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| A newly formed team will develop a blueprint for schools that will maximize opportunities and possibilities for the state to transform education. See more below. Photo of Ka`u High School by Julia Neal |
Na`alehu and Pahala also have large percentages of people who speak English less than “very well,” with 26.6 and 21.2, respectively. Discovery Harbour's percentage is 5.2. Statistics aren’t provided for Ocean View and Volcano. Statewide, the percentage is 12.4, much higher than the U.S. average of 8.6 percent.
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| Na`alehu has more than twice the percentage of residents in Hawai`i who speak a language other than English. Graph from Hawai`i DBEDT |
Also, Hawai`i County has the lowest proportion of non-English speakers in the state, at 19 percent.
Ilocano, Tagalog and Japanese were the top three most common non-English languages spoken at home in Hawai`i. Speakers of these three languages made up about half of non-English speakers at home in Hawai`i.
Compared with the adult population, the proportion of non-English speakers was lower, and English proficiency was better, in the five to 17 school-age children group. The popular languages spoken by the school-age children were also different. The share of Hawaiian speakers was noticeably larger in the school-age children group than in the adult group.
English proficiency had strong impacts on an individual’s economic activities. Labor force participation rate of the non-English speakers who could not speak English well was about 15 percentage points lower than rates for the English-only speakers and the non-English speakers who could speak English well. The rate difference with these groups was larger at 33 percentage points for the non-English speakers who could not speak English at all.
English proficiency also played an important role in selection of occupation. The occupational composition of the non-English speakers who could not speak English well showed a high concentration in two occupation groups: “food preparation and serving” and “building/grounds cleaning and maintenance.” About one in two non-English speakers worked in one of these two occupations if they could not speak English well.
Earning disparities among various English proficiency groups were evident. The median earnings of the non-English speakers were lower than that of the English-only speaking population for all English proficiency levels, and the earnings gap amplified as English proficiency decreased.
The full report is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/reports_studies/non-english-speaking-population-in-hawaii/.
Compared with the adult population, the proportion of non-English speakers was lower, and English proficiency was better, in the five to 17 school-age children group. The popular languages spoken by the school-age children were also different. The share of Hawaiian speakers was noticeably larger in the school-age children group than in the adult group.
English proficiency had strong impacts on an individual’s economic activities. Labor force participation rate of the non-English speakers who could not speak English well was about 15 percentage points lower than rates for the English-only speakers and the non-English speakers who could speak English well. The rate difference with these groups was larger at 33 percentage points for the non-English speakers who could not speak English at all.
English proficiency also played an important role in selection of occupation. The occupational composition of the non-English speakers who could not speak English well showed a high concentration in two occupation groups: “food preparation and serving” and “building/grounds cleaning and maintenance.” About one in two non-English speakers worked in one of these two occupations if they could not speak English well.
Earning disparities among various English proficiency groups were evident. The median earnings of the non-English speakers were lower than that of the English-only speaking population for all English proficiency levels, and the earnings gap amplified as English proficiency decreased.
The full report is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/reports_studies/non-english-speaking-population-in-hawaii/.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE NEWLY FORMED GOVERNOR’S TEAM on the federal Every Student Succeeds Act will work to develop a blueprint for Hawai`i’s public schools that is consistent with ESSA and will maximize opportunities and possibilities for Hawai`i to transform education. The new law calls for the most significant reduction in federal authority over public education in decades. The law returns authority to the 50 states to set the direction for their own public schools.
The earthquake occurred halfway into Tsunami Awareness Month. Due to Hawai`i’s location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the state is extremely vulnerable to the threat of tsunamis. Distantly generated tsunamis can reach Hawai`i within several hours when triggered by earthquakes that take place along the Ring of Fire, which circles the Pacific Rim. Locally generated tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or volcanic activity that occur in or near the Hawaiian Islands and can make landfall in a matter of minutes.
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| Darrel Galera |
Gov. David Ige has appointed Darrel Galera, a former high school principal, as chair of the his ESSA team and is in the process of appointing 16 additional members representing all stakeholders in public education.
Under the new education law, Ige will be involved in development of the new state education plan and will have final approval over the plan.
