Poke Nūhou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Loa Staff

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona served as Grand Marshal of the Prince Kühiö Commemorative Parade through Waikïkï on March 27. Here she presents a ho'okupu to be placed at the base of the statue of Kühiö, fondly remembered as the Citizen Prince. Honored annually with a state holiday and feted with an array of events every March organized by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Prince Jonah Kühiö Kalaniana'ole has left behind numerous legacies for the Hawaiian people. He founded the first Hawaiian Civic Club almost a century ago and helped to pass the federal Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 as a delegate to Congress. During the Saturday afternoon parade, thousands of onlookers gathered on Kaläkaua Avenue as marching bands played and dignitaries, including from the Kawänanakoa family, descendants of Hawaiian royalty, rode by. Directly following Chairperson Apoliona in the Grand Marshal's car was a contingent of OHA staff led by OHA Trustees, from left, Oswald Stender and Colette Machado, who presented lei for the Kühiö statue, and OHA Chief Executive Officer Clyde Nämu'o, on right. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawai'i Tourism Authority sponsored this year's Prince Kühiö Celebration Events, along with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Kamehameha Schools. – Photo: Lisa Asato

Cultural series spotlights Maui kupuna in film

The public is invited to see a free screening of a Hawaiian Oral History Film on the life and times of 96-year-old Adelaide Kaiwi Kuamü Sylva, which will take place on Friday, April 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ruth Ke'elikölani Performing Arts Center at Kamehameha Schools Kapälama campus.

"Nä Momi Ho'oheno" focuses on Aunty Adelaide's mana'o and memories of Maui. The film captures her childhood in Olowalu Valley and her coming-of-age in Lahaina, where her family settled in the 1920s.

In one emotional highpoint, she makes a return to her birthplace, which she has not seen in seven decades.

The film is produced by Kamehameha Schools and is part of the Ka'iwakïloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Event Series, sponsored by Kamehameha Schools and the Kuini Pi'olani Hawaiian Civic Club.
For information, call 843-3594.

Obesity study seeks Native Hawaiian participants

The Comprehensive Weight Management Program of the Queen's Medical Center is looking for participants for a new study on the effects of bariatric surgery in the Native Hawaiian population.

The study will evaluate weight loss and improvement in obesity-related disease following the bariatric procedure, normally performed on people who are dangerously overweight.

Participants in the study must be Native Hawaiian, between the ages of 25 and 50, previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and be more than 100 pounds over normal body weight.

The study is funded with grants from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Queen's Medical Center Native Hawaiian Health Program.

For information, call the Queen's Comprehensive Weight Management Program at 537-7374.

He‘eia Ahupua‘a offers paid summer internships

Applications are being accepted through May 14 for a summer He‘eia Ahupua‘a Internship.

The 10-week program will provide young adults the opportunity to work outdoors and learn skills important to restoring, preserving and protecting resources within an ahupua‘a. The He‘eia-based Paepae o He‘eia and Papahana Kuaola are sponsoring the internship with the aim of fostering awareness of stewardship and the mauka to makai ahupua'a relationship.

Work will include fishpond restoration, aquaculture activities, native plant propagation, and lo'i and stream restoration. In addition, participants will learn about wahi pana (place names), cultural sites and native plants and animal species within the Ko'olaupoko Ahupua'a.

Work days will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon for the hourly pay of $11. The internship runs from June 7 to Aug. 13. Applications are available at paepaeoheeia.org and may be requested by calling Paepae o He'eia at 236-6178 or via e-mail at admin@paepaeoheeia.org.

Applications must be postmarked no later than May 14.

Conference to focus on healing native health disparities

A new center at the University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine will host a conference aimed at improving health care for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who experience higher than average rates of chronic disease.

"He Huliau – A Turning Point, Eliminating Health Disparities in Native and Pacific Peoples: Metabolic Syndrome and Health Equity" will be held May 7 and 8 at the Waikïkï Beach Marriott.

The two-day event will be of interest to physicians, physicians-in-training, social scientists, nurses and health care providers who serve native and Pacific peoples.

He Huliau is presented by the medical school's Department of Native Hawaiian Health, Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research, and Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence.

The Center for Native and Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research, established in 2009, capitalizes on earlier research by its parent department, the Department of Native Hawaiian Health, focusing on health disparities such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, known to adversely affect Native Hawaiians at high rates compared to other ethnicities in Hawai‘i.

The deadline for early registration is April 23. Conference registration ends April 30. Fees apply.

For registration information, call the UH Conference Center at 956-8240, or visit www3.jabsom.hawaii.edu/native/hehuliau/hh_conf_registration.htm. For conference information, contact 587-8545 or email native@hawaii.edu.

Diabetes Maui Style to teach self-management

The essential skills for managing diabetes will be the focus of a free day of discussions, food demonstrations and health exhibits in an event organized by Hui No Ke Ola Pono Inc., the Native Hawaiian Health Care System of Maui.

Themed "Learning to Live with Diabetes," the fifth annual Diabetes Maui Style will take place on Saturday, May 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Hawai'i Maui College in the Pilina Building Multipurpose Room.

Attendees will learn about the seven self-care behaviors for controlling diabetes recommended by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Speakers and their topics include: registered dietician Karen Robbins will lead a discussion on healthy eating; Hui No Ke Ola Pono nurse Suzette Kaho‘ohanohano will speak on the value of being physically active; certified diabetes educator Rose Foronda will discuss monitoring blood sugar; clinical psychologists Haunani Iao and Mahana Chang will discuss methods of problem-solving and healthy coping; pharmacist Meredith Huffman will discuss medications; and Dr. Till Hansen will discuss reducing risks associated with diabetes.

This free event includes the serving of a healthy “Mea 'Ai Pono” lunch from Hui No Ke Ola Pono's Simply Healthy Café, door prizes and blood glucose and cholesterol testing.
For information, call 244-4647.