DOCSLIB.ORG

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Spreading Christmas Cheer December 2019| No. 47 LANAKILA KŪPUNA NEWS Inside This Issue: Spreading Christmas Cheer Message from Susie 2 Cultural Club Updates 3-5 Mahalo to our Donors 6 Holiday Messages 8-10 Schedule of Clubs & Classes 11 Upcoming Events Calendar 12 Mahalo Stephanie and Pauline for making these beautiful cranes for our anniversary celebration A program of Catholic Charities Hawai’i funded in part by the State of Hawaii via contract with the State Executive Office on Aging (EOA) and the C&C of Honolulu, Elderly Affairs Division, and a Persons In Need grant from the May Templeton Hopper Fund and Minnie K. Fund via the Hawai`i Community Foundation. A MESSAGE FROM SUSIE From All of Us at Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, we wish you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays! We dedicate this newsletter to all those who have been a part of our 50 Year History and thank you all for making this senior center a very special place for so many. Please enjoy the cultural clubs and classes and their holiday messages to you. Me ke aloha pumehana (with warmest love), LMPSC Staff – Cookie, Iris, Lodi, Riva and Susie, Ben and Our Many Volunteers Mahalo to our 50th Anniversary Special Guests, Donors, and Volunteers U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono represented by her Deputy Chief, Kehau Yap, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, U.S. Representative Ed Case, and U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard Govenor of the State of Hawaii, the Honorable David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano Ige Lt. Govenor Josh Green Senators Karl Rhoads, Sharon Moriwaki, and Donna Mercado Kim Representatives Takashi Ohno, Sylvia Luke, Scott Saiki, Romy Cachola, John Mizuno, and Daniel Holt City Council Members Carol Fukunaga, Joey Manahan, and Ann Kobayashi City Council Members Carol Fukunaga, Joey Manahan, and Ann Kobayashi City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division Director Derrick Ariyoshi Acting Catholic Charities Hawaii Acting CEO Stella Wong, Vice President of Philanthropy Mary Saunders, Vice President of Mission Integration Tina Andrade, and Community and Senior Services Administrator Diane Terada Participant Advisory Board Chair Mark Yoshida, Vice Chair Pastor Aaron Tsang, and PAB Community Representatives Alda Mae Takabayashi, Brandon Mitsuda, Pauni Nagaseu-Escue, Kerry Higa, Randal Lau, Doug Maynes, Brandon Mitsuda, Carole Ka’apu, and Jack Katahira Past executive directors and program coordinators, who served Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center over the past 50 years: Former Executive Director’s Charles Amor and Helen Richardson. Former program coordinators Diane Terada; Drusilla Tanaka; Jan Yokota; Dianne Lim and her husband, Gil Tam; Yuet Mui Kong, Florence Calderon, Kristy Watanabe, and Jill Takaezu. Shizue Ishihara, who is the longest serving member at Lanakila, 37 years and 10 months Thelma Wong, who is the second longest serving member at Lanakila, 37 years and 9 months, who also has the longest length of volunteering at Lanakila. David Young is the second longest serving volunteer at Lanakila and has put in the most hours of volunteer service at Lanakila for over 28 years! Those who contributed generously to our 50th Anniversary: Eric Woo and Randall Chun from Eric Woo Design, who did a beautiful job designing the 50th Anniversary Souvenir Booklet. Evan Ching, who contributed most of the fantastic photos in the souvenir booklet. Jean Sugihara, Mary Sueda and Lou Maynes, who made the beautiful lei that were presented to all members. Leahi Recreational Therapy Department’s Senior Residents, Valari and her son Kyle Sumida, Jan Tateishi (Amy Tari’s daughter), Mary Sueda, Jean Sugihara, and Doug and Lou Maynes for providing the materials for the lei making. Stephanie Underwood and Pauline Baba for