17 States Join to Stop Trump Administration’s Effort to Roll Back Contraceptive Coverage Attorney General Russell Suzuki joined a coalition of 17 Attorneys General led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in filing an amicus brief to support a lawsuit by Massachusetts challenging the Trump administration’s decision to roll back a requirement under the Affordable Care Act that employers include contraceptive coverage for women in their health insurance plans. In December 2017, Pennsylvania won a nationwide injunction from Federal Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in a lawsuit challenging the Administration’s actions. That ruling stopped the Trump Administration’s rules undermining the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers provide their employees with contraceptive coverage. The Trump administration is appealing that injunction. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also sued the Trump Administration over its plans to change this critical rule, and the amicus brief supports Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit. “The Trump Administration is again trying to impose illegal rules that will threaten the rights of women to access affordable health care,” said Attorney General Suzuki. “We will continue to oppose these attempts and will keep fighting for the basic health care rights of Hawaii’s women.” The amicus brief filed Monday with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, supports Massachusetts’ appeal to stop the federal government from implementing new rules that authorize virtually any employer with a religious or moral objection to disregard its legal obligation to provide its employees and their dependents with coverage for contraceptive care. According to the brief, rules issued by the Trump Administration violate the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurance companies to cover preventive health care services, including contraception, with no co-pays. As a result of the ACA, more than 55 million women in the United States have access to birth control with no out-of-pocket costs. In addition to Attorneys General Suzuki and Shapiro, the amicus brief was joined by the Attorneys General of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia. Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov Twitter: @ATGHIgov #DepartmentoftheAttorneyGeneral #womenshealthcoverage #amicusbrief #uscourtofappeals #affordablecareact #trumpadministration #donaldtrum #generalsuzuki #shapiro #WendyBeetlestone #JoshShapiro #ContraceptiveCoverage #hawaii

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has received an $8 million federal grant over a two-year period to continue to combat opioid misuse in the state. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week announced it awarded more than $1 billion in opioid-specific grants to help states combat the crisis in the nation. “No state is immune from this public health issue,” said Dr. Bruce Anderson, director of the Hawai‘i Department of Health. “This grant provides another step in a positive direction for Hawaii to implement HHS’ comprehensive five-pronged strategy to address opioid misuse across our islands.” According to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is a part of HHS, Americans initiating heroin use dropped by around half from 2016 to 2017. The number of Americans misusing opioids also dropped for the second year in a row, and the number receiving specialty treatment for heroin use increased. From January 2017 through August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America has dropped by 21 percent. During the same period, the number of prescriptions filled for naloxone, used to counter opioid addiction, has increased 264 percent, while the number of prescriptions for buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment, has risen 16 percent. Hawai‘i’s opioid death rates have historically been lower than the national rate. In 2016, there were 77 opioid-related overdose deaths¬¬¬ in Hawai‘i—a rate of 5.2 deaths per 100,000 persons. This is less than half the national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 persons. “We should not look at these figures and let our guard down; we must continue the momentum that we have begun in Hawai‘i,” warned Edward Mersereau, chief of DOH’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. “In Hawai‘i, drug overdose deaths account for nearly a quarter of all fatal injuries, which include deaths from prescription opioids.” “In Hawai‘i, we all know a relative or friend who has been affected by drug misuse or addiction, including those who were taking a prescribed opioid as directed for pain relief,” Mersereau added. “The social, economic and health disparities in our state, including access to behavioral health care, also make us particularly vulnerable to opioid and other drug misuse.” “This award doubles the level of funding Hawai‘i has received from HHS to combat the opioid crisis and support drug abuse prevention” said Edward Heidig, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region IX, which includes Hawai‘i. “HHS Secretary Azar has accelerated the deployment of unprecedented levels of resources that allow states like Hawai‘i to fight opioid use disorder, a medical condition that has become a national epidemic.” This is a second round of federal funding for Hawai‘i. The health department received a $4 million Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grant, which was part of a program created by the 21st Century Cures Act. The grant program is administered by SAMHSA within HHS. The SAMHSA grant has been used to successfully launch a collaborative, statewide effort to develop