Pizza Night Fundraiser – 02/15/17

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Kamaile Academy Job Opening Deadline 3/15/17

From: Paul Kepka
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2017 2:47 PM
To: Sen. Maile Shimabukuro
Subject: Re: FoodCorps Kamaile Academy

Kamaile Academy is looking for an individual to serve as a FoodCorps Service Member for next school year starting August 2017. Strong candidates are those who have have strong connections to wellness, school gardening and love keiki.

FoodCorps Service Members receive a monthly stipend, an education stipend at the end of service, travel opportunities, and professional development.

Application deadline is March 15.

www.foodcorps.org/apply

Please see the attached flier for FoodCorps at Kamaile Academy

Click image for PDF of brochure.

HI DOT 2017 Lane Closures Feb 10-12

For lane closures for the weekend of Friday, Feb. 10, to Sunday, Feb. 12 — click here.

SA: ‘Hawaiians Suffer Cancer More Than Other Isle Groups’

By Kristen Consillio
Star-Advertiser, February 4, 2017

Cancer is killing Native Hawaiians more than it is any other ethnic group in Hawaii, a new report shows.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the state, with the highest mortality in both Hawaiian men and women, according to the latest report by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s Hawaii Tumor Registry.

The disease is being diagnosed later in Hawaiians, when it is at an advanced stage and harder to cure, said Dr. Randall Holcombe, director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The group also may be using tobacco at a higher rate and have other genetic factors that make them more susceptible to the disease, he said.

“Many cancers are due to environmental exposures, but others may be due, at least in part, to genetic factors,” he said. “What is probably most important is the gene-environment interaction. Identification of specific ethnic and racial groups that have higher incidences of cancer due to genetic factors allows for the development of targeted cancer prevention interventions for these groups. We want to make sure less people die from this disease.” 

Reducing Risk and Enhancing Sustainability for Oahu Farms Workshop: 2/3/17

The following invitation is being shared on behalf of O’ahu RC&D:

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Reducing Risk and Enhancing Sustainability for O’ahu Farms Workshop

February 3, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe

Attend this FREE workshop by AgriLogic in partnership with O’ahu RC&D to learn how to protect your farm assets, including topics of record keeping, crop insurance, conservation planning, and funding opportunities to protect your natural resources and farming business.

Click here to register!

NEWS RELEASE – SENATE LAUNCHES HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE HEARING NOTICE PILOT PROJECT

The Senate
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813

NEWS RELEASE – For immediate release
February 1, 2017

Senate Media Contact:  Jill Kuramoto               808-586-6261

SENATE LAUNCHES HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE HEARING NOTICE PILOT PROJECT 

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i State Senate this week will begin posting the hearing notices for two standing committees in both the English and Hawaiian language as part of the Senate’s continuing initiative recognizing the state’s official languages.

The Senate Committee on Water and Land (WTL), chaired by Senator Karl Rhoads (Dist.13 – Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Palama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown) and the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs (HWN), chaired by Senator Maile Shimabukuro (Dist. 21 – Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko ‘Olina, Nanakuli, Ma‘ili, Wai‘anae, Makaha, Makua) are the piloting the initiative to have the hearing notices posted in both languages.

“Through our legislative materials, this project reflects the responsibility and role of the Senate in showing respect for our host culture,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi. “It makes sense these two important committees would be the first to expand on our Hawaiian language initiative.”

The Senate Order of the Day has been posted in dual languages along with the usage of Hawaiian diacritical markings in its public records since the Senate initiative on Hawaiian language was instituted in 2015.

“Government operations were conducted in the Hawaiian language up to the 1920’s so we have an entire lexicon that is the basis for all of our laws today,” said Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. “This initiative proudly reflects the language revitalization in Hawai‘i.”

To view all current committee hearing notices in the 2017 Legislative Session , visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

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Waianae Internet Cafe

The following message is from Curtis J. Kropar, Executive Director of Hawaiian Hope Org:

Just a reminder about our Internet Cafe in Waianae!  Some of the services offered :

• Printing — B&W 10 cents a page,   Color – 50 cents a page
• Internet Access — $1 an hour
• Send and receive faxes nation wide – 50 cents a page!
• Scan documents — 50 cents a page
• Photo Copies — B&W 10 cents a page,   Color – 50 cents a page
• Meet with clients if you need to
• Room Rentals for meetings
• Overhead Projector and Sound System

If you have clients that need to get online for something, do job applications, check email, send you documents, etc, we can help.

