The results released today by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show double-digit gains for Hawaii’s fourth grade English Language Learners (ELL). State average scaled scores for fourth grade ELL students increased by 26 points for reading and 13 points for mathematics compared to 2017 results, outpacing the nation’s growth (+2 reading; +2 mathematics). Eighth grade ELL students also outperformed their peers nationally with an increase of five points in reading and seven points in mathematics. “As we continue to review the overall results, we are especially encouraged by the progress shown by our ELL students and having discussions on what strategies have contributed to these encouraging outcomes,” said Assistant Superintendent Heidi Armstrong, Office of Student Support Services. “While we recognize there is more work needed to narrow and ultimately eliminate the achievement gap, there has been an increased awareness around the specialized supports and services our ELL students require to be successful.” Hawaii’s overall results, compared to 2009 scores, show a steady increase in all categories bucking the national trend of decreases in all categories over ten years. Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto weighed in on the long-term results for Hawaii’s students on the Nation’s Report Card, adding, "In recent years, even with the implementation of higher standards and an increase in rigor in the state’s curriculum, our students are showing progress in closing the achievement gap with the nation in such areas as fourth-grade reading. The Department will look for correlations between improvements and core strategies to leverage best practices and continue our positive trajectory. In 2018, 2,200 fourth grade students and 2,200 eighth grade students represented Hawaii in the NAEP mathematics exam, along with a different random sampling of 2,200 fourth grade students and 2,200 eighth grade students in the reading exam. The NAEP assessment was originally designed to provide a common measure of student performance across the country at a time when there was no consistency among state academic standards or common measures to compare states. This includes college and career readiness standards adopted by states, including Hawaii, in the last decade. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, U.S. history, and in Technology and Engineering Literacy. In 2017, NAEP began administering digitally based assessments (DBA) for mathematics, reading and writing. For more information and this year’s NAEP reports, click here. #NationsReportCard #Education #ELL #HawaiiPublicSchools #NAEP #ChristinaKishimoto #EducationAssessments #HawaiiState

HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:45 a.m. During this monthly test, all Statewide Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound a one-minute Attention Alert Signal (Steady Tone). A simultaneous test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is conducted with the monthly siren sounding, in cooperation with Hawai'i’s broadcast industry. There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test. The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of Hawai'i’s Statewide Alert & Warning System used to notify the public during emergencies. If you hear this siren tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. This may be in the form of a local radio, television station broadcast, and/or cellular Wireless Emergency Alert. Wireless Emergency Alert delivers sound-and-text warnings to compatible mobile cellular phones. The Emergency Alert System & Wireless Emergency Alert’s notifications are managed by FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure. Oahu residents in areas surrounding Campbell Industrial Park may also hear a “whooping” tone following the siren test. These areas include portions of Kalaeloa, Makakilo, Nanakuli, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. The “whooping” tone is a test of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) siren warning group that will be activated in the event of an actual HAZMAT incident requiring emergency notification of businesses, schools and residents within the vicinity of Campbell Industrial Park. Contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management at (808) 723-8960 for more information on the HAZMAT warning group siren test. Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located at the front section of telephone directories in all counties. The public may contact emergency management and county civil defense agencies to report siren operation issues: City and County of Honolulu (808) 723-8960 Maui County (808) 270-7285 Kaua'i County (808) 241-1800 Hawai'i County (808) 935-0031 #EmergencyAlertSystem #WirelessEmergencyAlerts #HIEMA #AttentionAlertSystem #StatewideOutdoorWarningSirenSystem #Hawaii #HawaiiEmergencyManagement