the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan, which was designed to be a “living document.” It offers a comprehensive approach to aggressively counteract the misuse of opioids and other prevalent drugs, such as methamphetamine in Hawai‘i. Mersereau said the majority of the funding—about 60 percent—will be earmarked for prevention programs and the remainder will be used for treatment and recovery initiatives. “The grant funds will continue to support the collective efforts of the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative and fulfill the objectives of the action plan over the coming year. “I’m so proud of the hard work and accomplishments achieved over the past year, but there is still a lot of work yet to be done,” he said. Gov. David Ige will re-convene a meeting of Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative participants to review the accomplishments of the plan’s implementation over the last year and to discuss strategies for the coming year. The meeting will be held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol this week. The collaborative effort spearheaded by the Department of Health includes participation from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division, Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division, the county police departments, and numerous other community groups. The action areas identified in the plan include: • Improving and modernizing healthcare strategies and access to opioid and other substance misuse treatment and recovery services; • Improving prescribing practices among healthcare providers and health insurance companies for opioid and other potentially addictive medications; • Improving systemwide routine data collection and dissemination to inform decision-making and determine best practices; • Improving community-based programs and public education to prevent opioid misuse, such as the Hawai‘i Medication Drop Box Program that was launched in July 2018 as a result of the support of the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hawai‘i, Maui, Honolulu, and Kaua‘i Police Departments; • Increasing consumer education and prescription harm management through pharmacy-based strategies; and • Supporting law enforcement and first responders by providing specialized training and ensuring effective laws and policies. This includes the use of Naloxone to reduce the incidence of opioid deaths due to overdose. # # # About the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative The Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan is a comprehensive strategy to aggressively counteract the increased abuse and misuse of opioids in Hawai‘i. The plan is designed to sustain a systemwide, coordinated and proactive response to not only opioids, but also methamphetamine and other drugs. The collaborative effort is led by the Hawai‘i Department of Health, together with the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division, Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division and other community groups. For details on the six focus areas in the Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative action plan, visit hawaiiopioid.org Hawai'i Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/files/2018/09/18-077-DOH_Opioid-Grant-NR-FINAL-092518.pdf #HAWAIIDEPARTMENTOFHEALTH #SAMHSA #HHS #opiod #opiodabuse #edwardmersereau #alcoholanddrugabuse #edwardheidig #deparmentofhealthandhumanservices #STR #HawaiiOpiodInitiative #medquest

SBA Announces $450,000 Award to DBEDT 80 Hawaii Companies Showcased at the 2018 Tokyo International Gift Show Hawaii Pavilion wins Best In Show Award The U.S. Small Business Administration announced an award of $450,000 to continue the Hawaii State Trade Export Program (HiSTEP). Under the tag “Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha,” this program provides training, grants and tradeshows for companies looking to start exporting or increase their exports. “With the help of this program, we’ve seen our export of Hawaii-made products increase substantially overseas,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “The Hawaii brand continues to be iconic. We have significantly increased Hawaii-made products, especially in Japan where we have participated in several high-profile events.” An example of the effectiveness of the HiSTEP program, 80 companies just completed participating in the 2018 Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS). This year marked the seventh consecutive year that DBEDT organized a Hawaii Pavilion at TIGS, which was held September 4 – 7, 2018, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight). This year, DBEDT recruited 80 Hawaii companies to fill 38 booths and a café section, which made up the Hawaii Pavilion. In addition, show organizers awarded DBEDT’s Hawaii Pavilion with the Best in Show award. “The value of the Hawaii brand is priceless in the global economy, and expansion of the state’s trade sector will diversify and grow our local economy,” explained Salaveria. “Through events such as TIGS, Hawaii’s products are showcased around the world and have received international recognition for its quality and uniqueness.” Sen. Brian Taniguchi joined DBEDT at TIGS and shared his impressions: “It was exciting to meet all the vendors and see all the Hawaii-made products. This is what we need to do in Hawaii. The Hawaii Pavilion at the Tokyo International Gift Show was huge and very impressive.” “We are excited to see the Hawaii Pavilion grow each year in size and number of local companies exhibiting,” said Dennis Ling, administrator of DBEDT’s Business Development and Support Division. “The Hawaii brand is becoming more established