May 28, 2004

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness that affects the central nervous system. While symptoms vary, it can cause serious illness in infected persons. Hawai‘i is one of only four states with no reported cases of West Nile Virus in 2003. (The other states are Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.)

The State Department of Health, in partnership with the County of Hawai‘i, federal, and other state agencies, is taking precautions to try to prevent West Nile Virus from coming to the island of Hawai‘i. If the virus is found here, coordinated efforts to prevent its spread will be undertaken.

An informed public is an important partner with government in the event of an outbreak of West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus can cause serious illness. On the Mainland, it is a seasonal disease. However, if it arrives in Hawai‘i, it is expected to occur year round as we are not affected by seasons and have mosquitoes year round. That is why we are working so hard to keep West Nile Virus from becoming established in Hawai‘i.

Symptoms West Nile Virus affects the central nervous system, and both symptoms and severity vary. Be aware that human illness from West Nile Virus is rare, even in areas where it has been reported.

• No symptoms in most people – About 80 percent of people infected with West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms and will not be affected at all.

• Mild symptoms in some people – Less than 20 percent of people infected will display mild symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms typically last a few days.

• Severe symptoms in a few people – Less than one percent of people infected will develop severe illness. Severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and may lead to permanent damage or even death.

People typically develop symptoms between three and 14 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito.

If you think you have West Nile Virus… Mild West Nile Virus illness improves on its own, and medical attention is not necessarily required. If you develop symptoms of severe West Nile Virus, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe West Nile Virus usually requires hospitalization.

Generally, West Nile Virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Birds are the most common hosts, and the usual cycle is from infected bird to mosquito to bird. However, sometimes infected mosquitoes spread the virus to humans or other animals.

West Nile Virus cannot be spread by normal, person to person contact nor by working with or near animals. Neither people nor animals can spread the virus except for very infrequent and rare cases such as blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding, and during pregnancy from mother to baby.

• Prevent mosquito bites. Apply insect repellent containing DEET when you go outdoors. Keep mosquitoes out of your house by replacing damaged window and door screens.

• Drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home where mosquitoes may breed. Get rid of items that hold water.

• Report dead birds to local authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile Virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in your area. The Department of Health needs your help in collecting dead birds so they can test them for West Nile Virus. Be aware that not all birds infected by West Nile Virus die of the disease, and that birds die from many other causes. Details on the dead bird collection program will come out next week.

If the virus does reach Hawai‘i, it will probably be through infected mosquitoes from the Mainland. Mosquitoes can inadvertently be sent to Hawai‘i in containers arriving on our shores by ship or air.

1. Because of this, the State Department of Health has established mosquito monitoring locations around airports and harbors. This will provide early warning in the event that an infected mosquito is detected.

2. In addition, the Department of Health is being proactive and killing mosquito larvae and eliminating breeding areas around airports and harbors.

3. A public awareness campaign to educate the community about West Nile Virus will be conducted. Brochures will be distributed to school children and the public.

4. A dead bird collection program will help us monitor to see if the virus is in Hawai‘i. More information about this program will be available in the next week.

State Department of Health
Hawai`i District Office
Aaron Ueno
1582 Kamehameha Avenue
Hilo
Phone: 933-0917
7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Civil Defense Agency
920 Ululani Street
Hilo
Phone: 935-0031
Email: civildefense@co.hawaii.hi.us
7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

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The County of Hawaii Office of Management will hold a series of public meetings regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations which require the abandonment of large-capacity cesspools by April 5, 2005.

The purpose of the public meetings is to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations, particularly to clarify the applicability of the regulations to land owners who may be utilizing large-capacity cesspools for wastewater disposal.

Possible alternative wastewater disposal systems available and potential means of financing the costs of upgrading the large-capacity cesspool with County, state and federal funds will also be discussed.

Schedule of Meetings: (Group meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified. One-on-one follow-up meetings will be held between meetings. If necessary, the personal consultations may be extended, by appointment, to the following day.)

For further information, please call Margarita Hopkins at 961-8369.

