The Hawaii County Office of Aging develops services which address the needs of our elderly population. The agency’s primary functions revolve around the planning, development, evaluation and administration of eldercare programs and services in Hawaii County.

The Office of Aging’s central office, located near other County government offices at the Hilo Lagoon Center in Hilo, is staffed by an executive on aging, three program planners, an accountant, a computer programmer/analyst, two information & assistant clerks and one RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer. This office services the entire island.

To expand the office’s geographic presence and reach, the Office of Aging’s Kona Office, currently located at Hanama Place, was established during the early 1990s. The office is staffed by one program planner and one clerk.

The Office of Aging collaborates with many community and public agencies in matters related to aging. Community planning councils around the island commonly known as Partners in Eldercare (PIE) were established and are very active in assisting the Office of Aging in its planning and addressing the needs of older individuals in various districts.

Aside from providing general information and assistance, the Office of Aging does not deliver direct services to the general population.

Instead, the Office of Aging contracts with qualified agencies to deliver eldercare services throughout the island.

Examples of major contracted eldercare providers include the Coordinated Services for the Elderly Program, Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, Hawaii County Nutrition Program, Services for Seniors and approved vendors, and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

The array of comprehensive eldercare services enabling older individuals to live with dignity in the environment of their choice include:

• Adult Day Care

• Assisted Transportation

• Caregiver Support

• Case Management

• Chores

• Community Planning

• Congregate and Home-Delivered Meals

• Education and Training

• Senior employment

• Homemaker/Housekeeping

• Home Modification

• Information and Referral Assistance

• Legal Assistance

• Long-Term Care Access

• Outreach

• Personal Care (i.e. Bathing)

• Respite Services to family caregivers.

• Transportation

• Volunteer Opportunities

The majority of services are free. However, under federal guidelines, all recipients must be provided the opportunity to contribute towards the cost of services.

Caregivers have a tough job and shouldn’t have to go it alone. The Office of Aging has a Caregiver Resource Center in the Kona office to provide materials and services to family caregivers. The center houses a library of printed informational brochures, books and video resources for caregivers. An addition to the center is a computer work station for caregivers to use. Caregivers are encouraged to seek information and assistance from the wealth of information on the Internet.

The center is located in the Kona branch of the Office of Aging at Hanama Place and is open 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For further information call 327-3597.

Accidents due to falling are one of the great hazards that frail seniors face.

The Office of Aging supports a home modification program to help frail older adults live in a safer environment and allow them to continue living at home. This program gives opportunities to those with health and mobility problems to function more independently. Case management providers assess the home environment for safety hazards such as slippery floor surfaces, lack of grab bars near the bath tub or shower, etc.

The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation operates a very important program to provide nutritious meals for seniors, through its County Nutrition Program. For further information, call the Hawai`i County Nutrition Program at 961-8726 or the Coordinated Services for the Elderly Program at 961-8777 (Hilo) or 322-1812 (Kona).

Check out the Silver Bulletin, the Office of Aging’s monthly newsletter focusing on eldercare services and aging issues. This publication helps readers make informed decisions as they access services geared to their needs.

Recent issues of the Silver Bulletin published articles on caregiving, healthy aging, health screenings, cooking nutritious food; introductory gerontology classes; eldercare related legislation and the Medicare Prescription (Rx) Drug Discount card.

To subscribe to the Silver Bulletin, call the Office of Aging at 961-8600 to be put on the mailing list.

The Office of Aging is ready to help whenever an elderly person or the family of an elderly person needs information. They inform the public about services that are available for the elderly. The office personnel will refer you to the proper agency for help.

Any interested person can request a free copy of the Information & Services Directory for Seniors published by the Hawai`i County Office of Aging.

For more information about eldercare services in Hawaii County or elsewhere in the State of Hawaii, contact the Office of Aging at 961-8600 (Hilo) or 327-3597 (Kona).

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The County of Hawaii successfully closed on a $55 million bond issue on September 8 that both financed $30 million of needed road improvements and refinanced $25 million of older and more costly debt.

Priority for the new road and highway construction projects will be given to:

• Internal connector roads and road extensions to relieve traffic bottlenecks and congestion in North Kona and South Kona;

• The findings and recommendations of the Keahole to Honaunau Regional Circulation Plan and Puna Regional Circulation Plan;

• An alternative route to the intersection of Lindsey Road and Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea;

• Strategic and timely acquisition of rights-of-way in Kona and Puna; and

• Installation of traffic signals and other safety improvements.

