UH Hilo Hosts Women’s History Month Events

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Damon

The Women’s Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo hosts a series of events during March in honor of Women’s History Month. The events are free and open to the public.

UHHIlologo
A lecture on “Gender Agenda” by Patrick Madden, is held on Monday, March 4, 6:30 p.m. in Campus Center 306. Madden is executive director of the United Nations Association. He previously served four years as president & CEO of Sister Cities International (SCI), building a network of U.S cities partnered with more than 2,000 international communities that worked to implement economic development, humanitarian, cultural and education programs and exchanges.

A film screening of “Half the Sky” is on Wednesday, March 6, 5 p.m., Campus Center 306. Discussion and light refreshments will follow. On Friday, March 8, an International Women’s Day presentation will be held at 10 a.m. on the Campus Center Plaza. Local women’s organizations will present information, discuss ways to help support woman locally and internationally, and to network.

The Women’s Center is also hosting Yoga Tuesdays with Amanda Pierson through the end of the school year. The weekly sessions are being held every Tuesday from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in Campus Center 301.

For more information about any of these events, or disability accommodations, contact the Women’s Center at 974-7306 or email uhhwomen@hawaii.edu.

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Education, Hilo, Legal, National Affairs, UH Hilo | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

New Children’s Book – “The Mystery of Rat Lungworm Disease”

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Damon

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Pharmacy researcher has developed a fun-filled activity book to teach children about a serious health topic associated with cleaning and cooking vegetables in the tropical Hawaiian environment.

Dr. Susan Jarvi, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is distributing a book and poster about Rat Lungworm Disease (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) to elementary school children in Hilo. But she wants everyone in Hawaiʻi to know more about the rare parasitic infection that can cause paralysis, coma or death.

“There’s a real need for better education of the public and research that no one else is doing if we want to decrease risk of infection,” said Jarvi, who has been conducting research on ways to detect the virus in the blood as well as testing possible vaccines and evaluating vegetable washes that may be the most effective in killing the A. cantonensis larvae that causes the damage.

The disease-causing organism reproduces in rats and is transferred to slugs and snails. Eating raw snails and slugs, intentionally or unintentionally, infects people, and the larvae can hide in salads or other uncooked vegetables. Symptoms that appear at the onset of the infection can appear similar to other infections and make it difficult to diagnose.

“The activity book project is just a start of our efforts to reduce rat lungworm infection on the Island of Hawaiʻi through educational and research approaches,” Jarvi said. “This year we are concentrating on integrating Rat Lungworm Disease education into the Department of Education (DOE) curriculum in second grade, but on a larger scale we plan to integrate it into the curriculum in multiple grades.”

The activity book, designed and illustrated by local artist Hopper Sheldon of Hopper’s Art, is called “The Mystery of Rat Lungworm Disease.” It contains 22 pages of information, coloring, puzzles and clues that are designed to help elementary-age children learn what to look for in their gardens and vegetables and what to do if they spot something suspicious on their food.

Hoppers VW Van

Hopper Sheldon’s VW Van

Hoping to take the activity to book to as many second-grade classrooms as possible, Jarvi is continually contacting teachers on other islands and searching for feedback.

For further information, contact Jarvi at (808) 933-2954 or jarvi@hawaii.edu.

Filed under: Agriculture, Announcements, Big Island, Education, Environment, Food & Drink, Hawaii, Health, Hilo, Kids, Sustainable Living, Unexplained Phenomenon | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

6th Annual Ocean Day Hawai‘i Mālama Kanaloa Festival

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Damon

UPDATE:  Ocean Day Mālama Kanaloa Festival postponed!  The University of Hawai`i at Hilo’s 2013 Ocean Day Mālama Kanaloa Festival has been postponed due to current and forecasted weather conditions.  The festival was scheduled for Saturday, February 23 at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. The event is now scheduled for Sunday, April 21!

The public is invited to the 6th annual University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Ocean Day Hawai‘i Mālama Kanaloa Festival, to be held on Saturday, February 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park.

