#resilience

Special gathering and flag-raising ceremony Thursday at Hawaiʻi County Building in Hilo honors rich cultural heritage and contributions Filipino Americans have made on the Big Island while marking October as Filipino American History Month.

Gov. Josh Green said Friday: “By addressing these important pillars of disaster prevention, mitigation and management, we are working to ensure that all residents of Hawai‘i are better protected and prepared, especially during times of crisis.”

The people living in Puna and Hawai’i County understand the risk. Knowing they aren’t in control and can’t stop nature from happening is the first step to becoming resilient in the face of future volcanic eruptions on the Big Island.

The new cabinet-level office will lead the Hawai‘i County’s efforts to ensure the Big Island can withstand the effects of climate change.

Hawai’i County Council chair Heather Kimball and Danielle M. Bass, the state’s Sustainability Coordinator, will be guest speakers at the July 6 Waimea Community Association meeting that will focus on sustainability and resilience.

The Hawaiʻi Climate Commission, in collaboration with Hawai‘i County, is hosting a Climate Community Fair in Hilo.

A bill that would create a new cabinet-level Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience and a new chapter in Hawaiʻi County code to govern it is moving forward.

The proposed new Hawaiʻi County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience would establish a new cabinet-level office responsible for coordinating and managing policies to promote sustainability and resilience in response to the impacts of climate change and other natural and manmade hazards.

Hawai’i County police officer Erhard Autrata and his family are recovering — with community support — from a fire that destroyed the home they built themselves and killed three of their dogs while they were celebrating 10-year-old Mahina’s birthday.