Manaola invited to NY Fashion Week
Local fashion designer Manaola Yap is heading to Manhattan in September to debut a runway collection during New York Fashion Week.
Manaola’s show will be the first time a Native Hawaiian designer presents authentic Hawaiian culture at the prestigious fashion shows. The 30-year-old designer uses a traditional stamping technique, ʻohe kāpala, to create geometric patterns for his resort and luxury collections – hand-carving each design onto a bamboo lath.
Manaola made a splash at last year’s Honolulu Fashion Week with his black and gold Kōlani collection, his vision of what worldly modern day aliʻi would wear. He’ll present new designs from his luxury label at Studio 450 on Sept. 8.
On the Manaola website, Yap said he was honored by the opportunity. “Sharing our indigenous culture through the medium of fashion on a world platform has always been a dream of mine. I’m proud to share our Hawaiian fashion culture that encompasses centuries of intellect and visual imagery captured in design.”
Learn more at https://manaola hawaii.com/nyfw.
Funding support available for community events
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is now accepting applications for the FY 2018 ʻAhahui Grant program – Round 2. The ʻAhahui Grant program provides funding support for community events.
Events eligible for this Round 2 are events scheduled to occur between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. The Round 2 application deadline is September 15, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. HST.
OHA invites prospective applicants to visit www.oha.org/grants to find the full solicitation, to access the online application system, and to view the schedule of orientation sessions and registration information.
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an orientation session. Registration for these sessions is required and web-conferencing is available for neighbor island participants.
Plan ahead for natural disasters
Hurricane season is upon us and AARP-Hawaiʻi wants kūpuna and caregivers to take the time to prepare before disaster strikes.
That means creating – and practicing – a disaster plan and stocking and maintaining a disaster supply kit that includes a 14-day supply of food, in the event that harbors become unusable. A communications plan and emergency meeting place can also be set up in advance.
Other recommendations include checking to see if your home lies outside tsunami and flood zones and is engineered to survive a severe storm. Prepare for a possible evacuation by asking family and friends if you can stay with them if emergency shelters aren’t available.
Find more hurricane preparedness information at AARP’s Create the Good website: https://createthegood.org/toolkit/operation-hurricane-prepare.
United Nations calls for action at Papahānaumokuākea
The serious impacts of coral bleaching on reefs around the world have prompted UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to urge countries with custodianship over world heritage-listed coral reefs to to adopt ambitious climate change targets.
A recent analysis by UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch found that without a substantial reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, all 29 World Heritage-listed coral reefs will be unable to support functioning ecosystems by the end of the century.
In addition to Papahānaumokuākea in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Everglades National Park in Florida also has threatened coral reefs. In a press release, Earthjustice said plans to pull out of emissions reduction targets outlined in the Paris Climate Treaty threaten the two marine treasures.
Sanctuary has new research coordinator
Dr. Marc Lammers will be the new research coordinator at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary in Kīhei, Maui.
All national marine sanctuary sites focus on education, resource protection and research. Lammers’s role will be to help the sanctuary better understand humpback whales’ complex biology and social structures to be able to implement research-grounded protections.
Established by Congress in 1922, the sanctuary is co-managed by NOAA and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kamehameha Scholars accepts national recognition
Kamehameha Scholars, a state-wide community education program that helps public and private high school students reach higher education goals, last month accepted an award from the American School Counselor Association.
Kamehameha Schools’ program provides a year-round career guidance and college prep program for high school students who don’t attend one of Kamehameha’s campuses. The program is the first community education program ASCA has named as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP).
“This recognition highlights the value that this program places on the importance of post-secondary success as a key component to achieving a thriving lāhui,” said Kūamahi Community Education Managing Director Waiʻaleʻale Sarsona. “As we prepare to enhance the already award-winning aspects of this program, we celebrate moving forward toward continued excellence.”
Communications workshop for caregivers
Kuʻikahi Mediation Center is presenting workshops on “Communicating Needs to Family Members and Service Providers: A Workshop for Caregivers of Adults (age 60+)” in August.
Elizabeth Kent will lead a workshop in Hilo on Aug. 10 and in Kona on Aug. 11. Both run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“Caring for an older adult is all about effective communication,” Kent said. “We want to talk with them about the changes in their lives — health, finances, living situation, and more. And we want to talk with family members and service providers about changing roles, making decisions, and shifting responsibilities. People can be sensitive about these issues.”
Suggested contributions for the workshops are $20. To register for the Hilo workshop, contact Al-Qawi Majidah at 935-7844 ext. 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org. To register for the Kona workshop, contact Gina Tumasone at West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center: 885-5525 ext. 3 or gtumasone@whmediation.org.
