A recent land acquisition involving federal, state and private-sector partners will result in Oʻahu residents gaining new outdoor recreational opportunities, while protecting Central O‘ahu’s aquifer and improving habitat for native species, many of them endangered. The Trust for Public Land and the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), have completed the purchase of 2,882 acres of Central Oʻahu forest and fallow lands from Dole Food Company. Working with the community, DOFAW will create a multi-resource management plan that offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and guides forest restoration, water source protection, and native species habitat improvement. The Helemano Wilderness Project will provide substantial community benefits. For more than a century, access to the public hunting area at the Poamoho Forest Reserve and the entrance to the historic Poamoho trail, the premier route to the Koʻolau summit, has been on private land. Securing public access through purchase of this property, DOFAW will work with interested stakeholders and user groups to provide access in a more comprehensive way than was previously possible. DOFAW will also explore opportunities for ADA-accessible camping areas, places to picnic, forest-product gathering sites, hunting, and diversified recreation. In addition, DOFAW will improve habitat for native species by controlling invasive plants and predators in the mountainous portions of the property, while reforesting other areas with native species, high value forest products, and edible forest plantings. DOFAW will partner with Hawaiʻi’s hunting community to reduce damage to native resources in select areas, while improving hunting opportunities in other areas. This management approach will recharge the Central Oʻahu aquifers fed by the Helemano, Poamoho, and North Fork Kaukonahua streams, securing clean drinking water for generations to come. The elusive, endangered ʻŌpeʻapeʻa, or Hawaiian Hoary Bat, is the official state land mammal. Permanently protecting this property will preserve an existing quality bat habitat, while reforestation efforts will create substantially more feeding and roosting opportunities for bats, along with improved habitat for endangered birds, insects and plants living in native forested areas. “Watersheds and forests are the very foundation of our lives in these islands, and this partnership is a terrific win for the community and the environment,” Gov. David Ige said. “The Legacy Land Conservation Program leveraged more than $13 million in matching funding from federal and private partners to make this purchase possible. We will continue to create opportunities to improve and sustain the ‘āina for everyone to enjoy.” Suzanne Case, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, added: “These areas of Helemano and upper Wahiawā, sitting at the foothills of the Koʻolau mountains, combine native forest, watersheds, and good soils in an accessible central location to create an ideal setting to support our communities’ physical and spiritual sustenance. We are excited to add these lands to the public trust inventory managed by the department for the people of Hawai‘i.” Lea Hong, Hawaiian Islands State Director, originally from Wahiawa, stated, “The Trust for Public Land thanks Dole Food Company, its Chairman David Murdock, and his Hawaii team Harry Saunders and Dan Nellis, for working with us and the State through many hurdles to see that this land is conserved for the public. We would also like to extend very special thanks to Andres Albano of CBRE, Dole Food Company’s broker, for facilitating the transaction. Andy is originally from Whitmore, and his dedication and hard work contributed greatly to saving this land around his and my own hometown for future generations.” Funding for the $15,163,800 purchase was made available through an incredible partnership, including contributions by federal, state and private partners: • U.S.D.A. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program ($5 million) • Navy Region Hawaii Encroachment Partnering Program ($3.5 million) • Kawailoa Wind, LLC ($2.75 million) • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Planning Acquisition ($2 million) • State of Hawai‘i Legacy Land Conservation Program ($1,513,800) • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pittman-Robertson Fund ($400,000) # # # RESOURCES Helemano Map Helemano Fact Sheet HD video: aerial tour of Helemano Wilderness Project area (Courtesy: DLNR) https://vimeo.com/296571740 Photographs: aerials of Helemano Wilderness Project area (Courtesy: DLNR/Richard Drake) https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pt2qgrzgj66498z/AABdRnbC1PLqjKFAOJtkSkk5a?dl=0 #DepartmentofLandandNaturalResources #TrustforPublicLand #DOFAW #PoamohoForestReserve #NorthforkKaukonahua #LegacyLandConservationProgram #SuzanneCase #Koolaumountains #leahong #hawaiianislandsstatedirector #dolefoodcompany #andresalbano #davidmurdock #USDA #KawailoaWind #USfishandWildlifeServiceHabitatConservation #PittmanRobertsonFund

The Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF), a cooperative partnership between Hawaii’s military community, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) and other community organizations, highlighted success stories of Hawaii’s military students and their families at its 17th Annual Meeting today at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. JVEF’s mission is to facilitate the educational concerns and unique needs of military children and their families, such as transitioning to the islands, and to support Hawaii’s public school students. 43 military servicemen and women were recognized for their dedicated volunteer work at Hawaii schools, serving as mentors for military-impacted students of all ages. Photo Credit: Dept. of Education “The JVEF partnership between the Department of Education and Hawaii’s military leadership continues to transform our schools in positive ways on behalf of our military-impacted students,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Transition Centers have become a vital part of our school designs and welcome all incoming students, especially those who are transitioning from other locations, to ensure that have social supports in place when they arrive so they can remain focused on academic achievement.” The 2018 Daniel K. Inouye JVEF Outstanding Military Contributor Commendation Award was presented to Mr. Dennis Drake, US Army COL (Ret.), Director of Public Affairs at US Army Garrison Hawaii and US Army Hawaii. Photo Credit: Dept. of Education Hawaii has the highest number of military-dependent children per capita in the nation, representing approximately 15,000 students or eight-percent of the total student enrollment. The majority of these students attend 45 schools located on or near military installations in Oahu’s Central, Leeward and Windward School Districts. "Quality public schools is a very significant issue for our military families, and the Joint Venture Education Forum partnership between the military community in Hawaii and the Hawaii Department of Education has truly strengthened our collective efforts to provide quality education opportunities for all Hawaii's public school students," said CAPT Lyn Hammer, Hawaii State Board of Education Military Liaison. Awards were presented recognizing JVEF’s outstanding civilian and military contributors whose efforts have had a significant impact on Hawaii’s military and public school students. A joint presentation of the 2018 Daniel K. Inouye JVEF Outstanding Military Contributor Commendation Award was made to Mr. Dennis Drake, US Army COL (Ret.), Director of Public Affairs at US Army Garrison Hawaii and US Army Hawaii. Mr. Drake has proudly served on the JVEF Committee for ten years. In 2010, he spearheaded the JVEF Strategic Communications Plan to promote Hawaii’s public schools and worked to improve school partnerships with Army units and personnel. The 2018 K. Mark Takai Outstanding Civilian Contributor Commendation Award was presented to Mrs. Renee Mulberry from Leilehua High School. Photo Credit: Dept. of Education The 2018 K. Mark Takai Outstanding Civilian Contributor Commendation Award was made to Mrs. Renee Mulberry from Leilehua High School. Ms. Mulberry has been instrumental in the establishment and operation of Leilehua High’s Transition Center. She has hosted visiting delegations from other schools statewide to share best practices and assist in starting up new Transition Centers on other campuses. Mrs. Mulberry also mentors students to ensure that they can achieve up to their academic potential. 43 military servicemen and women were also recognized for their dedicated volunteer work at Hawaii schools, serving as mentors for military-impacted students of all ages. For more details on JVEF, Impact Aid and military-impacted schools in Hawaii, visit HIDOE’s Military Families website About the Hawaii State Department of Education
 The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. It is comprised of 256 schools and 36 charter schools, and serves about 180,000 students. King Kamehameha III established Hawaii’s public school system in 1840. To learn more, visit HawaiiPublicSchools.org. #HawaiiDepartmentofEducationHIDOE #jointventureeducationforum #jvef #joankroccorpscommunitycenter #salvationarmy #rayandjoankroc #ChristinaKishimoto #publicaffairsUSArmy #USArmyGarrison #DanielKInouye #Hawaiipublicschools #ReneeMulberry #MarkTakai

