Makaha Ahupuaa Community Association Meeting

Aloha,

Please be advised that the monthly meeting for Makaha Ahupuaa Community Association will be meeting on Thursday February 12, 2009 at Makaha Marketplace, 6:30 p.m.

Items on the agenda include:

Board elections

Stream clean up

Bike path

Adopt highway

Mango Festival

Mahalo

2nd Thursday Meeting!

2nd Thursday is a monthly meeting of organizations providing services to the homeless community on the Wai`anae Coast. Their objectives are:

§ Network and share information on services available for Wai`anae Coast residents and residents of Wai`anae Coast emergency and transitional shelters.

§ Develop a continuum of services for people accessing shelter services and other help by coordinating and collaborating among ourselves.

§ Discuss policy issues affecting health and human services on the Wai`anae Coast with an emphasis on housing and shelter issues.


The 2nd Thursday meeting in February is scheduled for February 12 at the Ulu Ke Kukui Dining Room. It is a brown-bag meeting (bring your own) or you can purchase bentos and drinks at the site for $6.00. (You must let then know in advance if you want to order food). Below is the agenda for this meeting:


11:30am


Welcome, Pule Wehe and Introductions

o Fred Saunders


Service Provider Show-n-Tell

o Alu Like Financial Literacy Program (Greg Fields)

o Work Links Programs for the Homeless (Joyce Suckoll)


Discussion on Building our Continuum

o Process for Entry into the Shelter System (Kanani Bulowan)


Discussion on Housing and Human Services Policies

o Transfer of Hawai`i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to DHS

o Supportive Housing


Announcements, Discussion on next Meeting

1pm Pau


There will have a table available if anyone wants to bring materials or program literature to distribute. Share this invitation with anyone else you feel would benefit.
Call 696-1217 for any questions.

Hawaiian Caucus: Ceded Land Video

The Hawaiian Caucus had a meeting concerning ceded land. Below is a link to the video. Check it out!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1013810864137706788&hl=en

Maile's Bill List

I have introduced several bills this year in response to issues raised at community meetings or by concerned individuals. During the 2009 Session, I will serve as Vice-Chair of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee. To deal with our district's diverse concerns, I will have input as a member of four other committees: Health, Human Services, Education, & Higher Education. Here are my bills, along with others I will be supporting:

Education
. HB 1640, my Capital Improvements (CIP) Bill requests funds for all 6 Wai'anae & Makaha schools for air conditioning, building expansion, & new construction; it also provides funds to acquire land & build at Leeward Community College/Wai'anae
Housing
. HB 828 (SB 1295) makes public housing affordable in perpetuity
. HB 351 (SB 1294) provides funds to repair and renovate public housing
Health and Human Services
. HB 1366 (SB 1310) establishes a Medical Home Demonstration Project for Wai’anae
Comprehensive Community Health Center (WCCHC)
. HB 1641 (SB 1309) provides $332,000 for WCCHC Emergency services
. HB 171 (SB 1040) bans smoking at public beaches and recreational areas
. HB 1642 (SB 1191) allows only licensed providers to submit proposals for purchases
of health and human services
. HB 1643 (SB 812) bans Medicaid coverage of non-therapeutic infant circumcision
Environment
. HB 1358 (SB 1293) bans use of styrofoam containers by food vendors
. HB 1357 (SB 1292) requires retailers to use alternatives to plastic bags
. HB 1367 (SB 1244) creates a commission to coordinate state's solid waste plans
. HB 641 requires DLNR to identify, publicize, & enforce public access to beaches
Ocean Resources
. HB 191 & 543 (SB 274) enhances regulation of aquarium aquatic life collection
. SB 90 regulates commercial activities in government & private boating facilities
Hawaiian
. HB 1841 prohibits sale of lands in public lands trust (Ceded Lands) to private entity
. HB 906 (SB 86) establishes the Makua Valley Reserve Commission
Public Safety
. HB 832 allows Civil Defense, when no emergency exists, to enter private property to
clean streams & waterways
Transportation
. HB 1640 (CIP) includes $7 million for construction of turn lanes at the intersections of
Nanakuli and Haleakala Avenues with Farrington Highway.
. HB 829 (SB 1038) exempts veterans from paying the vehicle weight tax
Consumer Protection
. HB 1359 (SB 1041) protects businesses wrongly accused in complaints to DCCA
. HB 1842 requires dealers & breeders to provide dog purchasers with medical history
Government
. HB352 (SB 1039) establishes August 4 as Barack Obama Holiday
. HB 830 (SB 676) creates unit in Auditor's Office to investigate govt. waste & fraud

City to Close Portion of Nanakuli Beach Park For Maintenance

The Department of Parks and Recreation, announced that it will close the Zablan/Forac portions of Nanakuli Beach Park from March 15 to March 20 for needed repairs and maintenance.
Nanakuli Beach Park (Zablan/Forac) will be closed 24 hours a day from 10:00 p.m. Sunday, March 15 to 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 20 while the maintenance and repair work is being done.