(Hilo) – With the naked eye you can see large schools of Nile tilapia in Hawai‘i Island’s Wailoa River system including its tributary Waiākea Stream and Waiākea Pond which sits in the middle of Wailoa River State Park in Hilo. Two years ago, this species of tilapia was reclassified by the State Board of Agriculture as a restricted species only for research – to permit importation for aquaculture facilities to farm raise them. While there’s no evidence that a recent “invasion” of the tilapia in fresh water streams has anything to do with commercial farming operations, it confirms fears DLNR and Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) leadership and biologists expressed when Board members were debating whether to allow the State Dept. of Agriculture to revise its rules to permit aquaculture importation of Nile tilapia. Brian Neilson, DAR Administrator explained, “Unfortunately, Hawai‘i has a long history of bringing in species, thinking that they’ll provide some commercial or ecosystem benefit, to discover later that these same species out-compete native species. We are now seeing stark evidence of this. While Nile tilapia were present in the Hilo waterways before aquaculture operations began, reports of Nile tilapia or hybrids are on the rise indicating that their population may be increasing, and their range may be expanding. That’s the real downside of bringing non-native species into the state for any reason.” Local fisherman, as with a recent invasion of Black Chin tilapia along Kaua‘i’s Napali Coast, were among the first to see and report increasing numbers of Nile tilapia in the Wailoa River and its associated waterways. Kim Fuller, a DAR aquatic invasive species biologist explains that Nile tilapia are valuable for commercial food production for the very same reasons they can become pests when they’re present in natural fresh water environments.  She said, “They reproduce quickly, grow quickly, and are very competitive for food resources with native fish. Worldwide, Nile tilapia have a history of invasion and when we did our risk assessment for the introduction of these fish, we found them to be fairly high risk of becoming invasive in Hawai‘i.” The Wailoa River system is known as Hawai‘i’s prime mullet fishery. “Our biggest concern right now, is the Nile tilapia is competing with the native mullet (‘ama‘ama) for habitat and resources and potentially affecting the fishery,” commented Hilo-based DAR aquatic biologist Troy Sakihara. He and his team have been taking in both live and dead tilapia caught by fishermen and he marvels at how fast and large the Nile species grows. “What makes them particularly troublesome as a potential invasive species, is they can survive and take over in a wide-variety of habitat conditions. Their very hardiness makes them an issue,” Sakihara explained. The reasons behind the current increase in the Nile tilapia invasion in Hilo are not known, but biologists caution that while aquaculture farming facilities are “closed systems,” all it takes is one lapse in biosecurity measures and then quickly you see an invasion population of these fish. The DAR team in Hilo is in the process of determining what to do to try and control the burgeoning population of Nile tilapia, including the possibility of an open fishing tournament. There are no restrictions or bag limits on tilapia and for now biologists say, catch and eat as many as you want. To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/368838967 #WailoaRiver #WaikeaStream #NileTilapia #Hilo #DLNR #BrianNeilson #AmaAma #Tilapia #BlackChinTilapia

Honolulu, Hawaii – Governor David Y. Ige released $2,600,000 to widen Kuhio Highway from Kuamoo Road to Temporary Bypass Road by adding a southbound lane and a right-turn lane along Kuhio Highway. "I tremendously appreciate Governor Ige releasing of funds for this project," said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, "it is hoped that this project will alleviate some of the heavy traffic through this corridor and provide some relief to our island residents." #KuhioHighway #KuamooRoad #TemporaryRoad #RonKouchi #HawaiiSenate #DavidIge

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i State Senate will convene in Special Session on November 12 and 13, 2019 to consider three judicial appointments. On October 17, 2019, the Senate received notice of Governor David Y. Ige’s appointment: Kelsey Kawano as Judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit. On October 18, 2019, the Senate received notice of Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald’s appointment: Rebecca A. Copeland as Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit and Alvin K. Nishimura as Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawai‘i Constitution, the Senate shall hold public hearings and vote on each appointment within thirty days of any appointment. The Senate Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing on the appointments at the Hawai‘i State Capitol on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. and plans to hold a decision-making meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. in Conference room 016. The Senate will meet in Special Session on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12 and 13, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. in the Senate Chambers. All public documents and hearing notices will be posted on the Capitol website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/splsession.aspx?year=2019b #HawaiiSenate #SpecialSession #MarkRecktenwald #KelseyKawano #RebeccaCopeland #AlvinNishimura

