Announcements for Wednesday, June 7, 2023
UH Cancer Center hosts breast cancer workshop
UH Cancer Center hosts breast cancer workshop
The University of Hawaii Cancer Center will host the 10th International Breast Density &Cancer Risk Assessment Workshop at the Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona on June 7 to 9. The community is invited to the open poster session on June 8 at 4 p.m. This session is free and there is no need to register.
John Shepherd, PhD, UH Cancer researcher, is the conference organizer and co-chair. He iknown for his work in quantitative imaging, particularly biomarkers from medical imaging, usingadvanced machine-learning techniques.“Other than age, breast density is the strongest common risk factor for breast cancer,” said Shepherd. “This very successful workshop series is held in Hawai’i every two years to explorenew findings and concepts that have occurred in this rapidly developing field.”
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Hawai’i. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) to require mammography facilities to inform women about the density of their breasts.
According to the National Cancer Institute, women with dense breasts have a higher risk ofbreast cancer than women with fatty breasts. UH Cancer Center leads research on breast cancer risk and reducing advanced breast cancer stage rates among unique races and ethnicities in Hawai’i and the Pacific using breast imaging.The conference will include 16 invited speakers and over 60 presenters on topics such as screening methods, next-generation imaging, and clinical considerations of breast density. The open poster session will be an opportunity for the Kona community to learn about emergingresearch in breast density and cancer risk prediction.
To learn more, visit breastdensityworkshop.org.
BISAC opens 16 new beds, adding nearly 40% capacity to its substance recovery effort
Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita, Chief Executive Officer of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council (BISAC,) announced the immediate opening of sixteen new treatment beds – two separate homes, eight beds each – for people experiencing challenges with substances on Hawai’i Island. Expanding treatment beds will provide more options for people needing critical services that keep them connected and engaged in recovery.
“One of the most important aspects of recovery — finding an affordable, safe place to live with people supportive of a sober environment — is often the most difficult to access,” said Dr. Hannah. She added, “We are building capacity and strengthening our ability to provide services for our community and island. These two new homes are just the first step.”
Depending on the individual’s needs, BISAC can offer complete wraparound services. These sixteen new treatment beds are — in addition to thirty-two existing beds — a part of BISAC’s longstanding commitment to helping their patients navigate, embrace and overcome the challenges an individual encounters in the early stages of recovery.
Kona brain injury support group meeting on 6-14
The Kona Brain Injury Support Group will be meeting on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 4 pm HST. Our speaker is Tanya Penny, OTR, Occupational Therapist. Learn the Therapeutic Meditation Process™ to Decrease negative symptoms and heal. Learn simple and powerful tools that you can use daily to improve sleep, have more energy, improve cognition, decrease anxiety &depression, decrease negative body symptoms (pain, numbness, tingling, etc.), decrease blood pressure, and release stress (mind &body).
2nd Annual Hulu Holoholo
The Waikoloa Village Hulu Evacuation Road will be opened for residents to drive down to Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway on Saturday morning, June 17, 2023, 9:00-11:00AM. Upon exiting the road, motorists will be directed to turn north (right) onto Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. Motorists wanting to go south can turn in at Puako to change directions.
The Hulu Holoholo event is intended to familiarize new residents, and those who could not participate last year, with the location and condition of the partially-paved gravel evacuation road. For more information, visit our website at: https://www.waikoloa.org/huluholoholo/.
FOLK Book Sale
The Friends of the Libraries, Kona (FOLK) will hold a two-day book sale inside the Kailua-Kona Public Library lobby on Friday, June 16th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 17th from 9:00 a.m. until Noon.
There will be a wide variety of books to choose from including fiction, non-fiction, children’s and young adult books and other specialty reads. Also we are continuing to feature an extraordinary array of Hawaiiana, many rare one-of-a-kind, out-of-print books. Some of these rarities will definitely command big $$$ so bring your checkbook or plenty of cash. No credit cards, please. All sales directly support both libraries in the district. Each purchase directly benefits the Kealakekua and Kailua-Kona libraries. For more information, visit folkhawaii.com.
Parker Ranch July 4th rodeo and horse races
Parker Ranch is excited to announce the 59th Annual July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at the Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena in Waimea.*
The July 4th Rodeo celebrates the community and commemorates Waimea’s unique ranching way of life and culture. This rodeo is a long-standing tradition that promotes camaraderie and friendly competition amongst the various Hawai’i Island ranches. It is a great opportunity to witness the skills that have made Hawaiian paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) famous throughout the world. The paniolo will compete in various events, including horse races, ranch mugging, team roping, po’o wai u and more.
Gates open at 7:00 a.m. and you can enjoy a variety of crafts and food from local vendors, as well as keiki activities, such as a petting zoo and pony rides. Parker Ranch commemorative logo items will be conveniently available at the Paniolo Preservation Society booth. Fast-paced rodeo action begins shortly after the 9:00 a.m. grand entry and continues non-stop until 1:00 p.m.
Each year Parker Ranch recognizes an individual or group who has contributed to our island community. This year Parker Ranch will honor Michael Gibson for his many years of service to the Ranch as a Trustee and Board member.Visit Kamuela Hardwoods, Paniolo Preservation Society or Waimea Butcher Shop to purchase tickets at a special price of $10. You may also purchase tickets online for $12 plus applicable fees and taxes. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $15. This will be a family-friendly event, so please no pets or alcohol. Seating is limited and will be first come first serve. Rain or shine, the paniolo will ride! For more information about the event and online ticket sales, please visit www.parkerranch.com.
To submit an announcement to be shared in this section, email calendar@westhawaiitoday.com at least two weeks ahead of an event or required registration date. All submissions will be edited for content, style and parity treatment. Submit an Island Life photo, by emailing the image along with your name and a brief description to islandlife@westhawaiitoday.com.