On October 15, 2018, Governor David Ige proclaimed October 24th "World Polio Day" in Hawai'i. World Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. As of 2013, GPEI had reduced polio worldwide by 99%. Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. The strategy to eradicate polio is therefore based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free. Proclamation: https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/181024-Proc-World-Polio-Day.pdf #worldpolioday #poliodayhawaii #rotaryinternational #jonassalk #governorige #davidige #globalpolioeradicationinitiative #GPEI #oralpoliovirus

Additional precast concrete panels will rehabilitate sections of the westbound and eastbound lanes of the Pearl City Viaduct and the eastbound H-1 Freeway before the Aiea Heights Drive overpass. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies the public that work to install an additional 128 precast concrete panels on the eastbound and westbound H-1 Freeway in Pearl City near the Sears Distribution Center and on the eastbound H-1 Freeway before the Aiea Heights Drive overpass will begin Oct. 24, 2018. Lane closures associated with this work for the week of Oct. 22 to 28 will be: Thursday, Oct. 25 – Closure will be repurposed for pavement striping. H-1 eastbound from the Pearl City Viaduct to the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass Two left lanes closed from 6:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Additional left lane closed (for a total of three) from 7:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Shoulder will be open. Friday, Oct. 26 – Closure will be repurposed for pavement striping. H-1 eastbound from the Pearl City Viaduct to the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass Two right lanes closed from 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Additional right lane closed (for a total of three) from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Shoulder will not be available for vehicular traffic during the closure. Saturday, Oct. 27 – Closure will be repurposed for pavement striping if work is not completed on Oct. 26. H-1 eastbound from the Pearl City Viaduct to the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass Two left lanes closed from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. Additional left lane closed (for a total of three) from 8 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Shoulder will be open. The purpose of the eastbound and westbound closures is to facilitate survey layout, sawcutting of existing pavement, and panel setting. Work is weather permitting. These panels were not part of Phase 1 of the H-1 Shoulder and Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation (PCCP) project that rehabilitated rough asphalt segments of the freeway through the installation of 1,279 precast concrete panels. Phase 1 work including the profilograph testing and grinding to ensure a smooth riding surface was completed in mid-August 2018. HDOT initially chose to focus on the worst sections of the H-1 Freeway for Phase 1 but added the sections of freeway in Pearl City and Aiea to maximize the crews mobilized in the area and to extend the life cycle of these sections of the freeway. The sections to be rehabilitated can be viewed on the graphic here. Anticipated completion for the installation of the additional 128 panels is late November 2018. Shoulder widening work (Phase 2 of the H-1 Shoulder Work and PCCP Rehabilitation project) will continue to progress during the installation of the additional panels. Lane closures for the week of Oct. 22 to 28 for the shoulder widening work are: Daily, Monday, Oct. 22 through Friday, Oct. 26 H-1 eastbound from the vicinity of the Waimalu Viaduct to the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass Shoulder closed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 – NEW H-1 eastbound from the vicinity of the Waimalu Viaduct to the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass Shoulder closed from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information on the H-1 Shoulder Work and PCCP Rehabilitation Project, please visit http://h1waimalu.com/ Motorists are advised to expect delays in the work zones during the nighttime closures. For updates on scheduled roadwork, please visit the HDOT website at: http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork or follow our social media accounts at https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation/ and https://twitter.com/DOTHawaii News Release: http://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2018/10/18/closures-for-additional-concrete-panel-work-on-the-h-1-freeway-to-take-place-in-pearl-city-and-aiea-beginning-october-24/ #Hidot #hdot #pavementwork #waimaluviaduct #AieaPedestrianOverpass #PCCPRehabilitationProject #workzones #Hawaii #PearlCity #AieaHeightsDrive #SearsDistributionCenter