(Lihu‘e) –  As part of the annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event held at Lydgate Park, students from Island School and Kawaikini Charter School helped release three fledgling ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwaters). The event was organized by the Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) and the Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) project. Every year, the SOS project rehabilitates both ‘A‘o and U’au (Hawaiian petrels) that are either injured by powerline collisions or attracted to artificial lights on the island of Kaua’i.  Both species have suffered severe declines  in recent decades – studies by KESRP have shown that between 1993 and 2013 the population of ‘A‘o declined by 94% and U’au by 78%. During the month of October, light attraction becomes a particular concern for ‘A‘o. This is the peak month when young ‘A‘o are leaving their burrows for the first time and head out to sea.  After they fly from their burrows in the remote mountain areas in which they breed, they get attracted to the bright lights of towns. They often circle until they end up exhausted and grounded. If the birds are not rescued by good samaritans they can become easy prey for introduced predators  (such as feral cats, rats and pigs) or run over by cars. Alexa Foster, a KESRP staff member who helped organize Tuesday’s event, explained its’ importance. “Kauai’s seabirds really need our help.  As the next generation of leaders on Kaua’i, our keiki will be responsible for the future of ‘A‘o and other native wildlife into the future.  When they see rehabilitated ‘A‘o chicks up close, they form personal connections that can last a lifetime.” KESRP staff went to both schools to make presentations about Kaua‘i’s endangered seabirds. The children learned fun facts about the island’s three endangered seabirds, and why Kaua’i is such an important place for them. For example it has an estimated 90% of the world population of the ‘A’o. After the school visits, children were asked why it was so important to protect Kaua’i’s endangered seabirds, and they were quick to answer. Loea Keana’aina of Kawaikini Charter School said, “I hope the ‘A‘o, U’au and ‘Ake’ake will fourish and not go extinct. I will try really hard to keep them safe.” Pōhai Tabia, also of Kawaikini Charter School added,”The ‘A‘o is so helpful and important to Hawaiian culture as they were a vital source of food, a helpful fishing companion, and amazing wayfinders. These ‘Island Engineers’ are so valuable, and I am so thankful that we were taught how to protect and be aware of them.” Everyone can help at this time of year by keeping an eye out for fallen birds. If birds are found, they should be carefully collected and placed in one of the aid stations located at Kaua’i County fire stations and other locations around the island. They’ll be picked up by SOS staff.  The fall-out season continues until mid-December. KESRP is a state DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife project, administered by the Pacific Co-operative Studies Unit of the University of Hawai‘i. SOS is a DLNR project housed at the Kaua’i Humane Society and financially supported by the Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative. To view video please click on photo or view a this link: https://vimeo.com/368371964 #Shearwaters #Endangeredbirds #Kauai #Lihue #SOSProject #IslandSchool #DLNR #KawaikiniCharterSchool #SaveOurSharwaters #UHHawaii #KauaiHumaneSociety

HONOLULU —The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting to receive comments on the U.S. Navy and Defense Logistics Agency’s proposed plan to upgrade the underground storage tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The meeting will be at Moanalua Middle School,1289 Mahiole Street, in Honolulu on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. Photo credit: EJAtlas All interested parties may present oral and written comments to provide relevant information or express their opinion. EPA and DOH will consider all public comments before approving or disapproving the proposal in whole or in part. The Navy and Defense Logistic Agency’s combined tank upgrade alternatives and release detection proposal is available online at https://www.epa.gov/red-hill. It can also be viewed in person at the Department of Health’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, 2827 Waimano Home Road, #100, in Pearl City. To request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g. ASL interpreter or large print) for the public meeting, call 808-586-4226 (voice/TDD) or email thu.perry@doh.hawaii.gov by Nov. 12. Anyone unable to attend the public meeting may send written comments to Attn: Red Hill, 2827 Waimano Home Road, #100, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782 or DOHrhcomments@HawaiiOIMT.onmicrosoft.com. Written comments must be received by Dec. 9, 2019. PDF: DOH and EPA to hold Nov. 19 public meeting to accept public comments on the U.S. Navy’s proposed Tank Upgrade and Release Detection for Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility #DOH #Health #EPA #RedHill #RedHillStorageTanks #Navy #UndergroundFuelTanks

