Waimea Community Association

Native Hawaiian Arts Market

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:17:31 +0000

Two presentations from the May 2012 Waimea Community Association meeting about the physician shortage

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:10:27 +0000

Presentation by Karen Pellegrin Ph.D., M.B.A., and Director of Continuing/Distance Education and Strategic Planning with the Center for Rural Health Science, UH College of Pharmacy

Presentation by Kristin Knudson M.P.H., Assistant Director of the Hawai’i/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center at UH-Manoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:54:58 +0000

A presentation of HBO Documentary Films and the Institute of Medicine in Association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, in partnership with Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. Local support provided by PATH – Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii and Sustainable Initiatives, LLC.

Parker School Theater
Doors Open 5:00PM
Screening & Panel Discussion 5:30PM

Part 1 – The Weight of the Nation: Consequences

PRIZE DRAWING, GIVEAWAYS, EXPERT PANELISTS & MORE! RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!

RSVP: http://weight-of-the-nation-hawaii-island.eventbrite.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL: 326-7284 or EMAIL: WOTN@pathhawaii.org

Reservations recommended. No recording devices permitted.

North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s Maternal Care Program Community Update and Dialogue

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:10:40 +0000

Click this link to see the presentation by HCHC CEO Ken Wood at the community meeting held at Parker School on May 1, 2012.

Chart notes from the community meeting held at Parker School on May 1, 2012.

North Hawaii Community Hospital announces that it will only accept new maternal care patients who live within its defined service area. See the full announcement here.

Community invited to facilitated discussion Tuesday, May 1, 2012 about NHCH Women’s Center maternal care program

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:51:33 +0000

Please join us…

Waimea and North Hawai’i residents are invited to a facilitated discussion about the future of North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s Waimea Women’s Center and its maternal care program at 5:30 p.m., Tues., May 1, 2012 at Parker School Theatre.

Coordinated by Waimea Community Association, the meeting will begin with Friends of the Community Hospital ‘Ohana, a grass-roots community organization, who will address community and health provider concerns about the future of the Center and also highlight the positive impact the Center has had on Big Island women’s healthcare over the last several years.

Then, Ken Wood, NHCH’s Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the hospital’s administrative team will present data from their recent examination of the benefits and costs of the Center and its maternal care program. They will discuss the findings and recommendations of a working group formed by hospital leadership that involved all stakeholder groups, including representatives of the Women’s Center. They will explain how the data collected might impact the future of the Center and will bring the community up to speed on the key issues that have arisen in the evaluation of the program.

An open forum will follow to allow community members to address hospital leadership with their thoughts and concerns about the program and to provide input to hospital leadership as it looks to find the best size for its maternal care program.

It is our hope that this forum will provide a better understanding of the complex issues involved, and also allow the community’s voice to be heard regarding the best way forward. The meeting is being coordinated by WCA President Sherm Warner and Board member Paul Johnston.

As with all WCA Town Meetings, everyone is invited and there is no charge.

For more information, call Sherm Warner at 885-1725.

# # # # #

SEN. MALAMA SOLOMON INVITES RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS 2012 LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:18:40 +0000

With the 2012 Legislature set to conclude on Thurs., May 3, State Sen. Malama Solomon is inviting residents in her Hawai’i Island Senatorial District to attend one of a series of community meetings to discuss projects and policies that respond to community concerns and priorities to the benefit of the district.

Joining her at the meetings will be staff from several important state departments to answer questions and program implementation timing and strategies. This will include representatives of the State Departments of Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources, Transportation, Education, Hawaiian Home Lands, University of Hawaii and Hawai’i Healthcare Systems Corporation.

“This is an ideal time for community representatives to talk with me and these state agencies because 2013 is what is called ‘the biennium budget year.’ This is when major Capitol Improvement Projects (CIP) are funded. It is urgent that community groups with new projects lobby the departments now to convey their priorities. This is also an ideal time to track existing CIP projects to know exactly where they are and if they need a little extra push to get or keep them moving forward,” said Sen. Solomon.

Everyone is invited and there will be time for questions and answers. All meetings will start at 5:30 p.m.:

Mon., May 7: Papaikou’s Kalaniana’ole School Cafeteria
Tues., May 8: Honoka’a High School Cafeteria
Wed., May 9: Laupahoehoe Public Library
Thurs., May 10: Waimea School Cafeteria
Mon., May 14: North Kohala Library in Kapa’au
Tues., May 15: NELHA Gateway Center
Thurs., May 17: Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School Cafeteria

For more information, call Sen. Solomon at 974-4000 Ext. 67335 or email: SenSolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Please Join Us For These Two Very Important Health Care Meetings

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:31:03 +0000

Just Confirmed: 5:30 p.m., Tues., May 1, 2012 – Parker School Theatre – Waimea Community Association is facilitating a meeting about North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s Women’s Center involving both members and friends of the Community Hospital ‘Ohana (CHO) and hospital leadership. More details to follow…

And…

Waimea Community Association’s usual First-Thursday Town Meeting – 5:15 p.m., Thurs., May 3, 2012 – Waimea School Cafeteria. Will feature an important panel discussion “So, You Can’t Find A Doctor?” – to help the community better understand why and learn about what we can do about the regional and islandwide doctor shortage and community strategies to recruit/retain physicians.

