2009 November

"Talk Story" with Lt. Governor Aiona

Lt. Governor Aiona today will discuss high-profile state issues, including teacher furloughs during instructional days, on his monthly radio call-in show on Honolulu's KHVH 830 AM, with host Mike Buck. The hour-long show starts at 5 p.m. To participate, listeners can call (808) 521-8383 from O`ahu.

Good health, good business

The State Department of Health Healthy Hawai`i Initiative on Tuesday is hosting its 2nd Physical Activity and Nutrition Summit. The Lt. Governor will discuss the obesity epidemic and how worksite wellness programs can positively affect Hawai`i's quality of life. The event will provide examples of local businesses that are successfully implementing worksite wellness programs. Worksite wellness can create large-scale improvements in the health of workers and show a significant return on investment for Hawai`i businesses.

Park improvements scheduled at Kalalau Beach in Kaua`i

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will continue with its efforts to improve public safety along portions of the Kalalau Beach area in the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park in Kaua`i. The beach offers unique recreational opportunities and environmental resources, and is a global destination for hikers and campers from around the world. Specifically, rockfall mitigation is planned for the areas above the Ho`olea waterfall and the area above the beach cave. These areas are at the western end of the Kalalau beach area and were identified as hazards by DLNR technical consultants.

Lt. Governor Aiona invites BOE, DOE and HSTA to reopen furlough discussion

"As the father of four children, I understand why parents are deeply concerned about the loss of instructional time for our keiki. However, convening a special session of the Legislature or raiding special funds would be premature, as the revenue picture is unclear for the remainder of the fiscal year. It would be more prudent and fiscally responsible to address funding concerns during the regular session in the broader context of the overall budget and what will be needed to close the growing revenue shortfall. Instead of a special session, everyone should be focused on the immediate and fiscally responsible solutions currently available to restore instructional time for our children. The Board of Education, Department of Education and Hawai`i State Teachers Association know they can take steps right now to reopen contract talks to take a pay cut or shift furloughs to non-instructional days. Alternatively, they can make it easier for parents and teachers to convert waiver and planning days to instructional time at the school level. I invite the BOE, DOE and HSTA leaders to sit down with me immediately to follow up on previous discussions held with Governor Lingle. My door is open."

Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs

Lt. Governor Aiona on Friday will participate in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs' (AHCC) 50th Annual Convention on Maui. Comprised of 55 organizations, AHCC unifies and provides a platform for native Hawaiians to address issues at city, state and federal levels. In addition, the organization preserves and perpetuates the rich Hawaiian culture through dance, music and Hawaiian language and history education.

Lt. Governor Aiona orders state flags to fly at half-staff

To honor the brave men and women who lost their lives in Fort Hood, Texas, acting Governor James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr., on behalf of Governor Linda Lingle, has ordered the Hawai`i state flag at all state and county buildings throughout Hawai`i to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. "We must always honor our service men and women, who risk their lives every day to protect the liberty and freedom we have as American citizens," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "This senseless act of violence saddens us all, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims." The proclamation also encourages Hawai`i residents to display the state flag at half-staff at their homes and businesses in honor of all those who gave their lives in service to our great nation. The Lingle-Aiona Administration's action is in conjunction with President Barack Obama's order to lower the U.S. flag.

Promoting active living and healthy aging

In recognition of National Home Care Month in November, Lt. Governor Aiona on Saturday will discuss physical activity, nutrition and preventative care at the Senior Health Day Fair. The event is designed to promote health awareness, safety, education and offer resources and services that are available to the community.

Families move into new "green" homes

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has turned over the keys to the first home in the 172-unit Pi`ilani Mai Ke Kai affordable residential subdivision in Anahola, Kaua`i. The housing project provides jobs and affordable homes at a time when housing is out of reach for many residents. The homes are part of the first increment of 36 units that were awarded earlier of this year.

"Talk Story" with Lt. Governor Aiona

On his monthly radio call-in show, Lt. Governor Aiona today will discuss high-profile state issues on Honolulu's KHVH 830 AM, with host Mike Buck. The hour-long show starts at 5 p.m. To participate, listeners can call (808) 521-8383 from O`ahu.

Promoting Family Literacy

As part of his second Read Aloud Program (RAP) event in as many weeks, Lt. Governor Aiona today travels to Wailuku Elementary School on Maui to discuss the importance of reading to children – in the classroom and at home – on a regular basis to increase their prospects for success in school and life.