making the 400 swans that adorn your table. Sue and Wally Yashima and Lanakila’s 3-D origami class for making the beautiful center piece vases. Iris Hiramoto, Brigid Nakamura and Mae Hong for making the lovely flowers in each of the vases and donating the butterflies and bees. Clarice Kumura, Jean Sugiyama, Alicia Nagasawa, Rose Yanagawa, and Jeanette Shiohira for the lovely stage decorations. Phil Chun for the beautiful orchid plants nestled in the restaurant's rock wall. The Asian Lion Dance Team for donating their time to bring wishes of good luck, prosperity and long life to the event through their performance. Alice Kotake and Jack Katahira for the beautiful bamboo for the Lion Dance. Lei Jayne Moy for preparing the bamboo with the lisee for the lions to bring good fortune to our senior center for years to come. Big City Diner, Don Quiote & Marukai, Pagoda, Representative Takashi Ohno, Dianne Lim, Diane Terada, Mary Sueda, Janet Ito and the Sewing by Nakasone Class, Ben Asato, Nancy Hirano, Mark YoshidaTorno, and SCSEP Worker Ben Domingo. , and Dorothy Mau for the door prizes. Obun Hawaii for printing the souvenir booklet and Henry Ribac from Heather’s Inflatables for donating the paper for the booklet. The Korean Cultural Club and Okinawa Nenchosha Clubs for performing for our pleasure, Helen Katahira for the lovely lei given to Ben Vegas. Riva Torno, who performed a lovely hula dance for us, and the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club for their time and beautiful music. Many more hands who helped with the event as volunteers: Our MCs Mahealani Richardson and Diane Ako, The 50th Anniversary Planning Committee Members: Richard Tada, Dorothy Mau, Diana Antonio, Sharon Tulba, Liwayway Asis, Remy Canon, Mary Sueda, Helen Palama, Toni Lee, Jane Higa, and Puna Frank, The LMPSC Special Events Group, Lanakila’s Tech Experts Richard Tada and Frank Toma, Doug Maynes, Harry Nakasone, Betty Kotani, and Yoneko Tsuchiyama, Pat Young, Gil Brown, Gil Olayan, Victor Tangonan, Dexter Maunakea, Clemente Villanueva, Lorraine Chang, Bixby and Brandon Ho, Helen and Jack Katahira, Herbert and Mina Imamura, Amy Tari, Roberta Leong, Lenora Springer , Lei Galang, Dawn Piper, Davin-Jay Cruz, Laura Marquez And, last but not least, the Staff of Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center: Cookie Irvine, Iris Hiramoto, Lodie Tapawan, Riva Welcome New Members! Debra Barnes Alice Kane Lillian Noji Brigitte Castro Isabelle Lahui Katherine O’Connor Wendell Hershman Gerald Leao Cecilia Seabury Carol Ige Young Soo Lee Bong Ki Sung Janice Ige Edward Miyata William Yee 2 Newsletter | December 2019 Some of our special guests stand with our club presidents and representatives at our 50th Anniversary celebration. Photo courtesy of Evan Ching. Cultural Day Christmas Program Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Friday, December 20, 2019 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Manoa Grand Ballroom OKINAWA NENCHOSHA CLUB UPDATE By Irene Yamashita A Historic Event What a wonderful 50th Anniversary celebration of the Patsy Afuso, Paula Arakaki, Pat Davidson, Hazel Ginoza, Ellen Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center on November 1, at the Higa, Lorri Kajikawa, Susan Kanemoto, Alice Masutani, Betsy Pagoda Hotel as we began the holiday season. We looked back Miyahira, Renee Morioka, Hideko Nebres, Miki Nishikawa, at the amazing history, the people who were a part of that history Florence Ogawa, Helen Shimazu, Gail Tamashiro and Miko and the many ways it was funded through the years. Of Timmelmans. The kachashi ended a very enjoyable morning. particular interest for those of us who attend classes or are part of an ethnic Club to “play, Learn & Serve”, is the fact that We celebrated birthdays on Nov. 21 and also observed Catholic Charities Hawaii has managed and operated the Center an early Thanksgiving as we were treated to lunch of a nice for the State as part of its Mission