8/22/08 Weekly Report: Hawai`i’s Statewide Stop Flu at School Campaign Resumes

The following article is courtesy of Carrie Kuwada Phipps of the State Department of Health, based in Kona. (This article originally appeared in slightly different form in West Hawai`i Today. Ms. Kuwada Phipps obtained permission from WHT to offer this to the County newsletter as a public service.)

As everyone in Hawai`i knows, the 2008/09 school year is in full swing. Along with the fall school season comes an increase in Hawai`i’s flu cases, particularly among our keiki, who can bring a case of the flu home to the rest of their family.

October through May is flu season

Although Hawai`i has its share of flu cases all year round, the incidence of flu cases is highest during the months of October through May. To combat school children’s exposure to the flu, the state is offering its Stop Flu at School vaccination program again this fall.

Hawai`i was the pioneer in offering statewide flu vaccination to kids

Last year, Hawai`i became the first state in the nation to offer free flu vaccine to elementary and middle school students statewide. More than 60,000 elementary and middle school students in about 340 public and private schools throughout the state were vaccinated against the flu. In addition, over 9,000 faculty and school staff were also vaccinated.

The in-school vaccination campaign may have contributed to Hawai`i’s very mild flu season last year, according to Director of Health Chiyome Fukino M.D.

Taking the flu seriously

The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral infections, such as the common cold, the flu can cause a more severe illness and possibly life threatening complications like pneumonia. Average annual U.S. flu deaths number around 36,000.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than 80 flu-associated deaths among children in the U.S. from January 2008 to June 2008. No flu-related deaths among children have been reported in Hawai`i during this same period.

When a child gets the flu, often the whole family gets the flu

Nationally, the incidence of schoolchildren contracting influenza is very high, exceeding 10 percent in most years. When children get the flu, they often spread it to their parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. This can be life-threatening to grandparents and family members with underlying health conditions.

Compared with other contagious diseases, seasonal flu has the greatest impact on our state’s health and economy. Seasonal flu is the primary cause of countless school and work absences, hospitalization and even deaths, especially among our kupuna.

Flu shots work to protect everyone

The good news is that a simple vaccination not only protects the child against the flu but also their family and their community.

Studies show that schoolchildren vaccinated against the flu have fewer cases of flu, fewer absences from school, and lower rates of illness in their families during flu season compared with unvaccinated children.

Why get the flu shot every flu season?

Seasonal flu vaccines are developed annually based on the commonly circulating flu strains of the previous season.

Immunity is specific to the various vaccine strains. Since flu viruses change from year to year, significant immunity does not last much beyond the current flu season, most experts believe. This is why the flu vaccine gets updated each year.

The seasonal flu vaccine will prevent about 70-90 of every 100 people who receive it from developing moderate-to-severe flu infection. Contrary to the belief of some skeptics, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot as the viruses in the vaccine are completely inactive.

The flu vaccine is also considered safe for children. A recent study of the flu shot involving more than 45,000 infants and children found the vaccine is safe in this population, adding to prior evidence of flu vaccine safety.

Common side effects following the traditional “flu shot” include soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site. Occasionally one might develop a low fever and body aches as your body’s immune system responds to the vaccine. When these symptoms do occur, they usually only last for 1-2 days.

This year’s flu vaccination campaign

From October through December 2008, the Hawai`i State Department of Health will once again offer free seasonal flu vaccine to Hawai`i’s elementary and middle schoolchildren ages 5 to 13 years at the convenience of their school during the school day.

Teachers and school staff can also receive the free vaccine. The program is voluntary for schools and students.

Parent or guardian permission is required for participation. Vaccine information forms are being sent home through the schools during the month of August.

This year, the state hopes to increase the number of students turning in consent forms from 45 percent to 50 percent of the student population.

The vaccine also can be given through a nasal spray. Parents need to read all forthcoming information to make the best choice for their keiki.