The repair and maintenance work will include:
· Thorough cleaning of all comfort stations.
· Repairing picnic tables and park benches.
· Painting comfort stations, walls, picnic tables and building.
· Sweeping, repairing potholes and re-striping parking lot. Repainting curbs.
· Comprehensive landscape maintenance. Evaluating all trees and prune as necessary.
· Repairing irrigation systems and other infrastructure.

When the Zablan/Forac section of Nanakuli Beach Park reopens, it will be added to the other Leeward Coast beach parks with closure hours from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
*Late night park closure is in response to numerous requests from community members. This action was endorsed by the Nanakuli/Maili Neighborhood Board and the Board of Parks and Recreation.

Tommy Hilfiger Foundation Offers $10,000 to $25,000 Grants

Tommy Hilfiger Foundation Offers $10,000 to $25,000 Grants For Health & Youth Proposals

Deadlines: April 1 & Oct. 1.

The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation funds a broad range of youth-related programs. The foundation places a strong emphasis on efforts which expose youth to experiences in education and career-related opportunities.The foundation is committed to investing in health-related organizations and cultural programs that impact a diverse population.
Proposals submitted to the foundation must:
*Have broad and positive impact on diverse populations with a special emphasis on women, minorities, and at-risk students.
*Target K-12 and college students.
*Expose students to career opportunities.
*Develop skills in new technologies.
*Leverage teacher/administrator, parental, and community involvement.
*Include hands-on program activities.
*Lead to comprehensive, systemic change on a regional and/or national basis.
*Involve collaborative partnerships.
*Demonstrate capacity to gain continuing support.
*Will result in dissemination and replication of lessons learned.
*Develop evaluation component with measurable results.

For all the details on how to apply for this and other grant opportunities, just click on or cut and paste the following link for 2-weeks free access to Federal & Foundation Assistance Monitor:
http://www.trycdpubs.com

When you reach the site, scroll down and check off Federal & Foundation Assistance Monitor and follow the instructions for your 2-week, free access for this or any of our online funding products! You'll find the grant info on the first or second page.

Free Tax Preparation at LCC-Wai`anae

Dates: Wednesdays
Feb. 18 and 25
March 4, 11, 18
Time: 5:00-8:00 PM
This service is by appointment only.
Appointment times: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00
Call 696-6378 or see the front desk.
(Walk-ins may be accepted if space is available.)
If you have tax-related questions before your appointment contact Roy Kamida at 455-0294.
For information regarding what taxpayers need to bring to their appointment, go to the following link:
http://www.hawaiitaxhelp.org/pdfs/DocumentChecklist09.pdf

Walk-in service also available at LCC Pearl City campus every Saturday in February and March from 9:00-12:00 in BE-229

FEMA disaster recovery centers closing on Saturday

FEMA annouced that Saturday, Feb. 5, 2009 at 5:00p.m. disaster recovery centers that were opened in response to damage caused by rain and flooding in December at La'ie and Wai'anae will be closed for good.

The Hale'iwa center, at the Waialua Community Association at 66-434 Kamehameha Hwy., will remain open. Its hours are noon to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

O'ahu residents who are seeking assistance are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a recovery center by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or via TTY device at 800-462-7585 for people who are speech- or hearing-impaired.

The deadline to register for assistance is March 6.

Volunteers Needed at Civil Defense Stream Clean-Up's Feb. 6 & 7 at Eku & Mailiilii-Puuhulu Streams

Civil Defense will be hosting "Lauwai" Stream Clean-Up's this Friday and Saturday, and is in need of volunteers. The clean-up's are focused on removing debris from streams that flooded on December 11, 2008 to prevent future flooding. The following are the details:

What: "Lauwai" Stream Clean Up's

When: Friday, 2/6/09 & Saturday, 2/7/09; 8am-noon (latecomers welcome)

Where: Eku Stream (meet at Makaha Marketplace, 84-1170 Farrington Hwy.); and Mailiilii-Puuhulu Stream (meet at Samoan Church at 86-130 Puhawai Rd.) [Note: Both clean-up's will be conducted simultaneously.]

Why: Clearing debris is needed to prevent future flooding

Note: Volunteers should be 18 and over; wear protective footwear and clothing, hard hats (if possible), gloves, and sun protection; bring water, trash bags, chainsaws, and other tools to clear debris. If you can donate use of heavy equipment, please call Civil Defense to coordinate.

Who: Civil Defense, lahcook@scd.hawaii.gov or 733-4300

Similar clean-ups will be conducted on the North Shore and Laie (Laie is Saturday only). Donations of refreshments for the volunteers are welcome. Please spread the word.

USDA ANNOUNCES SIGN-UP FOR CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that $20 million nationwide will be dedicated to Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in 2009. The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

This competitive grant program helps advance environmental goals that also contribute to and protect local economies.

Applicants should explain the geographic area that the project would benefit including information about the natural resource concern. Applicants should also describe the innovative technologies or approaches, which will be used to address the natural resource conservation concern. Other requirements are identified in the Announcement of Program Funding.

To view the complete Announcement of Program Funding, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/ .

To apply electronically visit: http://www.grants.gov/
For more information about NRCS conservation programs online, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov or visit the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.
Since its inception in 1935, the NRCS conservation delivery system has advanced a unique partnership with state and local governments and private landowners delivering conservation based on specific, local conservation needs, while accommodating sate and national interests.