and recognized for quality and authenticity, which is reflected in the dramatic increase in our sales in the Japan market.” Some of the participating vendors shared their thoughts about TIGS: Shawn Mawae, Hawaii Coffee Company: “It’s such a good experience, and it’s been amazing to share what we have with the world. We’ve been able to meet a lot of people and network. This will only help to grow our brand all over Japan.” Keoki Tavares, Aloha Elixir: “This is the second year participating in the gift show. It’s a lot of fun and an amazing opportunity to expand our locally made products, which are made with intentions of love and aloha, to the rest of the world.” Brian Kodama, Two Palms: “We love it. We’ve participating in this gift show for the past 7 years, and we are always finding new customers and gaining new exposure of our products.” Satomi Goo, Tea Chest Hawaii: “We have new customers and products, and this is a great show to introduce our line and receive feedback.” Edward Sugimoto, VH07V: “Hawaii loves Japan, and Japan loves Hawaii, so it’s been great to bring the Aloha Spirit to the gift show. In part, as a result of dollar amount of exports achieved at TIGS, this year’s exhibitors are expected top $10 million in export sales. TIGS is the largest international trade show in Japan, drawing 200,000 buyers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to meet exhibitors at more than 4,500 booths spread out over the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition area. Photos from TIGS are available at: www.flickr.com/photos/dbedt/albums/72157695747810010 Videos from from TIGS are available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/BnS0VEigslX/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnVatioAdFu/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnYKv89AEb0/?taken-by=dbedthigov www.instagram.com/p/BnaxQUzAbNL/?taken-by=dbedthigov *DBEDT: #DepartmentofBusinessEconomicDevelopmentandT #smallbusinessadministration #tokyogiftshow #hawaiipavilion #japan #edwardsugimoto #VHO70 #TwoPalms #KeokiTavares #ShawnMawae #HawaiiCoffeeCompany #DennisLing #SenatorBrianTaniguchi #TokyoInternationalExhibitionCenter #TokyoBigSight #BestinShow #HawaiiStateTradeExportProgram #HiSTEP #bUYhAWAII #gIVEaLOHA

Tomorrow will mark a year since the successful reintroduction of critically endangered Hawaiian crows into the forests of Hawai’i. Yesterday researchers with The ʻAlalā Project released five more ‘Alalā into the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. These birds will join eleven ‘Alalā already thriving in native forests on the windward slopes of Mauna Loa. The two females and three males, were released from a location within the same reserve. In October, another five birds will be released to make a total of ten in this cohort, to join the released ʻAlalā across the reserve. Prior to these releases, the last wild ʻAlalā were seen in South Kona more than 15 years ago. “Hearing the voices of the ʻAlalā and seeing them forage in their native habitat after being gone for so long is an incredible feeling,” said Bryce Masuda, Program Manager from the San Diego Zoo Global’s (SDZG) Hawai‘i Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP). “It is a testament to the resiliency of the birds and the dedication of so many incredible partners that we have come so far.” After the opening of the release aviary doors it took 53 minutes for the first bird to finally venture outside. All but the last one flew. It strolled out and quickly joined the others already exploring their new home. The eleven birds released in 2017 have had a challenging year. Their survival skills were tested through multiple storms including Hurricane Lane, the Kīlauea and Lower East Rift Zone eruptions, and as always seasonal weather patterns. As five new birds join them in the forest, their daily routines continue: foraging on native fruits, eating insects from the bark of trees and agley flying through the ʻōhiʻa-dominated forest. “The Hawaiian forest as well as the ʻAlalā are very resilient,” explained Alison Greggor, PhD., a post-doctoral research associate from the zoo’s HEBCP, “They have survived really well over this past year and it will be exciting to see this continue.” Earlier this year, the ten birds scheduled for release in 2018 were moved to the same flight aviary that housed the 2017 birds. This allows them to acclimate to the sights and sounds of the Hawaiian forest. Each cohort is then transferred to a smaller, release aviary two weeks prior to their release. All of the released birds are tracked and fed routinely by a HEBCP field team. These daily efforts will continue for these and future release birds for as long as needed. In partnership with the Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and others, the bird conservation program reared the ‘Alalā at its centers on Hawai‘i Island and on Maui. In addition to these major funders of the project, cooperative partners include Kamehameha Schools, Three Mountain Alliance, U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Park Service. In 2016, the ‘Alalā Working Group, a partnership coordinating the reintroduction, initiated a new strategy to return the birds to the forest. Biologists set out to incorporate the birdsʻ personalities and group dynamics along with detailed habitat selection and an innovative approach to training the birds how to avoid predators. “This strategy is a three-pronged approach; groups are mixed-sex and comprised of birds that affiliate well together. The release sites are quantitatively chosen by experts familiar with the species’ and habitat. Realistic antipredator training is used to evoke fear of their natural predator, the ‘Io”, said