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Or call our 24/7 Job Hotline: 961-8618

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

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The 22nd Annual Keauhou Kona Triathlon will be held Sunday, May 30 with around 800 participants expected. The half Ironman distance event begins at 6:30 a.m. with a 1.2-mile swim in Kailua Bay. The 56-mile bike ride will go from Kailua Pier up Palani, left on Kuakini to Makala Blvd., right on Makala and then left on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. Participants will ride to around the 72 mile marker, .3 mile past the South Kohala (Mauna Lani) Fire Station, and return.

Please note, traffic on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway will be slowed to 45 mph between Makala Blvd and Mile Marker 72 from 7 a.m. until noon. Please exercise extreme caution to keep race participants, volunteers, and motorists safe.

The bikers will return the same route to Kailua Pier. The 13.1-mile run will go from Kailua Pier south on Alii Drive, past Keauhou Shopping Center and up onto the Hokulia Bypass Road. Runners will return along Alii Drive and finish at the Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort. Southbound lane of Alii Drive will be closed from Kailua Pier to Keauhou Shopping Center from 8:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Please drive carefully.

For questions, contact Keauhou Kona Triathlon at 329-0601 or kkt@keauhoutriathlon.com Volunteers and spectators are welcome!

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• Department of the Attorney General
• Real Estate Education Fund / Hawaii Real Estate Commission
• Hawaii Association of REALTORS^®
• Office of Housing and Community Development, Hawaii County
• Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii County
• Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Maui

Chronic drug house activity is a major cause of neighborhood decay and most drug house activity is on rental property. The Landlord Training Program is designed to help owners and property managers keep illegal drug activity and other criminal activity off their property.

Date: July 19, 2004 at the Outrigger Waikoloa

Cost: $20 per person (due at time of registration)

Effective property management can have a major impact on the health of a community. There are legitimate techniques which can be used to stop the spread of drug activity on rental property. The training includes:

• The role of the landlord
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
• Applicant Screening
• Rental Agreements
• Ongoing Management
• Resident Involvement/Community Building
• Warning Signs of Drug Activity
• Crisis Resolution
• Working with the Police
• Section 8 (Subsidized Housing)

Included with the training is a comprehensive manual, complete with applicable laws and references.

This course has been approved for six hours of Hawaii Real Estate CE elective credits (two elective CE credits). Additional fee: $15.

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The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay is currently accepting applications for its Teen Parent Scholarship. The scholarship awards a Hawaii Island teen parent with up to $1,000.00 to be used to continue his or her adult education.

The simple two-page application is available at the Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Prince Kuhio Plaza customer service counter as well as at the Community Technology Center Hawaii at 200 Kanoelehua Avenue Suite 105. Completed applications are due no later than May 31, 2004.

"We are extremely pleased to once again be able to award a deserving teen parent with this scholarship," said Mike Gleason, President of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay. "Faced with the additional responsibility of raising a child of their own, it is often difficult for teen parents to continue their adult education.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Were 19 years old or younger at the time they first became a parent

• Are currently a parent and primary caregiver of at least one living child under 18 years of age

• Are a current resident of the Big Island of Hawaii

• Will have received a high school diploma or equivalent by September 1, 2004

• Are currently attending or planning on attending an accredited institution of learning including but not limited to Hawaii Community College or the University of Hawaii at Hilo

Applicants can be either male or female. Applicants do not need to have just graduated from high school; parents who have stayed home to care for their child and now want to return to school are eligible.

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All day Fri., June 11, 2004. The community of North Kohala joins together to celebrate their King, Kamehameha The Great, who was born here in Kokoiki in late 1758. Participants wanted!

The program includes an Opening Ceremony at the Statue with special guests Na Papa Kanaka O Pu'ukohola and members of the Ka'ahumanu Society, plus oral history of Kamehameha, hula, music, ho'okupu presentation and lei draping at 8 a.m.

At 9 a.m. Pa'u Parade from Hawi to Kamehameha Park

10:30 - 4 p.m. Ho'olaule'a in Kamehameha Park with exhibits, entertainment and food.

