Mahalo to Cal Domen & Co. For Another Year of Providing Classic Cars at the Christmas Parade

  
Mahalo Cal Domen, Charmaine Padeken & Mr. Kuni for providing classic cars to me and other elected officials at the 12/10/16 Waianae Christmas Parade, and countless other past parades. Mahalo also for your generous and heartfelt community service. Domen received some well-deserved publicity in the newspaper in 2015 for his efforts to beautify Waianae High: https://21maile.com/2015/03/08/star-advertiser-cal-domen-leads-effort-to-beautify-waianae-hs/.  L-R: Charmaine Padeken, Sen. Shimabukuro, and Cal Domen

#caldomen #padekenohana #waianaeparade #classiccarshawaii #waianaerotary #maileshimabukuro

Hawaiian Music Legend Palani Vaughan Died 12/8/16

Palani Vaughan, testifying at the hearing for SR 124/SCR 163 commemorating and honoring the life of Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox, an enduring patriot and advocate for the rights of native Hawaiians, who served as Hawaii’s first elected representative to the United States Congress.

“Hawaiian music legend Palani Vaughan died Thursday at the age of 72. Vaughan, inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, is best known for albums honoring King David Kalakaua. He formed the “King’s Own” and began to study, compose, publish, record, and perform tributes to Kalakaua and Hawaii’s monarchy, recording four albums in the 1970s and early 1980s in honor of Kalakaua…. Vaughan’s most important legacy as a songwriter and recording artist is his four-album series honoring Kalakua…. Vaughan’s albums corrected the politically driven misrepresentation of Kalakaua’s character and documented his commitment to preserving and perpetuating traditional Hawaiian culture, embracing modern technology, and defending the Hawaiian people…. While the third and fourth ‘Ia ‘Oe E Ka La’ albums received Hoku Awards, he received the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006” (Leila Fujimori, “Hawaiian Music Legend Palani Vaughan Dies,” Star-Advertiser, 12/8/16).

Palani Vaughan and the Wilcox ‘Ohana at the hearing for SR 124/SCR 163.

Comment by Elizabeth Keka’aniauokalani Moreno (12/10/16): “Mr Vaughan’s passing has come as a shock to many. I’m sure he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family. He had a great spirit about him, and I, as a member of the Wilcox and La’anui family, will never forget his passion to learn, teach, and share. He still had so much more to do and was the reason SR 124/SCR 163 was proposed. My family hopes his efforts for this proposal will not be lost and will instead move forward in the near future as he thought deserving of my Great Great Grandfather, Robert Kalanihiapo Wilcox.”

Note from Senator Shimabukuro: “I am deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Palani Vaughan. I have enjoyed working with him on various issues at the legislature.  I was always struck by how even in a simple email, his words read like the lyrics of a song. His son, Kilipaki, is my friend and classmate, and my heart and sympathy go out to the Vaughan ‘Ohana.”

Sen. Shimabukuro’s New 2017 Committee Assignments

I am happy to announce my new committee assignments for the 2017 legislative session:

• Hawaiian Affairs, Chair
• Ways and Means, Member
• Transportation and Energy, Member
• International Affairs and the Arts, Member

Regretfully, I had to leave my Judiciary and Labor Vice Chair position in order to become a member of Ways and Means, since the two committees meet at the same time. However, I believe that I am now in a better position to further the interests of the Leeward Coast. I am very grateful that my new committee requests were granted. Here is a full listing of the 2017 Senate committees, and their meeting times:

Star-Adv: ‘Isle Volunteer Opportunities Are Described on Websites’ (12/5/16)

Excerpt from Christine Donnelly’s “Isle volunteer opportunities are described on websites” (Kokua Line, Star-Advertiser, 5 Dec. 2016):

There are several websites that match Hawaii volunteers with specific areas of interest and causes that need support. As a short-term volunteer, your guest might have fewer options than a year-round resident, but with so many nonprofits needing volunteer labor and other resources, she’s sure to find something suitable.

Be sure that she double-checks with her college to ensure that she meets whatever requirements the educational institution imposes, in terms of hours contributed. Here are few sites:

• 808ne.ws/uhservice is an A-to-Z directory of Hawaii groups that welcome volunteers, as compiled by the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Service Learning Program. Entries on this easy-to-read list link to the websites of the individual nonprofits and agencies, where you’ll find specifics about volunteering.
• 808ne.ws/auwget-involved is a landing page for the Aloha United Way’s portal to a variety of volunteer opportunities. After reading the general information, click on the red “volunteer” tab at the bottom of the page to go to auw.galaxydigital.com, where specific volunteer gigs are listed (as well as some paying jobs in the nonprofit sector).
• volunteermatch.org is a national site where you can narrow your search by city, cause and other filters. We found more than a dozen ongoing volunteer posts in Honolulu that promised flexible time commitments.

Read the full article on the Star-Advertiser site.

Hawaii DOE/BOE Strategic Plan 2017-2020

Hawaii DOE/BOE Strategic Plan 2017-2020. Click image to view the 12-page plan.

