(Kihei) -A wise old saying, an ‘olelo no‘eau, sums up what the staff at ‘Āhihi-Kina‘u (NAR) hope people will get out of its new information kiosk: Everybody paddles the canoes together; bail and paddle, paddle and bail, and the shore is reached (E lauhoe mai na wa‘a; i ke kā, i ka hoe; i ka hoe, i ke kā; pae aku i ka ‘āina). Click on image to watch video NAR staff is asking everyone, residents as well as visitors, to paddle together, to protect its resources each time they visit. They hope the central idea, that caring for a place is everyone’s responsibility, comes through loud and clear with the new outdoor information kiosk. This is why the information panels are in the shapes of two wa‘a, or canoes, and the shade structures overhead are in the shapes of canoe sails. ‘Āhihi-Kina‘u is the third most visited outdoor site on Maui, with up to 900 people snorkeling the reefs at Kanahena, and an average of over 2,000 passing through its main parking lot daily. People come to snorkel, swim, surf or take a short hike. Jeff Bagshaw the reserve’s Information Specialist explained, “Most of our visitors don’t realize the reserve’s first mission is to protect its exceptional resources, not to create recreational opportunities. Fewer still understand the collective impact so many people can have when doing simple, careless things, such as getting in and out of the ocean at random points on the coastline, standing on either corals or algae covered rocks in the ocean, or wearing chemical sunscreens into the water.” “Nowadays, most people don’t have the patience to go through a visitor center and learn about a place, they want to have an adventure first and ask questions later,” notes Jeff Bagshaw. “That’s why we designed an outdoor kiosk that we hope everyone will stop to read for just 60 seconds before they go hiking or get into the water. The canoe-shaped panels will hopefully attract people to stop and look at the map to see where they are, read the rules, the reasons we have them, and then do the simple things to care for themselves and this place each time they visit, to make less of an impact.” The ‘olelo about paddling appears on the southside or left panel which explains about the reasons for the reserve’s existence. Many people think about the reserve as only one thing: their favorite snorkel or surf spot, but there’s more to it than that. So the northside or right panel starts with a quote from the Kumulipo: Hanau ka ‘Uku-ko‘ako‘a, hanau kana, he ‘Ako‘ako‘a, puka (Born was the coral polyp, born was the coral, came forth). Corals are the first living organisms cataloged in this creation chant, which means for many generations they have been recognized as a basis for island life. The reserve’s famous reef is just one of five major resources it was created to protect. It also contains the youngest lava flows on Maui, from origin point to sea. In addition, there are anchialine pools, dryland forests, and many important archeological sites. “This is a cultural landscape too and that’s probably the hardest resource to visualize or grasp. This is what a healthy reef should look like, as close as we can get to the way you would have seen it hundreds of years ago, this is what a new lava flow would have looked like to people many generations back. You can swim in their footsteps,” said Bagshaw. “That’s another reason we chose the shapes of the wa‘a, to honor and recognize traditional wisdom.” For the observant, other cultural messages are woven-in. On the left panel, all the animals pictured are also ‘aumakua. On the right panel, all but one species shown are endemic, or found only in Hawai‘i. Even strategically placed holes in the shade panels overhead contain some clues about traditional navigation. QR codes and URL addresses direct the curious to more in-depth and up to date information about the resources such as coral reef biology, anchialine pools and more posted on DLNR’s website. Padilla Designs, a local Maui company that specializes in artistic/architectural metal works, built the sail-shaped shades, and a generous donation from an anonymous donor helped complete funding for the project. Many paddlers again. “When someone tells me they’ve been coming here for years, then admits they learned something new, there’s hope we can protect this place,” reflects Bagshaw. “Recently, a visitor told me she felt like she was entering a sacred place, and I said that to many of us, you are.” (All images/video: Courtesy DLNR) HD video: (shot sheet attached) https://vimeo.com/292488614 HD video: (underwater) https://vimeo.com/292494568 Photographs: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jkis0ftnrbw6jxe/AABvIvoSSo8WZTyUYN4vchZ3a?dl=0 Information on ‘Āhihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/maui/ahihi-kinau-2/ For information on volunteering at ‘Āhihi-Kina‘u: Contact: jeff.w.bagshaw@hawaii.gov or (808)264-7891 News Release: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2018/09/29/nr18-199/ #ĀHIHIKINAU #ahihikinau #kihei #kiosk #malamamessaging #education #forestry #wildlife #naturalareareserves #DEPARTMENTOFLANDANDNATURALRESOURCES #DLNR #PadillaDesigns #JeffBagshaw #coral #aumakua #hawaii