(Hilo) – Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), the fungal disease that’s impacted hundreds of thousands of acres of native ‘ōhi‘a forests in Hawai‘i, is the actual reason for the ʻŌhiʻa Love Festival today at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. Now in its second year, more than a thousand people honored ‘ōhi‘a and the many people working to stop the spread of ROD and find effective treatments for it. The festival goes beyond the disease. * Click photo to watch video Corie Yanger, is one of the primary movers behind today’s celebration. She works for the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on ROD outreach and education. She said the primary message she hopes people walked away with is, ʻŌhiʻa are important for many different reasons. Personal, biological and of course culturally. We hope everyone brings their reasons forward so we can celebrate them and all come together to combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.” Yanger added, ‘Ōhi‘a plays an integral role in our ecosystems and culture. We are all connected to ‘ōhi‘a in some way, may it be the water we drink, the ecosystems we protect, the lei we adorn, the mele we compose, the beauty we take in while hiking, hunting, or even driving over the Saddle, or that beloved tree in your backyard or favorite forest. We wanted these connections and our love for ‘ōhi‘a to show.” Some 40 booths took up space outside and inside the astronomy center. The festival included presentations, demonstrations, Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death info, educational displays, crafts, games, photo booth, food, entertainment, face painting, a keiki scavenger hunt and an adult photo scavenger hunt. Yanger was impressed by how much knowledge about ROD has increased since the first year of the festival. Last year, she explained, most everyone knew something about ‘ōhi‘a but maybe not about the disease. “This year a lot more people know about Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, so we’re trying to build on that knowledge and expand it further into the community. There was a lot of sharing of information back and forth,” she said. The festival began with a Kīpaipai, which in Hawaiian means “to inspire.” The ‘Ōhi‘a Love Festival was hosted by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and the University of Hawai‘i. # # # RESOURCES (All images courtesy: DLNR) HD video: ‘Ōhi‘a-Honouliuli Forest Reserve, O‘hua https://vimeo.com/267029222 #rapidohia #rapidohiadeath #ROD #fungaldisease #universityofhawaii #corieyanger #kipaipai #DLNR #DivisionofForestryandWildlife #DOFAW #hawaii #hawaiisenate #OhiaHonouliuliForestReserve

(Maunakea) – Two weeks before the hunting season for game birds opens in Hawai‘i, hunters, researchers and staff from the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) traipsed across the rugged terrain on Maunakea’s north slopes to gain a better understanding of game bird density, variety and populations. * Click on Image to watch video They gather above the Kilohana Hunter Check-in Station at 4:45 each morning to team up, check their equipment, like GPS devices, get their dogs ready to go and to receive their “transects” assignments. Kanalu Sproat, a DOFAW wildlife biologist on the Big Island said, “We’ve done game bird counts in the past by just driving the roads looking for birds. This year with the help of hunters, this is the first time we’ve been able to put people into the field, where the hunting actually happens to get a clearer and better picture of the health of the game bird ecosystem.” At first light, each team begins traversing the first in their series of assigned transects. Along with a hunting dog, the teams walk straight lines and as the dog’s flush birds out of the tall grass or from underneath thick vegetation, the species of bird, its size, its sex and GPS location is recorded. Dr. Randy Larsen is a wildlife biology professor at Brigham Young University in Utah and he volunteered to join the project at Sproat’s invitation. He said from a research stand-point doing game bird surveys in this manner is a good design and will give managers a good sense of populations and health trends over time as surveys are repeated over several years. The plan is to do this twice a year on Maunakea and then to introduce this sampling method in game bird hunting areas across the state. Larsen’s impressions of game bird status on Maunakea included, “It’s a wonderful resource here. Lots of diversity of species. We’ve seen in the last couple of days that Don and I have done surveys everything from turkeys, to Erckel’s francolins, to California quail and there are other species that other teams