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Hawaii Wins ‘Race to the Top’ Education Grant
Aug 26th
Governor Linda Lingle today applauded the collaborative efforts of education and community partners that resulted in Hawai‘i being named a Race to the Top grant winner. The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement this morning that Hawai‘i is among 10 states and the District of Columbia in the competition’s second round of grant awards.
Hawai‘i will receive $75 million to implement comprehensive initiatives to reform the state’s public education system to improve student achievement.
“We are extremely pleased and proud that the U.S. Department of Education has approved Hawai‘i’s Race to the Top application,” said Governor Lingle. “With the Race to the Top funding and the support of the U.S. Department of Education, Hawai‘i has a tremendous opportunity to make the systemic changes needed to raise performance in the classroom so students are prepared for college and their careers,” said Governor Lingle.
“Getting to this point would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Hawai‘i Department of Education – under the leadership of interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi – the Board of Education, the community and my Administration,” the Governor said.
“Securing this grant is just a stepping stone. We will now begin the hard work of implementing our education reform plan, which includes a common core curriculum tied to a new on-line state test while tracking student progress and rewarding teachers by linking 50 percent of their evaluation to student achievement. I am especially excited about our pledge to have 100 percent of high school graduates ready for a career and college without the need for post secondary remediation programs,” the Governor added.
Comments Sought on Pearl Harbor Wildlife Refuge
Aug 16th
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting the public to comment on the draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment for Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge on O‘ahu. When final, the plan will guide management of the refuge for the next 15 years. More >
Mystery Unraveled: How Asbestos Causes Cancer
Jun 28th
More than 20 million people in the U.S., and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer. More >
Songwriters’ Concert on Saturday
Jun 22nd
the Mele Songwriters Concert, a special program of the 2nd Annual MELE Songwriters Workshop, will be held Saturday. June 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., on the Lawn of the Hawaii State Art Museum, featuring performances by stellar singer/songwriter contributors to the workshop. The concert is free to the public, and beer and wine will be available for sale to those 21 years of age or older.
The concert “round robin” format will feature well known Hawaiian musicians Manu Boyd, Kanani Kahaunaele, Sabrina Velasquez and Grammy winning Kawika Kahiapo, joined by mainlanders Bob DiPiero, Katie Herzig, and Kyle Jacobs.
Those names might not be familiar to the general public, but consider their resumes: Bob DiPiero is a Hall of Fame songwriter who has 15 Number 1 singles; Katie Herzig is a Grammy-nominated indie songwriter-artist; and Kyle Jacobs is the writer of Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory,” the only country single ever to debut at Number 1 on the Billboard charts.
In the audience will be other workshop participants, including local and national music publishers and executives. Among this year’s invited professionals are Carrie Underwood’s multi-platinum producer Mark Bright. As well as performing their hits, each featured artist will talk briefly about their craft, what inspires their writing, , and how to survive in the real-world music business.
The concert is free. Registration for the workshop at Honolulu Cultural Community College is still open,at www.melesongwriters.org, or call 808-852-9555.
Contestants Sought for ‘Mrs. Hawaii’
Jun 18th
The 35th annual Mrs. Hawaii America Pageant is seeking Hawaii’s married women as contestants for the coveted 2010 title. The 2010 Mrs. Hawaii America will be crowning a new queen to represent our state on July 23, 2010 at the Neil S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Pikake Room from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There are three phases of competition: interview, swimwear and evening gown. Contestants must be 18 years or older and, of course, married. The Mrs. Hawaii organization is looking to provide much needed recognition to Hawaii’s married women to show how extraordinarily beautiful, poised, compassionate, and genuinely real they are. She must be the type of woman who feels the need to continue making a difference in life. These women are more than just homemakers they are the core to the family unit.
The winner will go on to compete at the national Mrs. America Pageant held this summer in Tuscon, Arizona from August 31st through September 7th. The event, hosted by actress Florence Henderson, showcases 51 women from all the U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Applications are available now. Please call state director Luana Alapa at (808) 520-8119 or 782-1119 (cell). You can also send an email to LuanaAlapa@gmail.com. Deadline to enter is June 30th, 2010.
Tickets to attend the 2010 Mrs. Hawaii American Pageant at the Neil S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Friday, July 23rd are $35 per person, $40 for VIP seating. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call (808) 520-8119 or 782-1119.
