Free Tax Help

CONTACT:

Susan Tamanaha
Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED)
Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program
Phone: 808.381.0881

Free Tax Help at the Hawaii State Capitol

A free tax assistance site at the Hawaii State Capitol helps workers save money and claim valuable tax credits

HONOLULU – Tax season is here and the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) and its partner organizations are encouraging Hawaii’s workers to file their tax returns at free tax assistance sites across the state in order to save money and claim valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which can be worth up to $5,657 for qualified taxpayers this year.

In support of these efforts and to help generate awareness, Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland and Representative Della Au-Belatti have arranged with HACBED’s Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program to host a special tax clinic at the Hawaii State Capitol where taxpayers can file their tax returns for free and receive information about programs that may be of interest to them, including financial literacy classes and credit management.

The special clinic at the State Capitol will be held on Saturday, February 27th, between the hours of 9am–1pm. All tax returns will be prepared by IRS-certified volunteers who volunteer at other sites coordinated by HACBED’s Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program. “We want to encourage Hawaii ’s workers to use these free services which will save them money and help them claim important tax benefits such as the EITC…”

HACBED’s Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program started offering free tax assistance services to low-to-moderate workers at 4 permanent sites in 2005 when it was first established under Aloha United Way . Today, the Program recruits volunteers for and coordinates the efforts of over 45 sites and clinics State-wide which are sponsored by non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and businesses. Some of the Program’s partners include Alulike, Inc., Leeward Community College , Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Honolulu Community Action Program, INGDirect, Goodwill Industries, and several credit unions in Kekaha, Hickam, and Maui . Last year alone, 169 volunteers helped low-to-moderate income workers claim over $3 million in tax refunds and over $1.7 million in EITC and Child Tax Credits and saved these taxpayers nearly $400,000 in tax preparation fees.

For more information about the special clinic at the Hawaii State Capitol and to make an appointment, taxpayers should call 808-393-4364. To get help locating other free tax assistance sites, taxpayers can call Aloha United Way ’s Helpline at 2-1-1. For a complete list of tax sites and more information about the EITC and other tax credits, taxpayers can visit the program’s website at http://www.hawaiitaxhelp.org.

Nutrition and Budgeting Classes.

FROM: Keahi Chun

E-MAIL: keahim@hotmail.com

SUBJECT: I work for a Federal program (EFNEP)through the University of Hawaii at Manoa which enables us to teach nutrition and budgeting to limited resource families
w/young children.

This is a free program. Please contact me at the email above if you are interested in offering this to the people involved in your program, or know of anyone else who could benefit. Thank you.

Oahu's Horse Rescue in Waianae

Aloha Maile,

My name is Betina Parker, and I am the Director of Equine 808 Horse Rescue located in Waianae. We are the only horse rescue on Oahu and the largest of all the islands. I am writing to you to ask if you can post our upcoming Fundraising Fair to be held on February 20, 2010 from 9am-2pm.

We support all of our schools and offer educational programs at the ranch. This year I have 3 seniors working on their senior projects. One is from Mililani High School and her project is to host and organize a fund raising event for her grade. The charity of her choice is my horse rescue.

I have attached her flyer to this email and if you could post this information for her I would really appreciate it. This is a great way to help her and support the cause. She is also looking for vendors or persons wanting to sell crafty items at the fair. Those interested need to contact Alyssa directly. Her information is on the flyer.

If you have any questions, you can view my website at http://www.equine808.com or contact me at 590-1210.
See attached flyer.

Mahalo,

Betina Parker, Director

Excellent Rental Opportunity In Makaha

Please click HERE or see the following link to an ad for a rental in Makaha at Mauna Olu Estates which will be available by 4/1/10.

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/roo/1564620580.html

Maile's Bills Introduced - 2010 Legislative Session

Representative Maile Shimabukuro
Bills Introduced - 2010 Legislative Session

HB 2282/SB 2893 (HLT,EDN; HTH/EDH,WAM)
Restricts public schools from serving foods containing artificial trans fat

HB 2386/SB 2012 (EEP/WLO,JUD; ENE/TIA)
Prohibits landfills in C&C of Honolulu from accepting municipal solid waste as of 7/1/12; prohibits other counties from accepting waste after date set by county council resolution

HB 2387/SB 2799 (WLO,JUD; CPN,JGO)
Allows owner of real property to designate beneficiaries on death of owner without probate or will

