Hawaii News Now: Monster swells spur serious erosion, safety issues along Makaha shoreline

{Link to Hawaii News Now: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31361115/ocean-swells-remove-huge-chunks-of-makaha-sand?sf21826524=1}

MAKAHA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) –

Erosion happens every winter season when big waves buffet Makaha’s shoreline. But the damage at Makaha surfing beach this year is causing considerable concern.

“Right now, it’s a big threat and it’s happening all the way down the beach here,” said Robert “Bunky” Bakutis, of Buffalo Surfing Classic.

The pounding waves from seven winter swells uncovered concrete pilings and exposed metal poles. “This was all sand,” Makaha resident Phillip Naone said, pointing to an area far offshore.

Since the winter surf season started, the shoreline has shrunk by twenty to thirty yards, residents say. Rocks that were buried are now uncovered.

“They’re posing a very dangerous situation,” Bakutis said.

He also worries upcoming swells will dislodge the pilings and damage coral. “We’re really concerned about the reef. What’s going to happen to the reef?” he said.

The affected area is both city and state property. State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro, whose district includes Makaha, wants the government to bring in extra sand each summer to mitigate the effects of winter erosion. She said it’s been done before but not on an annual basis.

“That’s what the community is asking, bring some sand in and make this place safer,” she said.

Bakutis, meanwhile, believes the permanent solution is for government to move Farrington Highway inland to expand the beach and keep beachgoers from having to cross the highway to reach restrooms.

“Our whole push here is to try to get them to see the light of not having to fight this every time it happens,” he said.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is talking to state transportation officials about relocating the highway, but such a project would be years in the making.

In the meantime, the city and state are still trying to formulate how they’ll tackle Makaha’s worsening erosion.

Copyright 2016 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Traffic relief in Nanakuli in the works

  http://www.kitv.com/story/31330633/traffic-relief-in-nanakuli-in-the-works

NANAKULI, Hawaii –  By Roger Mari

 

Traffic relief is on the way for drivers on the Waianae coast. State transportation officials announced plans to begin a contraflow lane on Farrington Highway.

State officials say an estimated 50,000 cars per day use Farrington Highway, up about 20,000 from the year 2000. More cars, same road.

“The increase in cars and the increase in population are occurring without development. It’s something that hasn’t been taken care of for a while, so we’re putting more resources into it to address it now,” said Ed Sniffen, HDOT Highways Division.

The Nanakuli contraflow project will create a third lane of travel for westbound drivers on Farrington Highway from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The mile-long contraflow lane will begin at Piliokahi Avenue and continue past Helelua Street.

“It will change one of the eastbound lanes into a westbound lane during the p.m. peak condition,” said Sniffen.

It’s good news for Demont Conner who lives on the leeward coast and spends about an hour and a half in traffic heading home from downtown.

“If there are accidents all along the way, then it just adds exponentially,” said Demont Conner, leeward resident.

In addition to the contraflow lane, an extension to the emergency access lane is under consideration. It would begin at the end of Helelua Street where the current emergency access road ends.

“We’re just here to explore this morning and to find out whether this is a viable way to extend the emergency access road,” said Sen. Maile Shimabukuro.

The hope is to connect it to Haleakala Avenue, which is the first street in the Nanakuli Homestead. For years, it had been proposed Conner hopes to gain support from the Hawaiian community on the leeward coast. Some are already on board.

“I’m just helping to assist in the creation of an access emergency road. We need that,” said Conner.

“I don’t believe we need an access road. I believe we need an actual road and not access for emergencies only,” said Richard Lanford, Neighborhood Board.

For now, HDOT will concentrate primarily on the contraflow lane. They plan to discuss the project before the area neighborhood boards in March and April to get input from the community.

   
 

Nelson v DHHL Case Update

• Judge: State Must Fund Hawaiian Home Lands – March 2, 2016

Chad Blair for Civil Beat * premium content, please see text below

The state of Hawaii must adequately fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a judge said Monday.

First Circuit Court Judge Jeannette Castagnetti, as detailed in a transcript released Tuesday, said in the case of Nelson vs. Hawaiian Homes Commission:

“The Defendants must fulfill their constitutional duty and trust responsibilities. To be clear, the Court is not ordering an appropriation.

“The Court is, however, ordering that the State must comply with its constitutional duty to make sufficient sums available to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands for its administrative and operating budget. There is still time for the State to become in compliance during this fiscal year.”

The lawsuit centered on whether the Hawaii Legislature was required to provide an additional $18 million on top of the $9.6 million already appropriated in the current fiscal year to DHHL.

Gov. David Ige, Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Joe Souki argued that the judiciary was exceeding its authority and could not order them to make an appropriation.