since 1981. Kudos to the Subway turkey/ham sandwich with a slice of pumpkin pie and Planning Committee with our Program Coordinator Susie Chun candy bar, thanks to the generous donations of club members. Oakland and staff who did an outstanding job in planning the Our five birthday celebrants were: Grace Kimura, Dorene Niibu, event and putting together the Anniversary Booklet complete Annie Shimabukuro, Yoshiharu Tengan and Doris Takara. God with pictures of members and a history of the interesting bless each of you with many more birthdays. Special highlights. Mahalo Nui Loa from those of us who attended the entertainment was presented by Hui O Laulima, an special event! Okinawan club of women who call themselves “Churakagi Angwata”. The program was emceed by Paula Kurashige who We played Bingo on Oct. 31 to end the month of explained the variety of dances and solo numbers. Hula October and had only two meetings in November as the UH dancers were: Thelma Arakawa, Pat Enomoto, Ele Hu, Jojo Nursing Health Fair was held on Thursday, Nov. 7, and the last Richardson, Ginny Takara, Judy Tibayan, Janet Toyama, Diana Thursday of the month, Nov. 28, was our Thanksgiving Miyasato and Sherry Nushida. Okinawan dancers were: Gail Holiday. We have so much to be thankful every day and one of Itomitsu, Diane Kawakami, Gerri Maeda, Val Teruya, Joyce our blessings is being able to fellowship at the Center on Yoshida and Wendy Yoshimoto. A lively hula solo by youthful Thursdays as members of the Okinawa Nenchosha Club, the Lisa Inouye (Sophisticated Hula) and karaoke singer Ruth largest culture club. We are fortunate to have many dedicated Kawamoto added to the fantastic program. As with any volunteers and a president who knows our culture well. That is Okinawan program or event, members participated in the an added blessing. kachashi to end the special morning. On Nov. 14 the Paranku Club of Hawaii 12/5- BINGO entertained us. Several of its members were in their 80’s and 12/12-BIRTHDAY/VARIETY SHOW 90’s which was quite impressive. The program of familiar 12/19- BREAK FOR HOLIDAYS Okinawan songs like Nada Sou Sou, Ashibinaa, Mi Fai Yu to name a few, featured these participants in their paranku outfits: 12/26- BREAK FOR HOLIDAYS (Return on Jan.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Newsletter 3
    VOL.12 Issue 13 Dec. 1, 2012 IN THIS ISSUE ► Message From Kalani pg 1 ► Maui Redistricting pg 1-2 ► Senate Reorganization pg 2 ► H.M. King Mohammed VI pg 3 ► Stay Connected pg 4 GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPtiONS FOR NEW SENATORIAL DISTRICTS MESSAGE FROM KALANI To coincide with the U.S. Census, every ten years the Constitution of the State of December brings heightened activity Hawai’i, Article IV, Section 4, requires the Reapportionment Commission to al- at the State Capitol. Legislators and locate the total number of members of each house of the state legislature among staff prepare for the new legislative the four basic island units (Hawai’i, Maui, Kauai and O’ahu) using the total number session. Bills are drafted, information- of permanent residents of each basic island unit. After making this allocation, the al briefings are held and meetings are Commission apportions the number of legislators allocated to each basic island unit scheduled before the swiftness arrives among the districts in such a manner that for each house the average number of with the New Year. permanent residents per member in each district is as nearly equal to the average In this issue, we look at redistricting for the basic island unit as practicable. and Senate reorganization, His Maj- The Commission determined the permanent resident population of the State of esty King Mohammed VI in Hawai’i Hawai’i and each basic island unit by taking the total population figures from the Week and staying connected with the last U.S. Census and subtracting: (a) military personnel who were counted by the Hawai’i State Legislature.
