NŪ HOU - NEWSBRIEFS

Nū Hou

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

The grand opening of Alu Like Inc.'s new children's library began with an oli to honor its namesake, Winona Ellis Rubin, seated, and her contribution to literacy and education. The children's library bears the name Ka Waihona Puke Kamali'i 'o Winona Ellis Rubin, after the former Alu Like board chairwoman who now serves as chief of staff to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona.. - Photo: Courtesy of Alu Like Inc.

Rubin library opens

The Native Hawaiian Library at Alu Like Inc. has expanded with a grand opening of a Children's Library, offering books and storytelling in Hawaiian and English to the public, including preschools and charter schools.

The Children's Library opened Feb. 15, and carries the name Ka Waihona Puke Kamali'i 'o Winona Ellis Rubin, after the former Alu Like board chairwoman who now serves as chief of staff to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The library is located at 458 Keawe St. in Honolulu. To reserve a storytelling session for your class, call Johnna at 535-1360.

UH dean search

The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is accepting applications and nominations for a founding dean of the new Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, the nation's largest school of indigenous studies.

Applicants must submit a cover letter summarizing their interest and qualifications, a current resume and the names of six professional references, including titles and contact information. The application period opened Feb. 29, and will continue until the position is filled.

Established in July 2007, the school merges the Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies programs, and aims to pursue, perpetuate, research and revitalize all areas of Hawaiian knowledge, including language, history, arts, science, literature, religion, education, law, society and medicinal and cultural practices.

The 13-member search advisory committee is co-chaired by Linda Johnsrud, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and vice president for academic planning and policy; and Myrtle Yamada, executive director of Hawai'i nuiākea and program officer for the vice chancellor for academic affairs office.

For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu/executive search/hawaiianknowledge.

Hawaiian musicians Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, Kenneth Makuakane and Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett appear on an episode of Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha taped in March, 2008. Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

OHA TV show

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' TV series Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha: To Raise a Beloved Nation was named best Native Hawaiian show on O'ahu's 'Ōlelo Community Television – it's second time receiving the honor.

The roundtable discussion series, which is produced by more than 50 studio-certified OHA staff, won the award at 'Ōlelo's 8th annual awards banquet on Feb. 23. “The award is quite an achievement when you consider that an entire 'Ōlelo station is dedicated to native issues,” said series director Aukai Reynolds, attributing the show's success to OHA staff, including associate producer Jerry B. Norris, who specializes in government relations.

OHA started the series in May 2003 to provide a forum for community experts to discuss issues important to OHA's Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Topics have included kalo farming, indigenous health care, Hawaiian music and, for its premiere, Hawaiian sovereignty. Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha airs on O'ahu Thursdays at 7 p.m. on 'Ōlelo NATV 53 and online at www.olelo.org.

The winning entry: Nā Kua'āina. - Photo: Courtesy of UH Press

Book award

Author and University of Hawai'i ethnic studies professor Davianna McGregor was awarded the 2008 Kenneth W. Baldridge Prize for the best book in any field of history written by a Hawai'i resident for her work Nā Kua'āina: Living Hawaiian Culture.

The book, which beat out 11 other entries published over the last three years, documents the continuity, and the changes, of Native Hawaiian culture through four rural communities that preserved and perpetuated traditional ways through a subsistence lifestyle.

The award, which comes with a $300 cash prize, is given by the Hawai'i regional chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and was announced March 15 at the honor society's 24th annual conference at UH. Nā Kua'āina was published in 2007 by University of Hawai'i Press.

Arts funding

Folk art apprenticeship teams are eligible for up to $5,000 under a state program to help traditional artists and to perpetuate Hawai'i's unique cultural heritage.

The Folk Arts Apprenticeships provide anywhere between $2,800 and $5,000 to a teacher-student team to help pay for instruction and supplies in areas such as music, traditional dance, story-telling and crafts. The award requires at least 80 hours of instruction over six to eight months, and a joint public presentation to share their experience, among other things. The award doesn't cover out-of-state travel expenses.

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, which grants the awards, seeks teams of accomplished and recognized folk or traditional teaching artists and experienced apprentices skilled enough to begin to master the true aesthetics of the art form.

Applicants must be 16 or older and be legal residents of Hawai'i. The postmark deadline is April 18. For more information or to download guidelines and application forms, visit www.hawaii.gov/sfca or call 586-0306.

Powwow benefit

An April 12 benefit concert and silent auction at Connections Public Charter School in Hilo will help support the third annual Hilo Intertribal Pow Wow coming to Hilo in May.

Connections charter school is located at the Kress Building, 174 Kamehameha Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. A light supper prepared by Connections' culinary students is included in the cost of the $20 ticket, available at the Kress Building office, Da Ratpack Skateshop, Jungle Love in Pahoa, Volcano Garden Arts and Kea'au Natural Foods.

The entertainment lineup features Native American flute player Troy “Good Medicine” De Roche, local music trio The Lost Chords, The Social Wizards, and Dave Seawater and Friends. A silent auction will include original art by local artists, tile mosaics, Native American crafts, a hand-carved miniature koa canoe and gift certificates from Hilo Guitar, Nautilus Dive and Merriman's Restaurant.

The powwow is planned for Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26 at Wailoa River State Park. For more concert information, call Karin Moore-Sayre at 808-966-7792. For more information on the powwow, visit www.hilopowwow.com.