Stop Flu at School is a partnership between the Hawai`i State Department of Health, Hawai`i State Department of Education, Hawai`i Association of Independent Schools, and Hawai`i Catholic Schools with support from the CDC, Hawai`i chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians, the Hawai`i Medical Reserve Corps, the University of Hawai`i Nursing Program, the Hawai`i Pacific University Nursing Program, UH Hilo Nursing Program, Kauai Community College Nursing Program, Maui Community College Nursing Program, Medimmune, Sanofi Pasteur, Kaiser Permanente and HMSA.

For more information on the vaccination program, visit the Hawai`i DOH website at www.stopfluatschool.com ; call Aloha United Ways’ 2-1-1 hotline or check with your child’s school.

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COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD

Apply for Mail-In Absentee Ballot for Primary by Sept 13

One of the most convenient ways to cast your vote in the upcoming Primary and General Elections is by absentee voting. Registered voters in Hawai`i may apply for a mail-in absentee ballot now. Please note that the deadline to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot for the Primary Election is Saturday, September 13 at 4:30 pm.

Please remember, you must be registered to be allowed to vote. Here are two more key deadlines:

2008 Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline: August 21, 2008.
2008 General Election Voter Registration Deadline: October 6, 2008.

What is absentee voting?

Absentee voting is designed to make voting more convenient for voters. Any registered voter may request to vote absentee, either:

In person
or By mail

How do I vote by absentee ballot?

In Person

Walk-in absentee polling places in Hawai`i County are located at:

Hilo -The Elections Division in the Hilo Iron Works Building
Kona - The Elections Satellite Office in the Ali`i Plaza (at the corner Hualalai and Kuakini across from Union 76 station)
Pahoa – The Pahoa Market Place
Kohala – The North Kohala District Courthouse
Waimea – The Waimea Community Center
Pahala – The Pahala Community Center

Please contact the Hawai`i County Elections Office at 961-8277 to find your nearest Walk-In Absentee Polling place.

When does in-person absentee voting take place this year?

2008 Primary Election: from September 8 through September 18, 2008

2008 General Election: from October 21 through November 1, 2008

What should I do to get an absentee ballot by mail?

To vote an absentee ballot by mail you may do one of the following:

Write to request an Application for Absentee Ballot:

Hawaii County Elections Office

Hilo Ironworks Building, 1266 Kamehameha Ave., A-1, Hilo, HI 96720

Or call: 961-8277 (or the Neighbor Islands toll-free number: 1-800-345-5915)

Note: This information is available in alternate formats. If you require special assistance (i.e., large print, taped materials, etc.) please call 961-8277 (or the Neighbor Islands toll-free number: 1-800-345-5915).

Write a letter of request to Hawaii County Elections Office your request must include the following information:

Name under which you are registered to vote
Address as registered
Birth Date
Social Security Number
Election(s) in which you intend to vote absentee: Primary, General or both elections.
Address to which your ballot should be mailed (for each election you are requesting an absentee ballot), if different from registered address.
Your signature

Applications for Absentee Ballots shall be mailed to: Hawaii County Elections Office, Hilo Ironworks Building, 1266 Kamehameha Ave., A-1, Hilo, HI 96720

Applications are also available at the following locations:

Hawaii State Libraries
Office of Election’s website at www.hawaii.gov/elections .
At 23 Satellite locations islandwide. Please see www.co.hawaii.hi.us/elections/Satellite_VR_Locations.html
U. S. Post Offices

And you can go online to download an Absentee Ballot application at http://hawaii.gov/elections/voters/voteabsentee.htm .

What are the deadlines for Absentee Ballot applications/requests?

Absentee Applications/requests will be accepted:

2008 Primary Election: from July 22, 2008 through Saturday, September 13, 2008

2008 General Election: from October 2, 2008 through Tuesday, October 28, 2008

All absentee ballots must be received by the clerk issuing the ballots no later than the close of polls on Election Day.