    [Show full text]
  • Senate President-Elect Donna Mercado Kim
    SENATE PRESIDENT-ELECT DONNA MERCADO KIM Serving Hawai‘i’s Senate District 14 January 2013 Encompassing the following communities: Kapalama Alewa Kalihi Valley Ft. Shafter Moanalua Gardens Moanalua Valley Halawa Aiea Senator Donna Mercado Kim Selected as Senate President Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim (Sen. District 14) has been selected as the President of the Senate and will preside during the 27th Hawaii State Legislature, which will convene on January 16, 2013. Senator Ronald D. Kouchi (Sen. District 8) will serve as Senate Vice President. Senator David Ige (Sen. District 16) will continue as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, with Senator Michelle Kidani (Sen. District 18) serving as his Vice Chair. On Dec. 27, 2012, former state Senate President Shan S. Tsutsui accepted the position of Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, effective immediately under the order of succession. The office was vacated on Dec. 26, 2012 by the appointment of former Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to the U.S. Senate. The Senate acted quickly to organize after Maui State Senator Shan Tsutsui (Sen. District 5) took the oath of office as Lieutenant Governor yesterday. The Senate line up remains mostly intact to allow members continuity in their committee work as the Senate has been preparing for the upcoming session. "We are solidified in dealing with the pressing issues facing our State. The Senate continues to be organized in a cooperative and focused manner. I’m humbled to receive the confidence and support of my colleagues" said Senate President Kim. "We reached an agreement quickly so that we can continue to focus our attention on the issues and begin preparations for the 2013 session," said Senate Vice President Kouchi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Twenty-Sixth Legislature Regular Session of 20 II HOUSE OF
    The Twenty-Sixth Legislature Regular Session of20II HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Committee on Health Rep. Ryan 1. Yamane, Chair Rep. Dee Morikawa, Vice Chair State Capitol, Conference Room 329 Tuesday, March 22, 2011; 9:00 a.m. STATEMENT OF THE ILWU LOCAL 142 ON S.B.1086, SD1 RELATING TO CONSUMER INFORMATION The ILWU Local 142 strongly supports S.B. 1086, SD1, which requires sliced, sandwich-style bread products that have been baked and then frozen to be labeled "previously frozen" and prohibits bread that has been frozen to be labeled or advertised as "fresh." The II.WU represents almost 300 members who work at Love's Bakery in production, driver-sales, office clerical work, and the thrift stores. Many ofthem have worked at the bakery for many years under various owners. Today, the company is owned and managed by a local team that invested its own money to keep this manufacturing company viable. For 160 years, Love's Bakery has put fresh sandwich bread on our table. It was only in the last decade that previously frozen bread took over a greater share ofthe market. However, the consumer was never informed that the previously frozen bread was baked on the mainland, then frozen and later thawed before sale. The consumer did not have the information needed to make an informed choice. This lack ofinformation has given previously frozen bread an unfair advantage over fresh bread. S.B. 1086, SDI will require that packaging ofpreviously frozen and thawed sliced, sandwich-style bread be imprinted with the words "previously frozen." With this information, consumers can ask their own questions, then make an informed decision about which bread to purchase.
    [Show full text]
  • TO: the Honorable John M. Mizuno, Chair House Committee on Health and Human Services
    DAVID Y. IGE PANKAJ BHANOT GOVERNOR DIRECTOR CATHY BETTS DEPUTY DIRECTOR STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES P. O. Box 339 Honolulu, Hawaii 96808 February 13, 2018 TO: The Honorable John M. Mizuno, Chair House Committee on Health and Human Services The Honorable Aaron Ling Johanson, Chair House Committee on Labor and Public Employment FROM: Pankaj Bhanot, Director SUBJECT: HB 2204 - RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES Hearing: Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 8:35 a.m. Conference Room 329, State Capitol DEPARTMENT’S POSITION: The Department of Human Services (DHS) supports the intent of this bill and provides comments. PURPOSE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a task force that shall develop a restructured welfare payment system; re-establishes the exit and retention bonus program to encourage welfare recipients to transition back into the workforce; and appropriates funds. The Financial Assistance Advisory Council (FAAC) was established in accordance with section 346-14.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The purpose of the FAAC is to render advice and information relating to the financial assistance programs. The proposed task force will be duplicative of what is already established in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The department suggests that the committees consider utilizing the FAAC for this purpose, rather than establishing a task force. Regarding the exit and retention bonus program, in October 2006, DHS implemented the “Reward Works” initiative which included the exit and retention bonus payments. The bonuses were based on a family’s average number of employment hours per week. The Reward Works initiative ended February 1, 2012 because DHS did not have funds to fiscally sustain the exit and retention bonuses.