Hawaii DOE/BOE Strategic Plan 2017-2020 Summary. Click image to view the 2-page summary.

Waianae Public Library December 2016 Events

The 50th Anniversary celebration continues on WEDNESDAY DEC 14, 2016

CrAfternoon: An Afternoon of Crafting Fun– for kids and families 3:00pm-6:00pm
Stop by after school and make a holiday themed craft including:
Gingerbread Ornaments, Festive Cards, Knitted Yarn Bracelets, and more!

25th Infantry Division Band Brass Quintet: Paradise Brass–for Everyone 6:30pm
Waianae Public Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebration continues with COOKIES and a musical performance by the 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION BAND BRASS QUINTET: Paradise Brass.

Come join as the celebration continues!

Our Family Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Club schedule for December is attached.

Sheryl Lynch, Branch Manager, Waianae Public Library
sheryl.lynch@librarieshawaii.org
808-697-7868

Waianae Public Library December 2016 Events. Click image to enlarge.

Waianae Public Library 50th Anniversary. Click image to enlarge.

 

Star-Adv: ‘Congress OKs Filipino WWII Vets Medal’

Rosemarie Bernardo, “Congress OKs Filipino WWII vets medal,” Star-Advertiser, 1 Dec. 2016.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously voted to pass a measure that honors Filipino and Filipino-American World War II veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award by Congress.

“It’s an honor,” said Lucio Sanico of Kapolei, who served as private first-class in the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army. “I’m glad they start to recognize Filipino soldiers.”

The bill authorizing the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act recognizes more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who fought alongside the United States in the war. Today, there are 15,000 to 18,000 surviving members who reside in the United States and Philippines.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced companion bills, pushing for the long-awaited recognition of Filipino soldiers. The House’s passage of the measure follows that of the Senate, which voted to approve it in July.

The measure now goes to President Barack Obama.

Over the past decade, Congress bestowed eligibility of the medal to other minority military units including the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006; Navajo Code Talkers in 2008; Women Airforce Service Pilots in 2009; Japanese-American soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, in 2010; Montford Point Marines, the first African-­Americans to serve in the Marine Corps, in 2011; and the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, the only Hispanic military unit in the Korean War, with a majority of the soldiers from Puerto Rico, in 2014. 

HCA Now Recruiting: Community Program Coordinator at Kula no na Po`e Hawai’i

Local nonprofits, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) & Kula no na Po’e Hawai’i (KNNPH), has opened an opportunity for a AmeriCorps Vista position to support the expansion of its services and products.

HCA is a 501c3 nonprofit HUD-certified housing counseling agency and Native community development financial institution that builds the capacity of low- and moderate-income communities to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians. The organization fulfills its mission by providing training/technical assistance, group workshops, individualized counseling, and financial products to assist low and moderate-income Hawaii residents to secure and sustain affordable housing and financial or economic goals. All HCA staff are certified through Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Neighbor Works America, the premier training institute for HUD-certified trainers and counselors.

Kula no na Po’e Hawai’i (KNNPH) is also a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides educational activities for members of the Hawaiian Homestead communities of Papakolea, Kewalo, and Kalawahine Streamside. KNNPH was formed in 1992 by a group of concerned community women who wanted to improve the educational skills of area children and strengthen relationships between parents and the school system. Over the years, the educational vision of KNNPH has broadened to offer trainings and activities that focus not only on the education of the community, but also on the importance of good health. Selected examples of these programs include wellness clinics, education and social programs for youth, nutrition, exercise, traditional Hawaiian healing classes, literacy fairs, and family strengthening workshops. 

Siren and Emergency Alert System Test Dec. 1, 2016 at 11:45am

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency monthly test of the statewide outdoor siren warning system, coordinated with the test of the live audio broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Thursday, December 1, 2016, at 11:45 a.m.

The siren test is a steady one minute tone on all sirens. The steady tone is used to alert the public to any emergency that may pose a threat to life and property. Besides natural hazards, the Emergency Alert System could be used for terrorist incidents or acts of war.

Contact your county civil defense/emergency management agency to report siren operations issues:

• Hawaii: (808) 935-0031
• Maui: (808) 270-7285
• City and County of Honolulu: (808) 723-8960
• Kauai: (808) 241-1800

Oahu residents in areas surrounding Campbell Industrial Park, Honokai Hale, Makakilo, Kapolei Regional Park, Kapolei Golf Course, and the Coast Guard Station at Kalaeloa may also hear a “whooping” tone following the Siren Test. This “whooping” tone is a test of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) siren warning group that will be activated in the event of a HAZMAT incident. Contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management at (808) 723-8960 for more information on the HAZMAT Incident outdoor siren warning test.

When the siren signal is sounded in your area, tune to any local radio or television station for emergency information and instructions broadcast by emergency management agencies. Participating stations will carry a detailed explanation of what the sirens mean, as well as other related information, during the monthly test.

Tests of outdoor warning sirens and the Emergency Alert System are conducted simultaneously, normally on the first working day of the month, in cooperation with Hawaii’s broadcasting industry. Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located in the front section of telephone directories in all counties.