For more information, please contact:

Hawaii County Elections Office

Hilo Ironworks Building, 1266 Kamehameha Ave., A-1, Hilo, HI 96720

Call: Toll Free: 1-800-345-5915 or 961-8277

Or you can go to www.hawaii.gov/elections .

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Hawai`i Farmers Urged to Apply for 2008 Crop Year Disaster Assistance

The following information is courtesy of the Hilo branch of the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program is geared to help farmers who have sustained crop losses during the 2008 crop year.

Overview of the Buy-In for Disaster Assistance Programs

On June 18, 2008, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) was enacted into Public Law 110-246. This Act amended the Trade Act of 1974 to create five new disaster programs, collectively referred to as Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs. Those programs include:

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)
Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
Livestock Indemnity Program* (LIP)
Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program
Tree Assistance Program (TAP)

To be eligible for these programs, producers must purchase at least catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of crop insurance for all insurable crops and/or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for non-insurable crops.

For the 2008 crop year only -- how the Buy-In works

For the 2008 crop year only, producers who were eligible to obtain at least CAT level crop insurance or NAP, but did not, can “buy-in” to be eligible to participate in the applicable Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs by paying the administrative fee that would have been applicable if the producer had timely applied for CAT or NAP.

Deadline to pay Buy-In fee is September 16, 2008

The 2008 Act allows producers to pay a “buy-in fee” at their administrative county Farm Service Agency office by the deadline date of Sept. 16, 2008.

The buy-in fees do not provide any CAT crop insurance coverage or NAP coverage but do allow producers to gain eligibility to participate in the applicable Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs.

How to “Buy-In”

All producers who wish to become eligible in 2008 for the Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs must visit their administrative county FSA office and fill out form CCC-752 and/or form CCC-753. The county offices will determine the appropriate buy-in fee required.

The deadline for the buy-in is Sept. 16, 2008.

Call your Farm Service Agency office in Hilo at 933-8340, 933-8341 or 933-8335 for more information.

How much is the Buy-in Fee?

The 2008 Buy-in Fees for CAT and NAP Covered Crops are as follows:

$100 per crop, but not more than $300 per producer per county, or $900 total per producer, for all counties, less any previously paid fees for CAT and/or NAP.

These fees and limits apply separately to both CAT and NAP covered crops.

Therefore, producers may be required to pay buy-in fees under both CAT and NAP to meet whole farm eligibility requirements for the new disaster programs of SURE, ELAP and TAP.

For more information, please call the Farm Service Agency at 933-8340, 933-8341 or 933-8335.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance Programs?

Eligibility for the SURE, (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Programs), TAP (Tree Assistance Programs) and ELAP (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish):

Producers must obtain a crop insurance policy for each insurable commodity, and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for each non-insurable commodity on the farm to be eligible for assistance under SURE, TAP, and ELAP.

What qualifies as a farm under these assistance programs?

In the 2008 Farm Bill; in general, the term “farm” means the sum of all crop acreage in all counties that is planted or intended to be planted for harvest by the eligible producer.

In the case of aquaculture, the term “farm” means all fish being produced in all counties that are intended to be harvested for sale by the eligible producer.

In the case of honey, the term “farm” means all bees and beehives in all counties that are intended to be harvested for a honey crop by the eligible producer.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)

Producers must timely obtain a crop insurance policy for insured crops or timely file the required paperwork for NAP for the grazed land.

Any insurance already purchased to meet the eligibility requirements for these programs must be at a minimum level of 50 percent yield coverage and at 55 percent of the insurable price.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is exempt from the risk management purchase requirement and therefore, does not require a waiver.

The background of the Buy-In program

For the 2008 crop year, the deadline to apply for crop insurance and NAP passed prior to enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill. As a result, when the requirement to obtain insurance or NAP as a condition of eligibility for SURE, TAP, ELAP and LFP was enacted, many producers would have been excluded from eligibility.