Jackie Gaudioso-Levita, the ‘Alalā Project Coordinator. The ʻAlalā are highly social birds that live in groups and form complex hierarchies. All of this is taken into account when planning a reintroduction. “The numbers of birds released will depend on how many show encouraging behaviors during wild food training and antipredator training, as well as pass the health exams performed by wildlife veterinarians,” said Greggor. On the day of the bird’s release, an oli, or chant, was offered by members of the ʻAlalā Working Group, honoring the beginning of another chapter of the species’ recovery. Last April, each of these birds was given a Hawaiian name by local school students and the community. Ulu (to grow or inspire), Kūʻokoʻa (freedom), Maikaʻiloa (good fortune), Aumoamoa (to care for), and Kaleo (the voice), are the names of the birds in the first group released this year. “These names hold meaning for the individual birds. Having the students and community working together provides a way for connections to be formed with each other, as well as to the conservation work we are doing” said Rachel Kingsley, Education and Outreach Associate for The ʻAlalā Project. ”Recovering threatened and endangered species is bigger than any one community or agency,” said Michelle Bogardus, USFWS Geographic Team Leader for Maui Nui and Hawaii Island. “It takes everyone working together, and this release is great example of that. Together we can ensure a healthy future for not only the birds, but the forest ecosystem as a whole.” DLNR Chair Suzanne Case commented, “Although bringing the ‘Alalā back to the wild will take decades of work and perseverance, the people of Hawai‘i and many agencies are dedicated to saving this unique species for the perpetuation of Hawaiian ecosystems.” # # # RESOURCES (All video/images courtesy: DLNR) HD video – (shot sheet attached) https://vimeo.com/291637316 Photographs – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ryxc8v3d96rnk41/AAB3m0Pz8WufT1K9bls1ME3ka?dl=0 For more onThe ʻAlalā Project https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/alalaproject/ The ʻAlalā Project is a partnership between major partners of the State of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and San Diego Zoo Global. The project is working to establish a self-sustaining, wild population of ʻAlalā that fulfills its’ roles (ecological, cultural, etc.) DLNR: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2018/09/25/nr18-196/ #alalaproject #puumakaala #HEBCP #BryceMasuda #SanDiegoZoo #HawaiiDeptofLandNaturalResources #DLNR #KamehamehaSchools #ThreeMountainAlliance #USGeologicalSurvey #NationalParkService #AlalaWorkingGroup #JackieGaudisoLevita #HurricanLane #Kilauea #LowerEastRiftZone #SuzanneCase #Hawaii #Hawaiian #MichelleBogardus

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products produced at the company’s facility located at 16-701 Macadamia Road in Kea‘au, Hawai‘i between Sept. 6-21 have been voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination of Eschericia coli (E. coli). The recall follows a detection of E. coli in the well water and distribution system that supplies the Kea‘au facility. No illnesses related to the water have been reported to the state. All retailers of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products are to remove from sale products received after Sept. 6, as these products may have been contaminated with E. coli and are adulterated. Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), Section §328-9 (1)(D) defines adulterated as a food “produced, prepared, or packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated…” “There is clear evidence that food produced at the Kea‘au facility may be contaminated and consumers may be at risk,” said Peter Oshiro, Sanitation Branch chief. “The Department of Health is working with the facility to ensure the safety of their drinking water and food production.” On Sept. 5, samples taken from facility’s water distribution system passed testing and showed no contamination. On Sept. 21, the DOH was notified that a water distribution system sample at the production center tested positive for E. coli and the food production operations were closed by order of DOH. DOH is working with the facility to ensure their drinking water is safe and their facility is cleared before operations are allowed to resume. The Mauna Loa macadamia nut facility will remain closed until it meets all DOH Sanitation Branch and Safe Drinking Water Branch requirements and standards. E. coli bacteria can exist in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate soil and may persist in soil for many years. E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard the products immediately or attempt to return them to the store where purchased. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofHealth #MAUNALOAMACADAMIANUT #ECOLI #Keaau #DOHSanitationBranch