Kalihi Uka, Mililani Uka and Pauoa elementary schools have been named 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award winners by the US Department of Education. The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on academic performance and progress closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The three Hawaii schools were among 349 winners nationwide announced today by US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "The National Blue Ribbon Schools award is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects the hard work and commitment of an entire school community," said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. "These schools serve as models of excellence as we continue our work to elevate student voice, design schools that meet the unique needs of its students, and support the efforts of our teachers. Congratulations to Kalihi Uka, Mililani Uka and Pauoa elementary schools on this prestigious recognition." Public schools nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award must meet one of two performance award criteria: Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Schools are ranked based on one year of performance in math and reading. The eligible top six schools that meet the criteria set by the National Blue Ribbon Schools are presented to a selection committee of local community members. The committee selects the top three schools to be considered for nomination of the award. The U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize all the honored schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on November 7 and 8. Mililani Uka Elementary outpaced other school Strive HI performance averages in English Language Arts (ELA, 28 percent higher), Math (26 percent higher) and Science (25 percent higher) in School Year 2016-17. For the last four years, teachers at Mililani Uka have been receiving professional development focused on instructional strategies in core content areas. Students have benefited from consistent language and interwoven curriculum topics. Continuous collaboration on instructional practices and the analysis of testing and student data have resulted in increased student proficiency and reduced achievement gaps. Mililani Uka currently serves a student body of 699 students. Kalihi Uka Elementary outpaced other school Strive HI performance averages in ELA (19 percent higher), Math (16 percent higher) and Science (11 percent higher) in School Year 2016-17. The school attributes its successes to “Impact Teams” that examined classroom data to prioritize learning needs and craft goals and objectives for all students. Differentiated levels of support for teachers also enabled them to implement rigorous lessons that led to increased student achievement. Teacher collaboration has cultivated a culture of open communication and effective working relationships. Kalihi Uka currently serves a student body of 239 students. Pauoa Elementary outpaced other school Strive HI performance averages in ELA (26 percent higher), Math (33 percent higher) and Science (26 percent higher) in School Year 2016-17. The school prides itself on educating the whole child and designed a unique continuous improvement system centered on data analysis. Over the past four years, Pauoa has seen overall increases in ELA scores of 23 percent, in Math of 37 percent and Science of 15 percent. Pauoa currently serves a student body of 291 students. For more information on the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, please visit: ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools. ### 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 Director of Communications 
 Phone: (808) 586-3232 
 E-mail: lindsay_chambers@hawaiidoe.org #NationalBlueRibbonSchools #USSecretaryofEducation #BetsyDeVos #ChristinaKishimoto #USDepartmentofEducation #MililaniUkaElementary #StriveHI #KalihiUkaElementary #PauoaElementary #HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation #KingKamehamehaIII

Do you practice good cyber hygiene? The Hawaii State Public Library System, in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Defense Office of Homeland Security and the (ISC)2 Hawaii Chapter, will be offering cyber safety awareness programs at various public libraries throughout the month of October. Cybersecurity professionals will discuss malware protection, passwords, wifi usage, online shopping and banking, scams, safe email habits, phishing, data backup, and social media. These free one-hour programs will include a question & answer session. Teens, college students and adults are highly encouraged to attend! Programs will be held at: Island of Oahu Thursday, October 4, 6 p.m. – Nanakuli Public Library Saturday, October 6, 10:30 a.m. – Aiea Public Library Saturday, October 6, 1 p.m. – Hawaii State Library Sunday, October 7, 2 p.m. – Kaneohe Public Library Thursday, October 11, 5:30 p.m. – Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library Tuesday, October 16, 6:30 p.m. – Kahuku Public & School Library Sunday, October 21, 3 p.m. – Pearl City Public Library Saturday, October 27, 10 a.m. – Kalihi-Palama Public Library Saturday, October 27, 10:30 a.m. – Liliha Public Library Saturday, October 27, 10:30 a.m. – Mililani Public Library Saturday, October 27, 2:00 p.m. – Kapolei Public Library Hawaii Island Tuesday, October 9, 5:30 p.m. – Kailua-Kona Public Library Wednesday, October 10, 2:30 p.m. – Keaau Public & School Library Wednesday, October 10, 5:30 p.m. – Hilo Public Library Island of Maui Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m. – Makawao Public Library Saturday, October 20, 3 p.m. – Kahului Public Library Thursday, October 25, 6 p.m. – Wailuku Public Library Island of Kauai Wednesday, October 24, 6 p.m. – Waimea Public Library Wednesday, October 31, 6:30 p.m. – Koloa Public & School Library For more information on cyber safety awareness, visit http://dod.hawaii.gov/ohs/cyber. All programs are subject to change. If you require an auxiliary aid or accommodations due to a disability, please contact the hosting library at least 7 days before the program date. https://www.librarieshawaii.org/2018/09/24/cybersecurity-programs/ #HawaiiStatePublicLibrarySystem #cybersecurity #internet #homelandsecurity #hawaiisenate #Hawaiidepartmentofdefense #OfficeofHOmelandSecurity