Therefore, for the 2008 crop year only, producers who do not have all crops on the farm covered with the risk management protection programs of crop insurance and/or NAP and wish to be eligible for the SURE, TAP, and ELAP in 2008, or wish to have grazing acres eligible for LFP in 2008, can do so by paying the applicable buy-in fee by Sept. 16, 2008.

Note: Payment of the fees will NOT provide crop insurance coverage or NAP eligibility.

How the program works and what is covered

The Supplemental AG Disaster Program supplements our NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program). For the NAP program, crop damage from natural disasters such as the vog (sulfur dioxide emissions), heavy rains, flooding, drought, high winds, earthquake or frost triggers the claim process. The loss threshold that makes a farmer or rancher eligible for payment is 50 percent. The NAP works on what is planted in the ground as of the disaster. It is yield-based.

The SURE program is revenue-based and is calculated over the entire year for all crops. Any crop damaged by a natural event such as vog is eligible.

For example, Protea are badly affected by the vog from Kilauea Volcano.

Other examples include:

Fruits damaged by high winds.
Vegetables damaged by flooding.
Forage damaged by drought.
Virtually any vegetable, flower, foliage, fruit is eligible for coverage.

Important note:

Farmers and ranchers need to purchase the NAP insurance for the year 2009 to be eligible for the supplemental programs next year.

Waivers of the Buy-In fee for some producers

Producers who meet the definition of a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource Producer, or Beginning Farmer or Rancher as defined in section 2501 (e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)), do not have to meet this risk management purchase requirement and, therefore, are not required to pay the buy-in fee.

Definitions

A Socially Disadvantaged farmer or rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. For entity applicants, all members of the entity must be socially disadvantaged. A Socially Disadvantaged Group is a group whose members have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

On Hawai`i Island, a majority of our farmers are social disadvantaged, so farmers are urged to call the Farm Service Agency at 933-8340, 933-8341 and 933-8335 to find out if their fee will be waived for the buy-in.

A Limited Resource Producer is a producer with both of the following:

Direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than $100,000 in both of the previous 2 years (as adjusted for inflation using Price Paid by Farmer Index as compiled by NASS); and
Total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of 4, or less than 50 percent of county median household income in both of the previous 2 years (to be determined annually using Commerce Department Data).

Limited Resource Producer status can be determined in an automated system using the Web site for USDA Limited Resource Farmer and Rancher Online Self Determination Tool at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/tool.asp . The automated system calculates and displays the adjusted gross farm sales per year and the higher of the national poverty level or county median household income.

A Beginning Farmer or Rancher is an individual or entity who: (1) has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years, AND (2) substantially participates in the operation. If the applicant is an entity, all members must be eligible beginning farmers or ranchers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of Discrimination, please write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Laupahoehoe Pool to Close for Six Months for Renovations from August 11

The Department of Parks and Recreation announced that as of Monday, August 11 the Laupahoehoe Swimming Pool will close for approximately six months during an accessibility improvement and renovations project.

The nearest public swimming pools are Honokaa Pool and the Sparky Kawamoto Pool in Hilo. Please see P&R website at http://co.hawaii.hi.us/parks/aquatics_program_guide.htm or the schedule below:

Honokaa Pool Schedule (Ph# 775-0650)

August 2008

Early Bird Swim	8:00 – 10:00 am	Mon-Fri
Public Recreational Swim	10:00 – 11:45 am	Mon-Fri
Adult Lap Swim	1:00 – 2:30 pm	Mon-Fri
Public Recreational Swim	2:30 – 3:45 pm	Mon-Fri

WEEKENDS

Adult Lap Swim	9:00 – 10:45 am	Sat/Sun
Public Recreational Swim	10:45 – 11:45 am	Sat/Sun
Public Recreational & Adult Lap Swim	1:00 – 3:45 pm	Sat/Sun

The pool is closed on Holidays. (Schedule subject to change.)

