unknown at this time when repairs can be completed. You will be informed as information becomes available.

If you need additional information or have emergency needs, please call 961-8790. Your cooperation is needed and appreciated.

A military convoy pulls over onto the shoulder of Mamalahoa Highway (Hwy 190) to let traffic pass after exiting Saddle Road as it heads south to Waikolola Road. Convoys will be headed from PTA to Kawaihae Harbor Wednesday and Thursday. Hawaii 24/7 File Photo

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii—Oahu-based military units will convoy from Pōhakuloa Training Area to Kawaihae Harbor May 23-24 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. via Saddle Road, Mamalahoa Highway, Waikoloa Road, Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kawaihae Road.

The convoys will have Hawaii Police Department escorts front and rear. Motorists are advised to be alert and drive safely.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Bob McElroy, Public Affairs Officer, at (808) 969-2427.

MEDIA RELEASE

Three new members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents have been sworn in.

John Dean, Benjamin Kudo and Tom Shigemoto begin their terms as regents July 1. A fourth incoming regent, Jeffrey Acido, will be sworn in at a later date. His term also begins July 1.

Dean, representing Honolulu County, is president and chief executive officer of Central Pacific Bank and Central Pacific Financial Corporation.

Kudo, an at-large representative, is an attorney and the chief financial officer and manager of the land use, administrative and environmental law group of Imanaka Kudo & Fujimoto.

Shigemoto, representing Kauai County, is vice president of planning for A&B Properties, Inc., the real estate development division of Alexander and Baldwin, Inc.

Acido is the student regent and is a graduate student working towards an MA in Asian studies, focusing on the Philippines, with a concentration in Ilokano.

The board also recognized members whose terms are ending June 30. Outgoing regents honored included Ramon de la Pena, Dennis Hirota, Teena Rasmussen and Matthew Williams.

de la Pena has represented Kauai County on the Board of Regents since 2004. A retired UH Manoa professor and agronomist, he previously served as superintendent of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Kauai Branch Research Station and director of the Kauai County Office of Economic Development.

Hirota joined the Board of Regents in 2008 representing Honolulu County. He is the president of Sam Hirota, Inc., a 45-year-old civil engineering and surveying consulting company. As a licensed civil engineer, land surveyor and land court surveyor, he has been involved in the design of private, commercial, residential and federal projects throughout the Pacific region.

A regent since 2008, Rasmussen is coordinator of the Office of Economic Development for Maui and is involved with her family-owned company, Paradise Flower Farms. A tireless proponent of locally grown produce and flowers, she has been a member and treasurer of the Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, and is a founding member of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Hawaii Seal of Quality program.

Williams, who currently holds the student seat on the Board, is a graduate with an MS in nursing and an MBA from UH Manoa. He worked in banking, insurance, emergency medicine and other fields while taking community college courses before entering the UH Manoa nursing program.

A charge nurse at Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health Hospital, he oversees care of children and adolescent patients and is helping implement programs to advance hospital services.

UH Board of Regents re-elects Martinson, Carlson and Lee as officers

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents re-elected Regent Eric Martinson to a one-year term as chair and Regents Carl Carlson and James Lee to one-year terms as vice chairs of the 15-member board.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Martinson joined the board in 2009. He has more than 25 years of institutional investment and asset management experience.

He is executive vice president of The Queen’s Health Systems and president of Queen Emma Land Company. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Hawaii-based solar technology company, Sopogy, Inc., and previously served on the boards of Hoike Holdings, BPA Technologies and DSH International. Martinson is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a BBA in finance and holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Carlson is founder of Huehue Ventures, a real estate consulting and agricultural property management firm. He has more than 40 years of experience in real estate, ranching and agriculture in Hawaii.

Active in community affairs, he is currently the chair of the Advisory Committee of the Kukio Community Fund, a charitable fund administered under the umbrella of the Hawaii Community Foundation. He also serves as the facilitator of the Kona Water Roundtable and is one of its founders. Carlson obtained a BS from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

Lee is a partner in the Honolulu law firm of Devens, Nakano, Saito, Lee, Wong and Ching. He has experience in the restaurant industry, having served as managing director of Let’s Eat Hawaii, owner and operator of Sam Choy’s Restaurants in Hawaii, Japan and Guam, and managing director of the K. B. Lee Corp., a real estate development company and owner and operator of the Hee Hing Restaurant.

He has served as president of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Honolulu and chair of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Foundation. Lee received his BBA in accounting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and JD from UH Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii at Hilo School of Nursing (UHH SoN) will soon begin its first cohort of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students August 2012.

The program will offer two entry tracks: Post Baccalaureate and Post Masters for advanced nursing education. The program will have an emphasis on transcultural nursing, rural health, and gerontology.

“The DNP curriculum builds on a traditional FNP program by facilitating advanced scholarly inquiry and emphasizes clinical evidence-based practices in order to meet the unique needs of the culturally diverse, rural and underserved communities – particularly in medically underserved areas of the outer Islands of Hawaii,” said Dr. Kay Daub, director, School of Nursing.

Students entering this degree program can expect to receive doctoral-level education, which includes the scientific knowledge and clinical research of populations required for safe nursing practice and growing concerns regarding the quality of patient care delivery and outcomes.

“Our students will receive applied experience that educates and trains primary healthcare providers who are grounded in community – and population-based health promotion that helps address health disparities and improve community capacity,” Daub said.

Applications to enroll in the DNP program for post BSN and MSN/FNP begins December 2012.

For more information, visit: hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/nursing/

MEDIA RELEASE

The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations has announced the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 6.3 percent, down from 6.4 percent in March.

In April over March, all counties, including the islands of Maui County, experienced declines in the unemployment rate, which are not seasonally adjusted.

Statewide, there were 614,400 employed and 41,350 unemployed in April, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 655,750.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell 9.1 percent over the year to 1,880 in April 2012 while total weeks claimed decreased by 838 to 13,811 in April 2012, a reduction of 5.7 percent over the year. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.1 percent down from 8.2 percent in March.

The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawaii and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State declined to 6.0 percent in April from 6.4 percent in March.

Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey)

In a separate measure of employment, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs increased by 4,600 jobs in April over March. It marked the third consecutive monthly growth in the job count.

Over-the-month, private sector job gains were experienced in Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+500) and Financial Activities and Other Services (+400 each).

Employment in Manufacturing, Professional & Business Services, and Leisure & Hospitality remained unchanged.

Job losses occurred in Construction (-200) and Education & Health Services (-500).

Government rose by 4,100, with the majority of the increase attributed to recent shifts in the year-round Department of Education school schedules, which have created inconsistency in predicting both the timing and amount of seasonal hires.

In comparison with one year ago, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs increased by 10,100 over-the-year.

As numerous visitor industry indicators and general excise tax revenues have improved, the largest private sector over-the-year job expansion have occurred in Leisure & Hospitality (+5,100) and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+1,900).

Within Leisure & Hospitality, just since the beginning of the year, Accommodations & Food Services has added 1,600 jobs.