By refinancing the older bond issues, the County saved over $2.3 million in debt service payments. This was accomplished due to lower interest rates in the current market.

The County also received some very positive news from one of the major bond rating agencies that rates the County’s bonds. Moody’s Investors Service raised its rating on all of the county’s bonds from a rating of A2 to A1. In an August 11 report, Moody’s cited as reasons for the upgrade "the County’s strong trend of tax base growth in recent years combined with ongoing economic development and construction projects that are expected to contribute to the continuation of this positive trend."

Other positive factors mentioned included a very manageable debt burden and a more diversified economic base due to recent growth in agriculture and investments in scientific research.

The effect of this rating upgrade is that it will lower the borrowing costs to the County because investors who buy the County’s bonds will demand less return on the County’s bonds due to a higher level of security as illustrated by the higher rating.

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Effective September 15, 2004, the NEW HILO LOCATION for obtaining a disabled parking placard is: 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 8 (the old J.C. Penney’s). Applications for placards are available at this new site.

Hours of operation are from 7:45 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Applications are also available at all doctors’ offices islandwide; the Office of Information at 25 Aupuni Street, #217 in Hilo; and the Mayor’s Office, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy. (Hanama Place, #103) in Kona.

For further information, call the County Office of Information at 961-8316.

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Hawai`i County’s Department of Environmental Management recently was awarded a $10,000 recycling grant by computer maker Dell Inc.

The department was among 20 recipients nationwide, whose awards of $10,000 each are to be used to conduct computer collection events across the United States this fall.

The winners were selected from a group of nearly 175 applicants that included state and local governments, higher education institutions and non-profit organizations, according to a Dell press release.

Each of the grant recipients will use the award to organize, promote, stage and recycle computer equipment in a free "No Computer Should Go To Waste" collection event in their community.

Hawai`i County plans to hold an event where residents can drop off used computers and accessories on Saturday, January 29 at the Old Kona Airport State Park pavillion. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Management sponsored a similar computer drop-off event in Hilo earlier this year.

"Raising consumer awareness of the need to responsibly recycle electronics is one of the key challenges our industry faces, and Dell is committed to doing its part," said Pat Nathan, Dell’s Sustainable Business Director..

Dell’s grant program aims to empower communities to develop local programs that will help retire used computers and highlight the importance of recycling rather than wasting used computers, Nathan said.

The other recipients of Dell’s Recycling Grant Program awards for fall 2004 are:

• Mobile, Ala. - Keep Mobile Beautiful, Inc.

• Tucson, Ariz. - World Care

• Los Angeles - Goodwill Industries of Southern California

• Aurora, Colo. - GIVES Inc.

• Tallahassee, Fla. - Leon County

• Oak Park, Ill. - Public Works Department

• Indianapolis - City of Indianapolis, Department of Public Works

• Baton Rouge, La. - Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council

• Berkshire, Mass. - Center for Ecological Technology

• Baltimore - Johns Hopkins University, Recycling Program

• St. Louis - Hi-Tech Charities

• Bozeman, Mont. - Gallatin Local Water Quality District

• Bergen County, N.J. - Bergen County Utilities Authority

• Albuquerque, N.M. - Solid Waste Management Department, City of Albuquerque

• Onondaga County, N.Y. - Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA)

• Chautaugua County, N.Y. - Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

• Boone County, Ky. - Full Circle Group

• State of Rhode Island - Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation

• Richmond, Va. - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

As part of the program, grantees will receive technical assistance and guidance from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) to aid in the success of their events. NRC will conduct a series of training sessions to share best practices and encourage interaction among grant recipients. The training will include strategies for developing effective partnerships for collection and selection of responsible recyclers, fund raising strategies, as well as media and community outreach.

"These grants will empower communities from Hawaii to New York to initiate the important process of building public-private partnerships that will find innovative solutions to address the e-scrap recycling challenge," said Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition.

Hawai`i County and the other grantees were chosen based on considerations of the quality of the collaborative effort, prospects for successful programs, geographic diversity, sustainability of the program beyond the grant period and the ability to leverage the local community’s existing recycling infrastructure.

The grant review board consisted of Dell, federal government and environmental and recycling organization representatives.

Additional information about the recycling grant program can be found at www.dell.com/recyclinggrant.

