Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, August 7, 2023

George Tamihana Nuku's Maori inspired Bottled Ocean participatory exhibits have taken him around the world and now to Volcano Art Center for Changing Oceans, Changing Minds. Photo from Nuku

MAORI ARTIST GEORGE TAMIHANA NUKU, who advocates to get to know plastics and keep them out of the ocean, has arrived to Volcano to set up his large-scale art installation entitled Changing Oceans: Changing Minds. He is known for his creations made of plastics and other materials and for involving the public in making art. He worked with children and adults this past Saturday at a session at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus on Old Volcano Road.

A Maori from New Zealand, George Nuku, is installing his Changing Oceans, Changing Minds show at the Nialulani Campus of Volcano Art Center.

   Volcano Art Center invites school and community groups along with the general public of all ages and backgrounds to participate in this island-wide Community Art Project "to explore our changing oceans and changing identities due to the proliferation of single-use plastics in our modern world."
    Changing Oceans, Changing Minds will be open daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. from August 26 through September 10. An opening reception takes place on Friday, August 25 from 4 p.m. – 6
p.m. in Dietrich Varez Hall with Nuku giving an artist's talk.
      Through the use of thousands of re-purposed empty plastic bottles and pieces of reused carved transparent plexiglass, the project aims to create a symbolic representation of the island of Hawai`i, surrounded by plastic marine life and sea birds.
AMPLIFY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING by offering to serve on one of the County Boards. That's the word from Mayor Mitch Roth who said on Monday that serving presents "a unique opportunity for dedicated individuals to make a lasting impact.
    Here are the County Boards seeking applications for membership, related to Kaʻū. Environmental Management Commission, Fire Board of Appeals, Fire Commission, Game Management Advisory Commission, Liquor Commission, Liquor Control Adjudication Board, Pension Board, Police Commission, Public Access, Open Space and Natural Preservation Commission, Tax Board of Review, Transportation Commission, Windward Planning Commission, Youth Commission.
    While the Windward Planning Commission covers all of Kaʻū, Puna and more, the Leeward Planning Commission, in part, covers South Kona, which includes Miloli'i.

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A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE ABOUT COMMON SIGNS OF A STROKE has been launched by the state Department of Health. It also emphasizes the importance of calling 911 immediately, especially since stroke care starts in the ambulance.
    "Stroke is the number one cause of chronic disability and the third leading cause of death in Hawai’i. Stroke was responsible for 943 deaths statewide in 2021 and has been rising annually since 2016 when 675 lives were lost to this serious medical condition. A stroke occurs when blood flow through an artery to the brain is cut off — either by a blockage or because the artery ruptures and bleeds into the brain tissue. People are experiencing strokes at increasingly younger ages each year. Strokes are a serious medical emergency and must be treated right away," advised Department of Health.
    Neurointensivist, Dr. Matt Koenig at Queens Medical Center, said “Doctors have a greater chance of successfully treating a stroke patient if treatment is started in the first 60-90 minutes of a stroke. That is why patient transportation by ambulance is important.” During the December 2022 Hawaii Stroke Coalition Symposium, he said,. “Every minute that goes by, you’re losing about two million brain cells. Don’t overthink things like, ‘Can I drive faster to the hospital myself?’ Don’t drive to the hospital, and don’t wait. Instead, call 911. Stroke care starts in the ambulance.”
    Common signs of a stroke can be remembered by the acronym “BE FAST”:
B - Balance loss. Is there a sudden loss of balance or dizziness?
E - Eyesight problems. Is the person experiencing sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, blurriness or          double vision?
F - Face drooping. Is one side of the person’s face drooping or uneven?
A - Arm weakness. Is the person experiencing weakness or numbness in one arm or is unable to raise both        arms?
S - Speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech slurred or hard to understand?
T - Time to call 9-1-1. Call 911 immediately if someone suddenly has one or more of these stroke signs.
 

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK on Tuesday evening at Volcanoes National Park features this author. See more in The  Kaʻū Calendar of Events at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-kau-calendar-of-events.html

   Danny de Gracia, a DOH program specialist whose family member is a stroke survivor, said, “My mother survived her stroke and fully recovered because we called for an ambulance the moment she started to show signs of a stroke. I know friends who, when their loved ones had a stroke, hesitated and their family member’s stroke care was delayed.”According to Lola Irvin, DOH Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division Administrator, “The majority of strokes are preventable by working with a doctor or health care team to monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels and by living an active and healthy lifestyle.”
    The following are ways to help prevent a stroke:Choose healthy foods and drinks daily
    Maintain a healthy weight;
    Exercise regularly;
    Regularly check and control your blood pressure;
    Quit smoking/vaping; and
    Properly manage medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and          diabetes.