ABC’s ‘Bachelorette’ Visits Big Island for July 27 Finale
Jul 21st
Hawaii fans who watched ABC’s “The Bachelorette†Jillian Harris bid aloha to Reid Rosenthal after their romantic date on Maui will be seeing a lot more of the Hawaiian Islands as season five of the hit romance reality show from Warner Horizon Television wraps up on Hawaii’s Big Island in a two-hour season finale on July 27.
“The feedback from viewers who watched the Maui episode has been incredible with many sharing their excitement about the beautiful scenery, the impressive diversity of activities, and how they now want to visit Hawaii,†said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the State of Hawaii’s marketing agency for North America who had a major role in bringing this show to the islands. “Hawaii’s Big Island will be a notable contrast with its rich lava landscape, and prominent beachfront resorts. Being home to all but two of the world’s main climate zones, viewers will see just how huge, diverse, and exciting the Big Island really is.â€
Jillian and the final two bachelors – Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke – find themselves on incredible final dates that take them across the Big Island highlighted by an aerial tour of Kilauea volcano’s active lava flows with Sunshine Helicopters, landing beside a secluded Hilo waterfall for a private barbecue with KapohoKine Adventures, and discovering a remote black sand beach with Captain Zodiac Rafting Adventures.
After exploring the diversity of the island, the couples continue their dates with dinner and alone time at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii resorts on the legendary Kohala Coast, the sun-soaked northwest side of the island that was once a popular retreat for Hawaiian royalty.
A private oceanfront estate within Mauna Kea Resort provides the setting for what could be a life changing moment for Jillian as she makes her final decision. As the largest of all of the main Hawaiian Islands combined and home to Maunakea, the world’s tallest mountain, Hawaii’s Big Island is a perfect symbol of the enormous decision to be made there.
Hawaii has been named the top destination for weddings, honeymoons, and romance many times over the years by the readers of the nation’s top bridal publications, news and travel websites, and travel suppliers. Viewers will get a glimpse of the Aloha State’s natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere via two hours of prime time national television.
Does Jillian find her soul mate? Tune in to ABC’s “The Bachelorette†on July 27 for the season finale. For information about the show, visit ABC.Go.com/Primetime/Bachelorette. For information on Hawaii, the Islands of Aloha, visit GoHawaii.com or call toll-free 1-800-GOHAWAII.
Pearl Harbor Education Boosted by $150,000 Grant
Dec 5th
The East-West Center’s AsiaPacificEd Program for Schools has been awarded a $150,000 “Landmarks of American History and Culture†grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to conduct teachers workshops on “Pearl Harbor: History, Memory, and Memorial.†These workshops are co-sponsored by the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, the National Park Service, and the Japan American Society and will be held at the East-West Center during the summer of 2009. This is the fifth Landmarks grant that NEH has awarded to the East-West Center for the Pearl Harbor workshops.
Diabetes researchers seek volunteers
Jan 22nd
With diabetes diagnoses reaching “epidemic proportions,” a clinical research study is being conducted in Honolulu to test a medication that could stabilize blood-sugar levels and reduce the risk of long-term complications. The East-West Medical Research Institute and the affiliated Diabetes and Hormone Center of the Pacific (DHCP) are participating in a Type 2 diabetes study to test an investigational medication that may potentially stabilize blood sugar levels to prevent complications.
HPU scholarship rewards religious activities
Jan 14th
![[ Dr. Frank E. Butterworth and wife Irene ]](http://www.hawaiinews.com/gallery/albums/2003/frankbutterworth.thumb.jpg) Dr. & Mrs. Frank Butterworth |
Hawaii Pacific University has established a new scholarship for incoming freshmen and transfer students who are actively involved in their religious communities. Beginning in the fall, a 100 percent tuition-only scholarship will be awarded to four new students each year. The Dr. and Mrs. Frank E. Butterworth Scholarship is open to members of any organized religion or faith, and is renewable until completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Experts: N. Korea may want bombs, not talk
Jan 9th
Although the United States has now expressed willingness to talk to Pyongyang about its nuclear weapons program, North Koreans may not be interested in talk but instead intend to “acquire as many nuclear weapons as they can by the spring,” a leading American expert on the Korean Peninsula said at an East-West Center conference that ended here yesterday.
