O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Home Lands grants offered
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is making $273,000 in grants available for community projects benefiting home lands applicants and lessees.
Private, nonprofit organizations that represent homesteaders can apply for two types of grants through the Native Hawaiian Development Program.
Capacity-building grants with a maximum amount of $5,000 will be given to help beneficiary organizations improve their ability to serve applicants and homestead residents, conduct community activities and plan for the future.
Implementation grants, which have no set limit, will be given to support projects that help applicants become lessees, improve homestead areas and facilities, increase the use of homestead lands or implement a community vision.
The application deadline is Feb. 1. For details, call Christine Valles at 587-6424.
Alu Like gets fishery money
Alu Like has been given a $500,000 federal grant to implement a fishery observer training program in Hawai'i.
The grant was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and will be used to recruit and train Hawai'i residents to become observers on longline fishing boats protecting endangered sea turtles and other species.
The program will focus on the recruitment of Native Hawaiians and American Samoans. Training will include an eight-day course from the University of Hawai'i's Marine Option Program. The course will cover fisheries science, oceanography, data collection, ocean safety, species identification and tissue-sampling procedures.
"This program will enhance the preservation and safety of endangered species, including sea turtles, within the Western Pacific Ocean fisheries," said U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, who helped secure the grant. "Protecting these species is of paramount importance to Hawai'i's economy and culture. It will create jobs for the residents of Hawai'i, protect our ocean resources and help the fishing industry fulfill their responsibilities as stewards of the sea."
Foodbank gets generous gifts
The Hawai'i Foodbank was given a check for $5,337 by Tim Bostock Productions last week following an opening night benefit from the Slava's Snowshow production at the Hawai'i Theatre.
Kraft Foods also donated $1,000 to the Foodbank from their opening night sponsorship.
CENTRAL
Wahiawa dinner Jan. 17
Tickets are available for the Wahiawa Community and Business Association's annual dinner meeting Jan. 17 at Dot's Restaurant in Wahiawa.
The event at 6:30 p.m. will have state Senate President Robert Bunda and other community leaders participating in a symposium to discuss Wahiawa's future.
The organization will also vote on its new board of directors.
Cost is $20 per ticket. To reserve a seat, call the group's office at 621-6531 and leave name, phone number and number of tickets needed.