    [Show full text]
  • Filams Lose Congress Bid by Cherie M
    Class of 2014 Now officially INSide will conclude this month. Entries received after Class of 2014 Reserve brass Overcoming denial Aug. 15 will be of immigrant visa See CLASS, B7 DALY CITY, Calif. – Fol- published inside A3 the issue. lowing a year of technical train- ing and service hours Daly City Councilman Mike Guingona PH dancers bag gold was commissioned as a 2nd at World Hip-Hop tilt Lieutenant in the California B2 State Military Reserve in a ceremony August 9 at Camp Takashi offers Japanese San Luis Obispo. cuisine in Pasig City “I am honored to receive this commission as I am em- A4 bark on a new venture to serve Daly City Council my community and state as Member Mike Guin- Katrina Fadrilan Andrew Jison Gabriella Loren Gil Zachary Aquino Ick an officer in the California gona earns his com- Student Body President Junipero Serra HS Hillsdale HS Junipero Serra HS State Military Reserve,” said mission as Second San Mateo HS San Mateo, Calif. San Mateo, Calif. San Mateo, Calif. Guingona. “My new role will Lieutenant in Cali- fornia State Military See NOW, B1 Reserve. FOR NINOY AQUINO www.philippinenews.com PH Consulate gathering on 31st death anniversary $ NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION August 15 - 21, 2014 • Year 54 • Issue 2 0.50 B4 HAWAII PRIMARIES ‘BERDUGO’ FilAms lose Congress bid BY CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO EXECUTIVE EDITOR 1 of PH FILIPINO AMERICA’s brightest hope to elect a Filipina to the United States Congress dimmed with the loss of Donna Mercado Kim in Hawaii’s August 9 primaries. BALLOTPEDIA Mercado Kim, the first Filipino American and woman state Senate President in the United States, placed second in most the seven-way contest to represent the Democratic Party in November faceoff for the first congressional district.
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Basin TRC Feb. 2020 Legislative Update
    Pacific Basin TRC Feb. 2020 Legislative Update Last Updated: February 28, 2020 The Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center provides telehealth technical assistance to the state of Hawaii. A few notes about this report: 1. Bills are organized into specific telehealth "topic area". 2. The Fiscal Note (FN) Outlook: The left hand column indicates the bill's Pre-Floor Score, and the right hand column indicates the bill's actual Floor Score of the last chamber it was in (either Senate or House). 3. Regulations are listed at the end in order of their publication date. 4. If you would like to learn more about any piece of legislation or regulation, the bill numbers and regulation titles are clickable and link out to additional information. Bills by Issue Bills by Status Broadband 1 1 Cross-State Licensi… 2 2 Demonstrations, … 1 Medicaid Reimbur… 0 Medicare Reimbur… Network Adequacy 0 Online Prescribing Other 2 2 Private Payer Rei… 0 Provider-Patient R… 7 - Introduced Regulatory, Licensi… 3 3 Substance Use Dis… 0 2 - Passed First Chamber 0 2 4 High Medium Low None All Bills Broadband (1) State Bill Number Last Action Status FN Outlook HI HB 2264 Passed Second Reading As Amended In Hd 1 In House 90.2% 66.4% And Referred To The Committee S On Cpc With None Voting Aye With Reservations None Voting No 0 And Representative S Mcdermott Yamashita Excused 2 2020 02 07 Title Bill Summary: Establishes the Executive Office on Broadband Relating To Broadband Development. Development and the Hawaii Broadband Advisory Council. Directs the council to promote statewide access to broadband services and Description encourage the use of broadband for telehealth, among other goals.
    [Show full text]
  • February 1 2017 Issue to Print.Pmd
    PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • FEBRUARY 1-15, 2017 STATEWIDE COMMUNITY CALENDAR Compiled by AMELIA CASAMINA CABATU Amelia Casamina Cabatu is a community leader and a familiar face, often hosting community events and celebrations. She is a veteran radio announcer and hosts the “FIL-AM COURIER COMMUNITY HOUR on 1270 KNDI Radio every 1st Sunday of the month. In addition to other affiliations, Amelia is the former Chair of the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii. She owns and operates an adult daycare business and is happily married to Arnold Cabatu. They live in Salt Lake and are blessed with one daughter, Armay. Please send your event information to [email protected] or call her at (808) 282-2033. OAHU FEBRUARY 16-26, 2017 FilCom Center for a bigger, colorful, and MAY 13, 2017 outstanding achievements of graduating high Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii culturally-rich Philippine participation. For Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii school valedictorians in public and private FEBRUARY 1, 2017 27th (FCCH) Annual Filipino Trade Mission more information visit their website at http:/ Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year and the schools & presentation of the continuing Job Quest Job Fair hosted by WorkForce/ to the Philippines. The trade mission aims /www.honolulufestival.com Filipino Young Entrepreneur of the Year and scholar recipients, Empress Restaurant, JobQuest Hawaii. 10:00 AM-3:00 PM; Neal to strengthen the business opportunities Scholarship Awards Gala Fil-Com Center. 100 N. Beretania St. 6:00 PM. We are Blaisdell Center 777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, between Hawaii and the Philippines. Planned MARCH 24, 2017 94-428 Mokuola Street Waipahu, HI.