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS TOP 20 JOBS IN HAWAII The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released a report on Top 20 Occupations in Hawaii. Retail Sales Workers topped the list at 42,445 workers in 2016, which accounted for 5.9 percent of Hawaii’s civilian workforce; followed by Food and Beverage Serving Workers at 40,775, which accounted for 5.7 percent of Hawaii’s civilian workforce. Construction Trade Workers ranked third place 34,137, which accounted for 4.8 percent of Hawaii’s civilian workforce. “This report is an important tool to understand Hawaii’s current job market, as we continue to look for ways to diversify job opportunities for our local residents,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. When looking at the growth rates, Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides grew the most at 71.4 percent between 2001 and 2016. This reflects the growth of our elderly population and the increase in demand for home healthcare. In 2001, about 13.4 percent of our population were 65 years of age or above, that percentage increased to 17.2 percent in 2016. Among the top 20 fastest growing occupations between 2001 and 2016, seven of them were healthcare related such as Nursing, Psychiatric, Home Health Aids, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistants, Other Personal Care and Service Workers, Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners, Health Technologists and Technicians, Other Healthcare Support Occupations, Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. “Among the top 20 occupations between U.S. and Hawaii, only two occupations were different. In the U.S., Computer Occupations and Health Technologists and Technicians were among the top 20, while in Hawaii Top Executives and Other Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers were among the top 20,” noted Chief State Economist Dr. Eugene Tian. “The number of Construction Trade Workers in Hawaii had the second largest growth between 2001 and 2016, because construction in Hawaii was at a downturn in 2001. Nevertheless, Construction Trade Workers made up the third largest occupation group for Hawaii and the fourth largest for the nation.” The following are a few of the findings in the report: • In terms of number of jobs, Retail Sale Workers ranked the largest occupation in Hawaii with 42,445 workers in 2016; followed by Food and Beverage Serving Workers at 40,775; and Construction Trade Workers at 34,137. • By percentage growth, the fastest growing occupations between 2001 and 2016 are those in healthcare and construction industries. Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aid workers increased 71.4 percent between 2001 and 2016; construction trade workers increased 53.2 percent; and Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistants increased 50.9 percent during the same period. • By number of workers, Construction Trade Workers increased the most by 11,860, between 2001 and 2016; followed by Food and Beverage Serving Workers with an additional 7,446; and Cooks and Food Preparation Workers at 4,990 additional. • The highest paying occupation in Hawaii in 2017 was Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners with median hourly earnings of $46.11; followed by Top Executives at $45.31; and Lawyers, Judges, and Related Workers at $42.06. • Among the top 20 occupations, Asians were the largest racial group in all the categories except Top Executives, where White had the largest proportion. • Male-dominated occupations included Construction Trades with 98.5 percent of male workers; Other Installation, Maintenance and Repair Workers (95.7 percent); and Motor Vehicle Operators (87.9 percent). On the contrary, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants had 92.8 percent of female workers; followed by Financial Clerks (84.4 percent); and Other Office and Administrative Support (77.7 percent). • Food service related occupations, including Food and Beverage Serving Workers and Other Food Preparation and Serving related workers, had the largest share of Millennials at 61.9 percent and 54.7 percent, respectively. Generation X accounted for more than 40 percent of total workers in Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners (40.1 percent); Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Special Education School Teachers (40 percent); and Business Operations Specialists (39.9 percent). Top Executives and Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers comprised more senior workers, those born before 1965, at 49.1 percent and 44.7 percent, respectively. • Among the top 20 occupation groups, majority of the Food and Beverage Serving Workers (98.9 percent); Retail Sales Workers (94.1 percent); and Cooks and Food Preparation Workers (93.7 percent) worked in private sectors. 71.2 percent of the Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Special Education Teachers were government employees. • Compared with other top 20 occupations, Top Executives were the most likely to work full-time, with 93.4 percent; followed by Other Installation, Maintenance and Repair Workers at 91.2 percent. 62 percent of Other Food Preparation and Serving related workers, for instance, Dishwashers and Dining Room Attendants, were part-time workers. • Among the top 20 occupations, 69.6 percent of Material Moving Workers and 66.8 percent of Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers had a high school diploma or below. On the contrary, 87.7 percent of Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Special Education Teachers and 82.7 percent of Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners had bachelor’s degree or higher. • In 2016, there were 29,438 STEM occupations in Hawaii, representing 4.1 percent of total employment. • Civil Engineers topped the list of STEM occupation with 2,227 jobs in 2016, accounting for 0.31 percent of total civilian jobs. Nine computer-related occupations, appeared in the top 20, made up nearly 31.5 percent of STEM employment. • Among the top 20 STEM occupations, Electrical Engineers were the fastest-growing