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You’re invited to join Big Island Hawaiian Civic Clubs, ohana and friends for an anti-drug sign-waving on Kamehameha Day, Friday, June 11 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the following locations:

Waimea Club: Historic Church Row Park

Kohala Club: Near the statue in Kapa'au

Kona, Kuakini and Ka’u Clubs: Below Walmart in Kailua-Kona

Honokaa/Laupahoehoe Clubs: Honokaa Town

Hilo & Prince David Clubs: Bay Front

The Big Island Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs have committed to a meaningful public service project on every holiday honoring an ali'i (chief).

For further information call Mabel Tolentino at 887-9320. Signwaving coordinated in cooperation with Hawaii County police and fire departments.

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A positive coaching refresher meeting organized by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Big Island will be held at the University of Hawaii-Hilo the evening of June 15.

The meeting is open free to the public in Room 115 of the new University Classroom Building (UCB) on Kawili Street. Registration will be available at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 6 p.m.

The Big Island refresher meetings are scheduled during the year for parents, coaches, and youth sports leaders to share what they learned at PCA workshops—most recently held in March in Hilo.

PCA Big Island is scheduling a fall series of workshops.

PCA believes that winning is a goal in youth sports but that there is a second, more important goal of using sports to teach life lessons through positive coaching.

In the United States, youth are dropping out of sports at an alarming rate. A major contributing factor is the "win at all cost" mentality of many parents and coaches that creates a pressure-filled environment for the kids and ultimately turns them away from sports.

According to Michigan State University’s Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, children participating in organized sports tend to achieve higher results in school, develop excellent interpersonal skills and lead healthier lives.

PCA provides live, research-based training workshops and practical tools for coaches, parents and leaders who operate youth sports programs to get them on the same page about what it means to Honor the Game.

PCA also educates adults who shape the youth sports experience by offering partnership programs with youth sports organizations, schools, cities, and national sports governing bodies.

PCA Info: For national information on the Positive Coaching Alliance, go to http://www.positivecoach.org.

For information on PCA Big Island activities and services, contact Jeanne Yagi at PCABigIsland@hotmail.com.

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Back by popular demand! High-quality free mulch is now available at the new public pick-up area adjacent to the Kealakehe Transfer Station. The access to the new mulch pick-up area is directly across the street from the transfer station chutes. Residents may self-load mulch at the site from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Bring a pitchfork and help yourself.

Plenty of free mulch is also available at the Hilo Transfer Station which is open 7 days a week, 7:00am-5:00pm. The greenwaste pick-up and drop-off area is just past the entrance to the transfer station chutes on the right-hand side of the road.

The County of Hawai`i’s Department of Environmental Management sponsors the free mulch program. At this time, loading assistance for small vehicles is available only at the Hilo location and fees range from $10-$40 depending on vehicle size.

If you want to arrange for a large truckload to be delivered to your residence, business, or farm, from either the Hilo or Kona greenwaste processing sites, please call the Big Island Recycling representative at (808) 306-1876 to make those arrangements.

For more information about this program, please contact the County’s Recycling Coordinator at 961-8942.

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Hawaii County Resource Center, a program of County of Hawaii Research and Development Department, recently administered a $100,000 fund known as the Healing Our Island Community Fund. In response to recommendations from the community at our two island-wide Meth Summits, the Mayor’s Office, County Council and state legislators worked together to make these resources available for community mobilization against drugs.

The application process for the Healing Our Island Community Fund was developed to be simple and straightforward, with proposal review occurring on a monthly basis. Grants were for use island-wide at the neighborhood and community level with a focus on drug use prevention and education; proposals included community events, public awareness projects, mentoring, youth/family recreation, and renovation/beautification projects. Neighborhood groups, community associations, faith-based organizations as well as non-profits were encouraged to apply; maximum grant awards were $2,000. A volunteer grant review committee read and evaluated the 90 proposals that were received and awarded grant funds to 56 groups. Preference was given to projects that promoted the collaboration of two or more groups, with an eye to dispersing the funds island-wide.

The following are the groups that received Healing Our Island Community Funds.

The League of Women Voters in East Hawaii is gearing up once again for this busy election year. Please call us to join in any one of our upcoming events. You needn't be a member to assist us with these things, but we welcome all men and women interested in joining.