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/367200280 (Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, Maui) – Five male and two female kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill; Pseudonestor xanthophrys) have now been moved from the Hanawi Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the windward slopes of Haleakalā, to the Nakula NAR on the leeward slope of Maui’s highest mountain. The goal is to establish a second “insurance” population that will significantly lower the risks of extinction. Next week, the first of the seven wild kiwikiu will join captive-bred birds from San Diego Zoo Global’s Maui Bird Conservation Center, in timed releases into the newly restored, koa-dominated forest at Nakula. Prior to their release, the birds will be outfitted with tiny radio transmitters to allow researchers to track their movements for one to two months. This is an important step in the decades-long effort to re-establish a distinct population of kiwikiu to better ensure the tiny, yellow forest birds’ survival. Kiwikiu once inhabited all of the forests of Haleakalā, and were even found on Moloka‘i, but due to habitat destruction by feral ungulates, the species became limited to a tiny area on the windward side of Maui. Biologists estimate that fewer than 300 of these endemic honeycreepers remain; making them among the most critically endangered native birds in Hawai‘i. Surveys indicate the population is more likely around 157 individuals. Without immediate intervention from people, it is feared the kiwikiu could become extinct. This fate has befallen numerous Hawaiian bird species in modern times, including Maui’s po‘ouli (Melamprosops phaeosoma) previously found in these same forests, which went extinct in 2004. Preventing another extinction requires intensive management actions. Last week, a team of partners from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Diego Zoo Global, Pacific Bird Conservation, and American Bird Conservancy scoured the steep, muddy slopes of Hanawi NAR in repeated attempts to snare kiwikiu in mist nets. As many as ten of the fine mesh nets were deployed for eight straight days, resulting in the capture of 15 kiwikiu. Seven males and one female, which was likely incubating, were released back into Hanawi to achieve a better balance between males and females in the group moved to Nakula. As the effort neared its end, Dr. Hanna Mounce, Project Coordinator for the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, announced, “We just caught a female kiwikiu. Surprisingly, we encountered a heck of a lot of males and other honeycreeper species, but we’re super thrilled we have two females in the bird room now.” The team is planning a mid-November return to Hanawi to attempt to capture more females. The bird room is a mobile aviculture facility and veterinary lab, where each bird is placed into a separate box. They were fed three times a day, and a veterinarian from San Diego Zoo Global gave them thorough health checks. Peter Luscomb, founder and lead coordinator of Pacific Bird Conservation and a retired, long-time curator at the Honolulu Zoo, volunteered to run the bird room. Each day, he mixed up food for the birds and carefully tracked their health, monitoring weight changes and feces quality. He recalls a quote by William Beebe as the impetus for his continued involvement in this project and others aimed at saving endangered birds. “When the last individual of a living thing breathes no more, another Heaven and Earth must pass, before another shall be.” That line encapsulates the motivation for individual team members to camp for ten days at a time, and work at 6,000 to 7,000 feet elevation, often in cold, wet, muddy, and very steep terrain. Upon release at the Nakula NAR, the birds will hopefully begin breeding in what is largely a koa forest, brought back to life in recent years after decades of overgrazing by cows, goats, deer, and other hooved animals. To date, more than 250,000 shrubs and trees have been planted at Nakula, and it is believed that the restored ecosystem might be more productive habitat for kiwikiu, rather than the wetter, colder, ʻōhiʻa-dominated forest at Hanawi. Despite the protections kiwikiu enjoy at Hanawi, their numbers have continued to decline in recent years. “This is why it’s really important we take every step and every measure possible to save these birds,” Mounce explained. “They are small, but if we can ensure their survival, the new Nakula population represents an enormous step toward eliminating, yet another extinction risk for one of Hawai‘i’s invaluable and irreplaceable forest birds. These bold measures to save them represent their last stand.” #Kiwikiu #MauiParrotbill #HanawiNaturalAreaReserve #Haleakala #DLNR #MauiForestBirdRecoveryProject #HannaMounce #Hawaii #HawaiiState