HB 2388/SB 2895 (WLO,JUD; WTL,JGO)
Deletes "one gallon per person per day" exception to prohibition of removal of beach sand and other minerals

HB 2389/SB 2249 (WLO,JUD; JGO)
Makes it a Class C felony to assault a water safety officer who is engaged in performance of duty

HB 2390/SB 2894 (JUD; JGO)
Eliminates statute of limitations for child sex abuse prosecutions

HB 2615/SB 2065 (EDN,FIN; EDH,WAM)
Appropriates $___ for Hawaiian language medium charter school on Leeward Coast of Oahu

HB 2616 (FIN)
District 45 Capital Improvement Projects:
Farrington Highway Drainage Improvements near Orange St., Makaha ($3.6 million);
E Ala Voyaging Canoe Educ Ctr ($3 mil)
UH West Oahu Phase I construction ($3 mil)

(many other District 45 CIP projects are in HB 1640—introduced in 2009 session)


HB 2617/SB 2247 (LAB,HLT/WLO,FIN; LBR,WAM)
Creates collective bargaining unit for state and county emergency first responder medical personnel and water safety officers

HB 2895/SB 2892 (HSG,JUD; CPN,JGO)
Lets homeowner force court supervised foreclosure if non-judicial foreclosure is successfully appealed due to unfair sales price



** Two bills held over from 2009 and hopefully slated for action soon are:

HB 1642 HD1 SD1 specifies that proposals for purchases of health and human services must be submitted by licensed providers and for exact amount to be expended by the state

SB 1310 SD2 establishes a medical home healthcare demonstration project for Wai'anae and Waimanalo areas

Waianae Youth Sailing 2010

From: Marcy Thomas
Subject: 2010 Waianae Youth Spring Program

Dear Supporters,

We are starting our spring class in February. Please let us know if you know any teenagers who may be interested in the class.

Sincerely, Marcy

Registration for 2010 Spring Schedule

Classes start on Feb 27; Pokai Bay ; We meet every Saturday from 9am to 1pm .

Call Jeff at 428-1384 or Ann at 282-8782

ann@favoredtacksailing.com or thomasm026@hawaii.rr.com

Open to youth(male and female) ages 14-19

Suggested donation of $30.00 for the 10 session program (class size limited, register early)

MA'O Farm's "CSA" Program

Just wanted to tell you about this wonderful program MA'O is launching called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) which is a way for people in the community to buy a share of the farm and in so doing, commit to supporting the farm.

How it works: pay $32/week and get a box of veggies every week (whatever comes out of the ground!) to be picked up at either LCCW or V-Lounge (Ala Moana). The box can feed approximately a family of 4. Consider splitting the box with friends and co-workers! We would like to get more Wai'anae customers.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD TO EVERYONE IN WAI'ANAE & CONSIDER PARTICIPATING!

~For more information, click HERE or visit:

http://shop.maoorganicfarms.org/


Aloha,

Summer Miles
Director of Education
MA'O/LCCW
(office/fax) 696-5569
summer@maoorganicfarms.org

Kea'au Beach Park Clean-Up 2/13/10

Kanu Hawaii & Rep. Shimabukuro are co-sponsoring a beach clean-up at Kea`au Beach Park on 2/13/10 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

The clean-up is part of the Kokua Festival. Click HERE or visit http://www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/ for more information about the Kokua Festival/Kokua HI Foundation.

Lunch, refreshments, and beverages will be served.

To read a recent news article about the trash problem in the Kea`au Beach Park area, click HERE or visit: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/1110359/%5C-Opala-piles-up-along-Makaha-road--as-officials-point-fingers [Note: On 1/16/10, the State DOT, in conjunction with a clean-up organized by Women of Wai`anae, Nani `O Wai`anae, AlohaCare, Rep. Shimabukuro, and others, cleared the trash piles along the highway past Kea`au Beach Park and at Ma`ili Point. This clean-up will continue the effort to beautify the area.]

Email maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com or call 586-8460 for more information about the 2/13/10 clean-up. Please join us!

Here is more information about the event from the Kokua Foundation:

Kokua Festival and STAR 101.9 Beach Clean-ups are back!

The Kokua Festival and STAR 101.9 are once again offering a chance at purchasing pre-sale tickets by helping to clean Hawaii's beaches! Everyone is invited to come out, malama 'aina, and earn a pre-sale code that is good for purchasing two Kokua Festival tickets. All participants will be entered in a drawing for two free tickets to the Kokua Festival and other great prizes.