    [Show full text]
  • ILWU Endorses Ige, Tsutsui, Schatz, Takai and Gabbard
    OF September/October 2014 VOICE THE ILWU page 1 HAWAII Volume 54 • No. 5 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union September/October 2014 ILWU endorses Ige, Tsutsui, ADDRESS L A BE Schatz, Takai and Gabbard L The ILWU Local 142 Political Action Committee is endorsing David Ige, the democratic nominee for Governor, and Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui in the November 4 General Election. Together, this team has over 38 years of legislative experience. Both candidates have and will continue to champion issues important to working families such as better education, lowering the cost of healthcare, maintaining workers’ compensation, and improving long-term care. We can depend on them to work hard to set a course that meets the needs of Hawaii’s future generations. Some of those needs include working on developing clean energy and a statewide grid, maintaining the Jones Act, and stimulating job growth and economic and environmental sustainability. Remember the Lingle Administration? Oahu Division Business Agent Paris Fernandez, Local Secretary-Treasurer Governor Linda Lingle and Lieutenant Guy Fujimura, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, Oahu Division Representative Jose Governor James “Duke” Aiona opposed Miramontes and Oahu Division Business Agent Dillon Hullinger at the Hawaii or used the power of the governor’s Labor Unity Picnic at the Waikiki Shell on Labor Day, September 1, 2014. On the Inside veto to block nearly every single issue 1,100 Foodland members that was important to Hawaii’s working in the best interests of working people, and principles of the ILWU. We can ratify contract ...........................
    [Show full text]
  • STATE of HAWAII Testimony COMMENTING on HB1896
    DAVID Y. IGE VIRGINIA PRESSLER, M.D. GOVERNOR OF HAWAII DIRECTOR OF HEALTH STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH P. O. Box 3378 Honolulu, HI 96801-3378 [email protected] Testimony COMMENTING on HB1896 RELATING TO HEALTH. REP. JOHN M. MIZUNO, CHAIR HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Hearing Date: January 24, 2018 Room Number: 329 1 Fiscal Implications: None for Department of Health. 2 Department Testimony: The Department of Health supports the intent of HB1896, which is to 3 review health care policies, the Affordable Care Act, and other jurisdictions' health care 4 legislative proposals to determine ways the state can increase access to health care. However, 5 the department respectfully requests that proposals for increasing access to health care be 6 postponed until after a health analytics program is established and operational. 7 Based on the references the task force shall study, HB1896 appears to focus on the affordability 8 of health insurance. However, increasing access to health care also depends on a strong public 9 health infrastructure, supportive primary prevention policies, adequate provider supply, robust 10 health care analytics, and patient health literacy. 11 The Department of Health, in collaboration with other Cabinet agencies like the Department of 12 Human Services, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Department of Labor 13 and Industrial Relations, and the University of Hawaii, as well as private sector stakeholders, 14 discuss and prioritize these key components of health care access. 15 It is therefore noteworthy to call attention to HB2361, Relating to Health Analytics, which is part 16 of the Governor’s Administrative Package from the Department of Human Services, that calls for 17 resources and authority to establish a health analytics program to study both clinical and 18 financial health data.