A court hearing was held last week and the judge issued a lengthy oral decision Monday.

David Frankel, an attorney for the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, which is representing DHHL beneficiaries, said Castagnetti’s decision “speaks for itself.”

Attorney Doug Chin, who represented the state, said in a statement:

“Our primary concern was the separation of powers. Yesterday’s decision by the judge revised language directing the Legislature to appropriate a specific amount to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and instead ordered the Legislature to make sufficient sums of general funds available to DHHL for its administration and operating budget, which is what the Hawaii Constitution provides.”

Kalaeloa Road Blessing 02/29/16

The Project is an extension of the very successful Kapolei Business Park, a fully developed, 130-acre industrial park and the premier business park in Leeward, Oahu.

Kapolei Business Park Phase 2 will include the backbone infrastructure for the different utilities and will be constructed so that each individual lot buyer may pursue their connections with the individual utility agencies (including but not limited to HECO, BWS, DPP-Wastewater, T…elephone, CableTV, etc.). In addition, the project is conveniently located approximately 1.4 miles west of Kalaeloa Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor, Hawaii’s second busiest commercial port with services that include bulk product tug and barge service throughout the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the West Coast of the U.S. Mainland.

Photo credit: Geanine McIntosh, Staff
http://www.kapoleibusinesspark.com

Volunteers needed!

Aloha Friends of Kamaile Academy PCS,

Attached is our latest Navigator News. Our elementary school had their first exhibition nights, we had a dance for our youngest students, and we got a big donation of slippers!

We are still looking for folks that are willing to attend our 4/14 Career Day from 1:30-3:00 p.m., and share their profession with our secondary students in a gallery walk format. Please email me if you would like to participate or know someone who does!

If you would like to share any events or information with our school community, just let me know and Iʻll distribute it. Also, if youʻd prefer to be removed from our mailing list, just reply to this email with your request.

Have a great March, and for those that have a Spring Break – enjoy!

Mahalo,

Kathleen Hoppe

—

Kathleen Hoppe

Student Support Services Program Manager

Kamaile Academy PCS

(808) 697-7110, ext. 271

Advocates for Public Interest Law Pick of the Year Award

I was recently awarded the Outstanding APIL Pick of the Year Award.
This award was for: “Maile’s devotion to public interest law through her work at Legal Aid – Waianae, as a past supervisor to APIL Grantees, a past APIL member, and for her continuing support of APIL.”

 

 

 

Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) also recognized other awardees:

Faculty Award (Justin Levinson).  “We present this award for: Justin’s dedicated support of APIL over the past ten years as the faculty advisor to the group.  His guidance and assistance to the group and especially the student board has been instrumental in APIL’s success.”

Alumni Award (Elizabeth Kent).  “We present this award for: Elizabeth’s tremendous and continued support of APIL since her time as a WSRSL student and member of APIL’s 1985 founding class through today.”

Non-Profit Award (Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii).  “We present this award for: VLSH’s collaborative work to create the new Appellate Pro Bono Pilot Program,which was approved by the Court on August 7, 2015.”

Corporate Award (Bronster Fujichaku Robbins).  “Bronster Fujichaku Robbins’ devotion to pro bono work, including their recent collaborative efforts to maintain critical medical services for COFA citizens and other lawful residents of Hawai‘i.”

Here is a link to photos taken by James Strange (UH William S. Richardson School of Law class of 2017), from the APIL event on 02/26/16:

http://orion1192001.viewbook.com/album/apil-2016#28

Mahalo nui loa to APIL for bestowing these great honors, and for all the excellent work you do to promote and foster attorneys dedicated to public service!

Pictured (left to right) Michelle Acosta (Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii), Justin Levinson (Faculty), Cassandra Chang (’17, APIL Grant recipient), Kara Teng (’17, 7th Annual Chris Iijima Fellow), Justine Herrera (VLSH), Catherine Aubuchon, Bronster Fujichaku Robbins, Rebecca Copeland (Appellate Attorney), Senator Maile Shimabukuro, Josh Korr (VLSH), Elizabeth Kent (’85)

 

Waianae High School Going Green Day Saturday March 5,2016 9am-1pm

Native Hawaiian Scholarships

Information Found from: http://www.heleloa.com/scholarships-for-native-hawaiians

The Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation

The Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to “develop new and diverse sources of income to support the ever-increasing educational needs and goals of people of Hawaiian ancestry.”The Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation establishes donor-funded endowed scholarships for Hawaiians. Its current scholarships were created by private donors and are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or donor specified criteria. Applications are open to the general public, including students who are not of Hawaiian ancestry. However, it is the policy of Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