On June 1st we’ll be offering voter information and registration at a table on campus as part of the UHH Women's Center’s special day. We could use several people who are free to help during the day, and someone who is already a voter registrar would be a plus.

On Saturday June 12th we need vote counters at two separate locations for association elections and on June 14th or 15th at a third vote count. Counting and certifying votes is one of the community projects the League offers to local clubs and associations.

Watch for more events coming up, such as the election year Candidates' Nights that the League of Women Voters sponsors with the American Association of University Women, held in the past few years at the Palace Theater and broadcast live.

Please consider becoming a member of the League of Women Voters. The membership fee is $35 annually, and this year our organization will consider some honorary one-year memberships. Both men and women are invited to join the League by calling Lois Cecil at 969-9408 or cell phone at 895-3530.

Or contact Lois Cecil at loiscecil@hawaii.rr.com or by mail c/o League of Women Voters, P.O. Box 665, Hilo, HI 96721

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The Hilo High School Viking Battalion won the Perpetual Trophy at the first annual Hawai`i Royal Order of Guardsmen’s Hawaii Island Military drill competition held on May 15 at Kealakehe High School.

The first annual competition featured traditional and exhibition military drill competition categories.

Besides Hilo High School and host Kealakehe, the third Big Island high school that participated in the competition was Waiakea High School.

Hilo High School’s team won first place in the Color Guard, Armed Regulation and Unarmed Regulation, as well as the Armed Exhibition and Unarmed Exhibition drill categories. Waiakea High School took first place in the Inspection category.

The following HROG Guardsmen attended: Harry Miller of the King’s Alley Honor Guard, Nathan Paleka of the King’s Guard Alumni Association, Scott Patrick of the King’s Guard, John Gampon of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Guard, John Naki of the Royal King’s Guard.

Judges included members of the Joint Military Service Judging and Statistician Team of Recruiters and Hawai`i National Guard units.

For further information, contact: Joseph C. Madela at hroggm@aol.com cell: (808)224-2649 or 237-8021.

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County Agent/Community Educator Nancy Honda is the featured speaker at a workshop entitled "Fruit Flies-Having Fruit Fly Problems in your Yard, or Is it your Neighbors?". If you’re interested in protecting your peaches and many other fruits, come to this workshop and we’ll partner and solve this problem. Come and learn how to make your own fruit fly traps.

For further information, call Nancy Honda at UH Cooperative Extension Service at 959-9155.

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A lecture on Tourism Development in Rural Areas will be offered on Thursday, June 10 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Featured guest lecturer is Dr. Harold Goodwin, director of the International Center for Responsible Tourism in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Greenwich.

The lecture fee is $45 per person.

This lecture is sponsored by UH School of Travel Industry Management, the Hawaii Community College and its UH Center West Hawaii, the Kohala Center and the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development.

Deadline to register is June 7. Please register with the UH School of Travel Industry Management via email contact rsoma@hawaii.edu. For more information or to register by phone call (808) 956-4902.

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Family ASTRO is a national program to help parents (and other caregivers) to get more involved in their children’s science education, and to spend more time together enjoying hands-on activities. At these evening or weekend events, about 5 to 10 families get together to conduct experiments, play games and explore a particular topic in astronomy.

Family ASTRO brings science to kids and their parents in a fun and comfortable setting. Parents are able to work with their kids to explore hands-on experiments and learn more about a particular topic in astronomy. No astronomy background is required, and take-home games are provided free to families to help them continue the fun at home.

Family ASTRO seeks Event Leaders to bring this program to more youth groups in Hawaii.

Event Leader training will be held in Waimea on June 17th from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. at W. M. Keck Observatory headquarters in Waimea. There is no fee to attend. Activities are designed for children ages 7 and up and their parents or guardians. Event leaders will get supplies and games to lead their own family science nights for groups of 10 or 20.

For registration and more information, please contact Laura Kraft at 881-3827 or e-mail lkraft@keck.hawaii.edu.

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You are cordially invited to attend the 'People Helping People’ Substance Abuse Intervention Training session for community advocates.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Sat., June 26, 2004

Where: . The Fairmount Orchid.