Sparky Kawamoto Swim Stadium Schedule (Ph# 961-8698)

August 11-29, 2008

Public Recreational Swim	9:00 – 10:45 am	Mon-Fri
Adult Lap Swim (Short Course)	11:00 – 12:15 pm	Mon-Fri
Adult Lap Swim (Long Course)	12:15 – 1:30 pm	Mon-Fri
Public Recreational Swim	1:30 – 3:45 pm	Mon-Fri
Novice Swim Team Practice	3:00 – 4:00 pm	Mon-Fri
Fitness Training	4:00 – 5:00 pm	Mon-Fri
Age Group Swim Team Practice	4:00 – 6:00 pm	Mon-Fri
Public Recreational Swim	6:00 – 7:10 pm	Mon-Fri

WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS

Public Recreational Swim	9:00 – 10:45 am	Sat/Sun/Hol
Adult Lap Swim (Long Course)	11:00 – 1:00 pm	Sat/Sun/Hol
Public Recreational Swim	1:00 – 3:45 pm	Sat/Sun/Hol

For further information please call Larry Davis, Aquatic Program Administrator, Department of Parks and Recreation at 961-8694.

P&R thanks the public for their understanding and patience during the construction period.

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Training Session on Immigrant Victims of Violence/Human Trafficking Sept 19

A training session will be held on immigrant victims of violence and human trafficking on Friday, September 19 in Kona, sponsored by the County of Hawai’i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and Hawai’i County Immigration Information Office.

Presenters include:

Jennifer Rose, J.D., UH-Manoa Gender Equity Office
Calleen Ching, Staff Attorney, Na Loio
Frank Kalepa, US Immigration Customs Enforcement
Laura Brucia Hamm, M.ED, Hale Kipa
Dew Kaneshiro, J.D.
Rose Bautista, J.D., Hawai`i County Immigration Information

This training is open to all working with immigrant populations and or Domestic/Family Violence. Topics will include: Challenges in Assisting Immigrant Survivors of Abuse, Cultural & Organizational Barriers, Visas, Working with Interpreters and Translators, Sexual Exploitation Prevention & Human Trafficking.

WHEN: Friday, September 19, 2008, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

WHERE: Hale Halawai, Kailua-Kona

Please RSVP by September 12. Limited Seating.

Cost: FREE.

Continental Breakfast & Bento Lunch Provided. Limited parking at Hale Halewai Center; please carpool if possible.

Please RSVP by providing the information below and faxing it to (808)961-8908

Attn: Claudia Wilcox-Boucher or by email: cwb96720@yahoo.com .

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Affordable Workforce Housing at Kamakoa -- Home Applications Available

Work is underway at Kamakoa at Waikoloa, the new affordable workforce housing project in West Hawai`i. Preliminary home applications are now available for island residents interested in owning a home at Kamakoa.

Isemoto Contracting began work on June 13 at the site which is located north of and adjacent to Waikoloa Village in South Kohala.

Phase 1A of Kamakoa is expected to include 65 single family homes, 50 townhouses, 23 bungalows and a community center. Models of the homes are expected to be ready in mid-2009.

Around 1,200 units – for-sale and rentals – are planned over a five to seven year time frame as part of this new West Hawai`i community.

This spring WWH held several informational meetings with resort workers to pre-qualify them for home sales. Preliminary home applications for Kamakoa are available at the Waikoloa Workforce Housing office in Hilo at 56 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720. Please call 935-7755 or go online at www.Kamakoa.com .

Initiated by the County of Hawai`i, Kamakoa at Waikoloa is being developed by Waikoloa Workforce Housing (WWH), LLC. WWH is a non-profit organization established by the Hawai`i Island Housing Trust for the planning, financing, development, and management of the Kamakoa project.

WHH’s mission for Kamakoa is to create a sustainable community that responds to the affordable housing needs of the West Hawai`i workforce community. Its goal is to provide a varied selection of housing at below market prices, while maintaining the highest quality of design and construction. Waikoloa area resort employees and public sector workers will be given highest consideration for this housing.

