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| Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee expects to finalize the plan at its meeting this week. See more below. Photo from Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo |
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| Baby born in Ka`u Hospital's ER on Friday, Oct. 23, delivered by Dr. Douglas Davenport and nurses Jerelyn Hammer and Debra Javar, is doing fine. Photo from Ka`u Hospital |
Medicare surveyors from the federal Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance gave Ka`u Hospital a five-star rating this month. The team reviewed not only the long-term care services but also inpatient and emergency departments to ensure that Ka`u Hospital meets all the standards and provides safe, quality care.
Director of Nursing Nona Wilson reported that “the results of the survey were excellent in both long-term care and acute care services. Medicare has a rating system for long-term care services called Nursing Home Compare. It is a bit like the rating for hotels. Because of our consistently good surveys, we continue to maintain a five-star rating. The inpatient and ER areas are not rated in the same way, but just like in long-term care, they continue to achieve milestones in quality.”
Wilson stated that the administration at Ka`u Hospital is “incredibly proud of our staff for their accomplishments.” However, “the icing on the cake occurred on Friday at 0730 when a surprise birth occurred in our ED. Dr. Davenport and nurses Jerelyn Hammer and Debra Javar handled the situation with ease, and both mom and baby did very well.”
Director of Nursing Nona Wilson reported that “the results of the survey were excellent in both long-term care and acute care services. Medicare has a rating system for long-term care services called Nursing Home Compare. It is a bit like the rating for hotels. Because of our consistently good surveys, we continue to maintain a five-star rating. The inpatient and ER areas are not rated in the same way, but just like in long-term care, they continue to achieve milestones in quality.”
Wilson stated that the administration at Ka`u Hospital is “incredibly proud of our staff for their accomplishments.” However, “the icing on the cake occurred on Friday at 0730 when a surprise birth occurred in our ED. Dr. Davenport and nurses Jerelyn Hammer and Debra Javar handled the situation with ease, and both mom and baby did very well.”
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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HOW TO SHEPHERD LEGISLATION through the Hawai`i Senate and House of Representatives drew coffee farmers, Ka`u library advocates, senior citizens and members of Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos and Hawai`i Ocean View Estates communities to two meetings yesterday in Ka`u. The workshops were given by Keanu Young, of the Public Access Room at the state Capitol, a veteran of working for state legislators. He showed the path and ways citizens follow legislation and provide pro and con testimony to committees considering it, all the way up to the point at which the governor signs, vetoes or allows it to become law without the gubernatorial signature.
Young talked about the gut-and-replace tactic used to change the meaning of legislation or take it over for another purpose, making it critical for advocates to keep track of changes as bills move through the process. Citizens attending showed interest in protecting neighborhoods from industrial solar farms, keeping local libraries strong and open and protecting farmlands, particularly the Ka`u Coffee lands that are being sold to a real estate investment firm in Colorado.
Young noted that Hawai`i is a leader in providing ways for the public, even those living remotely, to track and give testimony and to search for people and subjects involved in legislation. He encouraged people to vote and to know the House and Senate members representing Ka`u, who would typically sponsor bills coming from the community. “The most important people involved in the Legislature are the members of the public,” Young said.
He gave instruction on giving testimony online.
The Public Access Room offers online help through emails and phone calls, Internet access to archives of bills, reports and testimonies, and a place to work at a computer and desk when visiting the Legislature in person.
See more on the legislative process, PAR’s blog, newsletters and links at lrbhawaii.org/par/. Contact 808-587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov.
The Hawai`i Legislature opens on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Deadline for submission – up to ten bills by each legislator (20 for each committee chair) allowed each session – soon follows the opening day.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
He gave instruction on giving testimony online.
The Public Access Room offers online help through emails and phone calls, Internet access to archives of bills, reports and testimonies, and a place to work at a computer and desk when visiting the Legislature in person.
See more on the legislative process, PAR’s blog, newsletters and links at lrbhawaii.org/par/. Contact 808-587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov.
The Hawai`i Legislature opens on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Deadline for submission – up to ten bills by each legislator (20 for each committee chair) allowed each session – soon follows the opening day.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Hele-On buses now run on a mixture of biodiesel and imported diesel. |
HAWAI`I COUNTY HAS BEGUN using biodiesel in its Hele-On buses, trucks and some off-road vehicles. Called B20, the fuel is a mixture of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent imported diesel.
“It puts us in a great position to lead by example, and we have a facility here that actually produces high-quality biodiesel,” County deputy managing director Randy Kurohara told Ivy Ashe, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
Pacific Biodiesel plant in Keau`u refines its biofuel from waste products, including cooking and vegetable oils and animal grease.
