Nū Hou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

OHA Economic Development Hale Director Mark Glick, center, has been elected chairman of the Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter's executive committee, which is the chapter's statewide board of directors. In January, he and other members of the Sierra Club were hosted by Acting Park Superintendent Ron Nagata, on right, for a service project to remove invasive species in the southwestern portion of Haleakalā crater, targeting the Heterotheca grandiflora (the California telegraph plant) and Plantago lanceolata (narrow leaf plantain). Cold daytime temperatures necessitated hats and jackets, but it was nothing to compared to the below-freezing temperatures at night. - Photo: Courtesy of Mark Glick

Glick Sierra Club Chair

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Economic Development Hale Director Mark Glick has been elected chairman of the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter.

The Executive Committee is the chapter's statewide board of directors, and each voting Executive Committee member is elected to two-year terms by the statewide membership of the Sierra Club. 

"I plan on working with the rest of the Executive Committee to continue our focus on issues such as doing our part in Hawai'i to reduce greenhouse gases, advocating for policies to move Hawai'i quicker and more completely towards energy efficiency and clean energy sources, and protecting land use and environmental and cultural review laws," Glick said.

Glick said under new state Director Robert Harris, the Sierra Club also intends to balance its historical and successful role at the Legislature with a greater focus on building membership and community service via its service trips and hikes, something that many people have long associated with the Sierra Club.

"For this legislative session, I think we'll work harder to build a broader coalition base to support structural changes at the Public Utilities Commission and among the utilities to introduce more renewable energy and other clean forms of energy to replace imported oil," he said.

Hāna dialysis

Residents of Hāna are hailing a decision by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) that brings their remote East Maui community one step closer to establishing a unique communal dialysis home. (See related cover story in the December Ka Wai Ola.) The board has unanimously agreed to redesignate a state-owned cottage in Hāna to become the site where residents can receive treatment from home-dialysis units with help from trained healthcare providers. The arrangement solves a dilemma that has long troubled Hāna dialysis patients and their 'ohana.

Many Hāna homes offer neither the privacy nor infrastructure suited to home-dialysis units, prompting dialysis patients to make a grueling six-hour round trip to Wailuku to receive the life-sustaining treatment. A communal dialysis home creates an environment that accommodates personal privacy, 'ohana comfort and medical expertise. The state-owned cottage, selected as ideal by Hui Laulima O Hana – the community's dialysis patient support group, had been limited to use as a doctor's residence under an 82-year-old state executive order, necessitating the redesignation action by the BLNR.

There is still a need for plumbing and electrical improvements to be made to the cottage, but hui members, who also received from the BLNR a cottage lease for 20 years for an annual $1 fee, said the building renovation is moving ahead as planned with the help of county and privately donated funds. They expect the new home could open in early spring.

Waimea Valley reopens

Waimea Valley reopened Jan. 19 with a slew of activities for the public, including learning the history and stories of Waimea through kūpuna, the Magnificent 'Alae 'Ula Walk, The Native Plant Walk, The Mo'olelo o Waimea – History of Waimea Walk, and Hawaiian games.

The valley on O'ahu's North Shore temporarily closed after a Nov. 21 rock fall blocked the main entry road. A smaller rock fall occurred Dec. 14 along a service road. Several companies provided expertise with slope stabilization, remediation and clearing and removing debris.

"We are extremely fortunate to not only have a dedicated and very committed employee 'ohana help us in the cleanup inside the valley, but we are also very appreciative of the care and dedication that our consultants – Earth Tech AECOM, Janod Inc. and PCSI – took in successfully completing their work," said Gail Chew, interim executive director.

In addition to the Nov. 21 rockslide, the valley endured heavy rains and flooding, leaving a large amount of debris within the nursery and in the areas of the waterfall and walkways.

KS trustee search

Kamehameha Schools is searching for a trustee to replace Trustee Robert Kihune, whose term will end in June.