“This is a major opportunity to change the face of public education in Hawai`i for the better,” Ige said. “Our innovation economy depends on a well-educated workforce to meet the state’s goals in renewable energy, locally grown food production, environmental stewardship and more. It is my hope that the public will participate in this process to help our education system prepare students for high-skill careers in the 21st century.”
“This is a major opportunity to change the face of public education in Hawai`i for the better,” Ige said. “Our innovation economy depends on a well-educated workforce to meet the state’s goals in renewable energy, locally grown food production, environmental stewardship and more. It is my hope that the public will participate in this process to help our education system prepare students for high-skill careers in the 21st century.”
The ESSA team will ultimately be responsible for assessing the current public school system and identifying areas of need.
An Education Summit will be scheduled this summer to give organizations and individuals the opportunity to discuss possibilities for a future-focused education system and solicit input on key recommendations to the state’s ESSA plan.
Town hall meetings will also be scheduled to share information with the public and to collect public input for the ESSA plan.
To apply to serve on the Governor’s ESSA Team, see https://forms.ehawaii.gov/pages/board-survey/. Deadline for applications is next Friday, April 22.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
An Education Summit will be scheduled this summer to give organizations and individuals the opportunity to discuss possibilities for a future-focused education system and solicit input on key recommendations to the state’s ESSA plan.
Town hall meetings will also be scheduled to share information with the public and to collect public input for the ESSA plan.
To apply to serve on the Governor’s ESSA Team, see https://forms.ehawaii.gov/pages/board-survey/. Deadline for applications is next Friday, April 22.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Nicholas Soares Photo from HPD |
A PUNA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED with two felonies in connection with a break-in in Volcano on Sunday, April 10.
In response to a 4:12 p.m. call Sunday, police determined that an unknown man had entered a home on the 11-3800 block of Seventh Avenue and threatened a 25-year-old woman with a pipe. The woman was able to escape to a neighbor’s house and call the police.
Responding officers arrested 19-year-old Nicholas Soares of Mountain View at the scene and recovered two items belonging to the victim from his person.
Soares was taken to the Hilo Police cellblock while police continued the investigation. At 2:47 p.m. Monday, April 11, after conferring with prosecutors, police charged Soares with first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $7,000. He remained at the cellblock until his initial court appearance on Tuesday, April 12.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Soares was taken to the Hilo Police cellblock while police continued the investigation. At 2:47 p.m. Monday, April 11, after conferring with prosecutors, police charged Soares with first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $7,000. He remained at the cellblock until his initial court appearance on Tuesday, April 12.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
FOLLOWING A 7.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake at 6:25 a.m. at Kyushu, Japan, a tsunami advisory was in effect for Japan, but there is no tsunami threat to Hawai`i, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported.
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| USGS reported no tsunami threat after a strong earthquake in Japan. Map from USGS |
Natural warning signs that a tsunami may be imminent include rapidly rising or receding water in the ocean, the sound of a locomotive or jet plane coming from the ocean and empty beaches.
People located within a tsunami evacuation zone should quickly move to higher ground or inland until they are at least 100 feet above sea level, while avoiding steep cliffs and watching for falling rocks. Tsunami evacuation zones are listed in local telephone books and at www.scd.hawaii.gov.
Tomorrow, Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo hosts a free open house. For more information, call 935-0926.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK waives entry fees for National Park Week tomorrow through Sunday, April 24.
People located within a tsunami evacuation zone should quickly move to higher ground or inland until they are at least 100 feet above sea level, while avoiding steep cliffs and watching for falling rocks. Tsunami evacuation zones are listed in local telephone books and at www.scd.hawaii.gov.
Tomorrow, Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo hosts a free open house. For more information, call 935-0926.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK waives entry fees for National Park Week tomorrow through Sunday, April 24.
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| Zach Mermel teaches mushroom cultivation tomorrow. Photo from VAC |
ZACH MERMEL teaches basics of mushroom cultivation at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Course fees are $40 for VAC members and $50 for non-members plus a $25 supply fee. Preregistration is required at 967-8222 or volcanoartcenter.org.
KUMU HULA STEPHANIE APOLO and Halau Hula Kalaulani o Pu`uanahulu present hula kahiko tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery’s hula platform in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Na Mea Hula with Kumu hula Ab Valencia and members of Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu begins at 11 a.m.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
For more information, see volcanoartcenter.org.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
For more information, see volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_April_2016.pdf. |