Through the first nine months of 2019, Hawaii hotels statewide reported slight growth in both revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rate (ADR) compared to the same period in 2018. In fact, Hawaii hotels had the highest RevPAR and ADR through the first three quarters of 2019 when compared to other top U.S. markets.  According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), statewide RevPAR rose to $228 (+1.5%), with ADR at $281 (+1.9%) and occupancy of 81.3 percent (-0.3 percentage points) (Figure 1) year-to-date through September 2019. HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands. Year-to-date through September 2019, statewide hotel room revenues of $3.37 billion were similar to the same period in 2018. There were nearly 230,000 fewer available room nights (-1.5%) and slightly more than 226,000 fewer occupied room nights (-1.9%) compared to a year ago (Figure 2). Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during the first three quarters of 2019. Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $433 (+3.2%), with ADR at $560 (+1.0%) and occupancy of 77.4 percent (+1.6 percentage points). Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $144 (-2.6%), with ADR at $176 (-0.7%) and occupancy of 81.8 percent (-1.6 percentage points). Comparison to Top U.S. Markets In comparison to other top U.S. markets, hotels in the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest RevPAR at $228 for the first nine months of 2019, followed by San Francisco/San Mateo at $211 (+3.4%) and New York City at $207 (-3.2%) (Figure 3). Hawaii also led the U.S. markets in ADR at $281, followed by San Francisco/San Mateo at $254 (+4.3%) and New York City at $243 (-1.9%) (Figure 4). The Hawaiian Islands ranked third for occupancy at 81.3 percent, with New York City topping the list at 85.4 percent (-1.1 percentage points) (Figure 5). Hotel Results by County Through the first nine months of 2019, Maui County hotels led Hawaii’s four island counties in RevPAR at $311 (+4.0%), with ADR at $397 (+2.6%) and occupancy of 78.4 percent (+1.1 percentage points). Oahu hotels earned slightly higher RevPAR of $201 (+0.9%), with ADR at $238 (+1.2%) and occupancy of 84.5 percent (-0.3 percentage points).  Hotels on the island of Hawaii reported RevPAR growth to $204 (+3.7%), with increases in both ADR to $264 (+2.7%) and occupancy of 77.1 percent (+0.8 percentage points).  Kauai hotels’ RevPAR decreased to $209 (-8.9%), with declines in both ADR to $284 (-1.8%) and occupancy of 73.6 percent (-5.7 percentage points). Comparison to International Markets When compared to international “sun and sea” destinations, Hawaii’s counties ranked among the top 10 markets for RevPAR in the first nine months of 2019. Hotels in French Polynesia ranked highest in RevPAR at $395 (+7.9%), followed by Maldives at $351 (+1.7%). Maui County ranked third, with Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively (Figure 7). French Polynesia also led in ADR at $566 (+2.1%), followed by Maldives at $528 (+0.7%). Maui County ranked third, with Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu ranked sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively (Figure 7). Oahu led in occupancy for sun and sea destinations, followed by Maui County, the island of Hawaii, Aruba (76.2%, +0.8 percentage points),and Kauai (Figure 8). September 2019 Hotel Performance For the month of September, RevPAR statewide grew to $193 (+4.4%), with ADR at $247 (+3.2%) and occupancy of 78.2 percent (+0.9 percentage points) (Figure 9). Hawaii hotel room revenues statewide increased 3.3 percent to $313.1 million in September. There were approximately 800 more occupied room nights (+0.1%) and nearly 18,000 fewer available room nights (-1.1%) compared to a year ago (Figure 10). Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during September. However, the number of rooms out of service may be under-reported. Luxury Class properties led in growth of RevPAR at $329 (+9.7%) in September, which was driven by increases in occupancy to 72.1 percent (+3.8 percentage points) and ADR to $456 (+3.9%). Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $131 (+3.5%) with ADR at $164 (+1.4%) and occupancy of 79.8 percent (+1.6 percentage points). In September, Maui County hotels reported the highest RevPAR of all four counties at $232 (+7.5%), which was supported by increases in both ADR to $319 (+4.9%) and occupancy of 72.7 percent (+1.7 percentage points). Maui’s luxury resort region of Wailea reported RevPAR of $380 (+4.4%), with ADR growth ($461, +7.5%) offsetting lower occupancy (82.4%, -2.4 percentage points). Oahu hotels earned 2.4 percent RevPAR growth to $191, driven by higher ADR ($227, +2.4%) and no change in occupancy of 84.1 percent. Waikiki hotels reported growth in RevPAR, ADR, and occupancy for September. Hotels on the island of Hawaii saw increases in RevPAR to $150 (+20.9%), ADR to $222 (+8.6%), and occupancy to 67.5 percent (+6.8 percentage points) in September compared to a year ago. In May 2018, Kilauea volcano started erupting in lower Puna, which contributed to a downturn in visitors to the island of Hawaii in succeeding months.  