87-132 Farrington Highway (Mā’ili)

Open 8 Am to 4 PM Monday – Friday

Between Mā’ili Deli and Rapoza Auto Repair

Have a computer you are no longer using? Don’t Recycle(Scrap) It! Donate it.
“Recycled” computers, even working ones, are melted down for scrap metal!  Donate your computer to us and we can refurbish it and get it to someone in need, just as we have done for over 900 computers so far.  See our website for more details: www.HawaiianHope.org

HNN 01/30/17: Leeward Oahu Contraflow Sticking Around Longer than Expected

From Hawai’i News Now:

Leeward Oahu contraflow sticking around longer than expected

Monday, January 30th 2017, 7:08 pm HST

By Lisa Kubota, Anchor / Reporter

WAIANAE, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) –

Delays in the Farrington Highway widening project mean an afternoon contraflow lane that’s snarled traffic for east-bound commuters — but improved it for those heading west — could be around until the end of the year.

The news is a concern for some West Oahu teachers, who say the contraflow has cut into their after-school tutoring.

Since many teachers at Waianae High School and other area schools don’t live in the area, they rush to leave campus before the contraflow begins at 3:30 p.m. in order to avoid the traffic.

“Everybody is bailing after school to get out there before it goes out,” said math teacher Aaron Day. “In fact, it has actually created a rush before the contraflow starts so things are even backed up early.”

The 1.5-mile Farrington Highway afternoon contraflow lane was launched last fall and has improved traffic heading into Waianae.

But it’s a different situation for east-bound drivers.

Some of the teachers say they’ve tried to readjust their schedules, but others are no longer able to offer extra tutoring after school to students who need help.

“I offer morning tutoring, but not all of the students can take advantage of it because a lot of them do catch the school bus in,” said Amber Riel, a 10th grade math teacher at Waianae High School. “If we were able to offer tutoring to our normal students every day after school then they wouldn’t be falling behind in their classes.”

The contraflow pilot project was supposed to wrap up in July, once the construction of a dedicated fifth lane along the highway was finished.

But the state Department of Transportation says crews have encountered slowdowns and now aren’t expected to be finished with the work until the end of the year.

“We’ve improved the time by 15 minutes westbound. We’ve impacted people 20 minutes eastbound. The thing is, we have three times the travelers going westbound than we do eastbound so overall the system, it’s a big improvement,” said DOT deputy director Ed Sniffen.

Some community leaders hope that DOT officials will consider other options for the fifth lane.

“It’ll definitely be used for turn lanes, mostly east-bound turn lanes in the morning, but the possibility is there to use it also for contraflow because it runs almost along the same exact path as the current contraflow,” said state Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Nanakuli, Waianae, Makua).

Original story accessible at:  http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34382906/leeward-oahu-contraflow-sticking-around-longer-than-expected

OHA loans support Native Hawaiian owned business

Issued by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs:

OHA representatives and partners congratulate Michael Ching (center) on receiving an OHA business loan worth half a million dollars.

OHA issues $500,000 loan to support Native Hawaiian owned business

HONOLULU (Dec. 29, 2016) – Before 2016 comes to a close, the OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Program finalized a Hua Kanu business loan that provides $500,000 to Native Hawaiian business owner Michael Ching to expand his business, Hawaii Gourmet Cookies. This is the largest business loan that OHA has disbursed this year to support Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs. A signing ceremony was held at First Foundation, OHA’s financial lending partner, at it’s offices in Restaurant Row in Kakaʻako.

Ching says he will use the loan to improve business efficiency and update machinery used to bake his popular products lines such as Island Lava cookie brittle available in lilikoi, coconut, chocolate and coffee flavors. Funds will also be used to build up his product inventory and market his products to new vendors.

Ching’s advice to other entrepreneurs: “You better love what you are doing. The love better not be making money… instead it is the fulfillment you get seeing your work accomplish something and seeing your work matter. That ought to be your driving force.”

Through low-interest business loans from OHA, Ching has gotten access to capital that will allow him to take his products, like Island Lava cookies, from three stores (CostCo, Sam’s Club, and NEX) to over 500 stores in 2017.

“I have a great sense of fulfillment when I am able to assist a Native Hawaiian with a loan,” said OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Program Fund Manager Timmy Wailehua. “Just knowing that I’ve helped one Native Hawaiian in the community get closer to achieving their goals makes my life so much more complete.”

OHA’s Hua Kanu Business Loan offers highly-qualified business owners 7-year low-interest rate loans ranging from $200,000 to $1 million. Earlier this year, OHA issued a $236,000 business loan to Mahealani Strong to support the growth of her insurance brokerage company, I A Maui Associates.

OHA’s Hua Kanu and Mālama Loans tap into a federal funding stream available through the Administration for Native Americans and makes the federal funds available locally to Native Hawaiians to expand their businesses, improve their homes and pay for educational expenses.

Learn more about OHA loans at http://www.oha.org/loans or call (808) 594-1924.