    [Show full text]
  • Financial Audit of GMO Money Blocking a GMO Labeling Bill
    Financial Audit of GMO Money blocking a GMO Labeling Bill Politicians allow experimental GMO field trials near our homes, schools & oceans Our Politicians have turned our ‘Aina into a Chemical Wasteland The final deadline to hear a GMO labeling bill is gone, and the Chairpersons of both Senate and House Agriculture, Health, and Economic Development/Consumer Protection Committees refuse to hold a hearing. In November we will vote these corrupt Committee Chairpersons out that blocked a GMO labeling bill this year: Senate: Clarence Nishihara, Rosalyn Baker House: Clift Tsuji, Calvin Say, Ryan Yamane, Bob Herkes GMO Money to State Legislators 2008 2009 2011 Neil Abercrombie 1,000 1,500 Rosalyn Baker 750 500 500 (1,500) Kirk Caldwell 550 (Fred Perlak 500) Jerry Chang 500 500 Isaac Choy 500 Suzanne Chun Oakland 1000 Ty Cullen 250 Donovan Dela Cruz 500 (Dow 500) Will Espero 500 500 Brickwood Galuteria 500 Colleen Hanabusa 500 Mufi Hannemann (Dean Okimoto) 250 1,000 Sharon Har 1,000 1,000 500 Clayton Hee 1,000 500 (2,000) (Dow 500) (Syngenta 1000) Bob Herkes 750 500 500 Ken Ito 500 500 500 Gil Kahele 500 Daryl Kaneshiro 200 Michelle Kidani 250 500 (Dow 500) (DuPont 500) (Perlak 500) Donna Mercado Kim 1,000 Russell Kokubun 500 Ronald Kouchi 500 Sylvia Luke 250 (Perlak 500) Joe Manahan 500 500 Ernie Martin (Alicia Maluafiti) 250 (Perlak 500) Barbara Marumoto (Bayer 500) Angus McKelvey 500 Clarence Nishihara 750 500 Scott Nishimoto (Syngenta 250) GMO MONEY 2008 2009 2011 Blake Oshiro (Fred Perlak) 500 Calvin Say 2010 Biotech Legislator 1,000 500
    [Show full text]
  • Increasing Private Payment Rates to Health Centers in Hawaii
    Promising Practices # 6 Increasing Private Payment Rates to Health Centers in Hawaii July 2009 Background and Summary of Legislation In January 2009, legislation (S.B.1140) was introduced in the Hawaii Senate that would require all health plans, including government payors and limited benefit health insurance policy insurers licensed to do business in the State, to pay FQHCs no less than their respective Medicaid PPS rates. Federal law requires FQHCs to be paid a PPS rate for Medicaid beneficiaries, which takes into account health center costs for a full range of services. Nationally, health centers charged private insurers about $1.16 billion in 2007 and collected just a little over half of that (58% or ~$670 million). Medicaid reimburses health centers approximately 85% of costs on average. In Hawaii, that number is upwards of 97%. Roughly 23% of health center patients in the State are privately insured and private reimbursements mirror the national annual average.1 The legislation overwhelmingly passed both the Senate and House in early March and mid April, respectively, but pressure from the health plans effectively killed the bill. The Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) estimates that with this legislation, health centers could have brought in about $7 million in additional reimbursement from private insurers. Despite its failure, this legislation was supported by a majority of members of the Senate and House and is a promising model for future efforts to achieve adequate reimbursement rates for FQHCs from all payor types. Strategy The Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) initially approached HPCA about joining them in the effort to establish better reimbursement rates from certain payors.
    [Show full text]
  • New Leadership for Hawai'i and Prospects for Policy Change
    New Leadership for Hawai‘i and Prospects for Policy Change Preliminary report, do not cite without author’s permission Todd L. Belt Department of Political Science University of Hawai‘i at Hilo 200 W. Kawili St. Hilo, HI 96720-4091 [email protected] Paper prepared for delivery at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, April 2-4, 2015, Las Vegas, NV. Introduction Hawai‘i’s slow economic recovery continued throughout 2014. Despite this improving economic news, voters ousted their brash and combative sitting governor, Neil Abercrombie, in the Democratic Primary. The humble and unassuming State Senator David Ige rolled to a general election victory. The new governor, an electrical engineer by training and a veteran chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, looked to bring less in terms of policy change and more in terms of approach to governance. Governor Ige was inaugurated on December 1, 2014, and his biennial budget needed to be released on December 22. The original request reflected a status-quo budget prepared by the outgoing Abercrombie administration. In late January, 2015, Ige’s administration put together an amended budget that slightly increased budgetary requests and expected revenues. Key legislators have thus far opted for a conservative approach to spending. In March, the House voted to trim Ige’s requests down to approximately the level of the Abercrombie’s initial request. The budget is currently being worked over in the Senate Ways and Means committee. At this point, the final budget looks to be largely similar to the governor’s budget request, with few alterations and few new programs.
    [Show full text]