Hawai'i State News
October is ‘Stop the Ant Month’ in Hawaiʻi
Little fire ants are considered among the world’s worst invasive species. Little fire ants are tiny ants, measuring 1/16 of an inch long, and orange in color. Little fire ants move slowly and stings tend to occur when the ants fall from trees or vegetation onto people, or when infestations become so large that the ants move into yards, homes, and businesses.
Grant applications open for wildfire risk reduction, landscape scale restoration
The opportunities include Landscape Scale Restoration grants, Community Wildfire Defense grants, and Wildland-Urban Interface grants. All three opportunities are funded by the US Forest Service and full details are available through the Hawaiʻi Awards and Notices Data System.
Top 1% in the world ranking for University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa research, teaching
The flagship campus of the 10-campus system placed No. 57 in the U.S. and in the No. 201–250 tier worldwide. That’s out of more than 25,000 colleges and universities in the world (top 250 qualifies as the world’s top 1%).
Hawai‘i names inaugural ‘Workforce Development Hero’ awardees
These achievements are highlighted as part of Workforce Development Month in September, which was celebrated nationally, and which the governor proclaimed as such for the first time in Hawaiʻi.
63 tons of marine debris removed from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
The team successfully removed a total of 63 tons of marine debris over the course of this 4-week effort. This expedition was the Marine Debris Project’s second large-scale effort of 2023, with a previous expedition completed during the month of July. The total amount of debris collected by the Marine Debris Project in the last 90 days now stands at 106 tons.
New UHERO dashboard highlights areas of Hawaiʻi housing crisis
The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization, or UHERO, launched a publicly available, interactive housing data dashboard on Sept. 26, that allows users to customize their data reports based on location, with information such as property and rental market, demographics, zoning and housing stock. UHERO designed the dashboard to inform discussions on the way forward for housing in Hawaiʻi.
Hōkūle‘a receives spirited welcome in San Francisco
Joining the crew on board was a member of the Coast Miwok Tribe of what is now known as Marin and southern Sonoma counties, as well as renowned oceanographer, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Founder of Mission Blue, Sylvia Earle. Members of the Ramaytush Ohlone tribe of the San Francisco area stood on the beach and granted permission for the crew to make their landing and go ashore.
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court to hold special session in honor of late Patricia Mau-Shimizu
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court will hold a special session on Sept. 25 in honor of the late Patricia Mau-Shimizu, executive director of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.
New questionnaire aims to improve breast cancer risk assessment
The Hawaiʻi and Pacific Islands Mammography Registry will launch a new questionnaire this month that aims to standardize breast health information collected at mammography clinics around Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands.
Hawai‘i Keiki program designated as an American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner
Edge Runners are evidence-based, nurse-designed models that demonstrate significant clinical, financial, community and policy outcomes with proven sustainability and replicability. Each of these programs highlights nurses’ ingenuity and collaboration in developing new methods to provide care and promote health equity.
Updated directory to help kūpuna go online available
AARP Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute created the Kūpuna Digital Resource Directory as part of a larger effort to bridge the digital divide and help more kūpuna go online.
University of Hawai‘i scientists part of $11M grant to design software for space telescope
David Rubin, an assistant professor in the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Department of Physics and Astronomy, and his team will design software needed to process observations of thousands of supernovae or exploding stars that Roman is expected to discover, helping to measure and explain how the universe has expanded and evolved.
Kūpuna share biocultural knowledge through new ‘Ike Kaiāulu’ video series
While the series is ongoing and will expand over time, the first four installments were recently released and feature experts in the fields of la‘au lapa‘au (medicinal plant collection), wood carving, kilo limu (seaweed observation), and stewardship of special areas.
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, other UH universities earn high marks for grad rates, more
UH Hilo, UH Mānoa and UH West Oʻahu ranked among the top 1,500 four-year institutions by U.S. News out of approximately 2,640 four-year institutions nationwide and were graded on 13–19 measures (depending on ranking category) of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, financial resources and student excellence.
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council seeks advisory council applicants
The council ensures public participation in reserve management and provides advice to the superintendent.
Photos: new growth signals recovery for Lāhainā’s historic banyan tree
Arborists, volunteering their time and expertise to saving the 150-year-old tree, indicate the growth is a positive sign for its long-term recovery.
UPDATE: Maui officials ID two more Lāhainā wildfire victims
The two latest victims to be officially identified are 68-year-old Michael Gordon and 60-year-old Carole Hartley, both of Lāhainā. A total of 67 victims have now been named.
Second emergency proclamation issued for former Uncle Billy’s property in Hilo
Public safety issues continue at the once iconic hotel on the Big Island’s Waiakea Peninsula, prompting Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green’s move.
Traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to visit San Francisco
This stop is part of the Moananuiākea Voyage, a circumnavigation of the Pacific that will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports.
$1M in scholarships available for aspiring teachers at University of Hawai‘i
Grow Our Own stipends are available for students who have been admitted into the College of Education’s bachelor in elementary education and Hawaiian language immersion and master of education in teaching programs for fall 2023, and for students who are applying to the post-baccalaureate certificate in elementary education and post-baccalaureate certificate in secondary education programs for spring 2024.