Honoring our service men and women

Lt. Governor Aiona today participates in the O`ahu Veterans Council (OVC) Veterans Day Ceremony to honor the distinguished service of Hawai`i's men and women in uniform, as well as those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of freedom. "Americans owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to our veterans who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the principles upon which our nation was founded," Lt. Governor Aiona said.

Prevent Suicide: Survivors and Community Partners in Action

Lt. Governor Aiona will discuss suicide prevention at the State Department of Health's (DOH) third annual Survivors of Suicide conference, "Prevent Suicide: Survivors and Community Partners in Action," on Nov. 19 at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel. The conference is part of an ongoing collaborative effort to address a major public health challenge in Hawai`i. The Lt. Governor will highlight his experiences with suicide prevention with being on the advisory board of the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Schools start to roll out H1N1 clinics

Moanalua Middle School on O`ahu today conducted Hawai`i's first school H1N1 flu vaccination clinic, inoculating 371 students, as part of the State's effort to protect Hawai`i's keiki against the virus. Thousands of Hawai`i elementary and middle school students whose parents signed and returned consent forms will receive their free H1N1 flu vaccine during the coming weeks through this program. In all, 333 public, private and charter school clinics are scheduled across the state during the next few months.

Community forum for Hilo residents

Lt. Governor Aiona on Tuesday will discuss high profile issues affecting the Big Island on his monthly radio show with KPUA 670 AM host Ken Hupp in Hilo.

Promoting reading in the classroom and at home

Lt. Governor Aiona today travels to Kahului Elementary School on Maui to discuss the importance of reading to children as part of his third Read Aloud Program (RAP) event in as many weeks. The Lt. Governor has been actively involved with the literacy program since 2004, which promotes family reading in the classroom and at home on a regular basis to increase prospects for success in school and life.

Community input sought for Kalaniana`ole highway improvements

The State Department of Transportation (DOT) is inviting the public to attend an informational meeting to discuss the upcoming Kalaniana`ole Highway Retaining Wall Project near Makapu`u. The meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Hawai`i Army National Guard Training Auditorium at Bellows Air Force Station. DOT officials will provide an overview of the proposed project and welcome public feedback.

Community forum for Maui residents

Lt. Governor Aiona on Thursday discusses high profile issues affecting Maui on his monthly call-in radio show with KAOI 1110 AM hosts Jack Gist and Don Couch. The hour-long show starts at 7 a.m.

Preventing suicide in Hawai`i

Lt. Governor Aiona today discussed suicide prevention at a conference sponsored by the State Department of Health's Injury Prevention and Control Program. Every three days in Hawai`i, one person dies by suicide and seven people are seen in the hospital for attempting suicide. Furthermore, there is a tremendous emotional toll in communities and in the lives of family members and friends from the devastating trauma, loss and suffering.

Construction hours revised after public input on the Kalaniana‘ole highway project

Based on community feedback on the upcoming Kalaniana`ole Highway Retaining Wall Project near Makapu`u, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has modified its original construction schedule.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff

Lt. Governor Aiona today joins Governor Lingle to encourage support for The Salvation Army through the Red Kettle campaign, which is the organization's primary fundraiser during the holiday season. Through public donations, The Salvation Army helps provide needy families and individuals with food, clothing and gift donations during the holidays.

Thanking our troops

As part of Operation Best Wishes, Lt. Governor Aiona today salutes the men and women serving in the armed forces overseas via a live webcast message. Sponsored by Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, the national program allows military families to record and send a video-based webcast greeting to loved ones who will not be able to be home during the holiday season because of deployment overseas.

Happy Thanksgiving Hawai`i

The enduring image of the Thanksgiving holiday is of the extended `ohana gathered around a large table strewn with a bountiful selection of wonderful foods, including yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkins pies, stuffing and of course, the traditional turkey. A beautiful picture, but one that will not be experienced by some of Hawai`i's families this year.

Serving those in need

As part of the Kau Kau Wagon's annual Thanksgiving of Hope, Lt. Governor Aiona tomorrow at 1 p.m. serves holiday meals to those in need and speaks about the importance of community service. The community event, through the help of donations and volunteers, provides a holiday meal for those in need at Gateway Park in downtown Honolulu.

Promoting our tourism industry

Lt. Governor Aiona today provides a blessing in Chinese and Hawaiian for 20 couples from China who are getting married in Waikiki as part of a popular China-based reality television program. This is the 6th Classical Wedding Ceremony program that the Tianjin Television Station has organized, but the first time the wedding ceremony is being held on O`ahu. The event, which draws an estimated audience of 1 million in China, has been televised on the Big Island for the past three years.