Ka`u News Briefs July 5, 2013

Miss Ka`u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya waves to the public during Volcano's Fourth of July Parade yesterday, riding Aikane Plantation Coffee's Corvette driven by police officer Dane Shibuya. Photo by David Boyle

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS MADE INTERIM APPOINTMENTS to the state Board of Education.

Patricia Halagao

Amy Asselbaye

      Amy Asselbaye fills the board’s O`ahu seat. Asselbaye previously served as a congressional aide to Abercrombie and at the state Capitol.
      She recently resigned as U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Hawai`i-based chief of staff to devote more time to her position as director of strategic and community development at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, reports Nanea Kalani, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
      Patricia Halagao was named to an at-large seat. Halagao is an associate professor in curriculum studies at UH-Manoa’s College of Education.  The appointed members must be approved by the state Senate.
      See more at staradvertiser.com.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park personnel dressed as native species in Volcano's Fourth of July Parade. Photo by David Boyle

COMPUTERIZING MEDICAL RECORDS has given Ka`u Hospital and its sister health institutions Hilo Hospital and Hale Ho`olaulea Hamakua a head start on complying with the new national health care reform law, according to an Associated Press story being carried by newspapers across the country.
     Hospitals and physicians are required to computerize all medical records by January 2015. Ka`u Hospital and its sisters, Hilo Medical Center and Hale Hoola Hamakua computerized in 2010, along with 11 outpatient clinics, earning them $3 million in early adopter incentives, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
      “The conversion process took four years and cost $20 million,” the AP story reported. According to the story, “About 65 percent of physicians across the Big Island have implemented their own electronic medical records systems, East Hawai`i Regional CEO Howard Ainsley said in an interview last month. “Getting 100 percent compliance could be difficult, he said. Some doctors are near retirement and aren’t comfortable with technology,” he said.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park personnel promoted their plan to fence areas to protect native species. Photo by David Boyle

      Ainsley told Hawai`i Tribune Herald: “What is concerning, not only for the Big Island but the whole state, is that there are doctors who will be frustrated with some of these new requirements and they will look to leave medicine."
      The rest of the state’s public hospitals are further behind in their conversion process, the stories reported.
      See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

PRIVATIZING KA`U AND THE OTHER 13 state-affiliated hospitals in Hawai`i has apparently led to controversy between management and the board of Hawai`i Health Systems Corp., which has ousted its chief executive officer Bruce Anderson. “HHSC board chairman Avery Chumbley confirmed the board has taken action to remove Anderson as president and CEO," according to a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser. Chumbley is acting CEO.
      Anderson is former director of the state Department of Health. He became HHSC chair in March 2011.
      “Anderson was at odds with the board over a controversial move to privatize part of the HHSC system with Banner Health, according to sources involved with HHSC who asked not to be identified because the information hasn’t been publicly released,” Kristen Consillio reported.
      “HHSC also has faced scrutiny because the cost to convert to electronic medical records at its 14 public hospitals will likely exceed $100 million over five years, nearly double earlier projections,” the newspaper stated.
    However, West Ka`u state Sen. Josh Green stated that Anderson had improved the hospitals and was doing a good job.

Participants at Science Camps based at Pahala Plantation Cottages helped prepare sea turtles for release during Turtle Independence Day. Photo from Michael Richards

STUDENTS ATTENDING SCIENCE CAMPS based at Pahala Plantation Cottages helped prepare five sea turtles for their release during Mauna Lani Resort’s Turtle Independence Day yesterday.
      Sea Life Park on O`ahu sends three- to five-month-old turtles from its captive breeding program to the resort, where they live in ponds until they are grown enough to be released.
      “This event is all about education — not only in Hawai`i but all over the world,” Mauna Lani Resort marketing manager Susan Bredo told John De Groote, of Stephens Media. “People come through and leave with stories and memories that they will share back home.”
      “It’s great for the kids, and it helps people see the culture of Hawaii,” said Pii Laeha, who manages the resort’s turtle program. “The bigger picture is that we are trying to raise awareness not only about the turtles, but our environment in general.”
      The released turtles are tagged and tracked.
      More than 200 turtles have been released into the wild since the program began, Laeha said.
      See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      For more information about Science Camps, see sciencecampsamerica.com.

Keoki Kahumoku and students performed as they marched in Volcano's Fourth of July Parade. Photo by David Boyle

HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PARTICIPATING in a backpack drive for children who cannot afford to buy them. Persons interested in helping children in need can drop off backpacks at Ka`u police station between July 8 and Aug. 30.
      “I again ask anyone who has backpacks their child is no longer using to donate them to this worthy cause,” said Police Chief Harry Kubojiri. “In past years your generosity has proven that the aloha spirit is alive and well when it comes to opening our hearts to children in need.”
      This is the fifth consecutive year the Police Department has worked in partnership with HOPE Services Hawai`i (formerly known as Office of Social Ministry) and From Kids For Kids in the collection and distribution of these items.
      Backpacks have been identified as the most requested non-food item for charities in Hawai`i. The donated backpacks will be distributed to children at women’s shelters, homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities around the Big Island.
      Hope Services Hawai`i provides a continuum of homeless and transitional programs from outreach to emergency shelters, including permanent supportive housing placements.
      From Kids For Kids was founded in 2006 by Big Island resident Nani Welch-Keliihoomalu, then 10, who was responsible for distributing backpacks containing books, clothing, art and school supplies.

Volcano School of the Arts and Sciences supporters surround the school's float in Volcano's Fourth of July Parade. Photo by David Boyle

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION’S Fourth of July Rodeo will be held at Na`alehu Arena tomorrow and Sunday. Events include Open Dally, Kane-Wahine Dally, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Ribbon Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Rescue Race, where riders race to the other end of the arena and pick up a partner who rides behind them, Po Y U, Tie Down Roping, Wahine Barrels, Youth Barrels, Senior Dummy Roping, Dummy Roping for the Keiki, Goat Undecorating, Mutton Busting and Junior Bulls.
      Tickets are $6. Rodeo Queens are selling tickets. Slack roping begins at 8 a.m., and finals are Sunday at 11 a.m.

THE COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE AT KAUAHA`AO CHURCH in Wai`ohinu is open tomorrow and the first Saturday of each month, as well as each Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 938-0411 for more information.

It's rodeo time in Na`alehu this weekend. Photo by Julia Neal

COUNTRY DANCE PARTY WITH DJ TIKI takes place at Kilauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow at 6 p.m. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-8365 after 4 p.m.

PEOPLE AND LANDS OF KAHUKU, a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the human of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’ Kahuku Unit. The hike is scheduled for Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 985-6011 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.