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Showcasing the splendor of Polynesian cultural tradition, the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) and the Kekua Foundation take great pride in hosting the 11th International Va‘a Federation (IVF) World Sprints Championship at Hilo Bay in Hilo August 9-15, 2004.

The World Sprints Championship is the foremost event on the international outrigger canoe racing calendar. More than 2,000 participant paddlers are expected, with 5,000 or more spectators and worldwide media exposure.

Entrants are expected from as many as 22 countries.

Founded by the Tahitians, the first World Va’a Sprints was held in 1984 at Newport Beach, California.

During the August 9-15 events, races and practice will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, at Bayfront Beach Park with three evening events from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Edith Kanakaole Multipurpose Tennis Stadium.

According to organizers, Hilo provides excellent sprint conditions, with its protected harbor and races running parallel to the shore. Viewers will be able to watch races from start to finish.

Based on a commitment to encourage and preserve outrigger canoe racing and to promote international Ho‘okuku. (competition), the organizers seek to present a unique event that is rich in meaning, filled with activities designed to perpetuate, enhance and raise the sport to extraordinary, memorable, even legendary levels.

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(No road work scheduled.)

Where/Location: South Hilo; Side roads off Kupulau Road.

What: Repaint faded stop lines.

Where/Location: Puna; Nanawale Estates Subdivision.

What: Repaint centerlines.

Where/Location: South Hilo; Hualalai Street and Kinoole Street intersection.

What: Thermoplastic crosswalks and lane lines.

Where/Location: South Hilo; Kamehameha Avenue, from Pauahi Street to Ponahawai Street.

What: Thermoplastic cross-hatch lines at no-parking zones.

Where/Location: North Kona; King Kamehameha III Road.

What: Underground streetlight work.

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It is very important to tell other drivers what you are going to do.

While turning, give a correct signal, signal well in advance, signal continuously until you have completed the turn and make sure your signal goes off after you have turned.

While changing lanes, make sure through the mirror that the traffic behind you is at a safe distance, put on your turn signal and change lanes slowly and smoothly.

Warn drivers behind you when you have to slow down, stop or find a hazard ahead. Flash your brake lights by trapping your brake pedal slowly a few times.

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Motorists are advised of the following lane closures and work locations as contractors work on a fiber optic cable system in the Pana‘ewa area. From April 26^th through April 30^th Island Mechanical Hawai‘i will be boring and trenching in the following locations:

• Along Pu‘ainako Street between Railroad Avenue and Kanoelehua Avenue – Lane Diversions
• Along Pilipa‘a Street from Pu‘ainako Street for approximately 300 feet – Shoulder Work
• *Along Holomua Street from Maka‘ala Street for approximately 200 feet – Shoulder Work

The work will start at 8:00 am and continue until 3:30 pm during the weekdays, weather permitting. Contractors are in their 1^st week of work and estimate that this leg of the project (known as Kaei Hana) will be completed at the end of June 2004. Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Questions can be referred to Chuck Eckman (Resident Engineer), Mid State Consultants, at 640-9509.

Mahalo for your patience and cooperation!

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We encourage everyone to use web-based calendar links. Please add your own events to the respective calendars so others can get the word and not conflict with your plans.

County of Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.pl
State of Hawaii: http://www.state.hi.us/calendars.htm
Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau: http://calendar.gohawaii.com/
Hawaii.com: http://www.hawaii.com/live/
Alternative-Hawaii: http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/calendar.htm
Kamuela.com: http://kamuela.com/calendar/default.asp
Hawaii Nonprofit Community Events (HCF): http://www.hcf-hawaii.org/hcf/hcfg/comcal.jsp
Hawaii Public Radio: http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/psa.htm
Hawaii Theatre Network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiitheatre
UH at Hilo Theatre Events: http://performingarts.net/Theatre/seasoncalendar/calendar.pl
Waikoloa Village: http://www.waikoloa.org/WVCalendar.html
Public School (click on your school): http://doe.k12.hi.us/calendars0203/index.htm
Hilo Downtown Improvement: Go to www.downtownhilo.com (click on Hilo Activity Guide, and follow directions on how to submit an event.) For information call Alice Moon at 933-9772.

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