occupations, with an annual growth rate of 2.25 percent over the period of 2001-2016, followed by Biological Technicians at 2 percent. • Three fourth of STEM occupations were male workers, though the ratio was 50-50 among the non-STEM occupations. • STEM job holders tend to be younger, with 73.6 percent born after 1964, compared with 68.7 percent in non-STEM jobs. Generation X made up 38.2 percent of STEM jobs, 4.8 percentage points higher than in non-STEM jobs. • Not surprisingly, majority of STEM jobs had a bachelor degree or above. The ratio of bachelor degree or higher degree holders in STEM jobs was more than double the ratio in non-STEM jobs. Only 6.6 percent of STEM jobs had high school diploma or below, compared with one third of non-STEM jobs. The full report is available at: http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/reports/Top20_Occupations_Hawaii_2018.pdf #jobs #retailsales #foodandbeverage #nursing #psychiatric #homehealthaides #DepartmentofBusinessEconomicDevelopmentandT #DBEDT #hawaii #eugenetian #constructiontradeworkers

Gov. David Ige’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration to address the impacts of Hurricane Lane has been granted. The disaster declaration covers floods, wildfires and other disasters that occurred because of the hurricane between Aug. 22-29, 2018. The Declaration means the state will receive support from the Public Assistance Grant Program for emergency and repair work for disaster-damaged facilities on Hawai‘i Island , Maui and Kaua‘i. In addition, the state will receive assistance from the Hazard Mitigation Program for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property in the event of a natural disaster. “The approval of our Presidential Disaster Declaration request will help our state recover more efficiently and quickly from the effects of Hurricane Lane. We thank President Trump and FEMA for approving our request, and for the attention they have given our state as we’ve faced a series of challenges over the last few months. We are grateful for their support as we continue our work to keep our residents and visitors safe,” said Gov. Ige. The governor’s request for individual assistance is under review. **Approval summary attached #governorige #hurricanelane #presidentialdisasterdeclaration #FEMA #PresidentTrump #PublicAssistanceGrantProgram #HazardMitigationProgram

State of Hawaii Commissioner of Financial Institutions Iris Ikeda joined a coalition of thirteen state banking regulators—lead by Pennsylvania’s Robin L. Wiessmann—asking Congressional leaders to consider legislation that creates a safe harbor for financial institutions to serve businesses operating legally under state law or to entrust states with the full oversight and jurisdiction of cannabis-related activity. Commissioner Ikeda and regulators from the other states sent a letter to Congress describing the well-documented conflict between federal and state law, which has created barriers for financial institutions desiring to serve businesses involved in state-licensed cannabis activities. The regulators cite a lack of clarity by the federal government for how financial institutions can serve this industry, without the threat of forfeiture of assets or criminal penalties, which results in many transactions occurring in cash. They shared their concerns with respect to public safety, increased difficulty of tracking the flow of funds, and contributions to a loss of economic activity, workforce development, and community development opportunities. “With 31—and possibly more—states allowing legal medical cannabis programs, we must find a solution to address the serious public safety concerns in having a cash intensive industry. We believe it is important to craft policy to respond to emerging challenges in this rapidly growing industry,” stated Ikeda. “We cannot ignore this federal-state conflict in laws which may make consumers who need to use this solution for treating their medical conditions feel like criminals.” As of August 1, 2018, 31 states, the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis usage. ### The Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) ensures the safety and soundness of state-chartered and state-licensed financial institutions, and ensures regulatory compliance by state-licensed financial institutions, escrow depositories, money transmitters, mortgage servicers, mortgage loan originators and mortgage loan originator companies, by fairly administering applicable statutes and rules, in order to protect the rights and funds of depositors, borrowers, consumers and other members of the public. Website: http://cca.hawaii.gov/dfi/ Twitter: @HawaiiDFI #dcca #StateofHawaiiCommissionerofFinancialInstitut #Robinwiessman #irisikeda #cannabis #congress #medicalcannabis #recreationalcannabis #hawaiidviisionoffinancialinstitutions

17 States Join to Stop Trump Administration’s Effort to Roll Back Contraceptive Coverage Attorney General Russell Suzuki joined a coalition of 17 Attorneys General led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in filing an amicus brief to support a lawsuit by Massachusetts challenging the Trump administration’s decision to roll back a requirement under the Affordable Care Act that employers include contraceptive coverage for women in their health insurance plans. In December 2017, Pennsylvania won a nationwide injunction from Federal Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in a lawsuit challenging the Administration’s actions. That ruling stopped the Trump Administration’s rules undermining the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers provide their employees with contraceptive coverage. The Trump administration is appealing that injunction. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also sued the Trump Administration over its plans to change this critical rule, and the amicus brief supports Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit. “The Trump Administration is again trying to impose illegal rules that will threaten the rights of women to access affordable health care,” said Attorney General Suzuki. “We will continue to oppose these attempts and will keep fighting for the basic health care rights of Hawaii’s women.” The amicus brief filed Monday with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, supports Massachusetts’ appeal to stop the federal government from implementing new rules that authorize virtually any employer with a religious or moral objection to disregard its legal obligation to provide its employees and their dependents with coverage for contraceptive care. According to the brief, rules issued by the Trump Administration violate the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurance companies to cover preventive health care services, including contraception, with no co-pays. As a result of the ACA, more than 55 million women in the United States have access to birth control with no out-of-pocket costs. In addition to Attorneys General Suzuki and Shapiro, the amicus brief was joined by the Attorneys General of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia. Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov Twitter: @ATGHIgov #DepartmentoftheAttorneyGeneral #womenshealthcoverage #amicusbrief #uscourtofappeals #affordablecareact #trumpadministration #donaldtrum #generalsuzuki #shapiro #WendyBeetlestone #JoshShapiro #ContraceptiveCoverage #hawaii

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has received an $8 million federal grant over a two-year period to continue to combat opioid misuse in the state. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week announced it awarded more than $1 billion in opioid-specific grants to help states combat the crisis in the nation. “No state is immune from this public health issue,” said Dr. Bruce Anderson, director of the Hawai‘i Department of Health. “This grant provides another step in a positive direction for Hawaii to implement HHS’ comprehensive five-pronged strategy to address opioid misuse across our islands.” According to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is a part of HHS, Americans initiating heroin use dropped by around half from 2016 to 2017. The number of Americans misusing opioids also dropped for the second year in a row, and the number receiving specialty treatment for heroin use increased. From January 2017 through August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America has dropped by 21 percent. During the same period, the number of prescriptions filled for naloxone, used to counter opioid addiction, has increased 264 percent, while the number of prescriptions for buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment, has risen 16 percent. Hawai‘i’s opioid death rates have historically been lower than the national rate. In 2016, there were 77 opioid-related overdose deaths¬¬¬ in Hawai‘i—a rate of 5.2 deaths per 100,000 persons. This is less than half the national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 persons. “We should not look at these figures and let our guard down; we must continue the momentum that we have begun in Hawai‘i,” warned Edward Mersereau, chief of DOH’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. “In Hawai‘i, drug overdose deaths account for nearly a quarter of all fatal injuries, which include deaths from prescription opioids.” “In Hawai‘i, we all know a relative or friend who has been affected by drug misuse or addiction, including those who were taking a prescribed opioid as directed for pain relief,” Mersereau added. “The social, economic and health disparities in our state, including access to behavioral health care, also make us particularly vulnerable to opioid and other drug misuse.” “This award doubles the level of funding Hawai‘i has received from HHS to combat the opioid crisis and support drug abuse prevention” said Edward Heidig, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region IX, which includes Hawai‘i. “HHS Secretary Azar has accelerated the deployment of unprecedented levels of resources that allow states like Hawai‘i to fight opioid use disorder, a medical condition that has become a national epidemic.” This is a second round of federal funding for Hawai‘i. The health department received a $4 million Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grant, which was part of a program created by the 21st Century Cures Act. The grant program is administered by SAMHSA within HHS. The SAMHSA grant has been used to successfully launch a collaborative, statewide effort to develop the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan, which was designed to be a “living document.” It offers a comprehensive approach to aggressively counteract the misuse of opioids and other prevalent drugs, such as methamphetamine in Hawai‘i. Mersereau said the majority of the funding—about 60 percent—will be earmarked for prevention programs and the remainder will be used for treatment and recovery initiatives. “The grant funds will continue to support the collective efforts of the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative and fulfill the objectives of the action plan over the coming year. “I’m so proud of the hard work and accomplishments achieved over the past year, but there is still a lot of work yet to be done,” he said. Gov. David Ige will re-convene a meeting of Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative participants to review the accomplishments of the plan’s implementation over the last year and to discuss strategies for the coming year. The meeting will be held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol this week. The collaborative effort spearheaded by the Department of Health includes participation