Grow Hawaiian

The eco-conscious Grow Hawaiian Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bishop Museum on April 26 in honor of Earth Day. The free inaugural event unites weavers, dancers, kapa makers, biologists, conservationists and horticulturists, who will share their common love for native and Polynesian plants of Hawai'i.

Event headliner Richard Likeke Paglinawan, 'ōlohe lua, author and cultural historian, will discuss the plants of ancient Hawaiian martial arts. Also featured are talks by a roundtable of kumu hula, and staff from the native plant nursery Hui Kū Maoli Ola. Ka'ala Farm will offer kalo-pounding and kapa-making demonstrations.

Bring your own plants for identification by plant experts. Features food booths, informational booths on local conservation and sustainability efforts, a native plants sale and a guided tour of the museum's native and indigenous plants garden. Also offers hula dancing and music by Pilioha. Sponsor Hawaiian Electric Co. will give away reusable grocery bags to the first 100 families or individuals and, while supplies last, to those pledging to conserve electricity. For more information, 847-3511 or www.bishopmuseum.org.

Tax rebates

A new economic stimulus law authorized by President Bush in February will result in more money for most taxpayers – up to $600 per person, $1,200 per couple, plus $300 for each qualifying child.

To receive the so-called “economic stimulus payment,” individuals just have to file their 2007 individual federal income tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service will automatically determine the one-time rebate amounts and send it to qualifiers starting in May.

Most people who get tax refunds will qualify for the separate rebate, which is expected to affect more than 130 million American households, including low-income workers, retirees and disabled veterans who normally don't file tax returns, but who must do so to receive their rebates.

For more information, visit www.irs.gov and click on “Rebate Questions?”

Meanwhile, the IRS is warning people to beware of e-mail and phone scams in which someone claiming to be from the IRS asks for bank account, Social Security, credit card or other personal information that can be used in identity theft. The scams can come with a promise of an advance rebate or via personalized e-mails notifying the recipient of an audit. The IRS doesn't solicit such information via phone or e-mail.

Report questionable phone calls or e-mails to phishing@irs.gov.

Also, a March 14 column in the weekly newspaper Indian Country Today warns taxpayers to avoid “predatory tax preparers and payday loan vendors promising instant, on-the-spot payments,” services that can come with “huge interest rates and hidden fees.” It directs taxpayers to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, where IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file tax returns for those who qualify, free of charge. For the nearest site, call 800-829-1040.

Aloha United Way also provides such services and information on the rebate. Call 211, visit hawaiitaxhelp.org or email info@hawaiitaxhelp.org.

Distance learning

Deadline is April 30 to apply for the fall semester of 'Ike Hawai'i Distance Learning Program, which offers courses in Hawaiian culture, history, leaders past and present, and Hawaiian-Pacific literature.

The Kamehameha Schools' program for high school students is being made available for the first time to students on the continental United States, with special consideration given to Hawai'i residents. Students from charter schools and mainstream public schools are encouraged to apply. The fall semester runs from July 14 to Dec. 12.

Upon successful completion of a course, students receive a Kamehameha Schools credit. Students should obtain approval from their individual schools regarding their acceptance of the credit.

The program requires reliable computer and internet access and Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Instruction is free. A $50 fee includes supplies.

Applications are available at www.ksbe.edu/admissions/announcements or by contacting the admissions office at: admissions@ksbe.edu, 842-8800 or toll free at 800-842-4682 ext. 8800.

For more information, http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/ikehawaii or call 842-8877.

Haleakalā Park

Haleakalā National Park has grown by more than 4,100 acres after acquiring land known as Nu'u Ranch from James Campbell Co. in a cooperative effort that also involved financial support from The Conservation Fund and $3.3 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was secured by Hawai'i's Congressional delegation.

The land stretches from the rim of Haleakalā Crater at the 6,000-foot elevation to the south coast of Kaupō, Maui. The parcel includes “several significant Hawaiian cultural sites” and remnants of a native koa forest ecosystem, which provides critical habitat for rare birds, while dry wiliwili forests provide habitat for the endangered Blackburn's sphinx moth and Hawaiian hoary bat, a news release said.

“This is truly a testament to public-private partnerships,” said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. “This acquisition will protect more than half of Maui's precious south coast in perpetuity.”

The land is among Maui's largest undeveloped tracts and has been privately owned by Campbell for more than a century. The National Park Service acquisition permanently places it in the public trust.

HTA grants

The Hawai'i Tourism Authority awarded a little more than $830,000 to 20 groups and nonprofits through its Kūkulu Ola – HTA Living Hawaiian Culture Program.

Recipients of the 2008 award include Kahilu Theatre Foundation's 2008 'Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Institute, Hawai'i Maoli's Hawaiian Cultural Resource Directory, and Anahola Hawaiian Homes Association's AKAMAI Mahi'ai Cultural Training and Agri-tourism Program. Other recipients are: Bishop Museum, Community Development Pacific Inc. Hāna Retreat, Ho'omaika'i LLC, Hui Kū Maoli Ola, Hula Preservation Society, Ka Meheu Ohu O Ka Honu, Ka'ala Farm Inc. Keōmailani Hanapī Foundation, Kīpahulu 'Ohana Inc. Lyman House Memorial Museum, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Moku Ola Education Foundation, Paepae O He'eia, PA'I Foundation, The Kohala Center and Wai'anae Coast Coalition.

The program, operated with administrative help from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, grew out of the Hawai'i Tourism Strategic Plan 2005-2015 with the aim of perpetuating the indigenous culture and community while providing an enriching experience for visitors.