Thursday, March 14 2013
Among the bills still alive
in the legislature is a measure concerning the labeling of food that contains
genetically modified organisms—or “GMO’s.” But some organic grocers are
taking the matter into their own hands.
Down to Earth Organic and
Natural will require food labeling on all products containing genetically
modified ingredients by 2018. This decision comes after a similar
announcement by Whole Foods last week.
CEO and Chief Organic
Officer Mark Fergusson says this is a move in the right direction and hopes
they can pave the way for other natural food stores. Down to Earth currently has
four stores on Oahu and one on Maui.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Wednesday, March 13 2013
Google has agreed to settle
a case brought by 38 states over its collection of personal data…And Hawaii is one of them. 
The Internet search giant
will pay a fine of $7 million --- with $106,179 going to the state
of Hawaii.
The data was collected and
stored while Google cars drove around the island for its Street View mapping
project. Bruce Kim is the Executive Director of Hawaii’s
Office of Consumer Protection. He says this was a clear violation of people’s
privacy.
The information may have
included URLs of requested websites, emails, and any other
private communication being transmitted at the time Google cars were driving
by.
The company has since
disabled or removed the software that allowed the Street View cars to collect
information. You can read the full Assurance of Voluntary Compliance here.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Wednesday, March 6 2013
After five sold-out
screenings in Honolulu, the film The
Untold Story: Internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaii is making its way
to Hilo.
While the story of Japanese
internment on the mainland has been well documented, this will be the first
full length film to chronicle the internment experience in Hawaii.
The Untold
Story was produced by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. President
and Executive Director Carole Hayashino says she wants future generations to
understand this important chapter in Hawaii’s history.
The
Untold Story will screen at the Hawaii Japanese Center in
Hilo on Saturday, March 23 at 10 am and 1:30 pm. Tickets are available for
purchase at the Book Gallery and at KTA Super Stores Puainako.
You can also find more information online at www.jcch.com.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Tuesday, March 5 2013
As policy makers in Washington continue to struggle with budget issues, Hawaii residents are
still wondering what the precise impacts will be on the state. One important
area of federal spending for Hawaii:
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—or NOAA. As HPR’s Bill Dorman
reports, the specific cuts to Hawaii’s NOAA operations are still not clear.
Tuesday, March 5 2013
Gas prices across the state are continuing to rise this week. The website GasBuddy.com says the average price at the pump is now $4.39 a gallon. That’s up 27 cents from last month. Some analysts believe at least part of the increase may be related to the shutdown of the Tesoro refinery. That includes Patrick DeHaan, a senior analyst at GasBuddy.com. He thinks prices in Hawaii will soon taper off and begin to come down. Governor Abercrombie has created a 29 member task force that is currently looking into the impact Tesoro’s closure will have on Hawaii. Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Friday, February 22 2013
The U.S. Department of Labor
has slapped seven Big
Island coffee businesses
with fines totaling more than $100,000.
Terence Trotter, director of
the Honolulu District Office, was shocked to find widespread labor violations
at some of Kona’s best-known coffee farms.
Trotter says farm owners
failed to pay workers the Federal minimum wage. Violation fees add up to more
than $63,000 in back pay. Several farms mislabeled coffee pickers
as independent contractors, denying them proper pay.
The Department of Labor is
working with the Kona Coffee Council to make sure these violations are not
repeated.
The coffee farms in
violation included Gold Coffee Company, Greenwell Farms, Koa Coffee Plantation,
Bird Feather Hawaii,
Mountain Thunder Coffee and Kona Blue Sky Coffee. Farm labor contractor
Tomasita Farm Service was also named.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Thursday, February 21 2013
A new set of advertisements
may cause you to reconsider your beverage. Governor Neil Abercrombie and the Department of Health have launched the “Rethink Your Drink” campaign. It’s a new series of advertisements targeting teen and childhood obesity. It urges kids to put down the soda and start making healthier choices. Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy says that too often ads promote unhealthy, sugar-sweetened beverages. The anti-obesity campaign ads were created using input from Hawaii students. Fuddy says in order for the ads to be effective, they need to resonate with younger viewers. Governor Abercrombie continues to urge lawmakers to pass a bill that would place a tax on soda…which would generate funding for obesity prevention programs. The Senate Bill recently passed its second reading. Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Wednesday, February 13 2013
Scientists are investigating
a coral disease that’s quickly spreading across the North shores of Kauai.
Large areas of reef are
covered with a type of cyano bacteria … and its killing coral at an alarming
rate.
Local biologist Terry Lilley
first alerted scientists of the outbreak last year, photographing the spread of
the bacterial disease.