have seen that we haven’t. Lots of diversity and pretty good densities relative to what I’ve experienced in the western part of the mainland.” Larsen’s survey teammate is Don Fujimoto from Waikoloa. He’s been bird hunting on Maunakea for the past four years and he calls it a “great resource that DLNR manages.” On their third day navigating the sometimes steep, often rugged terrain Fujimoto observed, “It’s interesting and a little difficult at times because we’re supposed to run straight lines and sometimes the lines run across gullies. You know I don’t like gullies, they can be really dangerous. We’re also in some heavily vegetated areas where we have to get off the line a bit.” It’s also challenging at times keeping his spirited two-year-old Brittany Spaniel, “Rose” on track. Fujimoto said for him the bird numbers have been a little bit disappointing, but reiterates what Larsen said, that compared to Utah and other western states, “these are great numbers.” He also explained that for many local families game bird hunting is not just sport but puts food on the table. “The whole wildlife situation here allows for, not pure subsistence living, but there are a lot of people who get their food from the wildlife here,” Fujimoto said. The next round of game bird surveys on Maunakea will happen after hunting season in February or March of next year. The survey design was created in cooperation with Dr. Javier Cotin and other researchers at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Dr. Shaya Honarvar, the Game Program Coordinator for DLNR/DOFAW concluded, “These datasets will help us tell a cohesive story about our game bird populations and how they’re doing. Involving the hunters, who actually use these resources, is a win-win, as they know the birds and the terrain and this gives them a real voice in how these lands are managed for hunting as recreation and for subsistence living.” # # # RESOURCES (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) HD web feature: New Game Bird Surveys Include Hunter Collaboration https://vimeo.com/296210714 HD video: b-roll and soundbites (shot sheet attached) https://vimeo.com/296192004 Photographs: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r4z4pj494ly228j/AADr_9xf6fdF4HDvDanrYtcEa?dl=0 #dlnr #hunters #gamebirds #maunakea #DOFAW #Divisionofforestryandwildlife #sproat #bringhamyounguniversity #randylarsen #donfujimoto #waikaloa #Waikoloa #hawaii

Gateway in-street signs remind drivers that state law requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies the public that gateway in-street signs are being installed in both directions on Pali Highway at the Wood Street crosswalk between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The Pali Highway and Wood Street crosswalk was the location of the fatal collision that claimed the life of a Nuuanu resident on Oct. 10, 2018. Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways said: “The safest transportation systems separate motorists from bicyclists and pedestrians to minimize the potential for human error, which is the cause of over 90 percent of fatal crashes. We are working towards this end, and it will take time and money. “While we improve the facilities that we have, we are always looking for solutions that can be implemented quickly to bring safety improvements. The gateway concept is one that the State of Michigan has found to be efficient and effective to protect pedestrians. The gateway in-street treatment consists of two signs posted on both sides of the road alerting drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. These signs will be accompanied with yellow delineators in between each travel lane to draw attention to the crosswalk. Gateway in-street treatments have been shown to increase yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks in Michigan and to encourage drivers to slow down at crosswalks where they are installed. A conceptual image of the treatment can be seen here. HDOT will also be piloting this pedestrian safety measure at the first and last unsignalized crosswalks on Pali Highway. Should the gateway in-street treatment prove effective, additional treatments will be added to unsignalized crosswalks on state routes as a supplement to ongoing highway safety initiatives. Sniffen added, “Engineering has a place in building safer roads, but we can all do our part. I personally want to ask all road users to look out for one another and hope that these signs will remind motorists of their responsibilities. When you get behind the wheel of your car, you are driving a multi-ton machine that can seriously hurt or kill people. Please remember this and drive responsibly.” HDOT reminds the public that the speed limit on Pali Highway from Waokanaka Street to the H-1/Punchbowl Street offramp is 35 mph as this major thoroughfare goes through a residential neighborhood. As of Oct. 18, 2018, there have been 95 traffic related fatalities in Hawaii, of which 33 were pedestrians. A link to the traffic fatality statistics can be found by clicking here.