NŪ HOU - NEWSBRIEFS

Nū Hou

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

WAIMEA VALLEY

On Aug. 16, Pūlama 'O Waimea: To Care for and Cherish Waimea marked the grand opening celebration for the valley under the stewardship of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hi'ipaka LLC. The event showcased the valley's cultural and spiritual significance and its natural beauty, with games, entertainment and cultural demonstrations, including the art of lei hulu, demonstrated by Kuahiwi Lorenzo. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Hawaiian convention

An Alaska Native leader who helped achieve passage in 1971 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act – one of the nation's largest land and cash settlements – will be the keynote speaker at the Native Hawaiian Convention, which runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Hawai'i Convention Center in Honolulu.

Willie Iggiagruk Hensley will discuss how Alaska Natives went from land dispossession to repossession at a luncheon on Oct. 1 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Their settlement from the federal government comprised almost $1 billion dollars and title to more than 40 million acres of land, roughly 12 percent of Alaska's total lands.

The seventh annual convention, themed “Raising Change – Defining our Future,” will unite local, statewide and national leaders to discuss priorities in the Native Hawaiian community. Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona will deliver the opening address Sept. 30 in a 9 a.m. ceremony that begins with a traditional oli session with kumu Leina'ala Kalama Heine of Nā Pua Lei o Likolehua.

The three-day convention includes presentations on charter schools, running for elective office, the recent Hawai'i Supreme Court ruling on ceded lands, and progress and plans in homesteading, presented by state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Micah Kāne. Also scheduled are a roundtable session of indigenous business leaders from here and the U.S. continent, and workshops on financial literacy, a possible Constitutional Convention, teaching nonprofits how to find grants, and more. A pre-convention symposium will be held Sept. 29 to discuss native constitutions in the Pacific and nationwide.

Winners will also be announced for annual awards in the fields of small business, nonprofit service, education, economic development, community advocacy, and housing and health care. Evening events include a Sept. 30 concert by 2008 Grammy nominees and winners, and an Oct. 1 Aloha Nā Ali'i Banquet with Bishop Museum honoring Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani, which includes a 5:30 p.m. viewing of royal artifacts.

Registration fees apply, and scholarships are available. For information, contact the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement at 596-8155, toll-free from the Neighbor Islands at 800-709-2642, by e-mail at events@hawaiiancouncil.org or visit hawaiiancouncil.org.

Kai wins Olympic gold

Natasha Kai of Kahuku won gold at the Beijing Olympics when the U.S. women's soccer team beat Brazil 1-0 in front of a crowd of 51,612 that included Kobe Bryant, Brazilian soccer great Pelé and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

Kai entered the game in overtime and joined her teammates in celebrating the team's third Olympic gold in four Olympics – with hugs, American flags and charging across the field.

Carli Lloyd scored the gold-medal winning goal. Kai, who played for the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, scored a crucial goal in the U.S. team's earlier 2-0 win against Canada, which landed them a spot in the semifinals. Germany won the bronze medal by beating Japan 2-0.

Kai, who sports multiple tattoos honoring her Native Hawaiian heritage, has been a popular personality appearing in ads, most recently a 'Got Milk?' Olympians ad along with Hawai'i decathlete Bryan Clay, who also won gold.

Kaua'i health funds

Health care for Native Hawaiians on Kaua'i will be getting a boost from a $2.4 million grant provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding will support Ho'ōla Lāhui Hawai'i (HLH), which operates on Kaua'i at medical centers located in Waimea and in Kapa'a. HLH, one of five federally funded Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, will use the funds to expand services to Native Hawaiians in primary health care, dental care, behavioral health counseling, substance abuse counseling, chronic disease management, case management and access to federally subsidized 340B pharmacies, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i).

Moloka'i fees increase

In another fallout of the shutdown of Moloka'i Ranch, about 1,200 residents in West Moloka'i will see their water and sewer bills double, and in some cases triple, under a plan approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

The rate increases will be in effect for at least six months starting Sept. 1. Moloka'i Public Utilities Inc. will increase its rates to $6.04 from $3.18 per 1,000 gallons. And Waiola o Moloka'i Inc. has received the OK to increase its rates to $5.15 from $1.85 per 1,000 gallons. The commission denied a rate-increase request from Mosco Inc., a sewer utility serving Kaluako'i.

The PUC on June 30 also approved a temporary fuel surcharge for the Sea Link of Hawai'i ferry between Moloka'i and Maui. Fares increased to $68.40 from $42.40 on Aug. 15. Public hearings in Maui and Moloka'i were scheduled for late August to discuss making the surcharge permanent, which will not affect Moloka'i workers who receive fare subsidies from Maui hotels. Citing rising fuel costs, Sea Link said continuing operations depend upon the addition of the surcharge.