PS: WCA will continue to exchange old incandescent bulbs for CFLs at Thursday’s meeting … bring as many as you want to swap.

The Spotlight’s On ‘Paniolo Music’ At Saturday’s Paniolo Talk Story Night at Historic Pukalani Stables

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:21:06 +0000

Paniolo Talk Story in October, 2011; Photo Courtesy Ethan Tweedie

A subject close to every paniolo’s heart – music – will be featured at the Paniolo Preservation Society’s next Paniolo Talk Story Night at historic Pukalani Stables – beginning at 5 p.m., this Sat., April 28, 2012.

Just as the horse and kaula ili (lariat) are essential to our Hawaiian cowboys, so is music! PPS, with support of a Richard Smart Fund grant from Hawai’i Community Foundation, invites one and all to experience a night of Paniolo Music featuring the songs of Hawai’i ranches and their ‘ohana. Hosted by cultural practitioner and educator, Ku’u'lei Keakealani, who comes from a multi-generational paniolo family, you’ll experience an authentic evening of paniolo heritage, stories and legends told through the artistry of music. Admission is free but donations to the Paniolo Heritage Center are greatly appreciated. Bring your own chairs, and coolers are welcome. Aunty Kana’i will be offering delicious plate lunches. Dress warm for the cool Waimea evening!

For more information, check out PPS’ website: www.paniolopreservation.org or “like” Paniolo Preservation on Facebook.

Coqui-Free Waimea Receives $10,000 Grant From Richard Smart Fund

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:54:40 +0000

Waimea’s efforts to control the spread of coqui frogs in the community have been jumpstarted by the award of a $10,000 grant to Coqui-Free Waimea (CFW), said Laura Dierenfield on behalf of the Waimea Preservation Association, the local non-profit that is acting as fiscal agent for the project. The grant was awarded by the Hawaii Community Foundation under its Ho’ohui ‘O Waimea program of the Richard Smart Fund.

“Coqui-Free Waimea is a self-help coalition, entirely volunteer, that brings neighbors together to control this destructive invasive species,” said Bob Bonar, president of CFW. “This grant—plus an equal amount to be raised within the community—will help us fund our educational efforts and, most important, enable us to purchase equipment and supplies needed to eradicate infestations we have identified around town.”

Grant coordinator for CFW, Melora Purell, said, “The grant program aims to preserve what makes Waimea a great place to live, a place where people know each other and care about maintaining the special qualities of Waimea. Neighbors working together to keep our quiet Hawaiian nights—what could be more fitting than that?”

Sherman Warner, president of Waimea Community Association, said coqui frogs have been reported across Waimea, from dry side to wet side. “Visits to the town website’s coqui page have been increasing,” he noted, although the colder temperatures of winter keep the frogs quieter than during warmer weather. “We expect reports to begin increasing again as temperatures rise.”

Coqui-Free Waimea is a self-help coalition providing support to neighborhood groups who want to control these pests. If you hear a coqui, call a neighborhood captain listed below, and we will work with you and your neighbors to eliminate it.

Learn more at waimeatown.org. “Like” the “Coqui-Free Waimea” page on Facebook. Stop by the Coqui-Free Waimea table in front of KTA and Foodland for information and to learn how you can help!

In these neighborhoods, contact:

Waiaka/Akulani, Cherry Sanford (650/862-7900)
Puu Nani, Barbara Haight (895-5513) or Steve Urbic (747-0479)
Iokua Place, Ann Lum (640-4704)
Laelae/Opelo, Bob Bonar (769-2582)
Vacationland, Cricket Higginson (885-5311)
Tamarack Pines, CC Arnott (885-1659)
Lakeland, Bill Lindsey (896-5040)

Other neighborhoods, Jeannie Oshima and Tom Bailey, 887-1027

Or to report coqui frogs, email wcapres@hawaiiantel.net.

Tax-deductible donations gratefully accepted. Make checks to Waimea Preservation Association, “for Coqui-Free Waimea” on memo line, P.O. Box 6570, Kamuela HI 96743.

So, You Can’t Find a Doctor?

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:19:31 +0000

Understanding why, and learning what you can do about it

The goals of the May 3 meeting of the Waimea Community Association are to:

-Provide an overview of the health care workforce situation in Hawaii in general, concentrating on the Big Island, and North Hawaii specifically.
-Understand the advantages and problems that a physician faces in locating his or her practice in Hawaii, and especially in the relatively rural communities of North Hawaii.
-Understand what is being done locally to recruit/retain physicians, and emphasize the ways that the community at large can participate in the process.

Karen Pellegrin, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Director of Continuing/Distance Education & Strategic Planning
Founding Director, Center for Rural Health Science
College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii

Kristen Knudson
Assistant Director
Hawaii/ Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center
John A Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii Manoa

William Park, M.D.
President and Chief Medical Officer
North Hawaii Medical Group
Vice President
North Hawaii Community Hospital

The meeting will take place at the Waimea Middle School cafeteria on Thursday, May 3, at 5:15 p.m.