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is advising health care organizations statewide to prepare for the Jan. 1, 2019 effective date of the “Our Care, Our Choice Act” which allows adult residents with a medically confirmed terminal disease and less than six months to live the choice to obtain a prescription for medication to end their life. The DOH, guided by an advisory group, is working with the community to establish a process which assures the patient experience is optimal and that patients and their family members fully understand all end-of-life care options. The DOH is requesting health care providers statewide anticipate patient needs and develop policies and procedures that assure patients are fully aware and informed of alternative treatments such as palliative care and hospice care, as well as workflows that support timely referrals, effective clinical standards, clinician support, and clear communication. Health care organizations statewide seeking assistance or more information may contact the DOH Office of Planning, Policy, and Program Development at (808) 586-4188. About the “Our Care, Our Choice” Act The new law will give mentally capable, terminally ill people with six months or less to live the option to take prescription medication that enables them to die peacefully in their sleep. Modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, which has been in practice for 20 years, the Hawai‘i law establishes a regulatory process under which the terminally ill patient may choose to obtain a prescription for medication to end their life. This includes strict eligibility criteria and safeguards that ensure a safe, compassionate and patient-centered end-of-life process. Among the safeguards: the patient is required to take the medication on his/her own; two doctors must confirm the terminal illness and six-month prognosis; patients are not eligible for medical aid in dying based on age or disability; the attending physician must inform the requesting patient about all end-of-life care options including pain and symptom management, hospice and palliative care; the patient’s mental capacity must be confirmed by a mental health professional; two separate requests for medication must be made, with a 20-day waiting period between the first and second request; a written request overseen by two witnesses is also required, with one witnesses prohibited from being a beneficiary of the patient’s estate. The new law will also make it a criminal offense to tamper with a patient’s request for a prescription or to coerce a patient to request a prescription. #OurCare #OurChoicAct #OurCareOurChoiceAct #hawaiistatedepartmentofhealth #OfficeofPlanningPolicy #DOH #Terminaldisease #DeathwithDignity

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Oahu motorists that the H-3 Freeway will be closed in both directions between Kamehameha Highway (Halekou Interchange) and Likelike Highway (Kaneohe Interchange) on the Windward side of the freeway, beginning on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, through Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) utility work. Please note that this work may be finished before the stated time. If the job is completed, the highway will be opened for motorists to use. A full daytime closure is required for crews to safely transfer and secure the conductors from the existing tower to the newly built towers at the Koolau Substation. Closures have been scheduled for the week of Oct. 22 to avoid potential traffic situations around the holiday season. Motorists should also be aware that work will be happening on the Pali Highway in the Nuuanu area. There will be two lanes closed on the Pali Highway in the Honolulu-bound direction between Country Club Road and Nuuanu Avenue on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, through Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., for the installation of new street light poles. Motorists are advised to allow for extra travel time and to use Likelike Highway or the Pali Highway as alternate routes. The Pali Highway will be open for use; however, motorists may experience a slight increase in traffic due to the scheduled lighting work. For a detailed map of alternate routes between the Honolulu area and the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, click the link below. Motorists are encouraged to check up to the minute traffic conditions on the GoAkamai.org website or app to view the best route to get to their destinations. Electronic message boards will be displayed to inform motorists of the closures. Emergency vehicles and TheBus have been notified. Roadwork is weather permitting Closures also scheduled for nearby routes include two lanes of the Pali Highway in Nuuanu beginning on Oct. 24 #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportationHDOT #H3 #HECO #HawaiianElectricCompany #nuuanu #PaliHighway #KaneoheMarineCorpsBase #GoAkamai #GoAkamaiorg #TheBus #TheBus