WWH is being assisted in the development of Kamakoa by UniDev Hawai`i, LLC, a company that has assisted other states, counties, and universities in meeting their workforce housing needs through the development of exemplary communities.

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Kokua Kailua – Enjoy Concerts and Shop, Dine, Buy Local in Kailua Village

A resourceful Kokua Kailua campaign has been created to encourage residents to enjoy the offerings found within Kailua Village. Sponsored by the Kailua Village Business Improvement District, the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Destination Kona Coast and the Kailua Village Merchants Association, Kokua Kailua is designed to rally support for merchants and restaurants affected by the economic downturn and to remind residents to shop, dine and buy local.

Offering a series of monthly celebrations with musicians, artists and merchants, Kokua Kailua is working in conjunction with the successful Hulihee Palace concerts. For each monthly Hulihee Palace Concert & Village Stroll event, Ali`i Drive will be turned into a pedestrian mall from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Concert attendees are encouraged to stay for an after-concert Village Stroll. Musicians and artists will take to the street in a fun, festive, family event where residents can listen to music, experience creativity at art demonstrations, shop for special items and dine at nearby restaurants.

The Hulihee Palace Concert on Sunday, August 24 at 4:00 p.m. is a hula concert that honors King Kamehameha III on the Kuakini Lanai adjacent to Hulihee Palace. Concert attendees can take full advantage of the free chair check offered at Emma's Square.

Merchants will offer display booths in the street, featuring unique products along with special discounts for additional shopping in their stores. Prize drawings are scheduled to take place throughout the afternoon with merchandise and certificates donated by Honu Huts, Kona Gem & Mineral, Pikake Beads, Tropical Bags, Splasher's, Big Island Triathlon and Del Sol.

While you’re in Kailua Village, come to the Hulihe`e Palace Sunday Concert Series, featuring free Hawaiian music concerts featuring local musicians and artists on the Hulihe`e Palace south lawn at 4:00 p.m. the following Sundays:

August 24
September 21
October 19
November 16
December 21

For your comfort, bring your own beach mat or chair.

After the concert, take a stroll through Kailua Village and enjoy our outdoor cafés and restaurants, with special kama`aina pricing at participating restaurants and merchants.

For more information contact Marie Aguilar at 334-0562 or Inde Coggin at 329-9694.

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County Info Meetings on Housing Programs to Boost Home Ownership

The County of Hawaii – Office of Housing and Community Development will be holding informational meetings for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and Homeownership Option Program (HOP).

The FSS program is a voluntary, employment based program which helps Section 8 families obtain the skills they need to achieve financial independence. Support is offered to participating families through local agencies, case management, education, job training, newsletters, workshops, support meetings and other appropriate services.

A key benefit is that an escrow savings account may be established for the family.

The HOP allows first time homeowners to use their Section 8 rental subsidy to meet their monthly homeownership expenses. Participants must meet certain eligibility requirements.

You must call 959-7476 (Glen Shigehara) to reserve a space.

If there is insufficient participation, times may be cancelled or combined.

The meetings are scheduled for:

WHEN: Tuesday, October 7, 2008. Sessions are at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Pahoa Community Center.

WHEN: Thursday, October 16, 2008. Sessions are at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1990 Kinoole Street, Ste. 104, Hilo.

WHEN: Monday, October 20, 2008. Sessions are at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1990 Kinoole Street, Ste. 104, Hilo.

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Hawai`i Island Community Group Collects Backpacks for our Homeless Neighbors

Now that school is ending for the summer, many students will be discarding their backpacks and then purchasing new ones at the start of the next school year. The Hawai`i Island Leadership Series (Ulumau), a community group with members islandwide, hopes to take advantage of that with a drive to collect backpacks to donate to the homeless population of our island.

Why does this group want to give backpacks to the homeless?

Backpacks were determined to be among the items homeless individuals need most.

How many homeless people are there on this island?

