O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Coins benefit forestry efforts
A silver coin being minted to commemorate the 2003 Year of the Hawaiian Forest Centennial Celebration is being sold to benefit the state's forestry programs.
The coin, designed by Brian Morishige and minted by Honolulu Mint, depicts the Hawaiian 'o'o bird in its forest habitat on one side and an acacia koa seedling on the other and sells for $39.95.
Proceeds will be placed into an endangered-species trust fund.
To purchase a coin, call the mint at 486-6468 or visit www.honolulumint.com.
Event to shed light on disease
The fifth annual multiple sclerosis education day, featuring several guest speakers, will be from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ala Moana Hotel.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system.
The event includes a continental breakfast and lunch for $5; waivers are available. For information and reservations, call toll free (800) 344-4867.
Program helps art apprentices
The state Foundation on Culture and the Arts is accepting applications for its Folk Arts Apprenticeship Awards.
Application deadline is Aug. 8.
The awards provide opportunities for advanced one-on-one instruction between a master traditional artist and an experienced apprentice. Master artists and apprentices must apply as teams.
SFCA will accept 17 apprenticeships that will run from November 2003 through June 2004. Awards range from $2,000 to $4,000, covering master-artist fees, supplies and mileage costs.
Application forms can be downloaded at www.hawaii.gov/sfca.
For more information, call John Keoni Fujitani at 586-0306.
Library to offer passport service
Starting July 15, the Hawai'i State Library will begin accepting completed applications for U.S. passports.
The service will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and 1 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the library's federal documents section on the second floor.
Applicants need to bring a completed passport application, appropriate U.S. citizenship documents, two passport photos and a current identification card. Payment is by personal check and money order only.
For more information, call 586-3477.
Hawai'i awarded $90,000 grant
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Hawai'i a $90,000 grant to enhance state systems to prevent, detect and collect erroneous payments of unemployment insurance benefits. The Labor Department awarded $4.8 million in grants to 41 state work-force agencies.
Hawai'i has one of the lowest overpayment rates in the country; improvements paid for by the grant are expected to further reduce the amount of overpayments and improve collections.
