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| Volcano Village Artists Hui members welcome the public to their tour and sale this Friday through Sunday. See more below. |
AS CONFIRMED CASES of dengue fever near 100, Ka`u’s state Sen. Russell Ruderman is calling on the state to do more to control the outbreak.
“I urge the state Department of Health to urgently do even more to control the dengue fever outbreak. Among the things that can be done is to establish a testing lab on the Big Island, which would reduce the response time from over a week to just a few days, allowing faster reaction to new cases and new locations of concern. And much more could be done to control the relevant mosquito populations and to reach suspected cases for testing. |
| Click to enlarge and read letter sent to Hawai`i Island residents and visitors. |
“I applaud DOH Director Virginia Pressler for restoring Dr. Lorrin Pang’s involvement. He is one of the most knowledgeable officials in our state regarding mosquito-born illness, and his removal from the project this past week was deeply troubling. His involvement is reassuring, as he is clearly more concerned with public health than with efforts to save face, build reputations or minimize the publicity about the outbreak. This cannot be said about all those involved thus far.
Unfortunately, it is perceived in our community that this was not treated as urgently as the situation deserved. Every resource available should be used, including asking the Centers for Disease Control for local help, now.
“This outbreak is in imminent danger of becoming endemic on the Big Island. If it is entrenched here, Hawai`i will be on travel advisories worldwide. It is unlikely to remain only a Big Island problem, and it will affect the whole state financially as well as medically.”
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“This outbreak is in imminent danger of becoming endemic on the Big Island. If it is entrenched here, Hawai`i will be on travel advisories worldwide. It is unlikely to remain only a Big Island problem, and it will affect the whole state financially as well as medically.”
An informational meeting about dengue fever takes place at Ocean View Community Center on Friday at 6 p.m. There will be handouts, fliers and pamphlets available, including in Marshallese.
TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING.
Shaka’s Restaurant in Na`alehu offers lunch beginning at 11 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. For more information or reservations, call 929-7404.
Hana Hou Restaurant, also in Na`alehu, is open with a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Call 929-9717.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
HAWAI`I TOURISM AUTHORITY is monitoring confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island. “We are working with the State Department of Health and our marketing contractors to keep visitors to Hawaii Island informed of the situation,” the agency said.
“As a precaution, we recommend that visitors familiarize themselves with information on DOH’s website prior to arriving in the state and encourage our stakeholders on Hawai`i Island to share this information with their visitors and guests.
“We will continue to work with industry stakeholders and our global marketing contractors to ensure that visitors to Hawai`i know that it is safe to travel to the Hawaiian Islands and what precautions should be taken if they are planning to visit areas where cases have been found.”
“As a precaution, we recommend that visitors familiarize themselves with information on DOH’s website prior to arriving in the state and encourage our stakeholders on Hawai`i Island to share this information with their visitors and guests.
“We will continue to work with industry stakeholders and our global marketing contractors to ensure that visitors to Hawai`i know that it is safe to travel to the Hawaiian Islands and what precautions should be taken if they are planning to visit areas where cases have been found.”
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira, holding file, attended the CALEA conference in Miami, Florida. Photo from HPD |
HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT has earned renewal of its accreditation status, keeping it part of a group of police departments accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Accreditation renewal was announced Nov. 21 at the CALEA fall conference in Miami, where Hawai`i Police Department was one of 96 law enforcement agencies being evaluated for accreditation or re-accreditation.
“The CALEA staff has worked tirelessly these past three years to ensure that this department would maintain its honored status of CALEA accreditation,” Chief Harry Kubojiri said. “Because of their commitment, the community can be assured that their police department meets the highest of professional law enforcement standards. I also commend all the department’s sworn officers and civilian employees for participating in the accreditation process and for embracing the CALEA standards.”
Of the roughly 23,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, only about 1,200 have been awarded CALEA accreditation. A team of out-of-state certified CALEA assessors conducted an on-site assessment in July. The team visited district police stations and facilities and examined all aspects of the department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services. The team interacted with department personnel by riding along with patrol officers and conducting interviews with sworn and civilian personnel. Various community leaders were also interviewed.
During the on-site assessment, the team took comments from residents in a public session and by telephone to give members of the community an opportunity to comment on the department’s ability to maintain CALEA standards. The CALEA Standards Manual was made available for public review.
From this point forward, the department must undergo a CALEA reassessment every four years to demonstrate that it remains in compliance with more than 400 applicable CALEA standards.
Goals of CALEA are to improve the delivery of public safety services by developing and maintaining a body of standards, establishing and administering an accreditation process for law enforcement agencies and recognizing professional excellence in public safety.
Of the roughly 23,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, only about 1,200 have been awarded CALEA accreditation. A team of out-of-state certified CALEA assessors conducted an on-site assessment in July. The team visited district police stations and facilities and examined all aspects of the department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services. The team interacted with department personnel by riding along with patrol officers and conducting interviews with sworn and civilian personnel. Various community leaders were also interviewed.