from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division, Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division, the county police departments, and numerous other community groups. The action areas identified in the plan include: • Improving and modernizing healthcare strategies and access to opioid and other substance misuse treatment and recovery services; • Improving prescribing practices among healthcare providers and health insurance companies for opioid and other potentially addictive medications; • Improving systemwide routine data collection and dissemination to inform decision-making and determine best practices; • Improving community-based programs and public education to prevent opioid misuse, such as the Hawai‘i Medication Drop Box Program that was launched in July 2018 as a result of the support of the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hawai‘i, Maui, Honolulu, and Kaua‘i Police Departments; • Increasing consumer education and prescription harm management through pharmacy-based strategies; and • Supporting law enforcement and first responders by providing specialized training and ensuring effective laws and policies. This includes the use of Naloxone to reduce the incidence of opioid deaths due to overdose. # # # About the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative The Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan is a comprehensive strategy to aggressively counteract the increased abuse and misuse of opioids in Hawai‘i. The plan is designed to sustain a systemwide, coordinated and proactive response to not only opioids, but also methamphetamine and other drugs. The collaborative effort is led by the Hawai‘i Department of Health, together with the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division, Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division and other community groups. For details on the six focus areas in the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan, visit hawaiiopioid.org Hawai'i Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/files/2018/09/18-077-DOH_Opioid-Grant-NR-FINAL-092518.pdf #HAWAIIDEPARTMENTOFHEALTH #SAMHSA #HHS #opiod #opiodabuse #edwardmersereau #alcoholanddrugabuse #edwardheidig #deparmentofhealthandhumanservices #STR #HawaiiOpiodInitiative #medquest

SBA Announces $450,000 Award to DBEDT 80 Hawaii Companies Showcased at the 2018 Tokyo International Gift Show Hawaii Pavilion wins Best In Show Award The U.S. Small Business Administration announced an award of $450,000 to continue the Hawaii State Trade Export Program (HiSTEP). Under the tag “Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha,” this program provides training, grants and tradeshows for companies looking to start exporting or increase their exports. “With the help of this program, we’ve seen our export of Hawaii-made products increase substantially overseas,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “The Hawaii brand continues to be iconic. We have significantly increased Hawaii-made products, especially in Japan where we have participated in several high-profile events.” An example of the effectiveness of the HiSTEP program, 80 companies just completed participating in the 2018 Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS). This year marked the seventh consecutive year that DBEDT organized a Hawaii Pavilion at TIGS, which was held September 4 – 7, 2018, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight). This year, DBEDT recruited 80 Hawaii companies to fill 38 booths and a café section, which made up the Hawaii Pavilion. In addition, show organizers awarded DBEDT’s Hawaii Pavilion with the Best in Show award. “The value of the Hawaii brand is priceless in the global economy, and expansion of the state’s trade sector will diversify and grow our local economy,” explained Salaveria. “Through events such as TIGS, Hawaii’s products are showcased around the world and have received international recognition for its quality and uniqueness.” Sen. Brian Taniguchi joined DBEDT at TIGS and shared his impressions: “It was exciting to meet all the vendors and see all the Hawaii-made products. This is what we need to do in Hawaii. The Hawaii Pavilion at the Tokyo International Gift Show was huge and very impressive.” “We are excited to see the Hawaii Pavilion grow each year in size and number of local companies exhibiting,” said Dennis Ling, administrator of DBEDT’s Business Development and Support Division. “The Hawaii brand is becoming more established and recognized for quality and authenticity, which is reflected in the dramatic increase in our sales in the Japan market.” Some of the participating vendors shared their thoughts about TIGS: Shawn Mawae, Hawaii Coffee Company: “It’s such a good experience, and it’s been amazing to share what we have with the world. We’ve been able to meet a lot of people and network. This will only help to grow our brand all over Japan.” Keoki Tavares, Aloha Elixir: “This is the second year participating in the gift show. It’s a lot of fun and an amazing opportunity to expand our locally made products, which are made with intentions of love and aloha, to the rest of the world.” Brian Kodama, Two Palms: “We love it. We’ve participating in this gift show for the past 7 years, and we are always finding new customers and gaining new exposure of our products.” Satomi Goo, Tea Chest Hawaii: “We have new customers and products, and this is a great show to introduce our line and receive feedback.” Edward Sugimoto, VH07V: “Hawaii loves Japan, and Japan loves Hawaii, so it’s been great to bring the Aloha Spirit to the gift show. In part, as a result of dollar amount of exports achieved at TIGS, this year’s exhibitors are expected top $10 million in export sales. TIGS is the largest international trade show in Japan, drawing 200,000 buyers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to