Are you a not-for-profit or private for-profit business that reduced work hours and/or staff, or shut down as a consequence of the April 2018 flooding? Are you an individual currently under- or unemployed due to your employer reducing work hours as a consequence of the April 2018 flooding? If you answered “yes” to either question, you may be eligible for FREE employment relief through a US Department of Labor (USDOL) Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG). This program offers workforce funding to qualified Kauai County businesses that are willing and able to employ eligible individual dislocated workers. On Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei, Kayla Rosenfeld, Statewide Rapid Response Coordinator, will brief North Shore Kauai residents on the grant. Ms. Rosenfeld will explain the grant provisions, eligibility requirements, permitted grant activity, and permitted worksites. A question and answer session will follow the briefing. In addition to explaining the grant provisions, the goals of this community briefing are to: 1) determine Businesses of Record (employers) and individual eligibility; 2) identify disaster recovery worksites; and 3) enroll eligible participants into the grant program. After the briefing, staff from the American Job Center Hawaii will be on site to help applicants determine their eligibility for the Disaster DWG program. Business owners, self-employed individuals, and farmers, please bring all the below documents to the meeting: • Recent General Excise Tax (GET) • Recent State and Federal Tax Returns • Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) Certification • Layoff or Reduced Hours Letters to Employees • Farmers: Letter from product distributor indicating a decrease in production Under- or unemployed individuals, please bring all the following documents to the meeting: • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) stub or letter o If you do not have DUA claim, bring paystubs or other payroll records • Letter from employer indicating reduced work hours or layoff • Valid picture ID • Original Social Security Card OR Original/Certified Birth Certificate • Selective Service Registration (males 18 -25 years old) • Utility Bill (cable, electric or water) To learn more about the Workforce Development Council, visit http://labor.hawaii.gov/wdc/ #kauaicounty #halehalawaiohanaohanalei #statewiderapidresponse #kaylarosenfeld #kauai #DisasterDWGprogram #DLIRWorkforceDevelopmentCouncil

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) today released the Hawai‘i Sexual and Gender Minority Health Report 2018. This is the first state report with a special focus on health issues faced by Hawai‘i transgender youth. Three percent, or 1,260 public high school students statewide, self-identify as transgender. The report reveals that transgender youth experience greater health disparities than their peers who identify as cisgender (those whose gender identities conform with their biological sex). This difference is even greater than the one that exists between lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB), and heterosexual youth. The report also documents the challenges, resiliency and hope for transgender people in Hawai‘i. The focus of this year’s report was motivated by tremendous support and requests for more data and greater public health action following the completion of the inaugural 2017 Hawai‘i Sexual and Gender Minority Health Report. The 2017 report focused primarily on the health of LGB individuals because data on transgender individuals was insufficient to report at that time. In response, the Department of Health convened a workgroup with community partners and stakeholders and prioritized a report on health outcomes of transgender youth in Hawai‘i. “We are so pleased to produce a report that the community truly needed and asked for,” said Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson. “The valuable input and engagement from community stakeholders was critical to developing the report that is the first-of-its-kind to assess the health of transgender youth in Hawai‘i.” The Hawai‘i Sexual and Gender Minority Health Report 2018 contains data from the 2017 Hawai‘i High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a joint effort between the Departments of Education and Health, administered in odd years to public high schools. This report was made possible because the 2017 survey was the first time a question on gender identity was included. “We hope the findings will be used by our stakeholders to initiate and sustain efforts to address the health challenges faced by Hawai‘i’s transgender population,” said Lola Irvin, administrator of DOH’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division. “We must work intentionally to improve the health of our at-risk and underserved populations to move the health of the state forward.” Important findings of this year’s report showed that transgender youth are significantly more likely to use substances including tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Transgender youth who are victims of bullying or violence also often face adverse mental health problems, which increases their propensity towards substance abuse and other risky health behaviors. Additional significant findings of the 2018 report include: • Only half of transgender youth report that they usually slept at their parent or guardian’s home during the last 30 days, compared to 94 percent of cisgender youth. • Less than half of transgender youth saw a doctor or nurse for a checkup or physical exam in the past year, compared to two-thirds of cisgender youth. • More than 30 percent of transgender youth have smoked cigarettes in the past month, compared to only six percent of cisgender youth. • Transgender youth are nearly three times more likely to report binge drinking in the past month, compared to cisgender youth. • One-quarter of all transgender youth said they have ever injected an illegal drug, versus only one percent of cisgender youth. • Forty percent of transgender youth said they have been bullied on school property or online in the last year, compared to 23 percent of cisgender youth. • One-quarter of transgender youth skipped school because they felt unsafe, compared to only seven percent of cisgender youth. • Nearly 50 percent of transgender youth said they purposely hurt themselves in the past year, compared to 17 percent of cisgender youth. • Half of transgender youth attempted suicide in the past year, compared to only eight percent of cisgender youth. To download a copy of the report, visit health.hawaii.gov/surveillance #TheHawaiiDepartmentofHealth #hawaiisexualandgenderminorityhealthreport #LGB #cisgender #bruceanderson