Experts say it’s still
unclear why this is happening… but are working with state and federal agencies
to learn as much as they can about this growing epidemic.
Dr. Bernardo Vargas-Angel is
a coral disease specialist at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
He’s organizing a team of
scientists to investigate the outbreak and looks forward to collaborating with
UH Manoa researchers.
Vargas-Angel plans to return
to Kauai to lead a full investigation starting in April.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Thursday, February 7 2013
Honolulu’s
Kaka’ako neighborhood is buzzing with anticipation for the return of POW WOW.
The week-long art festival
brings a splash of color to Honolulu.
POW WOW co-founders Jasper
Wong and Kamea Hadar say they anticipate as many as 100
local and international artists. They’ll take to the streets starting Saturday,
using blank warehouse walls as a canvas to share their cultural stories.
Jasper and Kamea say none of
this would be possible without the strong support of the community. Every POW WOW, artists work
on a wall-sized collaborative piece. And on the last day, they paint over
it with black paint---or black it out.
Kamea explains how this tradition
has come to symbolize that POW WOW is more about the process than the end
product. POW WOW 2013 continues
through February 16th. You can find a full list of events online here.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Tuesday, February 5 2013
If you’ve walked by Kaka’ako
lately, you might’ve noticed the closed sign and the papered over windows of
Interisland Terminal’s R&D. The multi-use space has been home to a bookshop
of art, design and culinary books, as well as providing open workspace for
collaboration. It’s been closed for more than a month, and is on the verge of
revealing its makeover look later today.
Wei Fang is part of the
R&D team and has overseen the remodeling.
R&D’s large windows
shine light on the noticeably bigger space and loftier heights. Beams of
wood from the old ceiling were repurposed to create a wood counter bar that now
lines the side of the café.
Christian O’Connor is one
such regular who popped by to check out the new space.
You can see the new space
for yourself at R&D’s re-launch party. It takes place tonight at 6:30 and
you can buy tickets to the event here or submit a donation here.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Monday, February 4 2013
UH West Oahu is offering a free
summer math program that adds up to one unique experience.
15 students will be selected
to participate in the Ethnomathematics Summer Institute --- a curriculum that
combines math with the culture and history of Hawaii.
Students take what they
learn in the classroom and apply it to real life situations. Field studies
range from learning how to sail with the Polynesian Voyaging Society to
studying the site of Oahu’s last Hawaiian fishing village.
UH West Oahu’s Dr. Linda Furuto
heads the program that’s now in its 5th year. She has fond memories
of last year’s group and is hoping for another transformative experience.
The deadline to apply to the Ethnomathematics Summer Institute is March
1st. To learn more, you can attend a workshop on either Thursday, February 14 from 5 - 6 pm at UHWO Lab Bldg. E109 or
Friday, February 15 from 11 - 12 pm at UHWO Lab Bldg. E132. For further questions, please contact Dr. Linda Furuto at lfuruto@hawaii.edu.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Thursday, January 31 2013
The national debate over gun
control has led Hawaii legislators to introduce a handful of stricter gun laws,
including a proposal to buy back guns.
The Gun Buyback program, or
Senate Bill 69, would give Hawaii police departments a budget of $100,000
to exchange cash for people’s unwanted handguns and rifles.
State Senator Will Espero is
one of four lawmakers backing the bill.
He acknowledges that Hawaii
already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. But after President
Obama’s proposed gun legislation, he began to think about what could be done
here in Hawaii…without infringing on the rights of gun owners.
A public hearing on Senate Bill
69, will take place today at 3 pm in Conference Room 224 at the State Capitol
building.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Wednesday, January 30 2013
Future missions to Mars may
see some local grinds in space.
A team of researchers from
UH Manoa and Cornell University is inviting the public to submit their
favorite recipes for a four-month simulated mission to Mars.
The project is called
HI-SEAS and its part of a NASA study to figure out how to keep
astronauts well-fed on future trips to the red planet.
UH Manoa’s Kim Binsted is
looking forward to the recipe contest and is hoping to see some local
favorites.
Recipe submissions are being
accepted online now through March 8th. The HI-SEAS simulated mission
will begin in April. To learn more, visit the HI-SEAS website at www.hi-seas.org.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Monday, January 28 2013
It’s been forty years since
the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the United
States.
But a woman's right to
choose is still up for debate.
A bill is being brought
before Hawaii’s legislature today that could determine hospital protocol when
it comes to sexual assault victims.
The Compassionate Care Bill
would stop hospitals in Hawaii from denying sexual assault survivors
information about what is called Emergency Contraception. And it would insure
access to that care if it is needed and wanted.