"The ideal candidate must possess a reputation of integrity and good character, a consistent and active leadership role in the community with specific emphasis on issues impacting the well-being of the people of Hawai'i and a willingness and sincerity to uphold the purposes of Kamehameha Schools. Respect for and from the community as well as outstanding personal traits, including Hawaiian values, are desired, such as: pono (to be moral and proper), 'imi 'ike (to seek knowledge), laulima (to work cooperatively), lokomaika'i (to share), na'au pono (to possess a deep sense of justice), malama (to care for each other) and ha'aha'a (to be humble)," according to a news release.

Candidates should also have a formal education and demonstrated expertise in business administration, finance and investment, strategic planning and policy setting. The ability to fulfill the responsibilities of a fiduciary trust is a must.

The seven members of the all-volunteer Trustee Screening Committee are: Robert A. Alm, Wendy B. Crabb, George "Keoki" Freeland, Francis A. Keala, Cheryl L. Ka'uhane Lupenui, Benjamin M. Matsubara and Michael E. Rawlins. The committee will submit three names for consideration by the Probate Court, which will select the new trustee to serve a five-year term. The Probate Court may consider the trustee for reappointment to another five-year term.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and a statement on their view of the role of a trustee; their vision, goals and objectives for the trust estate; and what they would do to attain those goals. Nominations should be submitted to Trustee Screening Committee, c/o Inkinen & Associates, 1003 Bishop St., Suite 477, Honolulu, HI 96813. Applications may also be faxed to 808-521-2380 or emailed to jobs@inkinen.com. The deadline is March 15.

Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by benefactor Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The statewide educational system enrolls more than 6,700 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and at 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional Hawaiian learners are also being served through a range of other Kamehameha Schools outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai'i and across the continental United States.

For information, visit inkinen.com and click on Job Listing.

Law, politics symposium

The Hawaiian Society of Law and Politics (HSLP) will be sponsoring its third biennial symposium: Ka Nalu: Towards a Hawaiian National Consciousness, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hawai'i Imin International Conference Center, 1777 East-West Road, on the University of Hawai'i Mānoa campus.

The symposium will feature the scholarship of three former HSLP members who have since graduated with their doctorates: Dr. Kamana Beamer (Geography), Dr. Sydney Iaukea (Political Science) and Dr. Keanu Sai (Political Science). Each will give a presentation of their research, followed by a question and answer period. 

The afternoon will feature a panel discussion on curriculum development, the publishing of HSLP's journal (Volume 2) by Kamehameha Publishing, and other significant developments in academia and the community surrounding research and publications focused on the implications, both legal and other, of Hawai'i's recognition as an independent state in 1843.

The event is funded in part by the Student Activity and Program Fee Board.

HSLP has been a registered independent organization under Co-curricular Activities, Programs, and Services at UH Mānoa since Oct. 30, 2003. The term Hawaiian is used in its national and geographical context and not in an ethnocentric sense. For information, www2.hawaii.edu/~hslp.

To our readers

Ka Wai Ola is happy to announce that we are expanding with a midmonth, web only edition. This month will mark the official launch of Ka Wai Ola Loa,"loa," as in an "extra," "additional" Ka Wai Ola every month.

Like our monthly paper, this web-only edition will cover a vast range of stories and issues that are of great interest to the Hawaiian community. As its name implies, Ka Wai Ola Loa will give us a chance to increase our news, features and community coverage. And we hope the community will also take part by contributing articles on issues and activities that are important to you.

Future issues of Ka Wai Ola Loa will also feature a column to answer beneficiary questions and concerns. If you have a question or problem for us to tackle, write to webmaster@oha.org and we'll consider your question for publication in a future edition of Ka Wai Ola Loa.

Ka Wai Ola Loa is sent to subscribers via e-mail. To subscribe, visit oha.org.We hope you will enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, write to webmaster@oha.org.

Mahalo,

Ka Wai Ola Staff