To apply for Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation scholarships, you must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

1. Be enrolled in an accredited two or four-year post-high degree program
2. Be a classified student in a degree-seeking program at an accredited institution (see individual scholarship description for details)
3. Regardless of financial need, you must submit a FAFSA Student Aid Report
4. Meet any special requirements specific to the scholarships listed online

For more information on the Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation and its scholarships, please visit: http://www.pauahi.org/scholarships/

 

Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP)

The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) is a Federally funded, all inclusive, service-oriented scholarship program for scholars of Native Hawaiian descent who are seeking education in the health care field. Their scholarships are available to students in pursuits of a degree in one of the following fields and specialties:Clinical Psychologist, Dentist, Dental Hygienist, Physician, Family Practitioner, General Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Pediatrics, Physician, Osteopathic, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Opthamologist, Nursing, Registered Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Public Health Nurse, Masters in Public Health, Pharmacy, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapy, General Psychology and more.

Their scholarships provide: full tuition, a monthly stipend, and other related school costs (books, lab materials, etc) as defined by your school’s financial aid office. As a Federal service scholarship, students who receive funding are obligated to perform one (1) year for each year awarded paid service/employment in a medically underserved area within the State of Hawai`i immediately after graduation/licensure.

To qualify for our scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be of Native Hawaiian ancestry (verified by birth certificate)
2. Be a full-time student enrolled in an accredited institution
3. Be pursuing one of the eligible professions listed above
4. Be willing to relocate anywhere within the state of Hawai`i to fulfill your service obligation

For more information on the The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP), please visit: http://www.nhhsp.org/about/

 

The Liko A’e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program

The Liko A’e Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program is administered by UH Maui College and Maui Community College (MCC). Program funding is by the U.S. Department of Education via the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Similar to the Ke Ali’i Pauahi Foundation scholarships, their scholarships can be used for funding at colleges and universities located outside of Hawai’i.All applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Be Hawaiian, defined as a descendent of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, as evidenced by original, certified birth records
2. Be a United States citizen
3. Have a high school diploma (or equivalent)
4. Be enrolled in or accepted to attend, either full-time or half time, an accredited two- or four-year degree-granting institution of higher education in Hawaii or the continental US
5. Demonstrate financial need through submission of the 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
6. Using the 4.0 GPA scale, you attain a minimum grade point average of at least 2.0 for undergraduates or 3.0 for graduate students as evidenced by most recent official transcript

For more information on the Liko A’e Native Hawaiian scholarship program, please visit https://likoae.org/.

 

Native Hawaiian Leadership Project (NHLP)

The Native Hawaiian Leadership Project (NHLP) is also funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Higher Education Act, and assists Native Hawaiians to attain undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees.

For more information on the Native Hawaiian Leadership Project (NHLP), please visit: http://www.cba.hawaii.edu/nhlp/scholarships.html

 

The Hawai’i Community Foundation (HCF)

The Hawai’i Community Foundation (HCF) has scholarships available to Native Hawaiians, including one from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Hawai’i Community Foundation scholarships are listed at: http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/scholarships

 

The Hawai’i Daughters Guild of California

The Hawai`i Daughters Guild of California has two application requirements: Applicant must be a female of Polynesian ancestry, and a California resident. Scholarship recipient must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Enroll as a full-time student, as defined by the academic institution, at an accredited college/university in the academic year following high school graduation
2. Enroll as a full-time student in the academic year immediately following scholarship award
3. Continuing full-time undergraduate student
4. Enrolled as a full-time graduate student in the academic year immediately following bachelor’s degree program

Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Consideration is given to scholastic achievements, extra-curricular activities, community service, financial need, background, and career goals. These topics should be covered in a required autobiographical essay.

In addition to the requirements listed above (and a few unlisted) a personal interview is also a part of the consideration process. For more information, please visit: http://www.hiccsc.org/scholarships.htm

 

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund

Based in Washington, D.C., the APIASF is the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted solely to providing scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. APIASF manages two scholarship programs: the APIASF scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans scholarship, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

APIASF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD consists of $2500-$5000. Requirements include:

1. Be of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity as defined by the U.S. Census
2. Be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S., or a citizen of the Freely Associated States
3. Be enrolling in a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student
4. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) or have earned a GED

GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP AWARD (award covers unmet need & self-help.) Requirements include:

1. Be of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity as defined by the U.S. Census
2. Be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S., or a citizen of the Freely Associated States
3. Be enrolling in a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student
4. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) or have earned a GED
5. Meet the federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
6. Demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities

For more information, please visit http://www.apiasf.org/scholarships.html