The increases come as the island has suffered layoffs following the April pullout of the ranch, also known as Moloka'i Properties Ltd. The ranch attributed its closure to the public's rejection of its plan to develop luxury homes at Lā'au Point.

Kalaupapa apology

About 12 former patients of a leprosy settlement in Kalaupapa, Moloka'i received a personal apology from the state Legislature Aug 12, when state Sen. J. Kalani English attended a community meeting there and read an apology resolution passed by both houses in April.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 208 recognizes and expresses gratitude “to the people of Kalaupapa and their families for their great sacrifices and hardships as a result of their forced isolation, which at the time was believed to protect the public's health, and apologizing to the people of Kalaupapa and their families for any harsh restrictions that caused them undue pain as the result of former government policies surrounding leprosy.”

Leprosy later became known as Hansen's disease. The resolution arose partly to honor Paul Harada, a former resident and community leader who fought for an apology resolution. He passed away in January.

Hawaiian Way Fund

The Hawaiian Way Fund, the primary donor program of the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, has gone online at hawaiianwayfund.org.

Created in 2004, the fund's mission is to enhance the well-being of Hawai'i through Native Hawaiian practices, culture and ways of meeting community needs. By launching a web site with a secure online donor capability, CNHA hopes to engage everyday people to give online and make a difference through charitable giving, a press release said. The Hawaiian Way Fund administers and encourages donor designations to Hawaiian charities, including charter schools, civic clubs or hālau hula. In its most recent year-to-date fundraising report, donors designated funds to 12 Hawaiian organizations, the release said.

Pow wow, concert

Contemporary and time-honored traditions of Native Americans will be celebrated in dance, song, drumming and arts and crafts at the 34th annual Pow Wow at Thomas Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5.

The free event attracts Native Americans living in Hawai'i and visitors from the U.S. continent and Canada. The Blackfoot A-1 Club from Alberta, Canada, will serve as the host drum. Other participants include: head man dancer Joe Hacker (Rosebud Lakota), head woman dancer Cindy Dawson (Dine/Apache), emcee John Dawson (San Carlos Apache) and arena director Tom Rowland (Oglala Lakota). Guest drums include 808NDNZ from O'ahu and Hunter's Moon from Hawai'i Island.

Also ahead, the ninth annual Native American Flute and Storytelling Concert comes to the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa on Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

To volunteer for the pow wow, call the American Indian Pow Wow Association at 497-7279, Native Winds at 734-8018, or email aipahawaii@hotmail.com. For information on the free concert, call Native Winds.

Junior Olympics

Tryouts will be held this month for the first volleyball team from America to win a gold medal in the Boys 12 years and under division at the Junior Olympics. Coached by former UH Mānoa All-American Pono Ma'a, the team will start its second year as part of Ka Ulukoa – The Volleyball Institute in Honolulu.

Two tryouts will be held for the Boys 13 team, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Susannah Wesley Gym in Kalihi, O'ahu. To try out, players must pre-register and have been born between September 1995 and August 1996. For details, visit kaulukoa.org.

Free kindergarten prep

Keiki O Ka 'Āina Family Learning Centers launches a new, free kindergarten readiness program for parents beginning Sept. 22. The Kūlia I Ka Nu'u program, which means “Strive for the Highest,” is based on Hawaiian culture and values with a comprehensive introduction to the language, and is designed primarily for parents who cannot or choose not to send their 3- or 4-year-old keiki to preschool.

In a 24-week accelerated Montessori program led by trained educators, parents will meet weekly to learn how to make learning fun and how to give their child a jump start on literacy, math, art, social studies, science and more. Free childcare is available on site, and all books, curriculum, supplies and materials are provided at no cost.

Interested parents may call Gina or Anela at 843-2502 to register for classes at one of four locations: Kūhiō Elementary School, 'Ewa Elementary, Kalihi Baptist Church or Waimānalo District Park. Keiki O Ka 'Āina also offers other free programs, including Parent Interaction Preschools offered at eight community sites.

Papa oli course

Kumu hula Tony La'akapu Lenchanko is accepting students interested in oli and mele oli for the 10-week fall session of Nā 'Ōpua o Ke'alohilani. Registration will be on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Bishop Museum Paki Building, Room 2. Class registrations and orientations are as follows: Novice 4-5 p.m., Intermediate 5-6 p.m., and Advanced 6-7 p.m. For information, call 668-7054 or email lenchanka001@hawaii.rr.com.