Poke Nūhou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Loa Staff

Tax campaign gets $252,000 for families

This year's Tell Your 'Ohana Campaign, which provided Native Hawaiian and local families free tax preparation services with an emphasis on claiming the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, claimed a total of $252,000 in tax refunds for nearly 150 'ohana at five sites across Hawai'i. In addition, volunteers helped another 300 kama'āina with advice and referrals to other providers of tax help. The campaign was a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawaiian Community Assets, Aloha United Way, Bank of Hawai'i, the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Nā Pua No'eau commencement On April 25, five high school seniors from various schools who are currently enrolled in Nā Pua No'eau celebrated their commencement from the program. The students, who all have post-high school education options, completed a documentary film, "A High School Story," as their final project for the OHA-funded program. The night at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa included hula by the students and several speeches. To culminate the event, Uncle Kimo Alama Keaulana gave a motivational speech to the students encouraging them to reach for their goals and always be Hawaiian. Pictured from left to right, back row: Penina Tofete, Kapela Collins, Paul Kalani Kaawa Flores Jr., Jessica Bell, and Tristan Lopes. Front row: Stanford Hokoana, Nadia Ibarra, Maika Kamakeeaina. Photo: Nicholas Masagatani

UH Mānoa tabs Brady as top doc
for Hawaiian health program

The Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine has appointed Dr. Kalani Brady interim chair as the school's search committee begins the process of accepting applications to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis. In April, Dr. Marjorie Mau stepped down after eight years as DNHH chair in order to focus on her job as lead investigator at the Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research. Brady has been an associate professor of medicine at JABSOM and is a former associate chair of DNHH. Brady maintains a prominent public profile as the editor for the Hawai'i Medical Journal and a co-host of "Ask the Doctor", a weekly segment on KHON's Channel 2 Morning News. A Native Hawaiian and graduate of St. Louis High School, Brady has received multiple academic awards, including cum laude honors at Harvard College where he studied under a National Merit Scholarship and earned a degree in engineering and applied physics. After completing his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania, he did an internship and residency at the University of Hawai'i and is board-certified in internal medicine. As interim chair of DNHH, he will oversee the federally funded program that provides clinical care and conducts research to improve the health of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. A report issued last month by the U.S. Office of Minority Health indicates sobering statistics on the health status of these populations in the Hawaiian Islands, indicating they have rates of diabetes and deaths from cancer that are significantly higher than those for any other groups of residents in the state. DNHH's initiatives include coordinating community outreach and promoting cultural sensitivity of medical professionals in Hawai'i.

Hawaiian health organization plans
community assistance with OHA awards

Papa Ola Lōkahi has received two OHA grants to continue its efforts to improve the health status of Native Hawaiians. POL will use an OHA award of $15,000 to enhance services to the Native Hawaiian Healthcare Systems in areas of data and information, marketing and communications and resource development. POL executive director Hardy Spoehr said the money will enhance healthcare assistance to Native Hawaiian families at a time when resources are in short supply. "It's critical to work collectively, to pool our resources in efforts that will then benefit all that serve the health needs of the community," Spoehr said. POL will be using another OHA grant of $20,000 to continue to support an on-going program of kūpuna discussions intended to perpetuate traditional Hawaiian healing practices. Kūpuna Councils at Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems on all islands will hold gatherings to promote the role of traditional healers and practitioners in the continuum of health services. In the area of health care delivery, they will address issues of certification, licensure, and legislation impacting traditional practices. Recommendations by the Kūpuna Councils will be used to guide NHHCS comprehensive healthcare services.

Report recommends longer terms for Kamehameha trustees

A court-appointed master for the Kamehameha Schools has issued a report with a recommendation to extend by one year the service of Robert Kihune, whose term as a schools trustee ends next month. Citing sharp losses in the investment portfolio of Kamehameha Schools during the economic downturn, attorney David Fairbanks wrote that the trust's educational programs could potentially suffer adverse effects from revenue loss and therefore needed continuity and stability in its "established path of governance." Fairbanks's 117-page report filed in Probate Court last month also recommended a one-year extension for trustee Diane Plotts and two-year extensions for board members Douglas Ing and Nainoa Thompson. Fairbanks is also recommending ten-year terms for future trustees. Kihune, who has served on Kamehameha School's board since 2000, is scheduled to step down June 30. A Probate Court-appointed trustee screening committee recently named three finalists to replace Kihune, a retired Navy vice-admiral. Candidates include state Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands Chairman Micah Kāne, Hawai'i Community Development Authority Executive Director Anthony Ching and former Kamehameha Schools executive and ex-DHHL Chairman Ray Soon. Currently, all trustees serve the non-profit charitable trust – one of the largest charities nationwide and the largest landowner in the state – for five-year terms. Kamehameha Schools is expected to file a response to Fairbank's report with the Probate Court.

MA'O students working industriously on their first natural structure. Photo courtesy MA'O Organic Farms

Natural-building workshops
offered through June

MA'O Organic Farms in Wai'anae, O'ahu, is hosting a series of Paepae Kaiāulu natural-building workshops, including cob building, timber framing, roundwood carpentry, lime and clay plastering and the design and construction of a living "green" roof. The series is designed to develop much-needed farm infrastructure, or paepae, while providing local youth and community members a chance to learn alternative, sustainable building methods. Various weekend, weeklong and daily natural-building workshops are offered as follows:

• Timber-framing workshop, May 16-24
  
  
• Natural-building weekend, May 23-24
  
  
• Natural-building weekend, June 6-7
  
  
• Small-scale green roof construction and gardening, June 13
  
  
• Clay-plastering workshop, June 20-21
  
  
• Lime-plastering workshop, June 27-28

Instructor Tim Reith, a trained anthropologist and archaeologist, offers a strong understanding of historical, cultural, social and environmental factors in the promotion, perpetuation and innovation of earth and fiber construction in tropical environments. For information or to register, visit sgnb.com, email Reith at tim@sgnb.com or call MA'O Organic Farms at (808) 696-5569. To check for updates or additional upcoming workshops, visit sgnb.com/learn or call MA'O Organic Farms. The workshops are made possible through support by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Wai'anae Community Re-Development Corp., the Administration for Native Americans and MA'O Organic Farms, which is O'ahu's largest commercial organic producer and which provides educational, cultural and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth.