Posted on: Friday, November 26, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Native burials hearing scheduled
Advertiser Staff
A public hearing to gather community ideas on changing the federal law governing native burials is set for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8 at Jefferson Hall, the Imin Conference Center of the East-West Center.
The hearing is being conducted by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs until the end of the congressional session.
The hearing is planned primarily to examine proposed changes to the definition of "Native Hawaiian organization" that is contained in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
The committee also will receive testimony on other suggested amendments to the law and has set a Jan. 4 deadline for written testimony to allow comments from those unable to attend the hearing.
The second annual Maohi Native Cultural Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Kapi'olani Park Bandstand.
Entertainers will include Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Ho'okena, Ra'iatea Helm, The Royal Hawaiian Band, Moana Chang, Pa'ahana Lono, Te Vai Ura Nui, Maohi Nui and various hula halau and musical artists.
The event is sponsored by Ke Ala 'Olino Native Cultural Center. It will include cultural presentations, native artisans and crafters, exhibits, a fire-knife dance and food booths.
The Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club has scheduled an organizational meeting at noon tomorrow at Ho'omaluhia Botanic Garden Visitor Center to elect officers and set plans for the coming year.
The club, established in 1937 by longtime Kane'ohe residents George Cypher, Kau'i Zuttermeister, George Apo and George Houghtailing, is open to any community members interested in preservation of the Hawaiian culture.
All past and current members are encouraged to attend.
Information: Mahealani, 226-4195.
Art Umezu has been named Kaua'i County film commissioner, a position he has held on an interim basis since August.
This is Umezu's second stint as film commissioner: He served in the post from 1986-88 under Mayor Tony Kunimura's administration.
Umezu, 53, was born and raised in Tokyo. He moved to Kaua'i in 1975 and lives in Wailua. He has represented the county for official protocol and business in Japan since 1986, and most recently escorted Mayor Bryan Baptiste to Japan to visit the county's sister and friendship cities.
He is involved in arts and Japanese cultural groups, and is a former lecturer of Japanese language and culture at Kaua'i Community College. Umezu also has been involved in the music industry.
Stormy weather knocked out electricity in various places on the east side of the Big Island Wednesday night, according to Hawaii Electric Light Co.
Starting at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, HELCO reported power interruptions to about 300 customers in Kama'oa, Kalapana, Nanawale Estates, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Pana'ewa Houselots and Waiakea Houselots.
Power was restored to most customers by early yesterday morning.
HILO, Hawai'i — Monday is the deadline to make reservations for the University of Hawai'i-Hilo Association of Alumni and Friends' second annual Christmas Social. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. next Friday at the Naniloa Hotel's Palm Lounge.
In addition to food and fellowship, an update on UH-Hilo activities will be presented, and the association will conduct its general membership meeting and present new officers.
The cost of the event is $28. For reservations, contact the UH Hilo Marketing and Alumni Office at (808) 974-7642.
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County has earned TsunamiReady recognition from the National Weather Service, which also renewed the county's StormReady designation.
The designations mean the county has met certain requirements for disaster preparedness, including fine-tuning action plans with respect to training, weather monitoring and local warning dissemination.
Maui was the first county in the state to get the StormReady designation, which it earned last November, and is Hawai'i's second county to be designated TsunamiReady. The other is Kaua'i County.
REMINDERS
WEEKLY VIGIL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, 4 to 6 p.m. today on Ala Moana at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building; bring a sign; sponsored by Not In Our Name.
THANKSGIVING OF HOPE for the less fortunate in our community, 1 p.m. tomorrow, Gateway Park, Hotel and Bethel streets, next to Hawai'i Theatre; volunteers needed to cook and drop off ready-to-serve items, clothes, toiletries, towels, shoes and fast-food coupons; drop off by 12:30 p.m.; call Sharon Black. 398-6665.
CRIBBAGE GAMES, 6:30 p.m. every Friday, HonBLUE, 501 Sumner St., Suite 381; sponsored by The North Shore Peggers, a grass-roots club of the American Cribbage Congress; all ages welcome. 261-4468, www.cribbage.org.
HULA CLASSES, every Saturday, sponsored by Kalihi-Palama Culture & Arts Society: beginning keiki 9 to 10 a.m., keiki 10 to 11 a.m. and teens and adults 11 a.m. to noon, Kauluwela Recreational Park, near Liliha Street and Vineyard Boulevard; $10-per-month fee. 521-6905.
ANXIETY AND STRESS SELF-HELP GROUP meets 10 to 11:30 a.m., second and fourth Saturdays monthly, St. John Church, Kailua Road; for persons suffering from anxiety disorders. 382-4516.
PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM BENEFIT DINNER, Thursday, Hickam Air Force Base Officers Club: cocktails 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. program featuring aviation legend Gen. Charles "Chuck" Yeager; tickets $150; call or e-mail for reservations. 836-7747 or kims@pacificaviationmuseum.org.
TOYS FOR TOTS drop-off sites at Edward Jones offices; new, unwrapped toys are welcome; consult www.EdwardJones.com to find the most convenient location.
Cultural festival at Kapi'olani Park
Civic club meets to elect officers
Kaua'i films chief selected
Power outage on Big Isle east side
UH-Hilo plans Christmas social
Maui prepared for emergencies
