Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017

Janiece McNichols, Chief Financial Officer for East Hawai`i Region; Sherrie Bazin, Director of Nursing for Ka`u Hospital; Barry Taniguchi, East Hawai`i Regional Board member; and Dan Brinkman, Chief Executive Officer for the East Hawai`i Regional, view the lana`i and learn about Ka’u Hospital Charitable Foundation’s fundraising project to add enhance the garden lanai. See story below.

IN ADVANCE OF PRES. DONALD TRUMP'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, broadcast Tuesday at 4 p.m., Hawai`i time, Ka`u's Representative in the U.S. House, Tulsi Gabbard, sent out a message:
     "Like many of you, I’m deeply concerned about the fundamental principles we hold dear, including protecting the environment and our precious water supplies, protecting civil liberties, protecting and expanding affordable healthcare, ending counterproductive regime-change war, ensuring protections for vulnerable refugees and reforming campaign finance so that our democracy isn’t overshadowed by the vast financial interests of billionaires and corporate elite."
     Gabbard stated: "There is an age old strategy that is being waged today on the minds of the American people: divide and conquer. So long as we are fighting amongst ourselves, stoking disdain and resentment against our fellow citizens, we cannot unite against the powerful oligarchy that has wielded disproportionate influence to the detriment of everyday Americans.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard released a statement on protecting the environment and "precious water supplies," ahead  of Pres. Donad Trump's first speech to Congress, and after she visited the Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on O`ahu. Gabbard and the Hawai`i congressional delegation have introduced legislation to help protect the aquifer from leaks at Red Hill. Photo from Tulsi Gabbard

     "Those who seek to maintain the status quo don't want us to take action to create will change.
    Gabbard concluded:  "What’s happening in Washington is not a true reflection of what’s going on in our communities. There is so much that the vast majority of Americans share in common. We are tired of watching trillions of dollars of taxpayer money disappear on counterproductive regime change wars in the Middle East that cause great human suffering and strengthen terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS. We are tired of being exploited by multinational corporations who have no care for our communities. We are tired of chasing an American Dream pushed farther and farther out of reach by fraud and corruption on Wall Street."
     Gabbard stated that she remains "committed to bringing the voice of the people back into government -and that voice is calling for peace, an end to political and corporate corruption and a fair shot at the American dream. We are all in this together."
      Trump's first speech to Congress since his inauguration was scheduled to be broadcast live on television and internet beginning at 4 p.m. Hawai`i time.

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"BUSINESS IS BOOMING IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS," said Sen. Mazie Hirono, addressing the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, as she expressed concern for Pres. Donald Trump's nominee Ryan Zenke to run the Department of the Interior. Hirono, who sits on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, pointed out that National Parks nationwide hosted more than 305 million visitors in 2015, a new record, generating $17 billion in economic activity in nearby communities. Even with record numbers of visitors, however, sequestration and a hiring freeze have led to 10 percent fewer rangers and support staff than five years ago. Hirono warned that the Trump administration's new 90-day hiring freeze threatens "nearly 2,000 permanent vacancies that are critical to helping our National Parks function." Hirono also pointed out that despite the National Parks' popularity and economic benefits, there are 12 billion dollars in deferred maintenance at the National Parks.
    "We need an Interior Secretary capable of standing up to the President to make preserving our public lands a priority," she proclaimed on the Senate floor. She said her interviews with Zenke and his record did not give her the assurances that would allow her to vote for him.

Sen. Hirono with Ka`u Learning Academy students and ranger at Hawai`i Volcanoes  National Park. NPS Photo by Janice Wei

     Hirono said she is also concerned about Zenke's view on the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has been used to help acquire coastal lands in Ka`u for conservation. She called it "an important fund to add protective lands to parks." Hirono said she would like to see permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, saying it has suffered from chronic underfunding during its history.
     She also said she is concerned about whether Zenke will be committed to supporting alternative and renewable energy, which she called "important to Hawai`i people." Hirono said she believes that the Trump administration and Zenke are "too wedded to the fossil fuel industry."
     The U.S. Geological Survey is another concern of Hirono's. She noted that "USGS lists climate change as one of its top mission areas." Would Zinke try to limit climate change work at USGS?  Would he commit to allowing "USGS to continue to make climate change research a priority or to protect the right of these scientists to pursue their research without interference?" Hirono said she worries about the "Trump administration's ongoing efforts to silence our federal workers, including those within the National Park Service for speaking out about the threat of climate change." She characterized the Trump Administration as being "full of climate deniers."
       Concerning endangered species, Hirono stated that as a congressman, Zenke voted to block funding for any listed endangered species for which the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service failed to conduct a five-year review. She said incompletion of reviews was caused by cutting necessary funds. Said Hirono, "Cutting funding in this way would devastate conservation and recovery efforts for  as many as 850 species across the nation, 137 of which are in Hawai`'i."
OFF THE SHELF IS TWO-PERCENT REDUCED FAT MILK from Meadow Gold Daries, following the state Department of Health issuing a cease and desist order on Monday. Lab tests showed coliform bacteria exceeding acceptable limits. A statement from the DOH sanitation branch said state inspectors are working with Meadow Gold to trace the source of the contamination, correct it and conduct more tests until standards are met to resume sales.

EAST HAWAI`I REGIONAL BOARD, the governing body of Ka`u Hospital and Rural Health Clinic, Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho`ola Hamakua in Honoka`a, and eight other specialty clinics, held a public forum last Saturday, Feb. 25.
     In Ka`u Hospital’s multipurpose day room, members of the community gathered to learn about developments in clinical services, finances and strategic priorities for healthcare in the East Hawai`i Region.

Born in Ka`u Hospital, Rae Yamanaka joined the East Hawai`i Regional Board last year.

Wayne Kanemoto, Board Member, admires the new clinic area made ADA compliant by carpentry talents of Ka`u Hospital's Jay Taganas.

TAKING CARE OF THE DIETARY HEALTH of patients and staff at Ka`u Hospital is an opportunity for a Ka`u resident needing full time work. Keone Grace, Morgan Dacalio and Stephanie Kawa`auhau could use a hand in the kitchen at the hospital. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are made daily for long-term residents, patients and those who work at Ka`u Hospital and its Rural Health Clinic.
     According to Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris, "It is a good job for someone local to the area."
     While a formal education is not required, the employee must have knowledge of preparation of raw and processed food to be cooked; methods, materials, and tools used in cleaning kitchen equipment, appliances and utensils; kitchen safety and sanitation; requirements and personal hygiene.      The employee must have the ability to learn quantity cookery; operated kitchen equipment and appliances; measure food servings and serve food: give and receive oral and written instructions; work cooperatively with others, tolerate kitchen heat and noises; and perform heavy lifting, moving and carrying.
     To apply, find more information and an application on line at www.kauhospital.org

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