“We can’t get to 100 percent renewables if we don’t start at 20 percent,” Pacific Biodiesel vice president Kelly King told Ashe. “It’s great because the more volume we have, the more we can start looking at where to build the next biodiesel plant in the state. It’s really gratifying for us to be able to provide those kind of jobs.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
Pacific Biodiesel plant in Keau`u refines its biofuel from waste products, including cooking and vegetable oils and animal grease.
“We can’t get to 100 percent renewables if we don’t start at 20 percent,” Pacific Biodiesel vice president Kelly King told Ashe. “It’s great because the more volume we have, the more we can start looking at where to build the next biodiesel plant in the state. It’s really gratifying for us to be able to provide those kind of jobs.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Keli`i Akina Photo from Kanu Hawai`i |
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED that a Native Hawaiian election for convention delegates may take place next month as scheduled. According to U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright, the election is a private poll not run by the state.
Filed in August, the lawsuit argued that it’s unconstitutional for the state to be involved in a race-based election, but the state said it’s not involved in the vote.
Plaintiff Keli`i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawai`i, told Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that he is confident the ruling would be overturned by a higher court. “It is simply wrong for the state to use public resources in order to promote a racially discriminatory process,” Akina told Hurley.
However, Bill Meheula, attorney for Na`i Aupuni, the group holding the vote, said it will be difficult to overturn Seabright’s ruling. According to Meheula, the judge “basically said they lost at both levels (state and federal), and they needed to win on both levels. We only need to win on one level. So for them to win on appeal, they have to reverse him basically twice.”
Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair Robert Lindsey said, “The federal court has confirmed that Native Hawaiians have the right to bring our voices together to be heard. It’s now up to us. This is our opportunity as a community to take on the kuleana — the rights and responsibilities — to improve our lives. Native Hawaiians have the chance to engage in Na`i Aupuni’s process to ultimately create greater well-being for our people today and for generations to come.”
See staradvertiser.com.
Plaintiff Keli`i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawai`i, told Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that he is confident the ruling would be overturned by a higher court. “It is simply wrong for the state to use public resources in order to promote a racially discriminatory process,” Akina told Hurley.
However, Bill Meheula, attorney for Na`i Aupuni, the group holding the vote, said it will be difficult to overturn Seabright’s ruling. According to Meheula, the judge “basically said they lost at both levels (state and federal), and they needed to win on both levels. We only need to win on one level. So for them to win on appeal, they have to reverse him basically twice.”
Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair Robert Lindsey said, “The federal court has confirmed that Native Hawaiians have the right to bring our voices together to be heard. It’s now up to us. This is our opportunity as a community to take on the kuleana — the rights and responsibilities — to improve our lives. Native Hawaiians have the chance to engage in Na`i Aupuni’s process to ultimately create greater well-being for our people today and for generations to come.”
See staradvertiser.com.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
VOLCANO ART CENTER in Volcano Village presents Jazz in the Forest today. A matinee begins at 4:30 p.m., with an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. At the door, matinee tickets are $15 for VAC members ($20 non-members), and evening tickets are $20 for VAC members ($25 non-members).
ANNA-LISA OKOYE, A RURAL BUSINESS development specialist with The Kohala Center, provides a farm finances workshop tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The workshop covers farm financing options, business financial statements and a record-keeping system to track income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Ann Fontes at 987-7448.
ANNA-LISA OKOYE, A RURAL BUSINESS development specialist with The Kohala Center, provides a farm finances workshop tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The workshop covers farm financing options, business financial statements and a record-keeping system to track income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Ann Fontes at 987-7448.
HO`OMALU KA`U OFFERS a Native Dryland Plants workshop tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kahuku Park Pavilion in Ocean View. Presenters showcase plants well suited to Ka`u’s climate and environment and that can be used to great effect as landscape features.
Email hoomalukau@gmail.com or call 929-8526.
NA`ALEHU LIBRARY PRESENTS a Feng Shui Lecture Tuesday at 4 p.m. Speaker Clear Englebert is the author of Feng Sui For Love & Money.
NA`ALEHU LIBRARY PRESENTS a Feng Shui Lecture Tuesday at 4 p.m. Speaker Clear Englebert is the author of Feng Sui For Love & Money.
For more information, call 939-2442.
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
The committee is scheduled to make final CDP recommendations to the county during the meeting. The committee will be acting on its preliminary decisions about CDP revisions based on community feedback. Those decisions were made during August and September meetings. Minutes from each of those meetings are available in the Steering Committee folder at kaucdp.info.
The public is invited, and testimony on agenda items is welcomed.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
The committee is scheduled to make final CDP recommendations to the county during the meeting. The committee will be acting on its preliminary decisions about CDP revisions based on community feedback. Those decisions were made during August and September meetings. Minutes from each of those meetings are available in the Steering Committee folder at kaucdp.info.
The public is invited, and testimony on agenda items is welcomed.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaualendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