The names of over 180 service men and women were read – these are the missing that have been identified since last year’s event – some as early as this week. Across the country, local POW/MIA ceremonies are encouraged throughout POW/MIA Recognition Week, culminating with a countless number of events and the national ceremony in Washington, DC, on Recognition Day. Support for Americans missing and unaccounted-for in wartime, and their families, is deeply felt. America’s POW/MIAs can be honored and recognized, but not memorialized. Photos by David Livingston Area President & National Director - Navy League of the United States: www.navyleague.org More information at: http://www.dpaa.mil/ #POW #MIA #POWMIAweek #davidlivingston #NationalCemeteryofthePacific

Free car seat check events to be held during National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 23 - 29 The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), together with all four county police departments and child passenger safety advocates, launches National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 23-29. During Child Passenger Safety Week and year-round, Hawaii’s child passenger safety technicians are committed to educating parents and caregivers on the proper installation of child safety seats and correct use of seat belts when traveling with their keiki. “Car crashes continue to be a major leading cause of unintentional death for keiki in Hawaii. The use of age and size-appropriate car seats is the best way to keep babies and children safe,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Jade Butay. “We’re partnering with the county police departments and trained safety technicians to remind everyone that Hawaii’s keiki need to be buckled in properly every trip, every time.” The best way for parents and caregivers to protect their child is to use a child safety seat that best fits their child and vehicle. Complimentary public car seat check events will be held on National Seat Check Saturday, Sept. 29, at the following locations and times: Hawaii Island East Hawaii Target 391 E. Makaala Street, Hilo 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. West Hawaii Parker School 65-1224 Lindsey Road, Waimea 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oahu Waipio Shopping Center 94-1040 Waipio Uka Street, Waipahu 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kauai Walmart 3-3300 Kuhio Highway, Lihue 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Child Passenger Safety Week community seat check events will also be held throughout the week as follows: Oahu (Sunday, Sept. 23) Adventist Health Castle 640 Ulukahiki Street, Kailua 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hawaii (Tuesday, Sept. 25) Naalehu Police Station 95-5355 Mamalahoa Highway, Kau 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In Hawaii, children under 4 years old are required to ride in a child safety seat; children 4 through 7 years old must ride in a child passenger restraint or booster seat. Violators are required to appear in court, and if convicted, must attend a four-hour class. They may also be assessed a penalty of up to $500. Parents and caregivers can check the following to determine when a child can be moved from a child safety seat to a booster seat: The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face. The lap belt must lie snugly across the child’s upper thighs, not the stomach. The child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat when his or her back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back. The child can stay seated properly during the entire trip. To educate the public about Hawaii’s child restraint law, HDOT is airing public service announcements on television and in movie theaters statewide. Hawaii’s child passenger safety media campaign is 100 percent federally funded. Child Passenger Safety Week is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For more on child safety, as well as a list of child restraint inspection stations and community car seat checks, visit www.kipchawaii.org or www.safercar.gov/parents NHTSA recommends registering all car seats and booster seats with the manufacturer for a notification in the event of a recall. For more information on car seat safety and to locate a certified child passenger safety technician, visit www.nhtsa.gov/carseat Hawaii has more than 300 certified child passenger safety technicians, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical professionals and parents. All technicians have been trained to provide instruction on choosing the right car seat, installing it and using it correctly. Nationwide child passenger safety statistics from NHTSA: A child under 13 years old was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 33 seconds in 2016. From 2012 to 2016, there were 3,268 children under 13 killed while riding in passenger vehicles. These numbers have been steadily increasing since 2014. On average, nearly two children under 13 were killed every day in 2016 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans. In 2016, over one-third (35 percent) of children under 13 killed in passenger vehicles were not restrained in car seats, booster seats or seat belts. NHTSA’s latest research shows that nearly 2 out of 3 car seats are misused. When used correctly, car seats decrease the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in cars, and by 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively, for infants and toddlers in light trucks. #NationalChildPassengerSafetyWeek #Hawaiidepartmentoftransportation #HDOT #carcrashes #NationalSeatCheckSaturday #JadeButay #NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration #SaferCar