UHHIlologo
Information booths feature UH Hilo Marine Science and Hawaiʻi IMUA III EPSCoR researchers, Kalākaua Marine Education Center, NOAA’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, The Honolulu Zoo, Hilo Marine Mammal Response Network, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance, Mālama ka `Āina Hana ka `Āina, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and many others.

Family-friendly activities include fishing games, marine critter touch tanks, mask and puppet making, marine life block-printing, makahiki games, face painting, poi pounding, seed planting, and more. Enjoy live music by Kainani Kahaunaele, Lono Kanaka`ole Trio, and hula by Ka `Umeke Kā`eo students.

Ocean Day is focused on increasing awareness of ocean and coastal issues such as conservation, sustainable use of resources and ocean safety through fun and interactive displays, activities and booths. The mission is to raise public awareness of the impact people have on the ocean environment, promote conservation of precious ocean and coastal resources in a culturally sensitive way, and communicate the outcomes of current ocean and coastal research, management and education efforts in Hawai‘i.

The event is hosted by the UH Hilo Pacific Island Programs for Exploring Science in partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi, EPSCoR Hawaiʻi IMUA III, Hawaiʻi Pacific Island Campus Compact, UH Hilo Campus & Community Service Program, UH Hilo Student Activities Council, and the University of Hawai’i Sea Grant.

For more information, e-mail Ho`oululahui Perry at hperry@hawaii.edu or call JoAnne Riviera at 933-0706.

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Education, Environment, Hawaii, Hawaiian, Hilo, Kids, UH Hilo | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Noted Author/Professor to Speak on Economic Impact of Energy at UH Hilo

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Damon

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo hosts a free public lecture on the economic impact of rising energy costs by Syracuse University Professor Charles A.S. Hall. The address, entitled “Peak Oil, EROI and Your Financial Future in Hawaiʻi,” is scheduled for Friday, January 4, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in UCB 100.

Professor Charles A.S. Hall

Professor Charles A.S. Hall

Hall, the author of Energy and the Wealth of Nations: Understanding the Biophysical Economy, will explain how high energy prices reduce discretionary incomes by using the concept of Energy Return on Investment (EROI).

The event is sponsored by the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) and Chancellor Don Straney. For more information about Hall, visit http://www.esf.edu/EFB/hall/ .

 

Filed under: Agriculture, Announcements, Education, Environment, Hawaii, National Affairs, Rumors, Sustainable Living, Technology, Transportation, UH Hilo | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

UH Hilo Students Rally for Clean Elections

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Damon

Yesterday over 75 students and community members marched from UH Hilo to The State Building to support Clean (Publicly Financed) Elections. Students carried individual signs that collectively read, “cut big money out of politics,” and, “clean elections = clean government.”

UH Hilo students rallying for clean elections

UH Hilo students rallying for clean elections

Amber Shouse, one of the student organizers of the event said, “Clean Elections is the reform that makes all other reforms possible. The pilot Clean Elections program for Hawaii County has worked well, and, as a result, our local government is more beholden to the public than to big money. We ask the state legislature to adopt the Clean Elections program for state races as well as county races.”

 

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Community, County Council, Education, Hawaii, Kids, Legal, National Affairs, Politics, State Affairs, UH Hilo | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Onizuka Day Explosions

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Damon

Center for Study of Active Volcanoes Hawaii Presents Onizuka Day 2012 Explosions

Liquid nitrogen is used in explosive demonstrations by the University of Hawaii at Hilo Geology Department, to illustrate the nature of erupting volcanoes.

No rugged plastic garbage cans were harmed in this experiment. Watch for the trajectory of a high-flying plastic bottle at 0:06 as it heads towards a roof. Slow motion sequence begins at 0:22.

Filed under: aloha, Education, Entertainment, Hawaii, Kids, KO's, UH Hilo, Unexplained Phenomenon | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

UH Hilo Receives Award to Promote Asian American & Pacific Islander Education

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Damon

The U.S. Department of Education has selected the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo as one of 11 colleges and universities to receive part of a grant through the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program for fiscal year 2011-2012.