meet exhibitors at more than 4,500 booths spread out over the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition area. Photos from TIGS are available at: www.flickr.com/photos/dbedt/albums/72157695747810010 Videos from from TIGS are available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/BnS0VEigslX/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnVatioAdFu/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnYKv89AEb0/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnaxQUzAbNL/?taken-by=dbedthigov *DBEDT: #DepartmentofBusinessEconomicDevelopmentandT #smallbusinessadministration #tokyogiftshow #hawaiipavilion #japan #edwardsugimoto #VHO70 #TwoPalms #KeokiTavares #ShawnMawae #HawaiiCoffeeCompany #DennisLing #SenatorBrianTaniguchi #TokyoInternationalExhibitionCenter #TokyoBigSight #BestinShow #HawaiiStateTradeExportProgram #HiSTEP #bUYhAWAII #gIVEaLOHA

Tomorrow will mark a year since the successful reintroduction of critically endangered Hawaiian crows into the forests of Hawai’i. Yesterday researchers with The ʻAlalā Project released five more ‘Alalā into the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. These birds will join eleven ‘Alalā already thriving in native forests on the windward slopes of Mauna Loa. The two females and three males, were released from a location within the same reserve. In October, another five birds will be released to make a total of ten in this cohort, to join the released ʻAlalā across the reserve. Prior to these releases, the last wild ʻAlalā were seen in South Kona more than 15 years ago. “Hearing the voices of the ʻAlalā and seeing them forage in their native habitat after being gone for so long is an incredible feeling,” said Bryce Masuda, Program Manager from the San Diego Zoo Global’s (SDZG) Hawai‘i Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP). “It is a testament to the resiliency of the birds and the dedication of so many incredible partners that we have come so far.” After the opening of the release aviary doors it took 53 minutes for the first bird to finally venture outside. All but the last one flew. It strolled out and quickly joined the others already exploring their new home. The eleven birds released in 2017 have had a challenging year. Their survival skills were tested through multiple storms including Hurricane Lane, the Kīlauea and Lower East Rift Zone eruptions, and as always seasonal weather patterns. As five new birds join them in the forest, their daily routines continue: foraging on native fruits, eating insects from the bark of trees and agley flying through the ʻōhiʻa-dominated forest. “The Hawaiian forest as well as the ʻAlalā are very resilient,” explained Alison Greggor, PhD., a post-doctoral research associate from the zoo’s HEBCP, “They have survived really well over this past year and it will be exciting to see this continue.” Earlier this year, the ten birds scheduled for release in 2018 were moved to the same flight aviary that housed the 2017 birds. This allows them to acclimate to the sights and sounds of the Hawaiian forest. Each cohort is then transferred to a smaller, release aviary two weeks prior to their release. All of the released birds are tracked and fed routinely by a HEBCP field team. These daily efforts will continue for these and future release birds for as long as needed. In partnership with the Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and others, the bird conservation program reared the ‘Alalā at its centers on Hawai‘i Island and on Maui. In addition to these major funders of the project, cooperative partners include Kamehameha Schools, Three Mountain Alliance, U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Park Service. In 2016, the ‘Alalā Working Group, a partnership coordinating the reintroduction, initiated a new strategy to return the birds to the forest. Biologists set out to incorporate the birdsʻ personalities and group dynamics along with detailed habitat selection and an innovative approach to training the birds how to avoid predators. “This strategy is a three-pronged approach; groups are mixed-sex and comprised of birds that affiliate well together. The release sites are quantitatively chosen by experts familiar with the species’ and habitat. Realistic antipredator training is used to evoke fear of their natural predator, the ‘Io”, said Jackie Gaudioso-Levita, the ‘Alalā Project Coordinator. The ʻAlalā are highly social birds that live in groups and form complex hierarchies. All of this is taken into account when planning a reintroduction. “The numbers of birds released will depend on how many show encouraging behaviors during wild food training and antipredator training, as well as pass the health exams performed by wildlife veterinarians,” said Greggor. On the day of the bird’s release, an oli, or chant, was offered by members of the ʻAlalā Working Group, honoring the beginning of another chapter of the species’ recovery. Last April, each of these birds was given a Hawaiian name by local school students and the community. Ulu (to grow or inspire), Kūʻokoʻa (freedom), Maikaʻiloa (good fortune), Aumoamoa (to care for), and Kaleo (the voice), are the names of the birds in the first group released this year. “These names hold meaning for the individual birds. Having the students and community working together provides a way for connections to be formed with each other, as well as to the conservation work we are doing” said Rachel Kingsley, Education and Outreach Associate for The ʻAlalā Project. ”Recovering threatened and endangered species is bigger than any one community or agency,” said Michelle Bogardus, USFWS Geographic Team Leader for Maui Nui and Hawaii Island. “It takes everyone working together, and this release is great example of that. Together we can ensure a healthy future for not only the birds, but the forest ecosystem