RevPAR for Kauai hotels fell to $165 (-9.9%) in September, with declines in both ADR to $241 (-4.0%) and occupancy to 68.6 percent (-4.5 percentage points). Tables of hotel performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/infrastructure-research/ About the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report The Hawaii Hotel Performance Report is produced using hotel survey data compiled by STR, Inc., the largest survey of its kind in Hawaii. The survey generally excludes properties with under 20 lodging units, such as small bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, single-family vacation rentals, cottages, individually rented vacation condominiums and sold timeshare units no longer available for hotel use. The data has been weighted both geographically and by class of property to compensate for any over and/or under representation of hotel survey participants by location and type. For September 2019, the survey included 162 properties representing 48,212 rooms, or 89.3 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the Hawaiian Islands, including full service, limited service, and condominium hotels. #Hawaii #HawaiiTourism #GoHawaii #HotelPerformanceReport #RevPAR #HawaiiTourismAuthority #STRInc #HawaiiState #Tourism

Lactation Room 2: Women's Legislative Caucus members celebrate the blessing and opening of the new Lactation Room at the State Capitol. (From left) Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Rep. Lauren Matsumoto, Sen. Laura H. Thielen, Sen. Rosalyn H. Baker, Rep. Della Au Belatti, Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Rep. Lisa Kitagawa, and Rep. Nadine K. Nakamura. WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS OPENS LACTATION ROOM FOR MOTHERS ATTENDING PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THE STATE CAPITOL Room will provide privacy, comfort for mothers to nurse babies, express milk The Women's Legislative Caucus (WLC) today held a blessing and opening ceremony for the first Lactation Room at the State Capitol. The room, located on the second floor, will provide a comfortable, private space for mothers to nurse their babies and express milk.  The space is comfortably furnished with a table, chair, posters and a rug provided by the House and Senate Clerks offices for the project. "In the past, mothers who came to the Capitol to talk to lawmakers, attend hearings, or testify did not have a private, hygienic place to use a breast pump," said Representative Linda Ichiyama, Women's Legislative Caucus Co-Convener. "This new room for mothers and families removes a barrier to open participation in government. I'm grateful it all came together before the start of the next legislative session." Lactation Room 1: Women's Legislative Caucus Co-Convener (from left) Senators Laura H. Thielen and Rosalyn H. Baker, and Representatives Lauren Matsumoto and Linda Ichiyama inside the new Lactation Room. "We have wanted to make this room available for a couple years and needed to find the right space," said Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Co-Convener of the WLC. "The Lactation Room will allow mothers who are breastfeeding to feel safe and comfortable when they visit the Capitol." Leʻa Minton, Board President of Breastfeeding Hawaiʻi, said the lactation room is critical for allowing mothers to take part in the legislative process. "Lactation rooms are opening in government building across the country," Minton said. "Mothers have the right to breastfeed or express milk and still take part in the legislative process. We want to thank the Women's Legislative Caucus for making this happen." Misty Kela'i, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts, performed the blessing ceremony. Legislators have also provided funds to install diaper changing stations on each floor of the Capitol. That project will provide at least one changing station per floor and is currently being planned. The bipartisan Women's Legislative Caucus is comprised of women elected to the State House of Representatives and the Senate and established more than 20 years ago to advocate bills on behalf of the women of the state of Hawai'i. #LactationRoom #BreastfeedingHawaii #HawaiiStateCapitol #WomensLegislativeCaucus #BiPartisanPower #HawaiiSenate #HouseHouseofRepresentatives #RozBaker #LauraThielen #SharonMoriwaki

Ka‘imiloa Elementary School teacher Cecilia Chung was named the 2020 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year.  Chung, affectionately known as CC, received the state's top teaching award from Governor David Ige and Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto during an awards ceremony held at Washington Place. Chung will represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program in Washington, D.C. The honor is presented annually to a classroom teacher selected from more than 11,000 educators within the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE). Chung was among 15 Complex Area Teachers of the Year and Charter School Teacher of the Year recognized today. “CC is a passionate educator who has an ability to elevate and inspire those around her,” said Superintendent Kishimoto. “Whether she’s helping to produce the next generation of leaders in her classroom, or mentoring our future teacher leaders here at the Department, CC continues to leave an indelible mark on our community through her hard work. We look forward to following CC's achievements as she continues to inspire those around her to deliver on the power and promise of public education." Chung joined the HIDOE family in 2013 and currently serves as the technology integration coach for grades K-6 at Ka‘imiloa Elementary in Ewa Beach. A mentor and inspiration to her fellow educators, Chung has led and facilitated a variety of workshops for the education community including the Schools of the Future Conference, EdCamp for West Oʻahu, and Kamehameha Schools’ Ed Tech Conference.  