Hawaii offers free fall safety webinar for kupuna
Kupuna can learn to reduce the risk of serious injury from falling at a free online class sponsored by AARP Hawaii and Kupuna Aikido.
According to the Department of Health, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury and about three-quarters of those who die or are hospitalized from falls are kupuna.
The Falling Safely for Kupuna webinar at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 will demonstrate the basics of safe falling techniques through aikido. Kupuna Aikido teaches an ABC method of fall prevention – A for awareness, B for balance and C for control. The online class is a demonstration only and participants should not physically participate.
To register for a Zoom link, go to www.aarp.cvent.com/fall9-14.
Kupuna Aikido is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteer senior aikido instructors who are concerned about kupuna falling and getting hurt. The class uses principles of aikido to teach kupuna how to prevent falls and to fall in a way to avoid serious injury.
HUD awards more than $47 million to fight housing discrimination
Grants to support and promote fair housing nationwide
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $47.4 million to fair housing organizations across the country under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The grants will support the efforts of 120 national and local fair housing organizations working to address violations of the Fair Housing Act and helping to end discrimination in housing.
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii was the lone grant recipient in Hawaii, and received $375,000 via the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI). The funding is among $34,556,620 being awarded to organizations that conduct intake and testing and that investigate and litigate fair housing complaints under the Fair Housing Act.
The grant funding will allow the grantees to provide fair housing enforcement by conducting investigations, testing to identify discrimination in the rental and sales markets, and filing fair housing complaints with HUD. In addition, grantees will carry out education and outreach activities to inform the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
Attorneys recognized for pro bono service
At the Hawaii County Bar Association’s virtual Hilo Self-Help Center Recognition Awards in July, 31 attorneys were recognized for providing more than 470 free consultations to people who sought legal assistance in 2020.
The volunteer attorneys were recognized by Hawaii Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim, Hawaii State Bar Association President Levi K. Hookano, HSBA Executive Director Pat Mai Shimizu, and Hawaii County Bar Association President Michelle Oishi.
The attorneys honored for their service in 2020 are: Kimberly Angay, Belinda Castillo-Hughes, Paul Hamano, Jill Hasegawa, Raymond Hasegawa, Bill Heflin, Charles Hite, Haaheo Kahoohalahala, Jo Kim, Nelson Kinoshita, Laura Knudsen, Al Konishi, Demetri Lametti, Shaunda Liu, Craig Masuda, Kai McGuire, Jacky Mena, Jeffrey Ng, Michelle Oishi, Melody Parker, Jill Raznov, Joy San Buenaventura, Scott Shishido, Evans Smith, Andrew Son, Roland Talon, Jessica “Jaycee” Uchida, Sylvia Wan, Jennifer Wharton, J Yoshimoto, and Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter.
“I am deeply grateful to the attorneys who volunteer at our Self-Help Centers, assisting individuals who are representing themselves in court,” said Recktenwald. “The dedication and commitment of these attorneys remains an essential part of our state’s ability to advance the goal of ensuring that everyone has equal access to justice in our civil courts. I thank the Hawaii County Bar Association, Hawaii State Bar Association, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and all the volunteer attorneys for making this resource available to the community.”
“Despite the temporary closures of the Self-Help Centers statewide in the beginning of the pandemic, we were able to reopen in Hilo to resume service to the community on a new and remote platform,” added Oishi. “Thanks to the strong commitment of our attorneys, the Hilo Self-Help Center continues to provide the much needed legal assistance to our community, and remains one of the most active Self-Help Centers, per capita, in Hawaii.”
In 2020, the Hilo Self-Help Center was managed by volunteer attorney Bill Heflin with the assistance of Christy Peace, an AmeriCorps Advocate through the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
To date, this center has served more people than any other courthouse self-help center in the state.
These services have been provided at almost no cost to taxpayers.
Waimea library offers free adult computer classes
Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library of the Hawaii State Public Library System will offer free introductory hands-on computer classes for adults with little or no computer experience. Attendees must be 18 years old.
Registration is required for the Saturday classes, which will be offered in the library meeting room from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 25, Oct. 9, and Nov. 6. Arthur Goshtaby, retired professor of computer science and engineering, will lead the classes. Classes are being offered in partnership with the Workforce Development Council, which supports economic development and employment opportunities for job seekers and employers.
Participants will learn how to get started on a computer, connect to the Internet, and set up an email account. After completing the class, attendees will receive access to free online learning resources.
Class size is limited and all participants must comply with the library’s COVID protocol.
To register, or for more information, call (808) 887-6067. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.