For more information about Hawai`i County’s recycling program, call the Recycling Coordinator at 961-8942.

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Due to ongoing dry weather conditions and exceptionally large water consumption in both areas; and, due to repairs to the Laupahoehoe Well for Affected Area #2, the Department of Water Supply would like to notify consumers in the Affected Areas that they are under Water Conservation. Water Conservation Notice is a voluntary action to reduce water usage by 10%.

Due to ongoing dry weather conditions and exceptionally large water consumption, the Department of Water Supply would like to remind consumers in the Affected Areas that they are under Water Conservation. Water Conservation Notice is a voluntary action to reduce water usage by 10%.

To reach the 10% reduction goal, here are a few tips:

• Wash full loads of laundry only.

• Wash full loads of dishes only.

• Serve drinking water only when requested.

• Do not let the faucet run unnecessarily.

• When bathing, use water only to wet and rinse off.

• Do not fill up the bathtub.

• Use a glass to rinse when brushing your teeth.

• Do not flush toilets unnecessarily.

• Stop lawn sprinkling.

• Stop car and boat washing.

• Stop dust control watering.

• Use drinking water wisely.

Agricultural users should irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure reduces water loss due to evaporation and minimizes water system drain during peak demand.

For more information, please contact Dennis Lee at the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

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The Hawai`i County Department of Finance wishes to announce that any taxpayer may file complaints against the assessed value placed upon property in the County of Hawaii for the purposes of real property taxation.

Complaints may be filed only during the period from September 10, 2004 to September 21, 2004 with the Director of Finance at the County of Hawaii, Real Property Tax Office, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, Hawaii, or at the West Hawaii Real Property Tax Office, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 112, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The complaints are for the purpose of assisting the Tax Board of Review in making additional notes for their report to the Mayor and the County Council concerning instances, which, in the opinion of the Board, the Director of Finance did not use proper methods in assessing real property for purposes of taxation.

Since this session or period is not for appealing assessments but only for receiving complaints, the Board cannot change any assessment during the process.

The period for complaints should not be confused with the filing of assessment appeals. The April 12th appeals deadline against the 2004 assessments has expired.

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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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Ka’u to South Kona Water Master Plan Final Report Available for Viewing

The County of Hawaii and its consultant Townscape, Inc. have completed the Ka’u to South Kona Water Master Plan Final Report, dated September 2004.

The Master Plan was initiated to address potential water sources and water distribution systems for the southwest portion of the Big Island. The objective was to develop a long-range plan to provide water for homes, commercial businesses and farmers in the Ka’u to South Kona region.

The plan is now available on the County of Hawaii website at: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/k2skwmp/info.htm .

Hard copies of the report will also be available at Pahala, Naalehu, and Kealakekua Public Libraries and at the Ocean View Community Association Center.

Townscape, Inc. wishes to thank everyone who contributed to this plan. We would also like to thank those who participated in the development of this plan, attended public meetings, and/or provided suggestions and help.

If you have any questions regarding the report, please contact Hilarie Keehne at 536-6999, ext. 103 or via email at hilariekeehne@townscapeinc.com .

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Recycle Hawai`i is sponsoring a cleanup at the Government Beach Road adjacent to Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision on Saturday, September 18 from 9:00 a.m. to3:00 p.m.

Government Beach Road, a dirt road located along the coast north of Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision, has become an eyesore and health hazard for residents in the area. This illegal dumpsite is filled with all kinds of garbage, appliances, furniture, dead animals and abandoned vehicles.

How to get to the site:

From Kea`au, go past the exit into Pahoa town and turn left onto Kahakai Blvd. Continue on Kahakai Blvd. past Keonepoko Elementary School and almost to the coastline. Turn left on Coastal Puna Pkwy, which is the next to last street. Go two blocks to the stop sign. After the stop sign, the road curves to the left and comes to a dirt road next to a white house. This is the site for the cleanup.

Food and drinks will be provided for the volunteers.

This cleanup comes after one on August 21, 2004, when a group of dedicated volunteers spent hours cleaning Government Beach Road. The cleanup, sponsored by Recycle Hawai`i, was a part of a project funded by the USDA-Rural Utilities Service, County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management and Matson Navigation’s "Ka Ipu `Aina" Program. The volunteers did a great job in cleaning the area, but there was still much work to.

Recycle Hawai`i would like to thank the following organizations, government agencies, businesses and individuals for their support for the cleanup; Keep Hawai`i Beautiful, Kahakai Neighborhood Watch, County of Hawai`i Department of Environmental Management, Matson Navigation Co, Atlas Recycling, Big Island Scrap Metal, Treeworks, Chris and Mealoha Kraus, Joel Nathansen, Andy Aquino, Ruth Larkin, Ron Phillips, Pat Anakalea, Patti and Norman Blank and Nan Chun.

Special thanks to the County’s Solid Waste Division for assisting in cleaning this site by removing many junk vehicles and automotive parts through the derelict/abandoned vehicle program.

For more information call: 985-8725, or e-mail us at: howard@recyclehawaii.org .

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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 green waste 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 green waste 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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Compost tumblers rapidly break down greenwaste into useable compost for your lawn or garden.

Learn how to build your own compost tumbler from materials readily accessible islandwide. Class sponsored by Recycle Hawai`i at Kea`au Recycling & Reuse Center. Class fee: $10.

When: Saturday, Sept 24th –4pm-6pm.

For more information or to sign up for class, contact Recycle Hawai`i at 969-2012.

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Healthy and Hapai Events in October

Malama A Ho'opili Pono, a Department of Health initiative for mother and child health, will be holding the- East Side's 3rd Annual Healthy & Hapai/WIC's Breastfeeding Challenge on Saturday, October 2, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maternal & Child Health/Family Health Agencies interested in reserving a booth, please call Haunani at 974-4291.

Malama A Ho'opili Pono will also hold a Healthy & Hapai Health Fair - Ka'u on Oct 30, 2004 (Halloween Saturday) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Na'alehu Community Center & Park. The event will feature fun, music, costume contests and much more. Maternal Child & Health Agencies interested in reserving a booth, call 939-2437 and ask for Pat or Sandy Lei.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

Where/Location: Pohoiki Road and Kapoho-Kalapana Beach Road.

What: Repaint center lines.

Where/Location: Pohoiki Road and Kapoho-Kalapana Beach Road.

What: Replace raised pavement markers.

Where/Location: Waianuenue Avenue from Lahi Street to Lele Street.

What: Repaint edge of pavement lines.

Where/Location: Waianuenue Avenue from Lele Street to Piihonua Camp.

What: Replace raised pavement markers.

Where/ Location: Kekuanaoa Street from Kanoelehua Avenue to Kilauea Avenue.

What: Replace raised pavement markers.

Where/Location: Puainako Extension.

What: Signal work related to the noon opening of the Puainako Extension.

SCHEDULE:

9:00 am – 10:00 am Opening Ceremony.

10:00 am – 11:00 am Refreshments.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Cleanup.

Two (2) traffic signals (Komohana Street direction) will flash amber (yellow).

Two (2) traffic signals (Puainako direction) will flash red.

12:00 pm Puainako Extension road will open and

signals will be back to normal operation.

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Improve your ability to see while driving by keeping windshields, windows and mirrors clean inside and out. Do not add excessive tinting to windshields or windows. Also, avoid wearing tinted glasses or sunglasses when driving in low light.

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Motorists are advised of the following lane closures and work locations as contractors continue work on installing a conduit system for Sandwich Isles Communications in the Kaumana area.

From Monday, September 20th thru Friday, September 24th Willocks Construction will be boring and trenching in the following areas:

• Along Kaumana Drive between ‘I‘iwipolena Street and Akala Road – Lane Closures

The work will start at 8:00 am and continue until 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes (Waianuenue Avenue/Akolea Road) to avoid traffic delays/congestion and allow for extra travel time.

Contractors are in their 12th week of work and estimate this project to be completed in November 2004.

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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Kalaniana’ole Avenue between the Bay Clinic and Kea’a Street will be closed for Keaukaha-bound traffic on a 24-hour basis until further notice to allow for much- needed rehabilitation work on the County of Hawai’i sewer line.

Please note that Hamakua-bound traffic will remain open along Kalaniana’ole Avenue and local traffic both ways up to the Bay Clinic will be allowed.

Keaukaha-bound motorists will be detoured through Kamehameha Street and Silva Street while construction improvements are in progress. Please use caution when traveling through the area.

For additional information, please contact Isemoto Contracting Co., Ltd. at 935-3102 or the County of Hawai’i Wastewater Division at 961-8338.

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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.
Prince Kuhio Plaza: http://www.princekuhioplaza.com/html/Events.asp

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