The state commissioned a study, which found that in 2007 the Island of Hawai`i had 1,290 homeless individuals, including 688 in families with children. While the overall homeless population dropped two percent on the Island of Hawai`i between 2005 and 2007, the number of unsheltered chronically homeless rose 25 percent, according to the 2007 Point-in-Time Count, published by the state’s Hawai`i Public Housing Authority Homeless Programs Branch.

Do any of the unsheltered homeless include children?

Yes. The unsheltered individuals in families with children numbered 534, while the number of sheltered individuals in families with children was 154.

How do I donate a backpack?

You may drop it off either with a School Resource Officer at your school or at any police station on the island. The Hawai`i Island Leadership Series (Ulumau) is partnering with the Office for Social Ministries, which will distribute the backpacks to homeless persons in need.

What is The Hawai`i Island Leadership Series (Ulumau)?

It is an organization of government and community members who work to provide leadership for confronting the needs of the community. For more information please go to www.ulumau.org .

What do I do if I have any questions about this initiative?

You may call Deputy Police Chief Harry Kubojiri at 961-2244 or Brandee Cachola Menino, Homeless Programs Manager for the Office for Social Ministries, at 935-3050, extension 113.

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County Seeks Applicants for Two Vacancies on Ethics Board

The County of Hawai`i is seeking applicants for two immediate vacancies on the Board of Ethics. The Board has a total of five at-large members (not pegged to Council districts), so anyone can apply.

The Board of Ethics is one of the major boards in our County, vested with tremendous responsibility.

Interested applicants can complete and submit the "Application for Hawai`i County Boards and Commissions" found at the following web site: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/mayor/boards_&_commissions.htm

You may also pick up an application at the Mayor’s Office at 891 Ululani Street, Hilo 96720 or the Kona mayor’s office at Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona 96750. Applications may also be found on line at www.hawaii-county.com , after clicking on the board/commission link.

Upon completing the application, you may drop off or mail the application to either of the above addresses or to Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel at Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325, Hilo 96720. Phone: (808) 961-8304, extension 118, or via email at Lashida@co.hawaii.hi.us .

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Brochure on Emissions from Kilauea Volcano Available Online

An updated version of the County’s brochure on Emissions from Kilauea Volcano, dated April 2008, is now available online. It was emailed to all County Newsletter subscribers earlier this week.

The link to the brochure, which gives a brief summary of hazards and protective measures regarding sulfur dioxide (SO2) and volcanic ash emissions can be found on the lava information webpage at www.lavainfo.us . Scroll down and click on Emissions from Kilauea Volcano Brochure.

The brochure gives color-coded levels of sulfur dioxide conditions, ranging from green (trace) to purple (extreme), with recommended responses accordingly.

The volcanic conditions are being closely monitored and if any changes occur that might affect your safety, you will be informed. For further information, please call Hawai`i County Civil Defense at 935-0031 or visit the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory’s eruption updates online, please click on http://lavainfo.us/ .

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Kalapana Safe Viewing Program Has Daily Telephone Hotline Updates

Hawai`i County Civil Defense has set up a new telephone hotline to provide daily updates on viewing at the Kalapana Safe Viewing site.

The lava hotline phone number is 961-8093, which lets you know the lava viewing hours for the day ahead. The lava hotline automated message is updated every day at 10 a.m.

The Kalapana Safe Viewing program at the volcanic eruption site is a wonderful natural attraction, and the County Civil Defense Agency wants all visitors to enjoy the experience in safety and comfort.

With that in mind, we encourage visitors to prepare not only for sunny days at the lava viewing sight but also for rain. Please note that there are no shelters at the site in case of rain.

For your comfort and convenience, please prepare for rain keeping in mind any trip hazard:

· An umbrella and/or

· Windbreaker or raincoat

Visitors are also strongly advised to take the following gear for both safety and comfort:

· Bottled water (2-3 quarts or liters per person)

· Sturdy closed boots or shoes and socks

· Flashlight (1 per person) and fresh batteries

· Long pants