Poke Nūhou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Loa Staff

Natalie Këhau Kong and Kawika Mortensen were two of the Native Hawaiian graduates from the UH John A. Burns School of medicine who participated in the kïhei ceremony. Kong was featured on the cover of Ka Wai Ola’s December 2007 issue, along with fellow graduate Kapua Medeiros who also participated in the ceremony, when she was still a student at the medical school. - Photo: Courtesy of Kim Ku‘ulei Birnie

Future Native Hawaiian physicians lauded at UH medical school

A record number of Native Hawaiians graduated this year from the University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine. Out of 56 grads, 13 were Native Hawaiians.

Local medical professionals are hailing the number as part of an ongoing effort to promote diversity in the state's physician workforce. The UH medical school administration and the Native Hawaiian Association of Physicians acknowledged the achievement of the kanaka maoli grads in a traditional kïhei ceremony at the Kamakaküokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies on May 15. Look for coverage of the ceremony in the June edition of Ka Wai Ola.

Medical professionals say that more Native Hawaiian doctors are needed locally to help bridge the gap between Western and traditional medicine and promote better health awareness in Hawai'i's indigenous population. A new workforce study released in early May has raised concern that the Hawai'i faces an overall physician shortage. This includes the prospect of fewer Native Hawaiian doctors. In contrast to this year's class, only five Native Hawaiians are enrolled in the next three UH medical classes. The school is looking to bolster this number and address the physician shortage by expanding enrollment in the Imi Ho‘ola Post-Baccalaureate Program, which prepares qualified college students from disadvantaged backgrounds for admission into the UH medical school.

Since its inception in 1973, Imi Ho'ola has helped 204 students become doctors. The school reports that 40 percent of those are Native Hawaiian. Of those, 61 percent are practicing in Hawai'i and the Pacific region.

Partnership aims to preserve Wai'anae watershed

Map courtesy of state Department of Land and Natural Resources

Private and public landowners have begun a cooperative effort to preserve the health of the watershed within the ahupua'a of the Wai'anae Mountains. Participants in the new Wai'anae Mountains Watershed Partnership include the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Gill-Olson Joint Venture, Ka'ala Farm, MA'O Organic Farms, United States Army Garrison, Hawai'i and United States Navy Region, Hawai'i.

Under a Memorandum of Agreement formalized April 22, these groups will work to cooperatively restore and enhance the mauka to makai watershed areas. The plan to improve conservation also enables the community to help in contributing management strategies, including traditional and cultural resource management practices. The new partnership will address many conservation challenges by working on invasive species control, balancing multiple recreational uses and promoting sustainable agriculture. This is one of 10 similar cooperative efforts recognized by the Hawai'i Association for Watershed Partnerships.

For information or to find out how to become involved with the Wai'anae watershed project, call 227-9545 or email yumi.k.miyata@hawaii.gov.

First Nations' Futures Program accepting applications

Deadline to apply for the 2010-2011 First Nations Future Program is June 18. The fellowship program aims to develop values-based leadership and solutions for managing First Nation's assets and resources. Its vision is to develop well-balanced First Nation's leaders who serve their communities through work in community, public or professional roles.

The program is partnership between Kamehameha Schools and another First Nations institution, Te Rünanga o Ngäi in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The academic program includes an annual First Nations' Futures Institute at Stanford University and learning experiences in Aotearoa and Hawai'i.

For program information, including eligibility requirements and yearlong scheduling, visit fnfp.org or call 541-5346.

Nä Palapalai to make donation to charter school

Photo courtesy of Nä Palapalai

Students at Ka 'Umeke Ka'eo Hawaiian Immersion Charter School in Hilo have been tabbed by the popular recording group Nä Palapalai to receive a portion of proceeds from the group's July 3 concert at the Hilo Civic Auditorium. Nä Palapalai members Kuana Torres Kahele and Kehau Tamure said that the school donation is part of their plan to give back to their home community of Hilo.

The concert will feature local food vendors and craft booths. Tickets are $15. Keiki 12 and under are admitted free in the company of adults. Nä Palapalai will give a “preview performance” End Of School Concert on Monday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at Ka 'Umeke Ka'eo School. The band will appear in the Kawänanakoa gym and will provide students with free copies of their latest CD, Nanea. All 52 faculty and students will receive a free ticket to the July 3 concert.

The concert will feature a one-night-only reunion of the 'Ohana Serenaders, Darren Benitez, Johnny Lum Ho and Hälau Ka Ua Kani Lehua, the late Rae Fonseca's Hälau Kahikilaulani, Nalani Kanaka'ole's Hälau O Kekuhi and special guest emcees, Da Braddahs. 

A limited number of 200 reserved Premium VIP seats are available for $75. For tickets, visit www.napalapalaimusic.com or the following Big Island locations: Koehnen's Interiors, Kim's Karaoke Lounge, CD Wizard, Pacific Music Connection in Hilo, Pictures Plus Kona and Pakini Grill in Waimea.

The group is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and is a nominee for Favorite Entertainer at the Nä Hökü Hanohano Awards on May 30.

To download the event flyer click here.

Ke Kani O Ke Kai concert series kicks off June 17

Willie K and other entertainers will take their turns performing live on stage at the Waikïkï Aquarium’s Ke Kani O Ke Kai concert series. – Courtesy photo

The Waikïkï Aquarium will once again host its annual Ke Kani O Ke Kai concert series all summer long. This event will include five oceanside concerts on the lawn of the aquarium and will feature live performances from some of the island’s top performers, including HAPA, Willie K and Amy Hanaiali'i.

“Ke Kani O Ke Kai is a wonderful opportunity to visit our extraordinary and award-winning Aquarium, then settle on the lawn to enjoy live entertainment and a beautiful sunset,” said Director Andrew Rossiter, Ph.D. The concert will take place every other Thursday from June 17 through Aug. 12 and will begin at 7 p.m.

This year’s concert series will feature food by various restaurants and fun for the entire family as aquarium galleries and exhibits will remain open throughout the evening. Individual concert tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children age 7 to 12, and free for children 6 and under. Funds raised through Ke Kani O Ke Kai will support the first phase of a photovoltaic installation at the aquarium as part of its mission to be environmentally responsible and reduce electricity costs.

For tickets, contact Honolulu Box Office at 550-8457 or purchase tickets online at www.honoluluboxoffice.com

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