HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Cell phones help find lost hikers
Advertiser Staff
Two lost hikers last night used their cell phones to talk to, and then signal, Fire Department personnel who rescued them from a trail near the Crouching Lion.
Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said a man and a woman became separated from their friends on the trail. The hikers had cell phones and were able to talk to firefighters, Tejada said.
The Fire Department sent its helicopter to the area and got the lost hikers to use the lights of the phones to help the rescuers find them, Tejada said.
"Anytime you're up there and it's dark, it's dangerous," he said. "But they're in a stable area and they have the cell phone lights." He said the hikers were not injured.
HONOLULU
WOMAN HONORED FOR YOUTH WORK
Leinaala Nakamura has been named the City and County of Honolulu's 2005 Employee of the Year. Nakamura is program manager for the Department of Community Services' Youth Services Center, which has been rated as one of the top programs of its kind in the country.
Her clientele includes at-risk young people who are emotionally challenged, homeless, criminal offenders or domestic abuse victims.
Earl W.M. Ng was named city Manager of the Year. He is assistant chief of the Wastewater Division in the Department of Environmental Services. The city said he has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills by listening to, understanding and helping employees with problems.
HPU NURSING AWARDED $587,113
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a $587,113 grant to Hawai'i Pacific University's School of Nursing.
The money will help the university develop a Transcultural Nursing Center. The Nurse Education, Practice and Retention grant was made by the federal agency's Health Resources and Services Administration.
$1.5M GRANT GOES TO LIFE-SPAN STUDY
Kuakini Medical Center has won a $1.5 million grant to study the genetic, diet and lifestyle factors behind the longevity enjoyed by Hawai'i men of Japanese ancestry.
Dr. J. David Curb, one of the researchers, said the new grant is the first to look specifically at genes that affect life span.
The researchers want to study those born in 1915 or before to see what differentiates them from ordinary people in society who die at 77 and younger.
A preliminary look at data show the long-lived study volunteers had lower blood sugar and better cholesterol levels, drank more green tea and weighed less than others their age.
A team led by Dr. Bradley J. Willcox, principal geriatric research investigator at the Pacific Health Research Institute, will study about 1,200 Japanese-American men who will be more than 91 years old next year.
Willcox said about 30 percent to 40 percent of the men can walk up to half a mile with no difficulty, have strong hand-grip strength and high cognitive function. He said that is "pretty amazing."
BIG ISLAND
DIVER DIES NEAR KEALAKEKUA BAY
A man died Saturday afternoon while diving near the Kealakekua Bay pier, Big Island fire officials said.
The man was diving about 200 yards offshore when he experienced trouble and sank, the officials said.
His diving partner tried several times unsuccessfully to get to the man while waiting for firefighters to arrive. Fire rescue personnel responding to the 4:32 p.m. call pulled the man out of the bay. He was taken to Kona Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
MAUI
MONEY WILL HELP EXPAND HOSPITAL
The Dowling Community Improvement Foundation has pledged $100,000 to the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation in support of healthcare for Maui residents.
The gift required matching community contributions and is expected to help develop the first phase of the expansion of the hospital's heart and vascular center program.
KAILUA
RECYCLING DRIVE SET FOR SATURDAY
Kailua High School's Project Graduation 2007 will have a HI 5¢ can and bottle fundraising drive Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school's parking lot.
Proceeds will go toward the school's 2007 Project Graduation, an all-night party that provides students with a safe, drug- and alcohol-free graduation celebration.
Additional recycling drives are scheduled Dec. 17 and Jan. 21. Call 261-1361 or e-mail kailua2007@hotmail.com.
KAPOLEI
GROUP NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE
The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture has named Marci Wai'ale'ale as its executive director. She will oversee daily operations and conduct strategic planning for the organization. She will also develop new services and strategies to help meet client needs.
"Marci exemplified everything INPEACE's mission works toward," said Sherlyn Franklin Goo, the organization's outgoing executive director. "She recognizes that empowering Native Hawaiians through education will give them the opportunities they need to make systemic and generational change for themselves and their families."