She is also a Hawaiʻi State Teacher Fellow, a role in which she works with other thoughtfully and rigorously selected public school teachers to grow their leadership skills, collaborate to bring the voices of teachers to decision makers, empower teachers and elevate the teaching profession. The full list of finalists honored today are, in alphabetical order: Jessica Adkins, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex, Maui High. Kai Ah Hee, Honokaʻa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex, West Hawaiʻi District Office. Courtney Carpenter, Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex, Waikīkī Elementary. Dustin Chang, ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex, Pearl Harbor Elementary. Cecilia Chung, Campbell-Kapolei Complex, Ka‘imiloa Elementary. Celeste Endo, Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex, Queen Ka‘ahumanu Elementary.  Taylor Flett, Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex, Wheeler Middle. Zoe Ingerson, Public Charter Schools, School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS). Nikki Morishige, Castle-Kahuku Complex, Waiāhole Elementary.  Megan Nii, Kauai Complex, Wilcox Elementary. Russell Rapoza, Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex, Kea‘au High. Ululani Russo, Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex, Waiʻanae Intermediate. Kathy Sewake, Hilo-Waiākea Complex, Waiākea Elementary. Kaui Spitalsky, Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokaʻi Complex, Lahainaluna High. Crystal Stafford, Kailua-Kalāheo Complex, Kalāheo High. Jennifer Yamaguchi, Pearl City-Waipahu Complex, Pearl City Highlands Elementary. Today's Teacher of the Year ceremony included: A $500 award to each finalist by The Polynesian Cultural Center, the program's corporate sponsor for over 30 years, and $1,000 award to the winner. A $100 award to each finalist by Hawaiʻi Schools Federal Credit Union, and a $250 award to the winner. Honorariums to each finalist by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. A one-year lease of a 2019 Kia Niro Hybrid courtesy of the Hawaiʻi Automobile Dealers Association and Aloha Kia to the winner. A $500 gas card courtesy of Par Hawaiʻi to the winner. For photos of the event, click here.  View the news release online here. #HawaiiTeacherOfTheYear #TeacherOfTheYear #CeciliaChung #KaimiloaElementary #EwaBeach #ChristinaKishimoto #HawaiisBest #Davidige

Hoʻōla Nā Pua is hosting, Campaign for a Safer Community, presented by the Hawai`i Tourism Authority and in partnership with the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association. We invite visitor industry management to join us for a half day symposium to raise awareness and combat sex trafficking. A symposium will be held on each island: Please visit following links for each respective island. Nov. 4: Oahu (The Royal Hawaiian, Waikiki) Nov. 5: Maui (The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali) Nov. 6: Hawaii Island (Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority – Hale Iako, Kailua-Kona) Nov. 7: Kauai (Sheraton Kauai Resort, Poipu) The state of Hawai`i is world renowned as a culturally authentic and unique destination for honeymoons and family vacations. The truth is that every day in Hawai`i, keiki are being targeted, exploited, and sold right here on our islands. Together, we will say “NO” to criminals exploiting people. Not on our property and not in our islands. Symposium Recommended For: Visitor industry management, including the following roles from hotels, transportation, and businesses that work in the tourism sector: General Managers, Human Resources Management, Hospitality Management, Security Management, Customer Service/Front Desk Management, and leaders in tourism. Law enforcement who are the first responders in supporting the visitor industry Symposium Topics: Defining Trafficking and Exploitation Tourism Industry Key Partners in Protecting Our Community Responding, Reporting, and Action Steps Featured Speakers are From: Polaris: This organization operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline and is a global leader in anti-trafficking. BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking): This organization works to align and equip leaders to use the power of business to prevent human trafficking. Law Enforcement: Local officials will share about their role in combating the crime of trafficking in our state on the federal and state levels. Registration Closes October 29, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. #HoolaNaPua #SexTrafficking #Hawaii #CampaignForASaferCommunity #HawaiiTourismAuthority #HawaiiTourism #TakeAStandAgainstTrafficking