(HIDOE) - In our collective work to deliver excellent and equitable education to Hawai‘i’s keiki, there’s nothing more important or impactful than creating safe, nurturing learning environments. That foundation, when it’s not there, impedes everything else we do. Ending bullying is a cornerstone of that foundation. The Board of Education, on Oct. 4, approved for public review our updates to the student misconduct and discipline code known as Chapter 19. Among the key changes: elevating bullying and cyberbullying at the secondary levels to a Class A offense, the most serious category. We will be reviewing the proposed changes at community engagement sessions through November. Bullying is a problem that transcends the borders of our campuses and offices; it’s much bigger than us, and everyone has a role in preventing it. As a school system responsible for the care and safety of children, we have to approach it from two standpoints: process and culture. In addition to fortifying Chapter 19 and conducting public outreach, we are in the final stages of the proposal cycle for an anti-bullying app that will allow safe and secure reporting of incidents. Once final contracting is finished, we can begin initial training in November for a rollout to middle schools in January and high schools in Fall 2019. This will give students an additional means of reporting that they’re more comfortable with, which strengthens our process. More details to come. I’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary approaches to inclusive cultures at our schools, many of them led by students. One that comes to mind is The Friends Program at Farrington High that in ways large and small removes the barriers that separate students with and without special needs. They just celebrated a wonderful milestone with the selection of their homecoming queen, Jasmin Cozo. These affirmative initiatives go a long way toward making all students feel they belong. We invite everyone to participate in Unity Day on Wednesday, October 24. Wear orange as a simple statement of support for communities of kindness, acceptance and aloha, and to show solidarity during National Bullying Prevention Month. We’ve created a flyer (pictured) that you can download and post around your school, home or office, add to your social media (#UnityDay2018), or all of the above. We are also sending orange wrist bands to all schools for distribution to staff and students so everyone can wear the message: Unite for Kindness, Acceptance and Aloha! I hope to see this go beyond our schools and offices to all of our families and friends across the Islands. Let’s remind everyone, and ourselves, that aloha lives here. #hawaiistatedepartmentofeducation #unityday #HIDOE #Chapter19 #Hawaii #FriendsProgram #FarringtonHIghSchool #JasminCoz #NationalBullyingPreventionMonth #UnityDay2018 #Aloha

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) is seeking more local farmers and vendors to supply fresh produce for student meals on their island, with an emphasis on locally grown fruits and vegetables. This is part of the Department’s efforts to introduce fresh, locally grown products in student meals through its ‘Aina Pono programs, including Farm to School and Harvest of the Month. “Our students have shared with us how they enjoy eating fresh, local ingredients in their school lunches,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “We want to continue serving these healthy meals to our students through our ‘Aina Pono programs. In order to do that, we need to grow and expand our partnerships with Hawaii’s agriculture community.” During the next two weeks, HIDOE will be hosting produce solicitation pre-bid meetings for local farmers and vendors across the state. Representatives from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, HIDOE’s School Food Services Branch (SFSB), HIDOE’s Procurement and Contracts Branch, Hawai‘i Department of Taxation, and Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will be available to answer questions. The meetings will be held on the following islands: Kaua'i Monday, Oct. 22 4:30-6 p.m. Kaua'i High School Library 3577 Lala Road
 (Līhu'e) Hawai'i Island Tuesday, Oct. 23 4:30-6 p.m. University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Campus Center Room 301 200 W. Kāwili St.
