Big Island Police Searching for Missing 54-Year-Old Hilo Woman

Big Island police are searching for a 54-year-old Hilo woman who was reported missing.

Darlene Santos

Darlene Santos was last seen in the Kaumana area of Hilo on Tuesday (January 24) at 6:45 a.m. She has a medical condition that requires medication.

She is described as part Hawaiian, 5-feet tall, about 175 pounds with brown eyes, graying brown hair and a tan complexion. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a brown oversized jacket over an unknown type of top, and wedge slippers.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

State of Hawaii Broadband Initiative Speed Test… Failure on My End

Back in August, Governor Abercrombie  launched a major economic development initiative to provide statewide access to affordable ultra high-speed Internet by 2018. The “Hawai’i Broadband Initiative”  is essential to build a vibrant and sustainable economy and workforce in Hawai’i and improve the quality of life for residents.

Anyone that understands the internet and what high-speed internet access can provide and possibly do for all of us in Hawaii… should be at least happy to learn that at least it now appears the State is going to be doing something about it with the State of Hawaii Broadband Initiative Speed Test that they launced today:

You can now help the State of Hawaii Broadband Initiative and our goal of providing affordable, ultra high-speed Internet access for all of Hawaii’s citizens by taking our speed test! The data we collect will assist us in identifying and closing gaps in service throughout the State.

Click to go to the site where you can test your speeds for the state

My guess is that many folks may fear this type of data gathering by government agencies but the state says:

…To participate, click on the link below to check your Internet speed and provide your street address, Internet carrier, and type of connection.  This information will only be used by the State to map broadband coverage and to categorize the data collected, and will not be disclosed to any third parties…

Well I just attempted to take the test from my location in Pahoa, Hawaii… and it just seemed to freeze up on me!  I’ve now taken the test twice and it just seems to freeze up on the following screen:

I wonder if it’s just because the test was just launched and lots of folks are trying it… or I’m just a computer loser when it comes to my broadband speeds.

Related articles

• Slow broadband problematic for business insurance holders? (premierlinedirect.co.uk)

The Puna ‘Ulu Festival

The Puna ‘Ulu Festival will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 9 am – 3 pm at Ho‘oulu Lāhui, the site of  Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School at Pū‘āla‘a, adjacent to the ‘Āhalanui County Park warm ponds in Puna. The event is free and open to the public. The Puna ‘Ulu Festival will feature a cooking contest, breadfruit trees for sale, presentations on the cultivation and care of ‘ulu trees, poi pounding, tapa making, activities for the keiki, music all day and local food featuring breadfruit.

Poster of the Puna ‘Ulu Festival being held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 9 am – 3 pm at Ho‘oulu Lāhui, the site of Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School at Pū‘āla‘a, adjacent to the ‘Āhalanui County Park warm ponds in Puna.

Without a landscape that was conducive to abundant taro production, Hawaiians in Puna relied heavily upon the breadfruit. Due to the young lava lands in Puna, the planting styles are different and the primary staple food for Native Hawaiians was always ‘ulu, not taro. Puna was uniquely known for its breadfruit trees that were planted in deep holes so that the leaves and fruits grew at ground level. Hence the breadfruit groves were often referred to as “hidden” because they couldn’t be seen from afar. Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School (PCS) is located at Pū‘āla‘a in Puna, a 600-acre ancient Hawaiian village site. The revitalization of ‘ulu in this region is a key initiative for Ho‘oulu Lāhui and Kua O Ka Lā PCS.

Uncle Keikialoha Keikipi chanting a traditional chant while planting a new ‘ulu tree. Uncle Keiki will be planting an ‘ulu tree at the March 2, 2012 Puna ‘Ulu Festival to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Kua O Ka Lā PCS. Photo Credit: Craig Elevitch

The day will include a Breadfruit Cooking Contest in which the public can enter recipes in the categories of Appetizer, Main Dish/Entrée and Dessert. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of these categories and for Healthiest Choice and Best in Show. Breadfruit Cooking Contest rules and entry forms can be found at www.breadfruit.info. Cooking demonstrations will be held throughout the day featuring Chef Casey Halpern from Café Pesto, Shirley Kauhaihao, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner from Kona and the students of Kua O Ka Lā PCS.

Pictured here are ‘Ulu Tamales cooked by the Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School students, who won an award at the September, 2011 Breadfruit Festival. Photo Credit: Sonia R. Martinez.

Chef Alan Okuda and the East Hawai‘i Community College Culinary Arts Program will be preparing a sumptuous buffet lunch, and Kua O Ka Lā PCS students will be selling their award winning ‘Ulu Tamales.

Presenters include: Ryan McCormack of Kua O Ka Lā PCS speaking on “‘Ulu, A Hawaiian Perspective,” Dr. Diane Ragone and Ian Cole of the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden speaking about “An Overview of Pacific Breadfruit” and “Care and Maintenance of ‘Ulu” and Craig Elevitch of Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network presenting on “Food Security—Pasifika Style.”

Ryan McCormack of Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School will be giving a presentation entitled “‘Ulu, A Hawaiian Perspective” at the Puna ‘Ulu Festival on March 3, 2012. Photo Credit: Craig Elevitch

Cultural activities will be ongoing throughout the day including traditional ‘ulu poi pounding, making poi boards from ‘ulu wood, tapa from ‘ulu bark and Hawaiian quilting. Keiki activities include games and an art booth with local artists.

Uncle Keikialoha Keikipi will be planting an ‘ulu tree to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Kua O Ka Lā PCS.

The Puna ‘Ulu Festival is sponsored by Ho‘oulu Lāhui, Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network, the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Kamehameha Schools. The Puna ‘Ulu Festival is a part of a larger statewide effort to revitalize breadfruit for food security called Ho‘oulu ka ‘Ulu. Learn more about the Puna ‘Ulu Festival by visiting www.breadfruit.info or call 965-5098.

Wordless Wednesday – Mayor Kenoi and NFL Cheerleaders

Mayor Kenoi and the NFL cheerleaders conducting the Pro Bowl Youth Clinic. Tatiana Sensenig of the Miami Dolphins, Antonia Nunes of the San Francisco 49ers, Angel McCoy of the Oakland Raiders, and Katherine Kartes of the San Diego Chargers.

Professional football players from the NFL along with Cheerleaders presented a Pro Bowl Youth Clinic for kids on the Big Island this past weekend.

USA Football Chairman Carl Peterson, Hawaiʻi County Director of Parks & Recreation Bob Fitzgerald, Mayor Kenoi, former Miami Dolphin and youth clinic coordinator Nat Moore, and Konawaena High Athletic Director Bill Trumbo.

For more pictures from the clinic… you can check them out here: Mayor Kenoi’s Facebook Page