During the on-site assessment, the team took comments from residents in a public session and by telephone to give members of the community an opportunity to comment on the department’s ability to maintain CALEA standards. The CALEA Standards Manual was made available for public review.
From this point forward, the department must undergo a CALEA reassessment every four years to demonstrate that it remains in compliance with more than 400 applicable CALEA standards.
Goals of CALEA are to improve the delivery of public safety services by developing and maintaining a body of standards, establishing and administering an accreditation process for law enforcement agencies and recognizing professional excellence in public safety.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Keli`i Akina Photo from Grassroot Institute |
FOLLOWING A FEDERAL JUDGE’S ruling last month that a Native Hawaiian election for convention delegates may take place this month as scheduled, plaintiffs in the case of Akina v. Hawai`i have filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. They ask for an injunction that would halt the Na`i Aupuni election while the case is being determined.
In an Emergency Application for Injunction Pending Appellate Review, the plaintiffs stressed the timing of the Native Hawaiian election and the fact that in one week, on Nov. 30, the election for delegates will be completed and the votes would be counted, forever closing off the plaintiffs’ rights to participate in the process.
“We are glad to bring this issue to the Supreme Court,” Grassroot Institute President Keli`i Akina said. “As more and more people hear about this case, we have seen tremendous public support for our effort to stop this divisive and unconstitutional election.
“Native Hawaiians have been vocal in denying that they have ever been – or should be – a tribe. They would, however, prefer to see the money being wasted on this election spent instead on education, health care, job training and other efforts to make a real and tangible difference in their community. The election process has been a farce and has only served to alienate and divide Native Hawaiians. It is time for the state to get out of the nation-building process and focus on the issues that really matter.”
According to Akina, the emergency filing reiterated the point that the impetus and funding for the election came from the State of Hawai`i, disputing the defendant’s contention that this is a private election.
“This ruling is literally unprecedented,” the appeal states in reference to the District Court’s initial denial of an injunction. “It is the first decision in American history (not subsequently vacated) to find a compelling justification for a State to prohibit individuals of a certain race from voting in an election.”
To see filings and documents associated with the case, go to http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2015/10/akina-v-hawaii-the-documents/.
“Native Hawaiians have been vocal in denying that they have ever been – or should be – a tribe. They would, however, prefer to see the money being wasted on this election spent instead on education, health care, job training and other efforts to make a real and tangible difference in their community. The election process has been a farce and has only served to alienate and divide Native Hawaiians. It is time for the state to get out of the nation-building process and focus on the issues that really matter.”
According to Akina, the emergency filing reiterated the point that the impetus and funding for the election came from the State of Hawai`i, disputing the defendant’s contention that this is a private election.
“This ruling is literally unprecedented,” the appeal states in reference to the District Court’s initial denial of an injunction. “It is the first decision in American history (not subsequently vacated) to find a compelling justification for a State to prohibit individuals of a certain race from voting in an election.”
To see filings and documents associated with the case, go to http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2015/10/akina-v-hawaii-the-documents/.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING.
Shaka’s Restaurant in Na`alehu offers lunch beginning at 11 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. For more information or reservations, call 929-7404.
Hana Hou Restaurant, also in Na`alehu, is open with a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Call 929-9717.
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| Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus hosts a preview exhibit and is on Volcano Village Artists Hui's Tour & Sale. Photo from VAC |
Ocean View Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 939-7033.
Thanksgiving Buffet is available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. No reservations required. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for more information.
Thanksgiving Buffet is available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. No reservations required. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for more information.
VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Tour & Sale starts Friday and continues through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Meet artists in their studios throughout the village. For a map and more information, call 987-3472 or 985-7487, or see VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com.
VOLCANO ART CENTER IN VOLCANO VILLAGE holds its 2016 program preview exhibit Friday and Saturday, featuring displays of workshops, events and classes with some new and some returning favorites. The exhibit features work by artists who will be offering classes and workshops at VAC in the upcoming year. Browse through program proposals from painting and block printing classes to stained glass, pottery, horticulture, Zentangle, Hawaiian language, music and more.
The exhibit also features work by artists who are scheduled to show at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in 2016.
In addition, VAC’s Hale Ho`omana will be on the Volcano Village Artists Hui Tour with works by Tim Freeman, Elizabeth Miller and Cynee Gillette-Wenner.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will be selling poinsettias, and VAC logo-wear and holiday treats will be on sale too.
Call 967-8222 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
The exhibit also features work by artists who are scheduled to show at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in 2016.
In addition, VAC’s Hale Ho`omana will be on the Volcano Village Artists Hui Tour with works by Tim Freeman, Elizabeth Miller and Cynee Gillette-Wenner.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will be selling poinsettias, and VAC logo-wear and holiday treats will be on sale too.
Call 967-8222 for more information.
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/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