 (Hilo) Wednesday, Oct. 24 4:30-6 p.m. Hawai'i Community College – Pālamanui, Panini Room 127 73-4225 Ane Keohokalole Highway (Kona) Maui Thursday, Oct. 25 4:30-6 p.m. Maui High School Library 660 Lono Ave. (Kahului) O'ahu Monday, Oct. 29 4:30-6 p.m. Hawai'i State Capitol
Auditorium 415 South Beretania St. (Honolulu) Tuesday, Oct. 30 4:30-6 p.m. Kalaheo High School
Library 730 Iliaina St. (Kailua) Click here to RSVP by this Friday, Oct. 19. For more information about selling goods and services to HIDOE, click here. HIDOE continues to increase local food in student meals through its ‘Aina Pono programs, including Farm to School and Harvest of the Month. These programs help to connect students with the ‘āina (land) through food, while using products from Hawai‘i’s local agricultural community. The original Farm to School Initiative was spearheaded by the Lieutenant Governor's Office in 2015, after Senate Bill 376 was signed into law as Act 218. Today, the Farm to School Initiative is included under ‘Aina Pono, which features SFSB’s other educational programs, test kitchens, meal programs, menu planning, nutrition, school gardens and more. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation #HIDOE #ChristinaKishimoto #AinaPono #SFSB

(Lihu‘e) – School children from Kalaheo Elementary School and Island School helped release ten fledgling ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwaters) over the last two days during the annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event at Lydgate Park. The young seabirds had been rescued by people then rehabilitated by Save Our Shearwaters (SOS). Before they started their journey back out to sea, Kupuna Maureen Fodale offered a pule (Hawaiian prayer). The event is organized every year by the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) and SOS to celebrate Kauai’s rarest native seabirds. Project Manager Dr. André Raine said, “The children are always so excited to get close to these special Native Hawaiian birds. They ask lots of questions and it gives us a chance to explain why it’s important to give these downed seabirds a second chance at life. They are a key part of the ecosystem on Kaua‘i but unfortunately they have suffered significant declines in recent decades.” Prior to their release, each bird undergoes a field health check. They’re weighed and measured and SOS staff determines whether they’re flight ready. On Monday, 40 students from Island School and their teachers watched in silent glee as six birds took flight. Many of their teachers had the honor of holding the tiny birds in outstretched hands, as they flapped their wings, as if testing their own ability to fly. Once an ‘A‘o sailed over the beach and out over the open ocean, the kids let out whoops and cheers. As well as attending the releases, KESRP staff members Trinity Tippin and Derek Harvey had already visited the schools to talk about Kauai’s endangered seabirds. At the release site they peppered Harvey with additional questions: When is fallout season? Where do shearwaters go when they fly away? ‘A‘o chicks are attracted to artificial lights at this time of year. This phenomenon is a serious conservation threat for seabirds across the planet. Newly fledged seabird chicks are attracted to the bright lights of cities and towns. They circle them until they end up exhausted and grounded. If they are not rescued by concerned members of the public, they become easy prey for the large numbers of cats and dogs on the island or are run over by cars. Many are never found and die of dehydration and starvation, so keen-eyed people are vitally important for rescuing the downed birds. Rescued birds are placed in aid stations at fire stations around Kaua‘i and then each day SOS staff or volunteers gather them to take to the SOS rehab facility. The program has been inundated with birds from locations across the island over the last few days. At SOS, the birds are examined by trained staff, rehabilitated as necessary and then released to continue their lives out at sea. These are long-lived birds and can live for over 35 years if they survive the initial fledging. These remarkable birds spend up to five years flying over the open ocean and never come back to land until breeding time. Harvey encouraged the children to teach their parents saying, “Tell your family about how special these birds are and the cool experiences you had with them today. Then they’ll want to help and when they see birds fall out, they’ll help as well. So, I think it’s really important that we spread our love for these birds to everyone we know, because they are really, really special.” RESOURCES (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) Web feature-Saving and Releasing Kaua‘i’s Endangered ‘A‘o https://vimeo.com/295459557 HD video and soundbites: (shot sheet attached) https://vimeo.com/295462581 Photographs: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vrbq9y7flfyo5ew/AAB_7xJo_6-CGDSa3tMVLj6Ka?dl=0 If you find a bird down or in distress: Take it to the nearest fire station aid station or call (808) 635-5117 for more information KESRP is a joint project between the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife project and the Pacific Co-operative Studies Unit of the University of Hawai‘i. SOS is a DLNR project housed at the Kaua’i Humane Society and financially supported by the Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative. #DEPARTMENTOFLANDANDNATURALRESOURCES #NEWELLSSHEARWATERS #Lihue #manu #Manuaao #newellshearwater #kalaheoelementary #kauai #seabirds #endangeredbirds