​The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) shared its 2017-18 Strive HI Performance System results today during a Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Smarter Balanced test scores showed English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy performance gains in all grade levels tested (Grades 3-8 and 11) and Math score increases in four of seven grades tested (Grades 3, 5, 6 and 11). “We have a great story about what is happening in Hawaii’s public education system. Progress over the past three years is promising with our cohorts of elementary school students entering the middle grades better prepared, and Language Arts performance growth across all tested grades,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “We anticipate that our high impact strategies around Student Voice, School Design and Teacher Collaboration and laser focus on gap areas will increase our momentum into the coming years.” Overall statewide Strive HI results in Language Arts, Math and Science have shown growth over the past three years. Compared to 2017, Language Arts scores increased by four percentage points while Math and Science scores remain unchanged: Language Arts/Literacy – up 4 percentage points from 2016 (2016: 51%; 2017: 51%; 2018: 55%) Mathematics – up 1 percentage point from 2016 (2016: 42%; 2017: 43%; 2018: 43%) Science – up 3 percentage points from 2016 (2016: 43%; 2017: 46%; 2018: 46%) The data also show more students are achieving grade-level literacy at the third and eighth grades. Third graders reading near, at, or on grade level is up eight points over the year prior; eighth grade is up six points. Continuing a strong readiness trend, more students are completing Career & Technical Education programs —up six points over the year prior. Strive HI was launched in school year 2012-13 as the state's locally designed performance system that was a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. The accountability system includes multiple measures of school performance including proficiency in Science, Math and Language Arts/Literacy; chronic absenteeism; school climate; graduation rates; and achievement gaps. The system was modified in 2017 to address the federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the revised HIDOE/BOE Strategic Plan. The law replaces both NCLB and the state's waiver. ESSA requires full implementation including the provisions related to school accountability this school year. Language Arts and Math scores are derived from the Smarter Balanced Assessment, and Science scores are from the Hawaii State Assessment in Science for elementary and middle schools and biology for high schools. Hawaiian Immersion students are tested in these subjects using the Kaiapuni Assessment of Educational Outcomes (KĀ‘EO). About the Hawaii State Department of Education
 The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. It is comprised of 256 schools and 36 charter schools, and serves about 180,000 students. King Kamehameha III established Hawaii’s public school system in 1840. To learn more, visit HawaiiPublicSchools.org #HawaiiDepartmentofEducation #ChristinaKishimoto #HawaiiState #StriveHI #StriveHawaii #NOChildLeftBehind #SmarterBalancedAssessment #KaiapuniAssessmentofEducationalOutcomes #education #hawaiipublicschools #hawaiischools

With support of HI Island Food Alliance (formed by Blue Zones Project) and community partners, The Food Basket and Heritage Ranch was awarded $1M ($500,000 each) multi-year grants for the Double Bucks Programs. These grants help provide low income families and SNAP recipients with the resources they need to consume more nutritious food. Blue Zones Project supported and helped implement the following initiatives: DA BOX & DA BUX Programs DA BOX is a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that was created to support local farmers and to provide affordable access to fresh, Hawai‘i Island grown produce. Hawai‘i Food Basket purchases Hawai‘i Island grown produce from our local farmers and resells to customers island-wide. Each week, DA BOX includes a minimum of seven items, generally one to two fruits and five to six vegetables. The Food Basket meets customers at select pick-up locations island-wide each week. Starting September 1, 2017, Hawai‘i Island residents were awarded with DA BUX incentives, which allowed SNAP customers to buy one bag of produce and get one bag free. DA BUX is an incentive program for SNAP-EBT cardholders to buy more Hawai‘i Island grown produce. DA BUX program works by matching EBT dollars spent on Hawai‘i Island grown produce with additional free produce. For example, if you buy $10 of Hawai‘i Island grown produce with your EBT card, DA BUX gives you another $10 of Hawai‘i Island grown produce for free. DA BUS Mobile Market and Food Pantry DA BUS Mobile Market is a pop-up market at sites around the island. The program is a three-year initiative funded by a USDA Community Food Project grant award to address food insecurity and health disparities on Hawai‘i Island, particularly in the 12 USDA designated low income/low access areas, known as “Food Deserts.” Anyone is welcome to shop with DA BUS. They accept credit, debit and EBT. EBT purchases receive a 50% discount through the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks incentive program. The mobile market accommodates the following locations on Hawai‘i Island: Hilo Edith Kanakaole Stadium - 2nd Tuesdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Nanawale Community Center - Last Wednesdays, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Naalehu Sacred Heart Church - 4th Thursdays, 9 –10 a.m. Ocean View St. Jude's Episcopal Church - Last Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Pahala, Kau District Gym - last Thursday, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Pahoa Sacred Heart Church - 3rd Thursdays, 9 – 11 a.m. Papaaloa Gym, 2nd Thursdays - 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pepeekeo Senior Center - 2nd Thursdays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. DA BUS Project is also integrating: Outreach education on cooking, nutrition and gardening Providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach materials and application assistance Other Food Policy Information: On October 1, 2018, County of Hawai‘i will be hiring the first of its kind in the state: Food Access Coordinator. Blue Zones Project secured the grant funding from DOH ($50,000 for 3 years) and County provided the match. Ordinance passed Farmers Markets to now operate in County Parks. HAWAI'I ISLAND FOOD POLICY INITIATIVES #DABUS #DABUX #DABOX #bluezones #dabusmobilemarket #foodpantry #bluezonesbluezoneshawaii

Summit Registration Closing September 25: www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com Three areas of focus for tourism’s future – sustainability, global trends and culture – will be addressed by a variety of speakers, panelists and attendees from around the world and within the Hawaiian Islands at Hawaii’s Global Tourism Summit. Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the Global Tourism Summit takes place October 1-3 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The conference theme – Charting the Course – speaks to the ever-present need for destinations and travel suppliers to continuously balance the power of tourism’s popularity globally with its impact locally on residents and communities. George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, noted that embracing sustainable tourism, understanding global tourism trends, and honoring cultural tourism are vital components to advancing the economic and socio-political benefits of travel to residents, communities and visitors everywhere. Szigeti stated, “For tourism to work successfully for everyone’s benefit, everyone needs to make their voice heard and work collectively toward achieving a shared goal of doing what’s best and what’s right for both those who depend on tourism and those affected by its impact on daily lives. “The Global Tourism Summit is the year’s best opportunity to bring together everyone with a stake or interest in tourism to gain a better understanding about its future and to share their perspective on how its business, practice and policies can be improved.” The summit features a range of tourism-related topics and forums being covered each day in different formats. For example, on October 1, the student debate, featuring high school teams from Hawaii and internationally, will address the impact of artificial intelligence on the visitor experience. On the summit’s second day, October 2, concurrent sessions will address the topics of sustainable tourism, global tourism trends and cultural tourism, giving attendees an opportunity to participate in various discussions matching their areas of interest. On day three, October 3, the morning will begin with an update and look forward on airline and cruise service to the Hawaiian Islands. Later that morning, the session, Crisis Management, Lessons Learned, will feature speakers from Las Vegas and Japan addressing the response to major crisis situations that recently affected those destinations. Szigeti added, “The summit will be of value to anyone who cares about the future direction tourism takes and the impact it has on economies, cultures and personal lives. I encourage everyone with an interest in tourism to join us at the summit and be part of the discussion about its future.” Registration to Close for the Global Tourism Summit on September 25 Registration for the Global Tourism Summit is closing on Tuesday, September 25, at 11:55 p.m. Any business or individual interested in tourism’s future – both in Hawaii and around the world – is encouraged to register, network and share their opinions. Special events at the summit include the Networking Reception on October 1, the Aloha Reception – with cuisine provided by 20 restaurants – on October 2, and the Tourism Legacy Awards Lunch on October 3, all of which are included in the full summit registration, or when registering for those days. Participants can register online for the Global Tourism Summit via the dedicated website, www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com, and choose from one of several options below that features savings for groups, students and faculty. Individuals: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $425 Group Package (Minimum of 8 people): Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $2,600 total, a savings of $100 per person. Groups can mix and match different attendees during the conference. Students and Faculty Members: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $150 Students: 1-Day Summit Registration, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday: $50 Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 1-2: $315 (Includes attendance to the Networking Reception on October 1 and Aloha Reception on October 2) Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 2-3: $295 (Includes attendance to the Aloha Reception on October 2 and Tourism Legacy Awards Lunch on October 3) #HawaiiTourismAuthority #Hawaiiglobaltourismsummit #georgeszigeti