All clean-ups will take place on February 13th, from 9:00a.m. to 11:30a.m.

Three on Oahu:

BYUH-SIFE Club North Shore Clean-Up
Beach: Malaekahana and Kahuku Golf Course, Seventh Hole Beach
Meeting Place: Malaekahana Beach Park (by Goat Island, look for signs!)
For More Information:

Kanu Hawaii & Rep. Maile Shimabukuro West Side Clean-Up
Beach: Kea'au Beach Park, Makaha
Meeting Place: Kea`au Beach Park (the park after Makaha Surfing Beach)
For More Information: Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com, 586-8460; or Kaimana Pine, kaimana@kanuhawaii.org, 478-7068

Surfrider Oahu South Shore Clean-Up
Beach: Sand Island State Park Beach
Meeting Place: 3rd beach parking lot, at the very end of Sand Island Access Road
For More Information:

One on Maui:

The Maui Times Clean-Up
Beach: Kahalui Harbor
Meeting Place:
For More Information:

Supplies:
We encourage participants to help us make this a zero waste event by bringing their own reusable water bottles that can be refilled at our water stations, a pair of gardening gloves, a sifter (if you have one) for small pieces of plastic, sunscreen, and any plastic shopping bags you might have under your sink!

Kokua Festival STAR 101.9 Pre-Sale
· All participants will receive a passcode that will allow them access to the STAR 101.9 Pre-Sale. The pre-sale will begin on Sunday, February 14th at 9:00a.m. and will end on Monday, February 15th at midnight
· Go to www.kokuafestival.com or www.star101.9.com for more information

The Kokua Hawaii Foundation thanks BYUH-SIFE Club, Kanu Hawaii & Rep. Shimabukuro, Surfrider Oahu, and The Maui Times for organizing these clean-ups.

"2nd Thursday" meetings re Homeless

FROM: THE LEEWARD HOUSING COALITION

Our 2nd Thursday meeting is scheduled for February 11 from 1130AM to 1PM at the Ulu Ke Kukui Dining Room. It is a brown-bag meeting (bring your own) or you can purchase meals at the site.

The following is our agenda:


Welcome and Introductions

Presentations

Opportunities with the US Army
Joseph Rozmiarek - Director of Civilian Personnel, US Army

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Centers
Melissa Lyman - CFO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Addressing Human Services Issues at the Legislature
Alex Santiago - Executive Director, PHOCUSED

Leeward Housing Coalition Community Summit
Barbie Lei Burgess, Wai`anae Neighborhood Place

HPHA Updates
Sandi Miyoshi


Announcements

Pau

We 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.

For more information, call 696-1217.




About 2nd Thursday

2nd Thursday is a monthly meeting of organizations providing health and human services to the homeless community on the Wai`anae Coast. Meetings are held at 11:30am each second Thursday of the month at the Ulu Ke Kukui Dining Facility. Our objectives are the following:

 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.

A project of the Leeward Housing Coalition

Women of Waianae Tea Fundraiser

Women of Wai`anae (WOW) is holding a "high tea" fundraiser on Saturday, 2/13/10, 2-4pm, at the home of Maryellen Apostol (corner of Pokai Bay St. and Ala Poko St.). Monies raised will benefit WOW's scholarship fund. Cost is $20/person (pre-sale), or $25/person (at the door). For more information, call 696-4677.

Here is a list and a link to photos of last year's WOW Scholarship Winners:

Congratulations to the Women of Waianae (WOW) June 2009 Scholarship Winners!

Grand Prize winner 2009 : Anamarie Piloton - plans to obtain BS to become Counsellor/case manager

Runner Up 2009 : Errol Kia'i Lee - plans obtain degree in Family Resources

Runner Up 2009 : Dember Domen - plans to obtain degree in Business/Human Resources

Runner Up 2009 : Angela Lacey - plans to obtain Teaching degree

Runner Up 2009 : Lisa Ramos - plans to obtain Elementary Teaching degree

Thank you to ALL of the people who have contributed to our scholarship fund - either monetarily, or through donations to our yard sales or our Tea Parties. We'd also like to thank Gail Gomes of the Westside Stories for publishing our winners' photos, and our faithful Yard Sale customers!

-- Karen Young, President
Women of Wai`anae

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE WINNERS ON THE WOMEN OF WAI`ANAE BLOG:
Women of Waianae June 2009 Scholarship Winners