UH Hilo’s award is $399,977 for the first year and is part of a five-year grant which runs through 2016 totaling $1,994,025. The University will use the funds to develop and implement a comprehensive, culturally informed student support program to strengthen learning, engagement and success.

The key components includes a summer bridge program, academic support services such as advising, tutoring, peer mentoring and financial aid counseling, activities that have been shown to have a high impact on student engagement such as on-campus employment, first-year experience courses, and service-learning and research projects, and faculty development workshops. The project will also conduct and disseminate research into best practices that facilitates the success of Pacific Islanders in higher education.

“Most of the research on Asians and Pacific Islanders aggregates these diverse populations into one monolithic group,” said Jim Mellon, director of international student services and intercultural education at UH Hilo and the project’s principal investigator. “One of the aims of this project is to disaggregate data on these diverse groups, dispel myths about Asian and Pacific Islanders in American higher education, and find out what unique factors contribute to and facilitate their success.”

Mellon added that the project will enable UH Hilo to develop and assess innovative approaches that are informed by cultural values such as the importance of group achievement and to be at the forefront nationally in this area.

Established in 2007, the AANAPISI program seeks to increase the capacity of higher education institutions to better serve disadvantaged college students. With about one of every three students being Asian American or Pacific Islander, UH Hilo was one of the first institutions nationwide to receive an AANAPISI grant when it initiated a similar project in 2008.

“UH Hilo has a proven record as an institution of choice for Pacific Islander students,” noted Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Luoluo Hong. “We want to do all we can to support their success and improve their learning outcomes. Building the new Pacific Islander Student Center was the first step; now we need to ensure we provide needed programs and services.”

Additional information on the AANAPISI Program is available online at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/aanapi/index.html.

Related articles

Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Education, Hawaiian, UH Hilo | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Latest True Blood Cast Member Kristina Anapau to Present Workshop at UH Hilo Sunday

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Damon

The Big Island Film office and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Department have teamed up to bring local girl Kristina Anapau home for a one-day acting workshop covering the business of film and television.

The workshop will be held this Sunday, October 9th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at UH Hilo.

Kristina Anapau Workshop

Anapau’s most recent role on television was the character of “Maurella” in the HBO series True Blood and when I asked her if she would be returning to the role next season she stated, “The creators of the show like to keep what is to come a secret and I honor that completely.”

Anapau did send me a few still shots from the episode that she was in:

Maurella

Kristina Anapau playing the role of Maurella on True Blood

I asked Kristina what her initial reaction was when she found out that she had been chosen to play the role of “Maurella” on True Blood and she stated,  “I was thrilled.  I absolutely love Alan Ball’s work and True Blood is one of the best shows on television.“

Maurella

Maurella captured fans attention during last seasons True Blood and wonder if she will be back for the next season

I noticed that Anapau seems to play characters in a lot of suspense type of movies and so I asked her what her favorite suspense movies were and she noted that “Sea of Love” and “Witness” were two incredible suspense films that she favorites.

Don't mess with Maurella

Don't mess with Maurella

I had the opportunity to meet Kristina at last years Big Island Film Festival and when I asked her if she was going to be present for this years film festival she said, “I love the festival and adore Leo and Jan Sears.  If I’m not filming at that time, I’d love to attend next years fest.”

Kristina at the Big Island Film Festival

Kristina at last years Big Island Film Festival

I asked Kristina if she believes in vampires and she said, “Yes, but not the kind that suck your blood.”

Maurella

Dang Blood Suckers!

I asked Anapau what she would like to say to Big Island residents in general about the upcoming workshop at UH Hilo and she said,  “I’m very excited to be able to share a bit of what I’ve learned throughout the years.  There is a lot of talent on the Big Island…I hope my experiences and guidance will inspire the attendees to go out and make their own dreams a reality.”

Related articles

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Education, Entertainment, Hawaii, Hilo, Television, UH Hilo | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 645 other followers