as a whole.” DLNR Chair Suzanne Case commented, “Although bringing the ‘Alalā back to the wild will take decades of work and perseverance, the people of Hawai‘i and many agencies are dedicated to saving this unique species for the perpetuation of Hawaiian ecosystems.” # # # RESOURCES (All video/images courtesy: DLNR) HD video – (shot sheet attached) https://vimeo.com/291637316 Photographs – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ryxc8v3d96rnk41/AAB3m0Pz8WufT1K9bls1ME3ka?dl=0 For more onThe ʻAlalā Project https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/alalaproject/ The ʻAlalā Project is a partnership between major partners of the State of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and San Diego Zoo Global. The project is working to establish a self-sustaining, wild population of ʻAlalā that fulfills its’ roles (ecological, cultural, etc.) DLNR: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2018/09/25/nr18-196/ #alalaproject #puumakaala #HEBCP #BryceMasuda #SanDiegoZoo #HawaiiDeptofLandNaturalResources #DLNR #KamehamehaSchools #ThreeMountainAlliance #USGeologicalSurvey #NationalParkService #AlalaWorkingGroup #JackieGaudisoLevita #HurricanLane #Kilauea #LowerEastRiftZone #SuzanneCase #Hawaii #Hawaiian #MichelleBogardus

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products produced at the company’s facility located at 16-701 Macadamia Road in Kea‘au, Hawai‘i between Sept. 6-21 have been voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination of Eschericia coli (E. coli). The recall follows a detection of E. coli in the well water and distribution system that supplies the Kea‘au facility. No illnesses related to the water have been reported to the state. All retailers of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products are to remove from sale products received after Sept. 6, as these products may have been contaminated with E. coli and are adulterated. Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), Section §328-9 (1)(D) defines adulterated as a food “produced, prepared, or packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated…” “There is clear evidence that food produced at the Kea‘au facility may be contaminated and consumers may be at risk,” said Peter Oshiro, Sanitation Branch chief. “The Department of Health is working with the facility to ensure the safety of their drinking water and food production.” On Sept. 5, samples taken from facility’s water distribution system passed testing and showed no contamination. On Sept. 21, the DOH was notified that a water distribution system sample at the production center tested positive for E. coli and the food production operations were closed by order of DOH. DOH is working with the facility to ensure their drinking water is safe and their facility is cleared before operations are allowed to resume. The Mauna Loa macadamia nut facility will remain closed until it meets all DOH Sanitation Branch and Safe Drinking Water Branch requirements and standards. E. coli bacteria can exist in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate soil and may persist in soil for many years. E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard the products immediately or attempt to return them to the store where purchased. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofHealth #MAUNALOAMACADAMIANUT #ECOLI #Keaau #DOHSanitationBranch

Are you a not-for-profit or private for-profit business that reduced work hours and/or staff, or shut down as a consequence of the April 2018 flooding? Are you an individual currently under- or unemployed due to your employer reducing work hours as a consequence of the April 2018 flooding? If you answered “yes” to either question, you may be eligible for FREE employment relief through a US Department of Labor (USDOL) Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG). This program offers workforce funding to qualified Kauai County businesses that are willing and able to employ eligible individual dislocated workers. On Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei, Kayla Rosenfeld, Statewide Rapid Response Coordinator, will brief North Shore Kauai residents on the grant. Ms. Rosenfeld will explain the grant provisions, eligibility requirements, permitted grant activity, and permitted worksites. A question and answer session will follow the briefing. In addition to explaining the grant provisions, the goals of this community briefing are to: 1) determine Businesses of Record (employers) and individual eligibility; 2) identify disaster recovery worksites; and 3) enroll eligible participants into the grant program. After the briefing, staff from the American Job Center Hawaii will be on site to help applicants determine their eligibility for the Disaster DWG program. Business owners, self-employed individuals, and farmers, please bring all the below documents to the meeting: • Recent General Excise Tax (GET) • Recent State and Federal Tax Returns • Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) Certification • Layoff or Reduced Hours Letters to Employees • Farmers: Letter from product distributor indicating a decrease in production Under- or unemployed individuals, please bring all the following documents to the meeting: • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) stub or letter o If you do not have DUA claim, bring paystubs or other payroll records • Letter from employer indicating reduced work hours or layoff • Valid picture ID • Original Social Security Card OR Original/Certified Birth Certificate • Selective Service Registration (males 18 -25 years old) • Utility Bill (cable, electric or water) To learn more about the Workforce Development Council, visit http://labor.hawaii.gov/wdc/ #kauaicounty #halehalawaiohanaohanalei #statewiderapidresponse #kaylarosenfeld #kauai #DisasterDWGprogram #DLIRWorkforceDevelopmentCouncil