Governor Ige orders flags at half-staff to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11

At the direction of the President of the United States, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawaii state flag will be flown at half-staff today at the State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawaii National Guard in the State of Hawaii.

This action serves to honor and remember the 2,977 people lost in terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and onboard United Flight 93.

In addition, Sept. 11 marks Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, when the nation also honors first responders – firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency workers, and service members who answered the call of duty, as well as the brave civilians who rushed into action to save lives and help the injured that day. The nation also remembers the patriotism and valor of service members who pursued the attackers and degraded al-Qaida.

“Today, we pause to remember all those affected by the tragic event 20 years ago, and we honor the memories of those we lost – including nine people with ties to Hawaii. Their legacy is now etched in our collective memory and will live on through their stories, as they are passed down to future generations,” said Gov. David Ige. “We also owe our brave first responders a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice and service two decades ago and as they continue to serve our communities in times of crises, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

Give Aloha matching nonprofit donations throughout September

Each year throughout September, the community is invited to make donations up to $249 to their favorite participating Hawaii non-profits at Foodland, Sack N Save or Foodland Farms checkouts. In turn, Foodland and the Western Union Foundation match a portion of their donations. New this year, donations made via The Salvation Army’s donor code #77124 will help support Thanksgiving food distributions in island communities across Hawaii.

Customers may donate any amount from $.01 to $249, and may donate their My Rewards certificates (equivalent to a $5 donation) to help increase the matching gift to all participating organizations.In addition, customers may purchase a Give Aloha designed tote or pouch designed by Shar Tuiasoa of Punky Aloha Studio. The new Give Aloha merchandise is sold at all Foodland and Sack N Save stores and a portion of proceeds from sales will go towards increasing the matching gift for organizations.

“We’re honored to again be a part of Foodland’s Give Aloha campaign,” said Major Phil Lum, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Hawaiian &Pacific Islands. “Not only is it uplifting to see Foodland’s longtime support of Hawaii’s non-profits, but also it’s inspiring to see their efforts help strengthen our network of island communities. And, funds raised for The Salvation Army during this year’s campaign will help support our Thanksgiving food distributions on each island during Thanksgiving week.”

Donations are accepted at any Foodland, Sack N Save or Foodland Farms checkout. Customers must present their Maika‘i card at checkout when making a donation. A code is assigned to each organization for donation tracking at checkout and The Salvation Army’s code is #77124. For more information, visit givealoha.foodland.com.

UH researcher awarded more than $700K to study robotics for prostate cancer treatment

From 2012 to 2016, prostate cancer was the most common cancer among men in Hawaii. This year, it is estimated that there will be 880 new cases of prostate cancer in the state, with 180 deaths. A University of Hawaii at Mānoa researcher has been awarded more than $700,000 from the National Institutes of Health over a four-year period to study the use of medical robotics in prostate brachytherapy, a common treatment for prostate cancer.

The aim of this public impact research project is to formulate a first-of-its-kind dynamic model for active needle insertions into soft tissue, which would lead to the adoption of new and transformative technologies in needle-based procedures. “Smart Needle with Intelligent Robotic Control for Prostate Brachytherapy,” is led by Bardia Konh, associate member of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.

“In recent decades, we have witnessed the rise of robot assistance in operating rooms,” said Konh. “By now, we can speculate improvements in the healthcare industry similar to the improvements we saw in the automotive industry when robots got to work. To improve surgical outcomes, physicians are usually looking for tools that work better than their hands—with more dexterity, more degrees of freedom and more precision—and a better understanding of how the tools work inside the body. Thereby, I, along with many others, have been conducting extensive research to create robots with precise manipulation and good sensing capabilities to improve the success rates of different medical treatments.”