Laupahoehoe School Celebrates AYP

Laupahoehoe School held an assembly today to celebrate a school wide effort by students, teachers, parents and staff to achieve AYP or Annual Yearly Progress required by the federal No Child Left Behind law. The law requires testing of students in math and reading and requires students to reach benchmarks in a variety of demographic categories.

Students meeting benchmark, students with the highest math and reading scores as well as students achieving the greatest improvement in scores were recognized with certificates. All students were encouraged to continue their efforts so that next year, everyone would be recognized for meeting the benchmark.

To end the ceremony, and amid shouts of "Mohawk! Mohawk!" Principal Tom Ekno followed through on a promise made last year to shave his head if the student met five goals that the school set out last year.

Playgound Tests

Tests were conducted today on newly installed fitness equipment at Honoka'a Elementary School. The equipment sits on a special padded surface that is meant to absorb the impact of students should they fall from the equipment to the ground. The inspection involved dropping a measurement instrument from the height of six feet and determining the level of impact on the cushioned surface.

The contractor is currently awaiting approval to complete cement work to reattach sidewalks from the play area to the adjacent building. Once this is completed, students will be able to enjoy the new equipment. Identical equipment was also installed at Paauilo School.

Native Insight on Recession, Recovery and Opportunity

For thousands of years, Native communities have thrived in challenging conditions. What wisdom does your community have to share? How can Natives support and participate in the transitions facing our great nation? This is your chance to help shape America's successful tomorrow!

Share your unique insights on the economy and our prospects for recovery...and you may be one of six Native winners chosen to receive $10,000 and have their opinions published!

Submit your 500-1,600 word original written work by September 15, 2009 to compete. Go to
www/nativeinsight.org for more information.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Meeting on License Application for Depleted Uranium at Pohakuloa

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hosted a meeting to inform the public about the process for participation in the license request by the US Army to process and manage "residual quantities of depleted uranium (DU) at Pohakuloa and other Army installations where DU munitions were used in training exercises.

The license, once granted will require the Army to perform specific functions designed to protect public health and safety and the environment. These will include a radiation monitoring program and physical access control consistent with NRC's regulations for protecting the public against radiation.

Several issues and unanswered questions that were raised during the meeting include:

• Violation of the DLNR Lease by the Army.
• Leaching of DU into the surrounding water table.
• Impact of brush fires on the environment.
• Increased incidence of cancer in impacted areas.

The NRC is reviewing the application and will complete a Safety Evaluation Report. The deadline to request for hearing and comments is October 13, 2009 and has been posted in the Federal Register. Those wishing to view the posting can follow the link below.

http://www.smartpdf.com/register/2009/Aug/13/E9-19449.pdf

New UH President M.R.C. Greenwood

An internationally known researcher and nationally recognized leader in higher education, M.R.C. (promounced "Marcy") Greenwood became the 14th president of the University of Hawaii in August, 2009. She unites a stong belief in the exceptional caliber of the UH system with determination to develop the university's voice as a national leader in higher education.
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The first woman to serve as UH's chief executive officer, Dr. Greenwood brings experience as both a campus and university system leader. Dr. Greenwood assumes the helm of the University at a difficult time as the UH system faces unprecedented budget cuts, collective bargaining issues, and a growing repair and maintenance back log.

Above from left to right: Senator Norman Sakamoto, Dr. Greenwood, Senator Jill Tokuda and me.

8th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention

Mark is pictured with Frank Cachola, Lucille Chung and Kawika Burgess from the Trust for Public Lands at the 8th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention.

"Making Our Future Now! E Kia Ano I Mua!" is the theme for this year's Native Hawaiian Convention being held August 25-27, 2009 at the Hawaii Convention Center. The convention hosted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement provides an opportunity to come together, share ideas, celebrate progress, and address challenges.

Mark participated in day three of the convention which featured the Native Hawaiian Policy Center Round table which is designed to provide an opportunity for member organizations and community leaders to dialogue on issues of importance in the Native Hawaiian Community.

The keynote for this session was Big Island native Alapaki Nahale-a, Principal at Ka 'Umeke Ka'eo Immersion Charter School in Keaukaha who spoke of the need for parity in per pupil funding among all of Hawaii's public schools regardless if they are DOE or Public Charter Schools.

Alapaki noted that the Public Charter Schools fill an important niche and create an important competition within the education system. Alapaki noted that "one size does not fit all" and that public charter schools create a choice for parents and students within the community. Alapaki stated that with choice comes responsibility as they are entrusted with public funds and they must be accountable to the tax paying public.

Other 2009-2010 Policy Priorities are contained in documents below:

Hawaii Quinten Burdick 10th Anniversary Celebration

The Hawaii Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Training Program celebrated it's 10th year anniversary at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This program provides college students in a variety of disciplines the opportunity to live and work in rural settings. The hope is that this will encourage them to consider working in rural communities following graduation. This program also provides them with valuable contacts that often result in future job opportunities.

The program is open to students from nursing, medicine, social work, public health, psychology, medical technology, nutrition, dental hygiene, education, speech/audiology, and speech communication who become members of interdisciplinary teams that participate in three seminars during the spring semester to familiarize them with the program. The students then participate in a six week summer practicum in one of six rural sites throughout the state.

This year, a group of four college students: Rana Jackson, Melanie Minami, Keri Ferenback, and Christine Marzo came to Honoka'a to work with the Hamakua Health Center on a number of projects including initiating a community needs assessment; participation in the Summer Asthma Camp; providing nutritional information to parents of students participating in Kinder KAMP at Honoka'a, Laupahoehoe and Paauilo Schools; and "Jump Start your College Career" -- a mentoring program providing information to high school students and their parents regarding college applications and financial aid.

In addition to the college students, Honoka'a High School Senior Patti Connors was invited to participate during the practicum with the interdisciplinary teams of health science students thus providing her with the unique hands-on opportunity to learn more about health care careers.

Pictured at the celebration are (from Left to Right): Owen Sonoda, Sue Dela Cruz, Patti Connors, Christina Marzo, Rana Jackson, Melanie Minami, Keri Fehrenbach, and Mark