Katie Polidoro of Plannned
Parenthood of Hawaii is doing everything she can to make sure it passes this
year.
Polidoro says a 2010 survey
of local hospitals found that most did not have a clear policy about Emergency
contraception in cases of sexual assault.
Currently, the decision is
often left to the physician...and not to the individual.
A public hearing on the
Compassionate Care Bill will take place today at 1:15 in Conference Room 229 at
the State Capitol building.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Friday, January 25 2013
Once a year, communities
around the country count the number of homeless in their midst.
It’s called the
“Point-In-Time Count.”
Service providers and
volunteers will take to the streets around the islands tonight to document the level of
homelessness.
The survey helps form a
snapshot of Hawaii’s
homeless population, and is used for everything from determining government
grants to planning future outreach operations.
One group expected to
increase this year is unaccompanied homeless youth. Last year only eight were
reported. Connie Mitchell, Executive Director of the Institute for Human
Services, believes we need to focus more effort on locating homeless youth…a
group previously undercounted.
The Count continues through
Tuesday, January 29th and is still looking for help from the
community. If you are interested in volunteering on Oahu, please call Kanui at
389-5829.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Thursday, January 24 2013
Extreme drought is pushing
one of Maui’s most unusual plants into a dangerous decline. Once on the
road to recovery, recent climate change has left the Haleakala Silversword
struggling to survive.
UH Biologist Paul
Krushelnycky blames global warming
patterns. With rising temperatures and increasingly dry conditions expected to
continue … the future of the Silversword doesn’t look good.
Krushelnycky recently co-authored a paper on the
decline of the Haleakala Silversword in the journal Global Change Biology.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Monday, January 21 2013
A unique opportunity on the
North Shore is bringing students outside the traditional classroom. Kamehameha
Schools and UH Manoa's Department of Anthropology have come together to
establish the first North Shore Field School. It's a place where budding archaeologists can gain first hand experience on one of Oahu's most sacred
ancestral lands.
Every Saturday over the next
14 weeks, twenty students will gather at Kupopolo Heiau to identify and
document archaeological artifacts and practice mapping and excavation
techniques.
UH Associate Professor Ty
Kawika Tengan says this project has been in the works for the past five years.
Jason Jeremiah, Kamehameha's
senior cultural resource manager, believes that in order to gain a better
understanding of the land, you have to build a relationship with the people in
the community.
The Field School is looking
for volunteers to help clear debris at Kupopolo Heiau. If you live in the North
Shore community and would like to get involved, send an email to northshore@ksbe.edu.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Thursday, January 17 2013
As
Hawaii’s 2013 legislature gets underway, one focus for Governor Abercrombie is
early childhood education. That’s raising hopes for a number of non-profit
groups, including one called IM4U. This group is working with UH
Mānoa’s College of Education to fight bullying among young students. Twenty Leeward Coast teachers are testing the nonprofit’s anti-bullying
curriculum….one that founder Jim Mayer says uses music to deliver its message.
Mayer
has been working with early education professor Ellen Booth Church on a series
of lesson plans.
Jim
Mayer and Ellen Booth Church will spend the next two weeks visiting Hawaii
classrooms, holding seminars and getting feedback about the program. They’ll
end their trip with a workshop next Saturday at the Rotary Peace Forum.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Wednesday, January 16 2013
30 middle school girls from
the Big Island have the opportunity to soar at Pacific Aviation Museum’s Flight
School for Girls. For the next three days, students from Ka'u High and Pahala
Elementary School will learn the basics of flight. The girls will explore the
history and technology of aviation and take to the skies using flight
simulation software.
Museum Director of
Education, Dr. Shauna Tonkin developed the program, specifically with young
girls in mind.
The Big Island students are
the first class outside of Oahu to participate.
The Pacific Aviation Museum hopes to continue collaboration with other
neighbor islands in the future.
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
Monday, January 14 2013
If you want to make the
world a better place, you could start with a local beach. A week from Saturday, the Hoakalei
Cultural Foundation is organizing a clean up at One`ula Beach.
Last year, community members
removed more than 100 tons of rubbish from the Honouliuli shoreline. Kepa Maly heads the
nonprofit group behind the work. While most of the day is
devoted to clearing debris, Kepa hopes volunteers take away larger lessons.
If you are interested in
participating in the clean up, meet at the West side of One`ula Beach Park at 8
a.m. Following the clean up, volunteers will be rewarded with pizza and
shave-ice. For more information, please call 563-0787. To pre-register for the service project email kepa@hoakaleifoundation.org
Full audio available here: (Molly Solomon / HPR News)
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