Harry Kim Says “Mahalo Nui Loa” to His Facebook Friends and Posts to YouTube

Harry Kim just posted the following on Facebook:

MAHALO NUI LOA

Aloha all, thank you for your kind messages of support, and I am sorry to be back on Facebook so late in the day, but it has been very busy.

I had a late lunch today with family and a nephew and his wife who came from San Diego just to be here with me and participate in one day of sign waving. Words cannot express the kind of feelings that you have because people do this for you. My nephew’s mother (my sister) revealed to me that a her son, who is in his 40s, said he could not sleep last night because of his concern for me.

I want you all to know that I cannot remember feeling within myself such deep sadness as felt last night and through most of this day. In trying to understand why I feel this way, I truly believe it is because of the great disappointment within myself that in failing to win, I have caused so much deep sadness to those who worked so hard and gave of their time, their resources, and above all, love and hope for a good result.

I wish-I so very much wish-I could take away everyone’s disappointment and sadness. I am also going to post a message I just sent to friends who have been helping, and it conveys some of the things I am feeling.
If all these words seem like rambling, it is because I don’t know how to express truly what I feel. Thank you for your kindness and support the past few months, and thank you for letting me love you.

Much aloha,
Harry

And he just posted this on YouTube:

Here is the message mentioned in the “Mahalo Nui Loa” post below:

I am about to prepare a brief video and written message for Facebook. I don’t know what I’m going to say, but I do know what I feel and what I’m trying to say.

I had a talk with my family this morning, and because of their sadness, like me and you, the following was said:

I told family to understand what I truly feel at this time. A real sadness, not for me, but a hurt deep inside for all those who worked so hard because of their belief in what was right. I do know I lost an election, but I do know I won everything else. I won so many new friends, I was given so much love and warmth from people and campaign workers. I have gained so much, and none of us lost any of the highest values of integrity, of trust, of goodness towards each other. Others may have won an election but at times I do wonder what have they lost. Like some of you, I am also very saddened that we place values on materialism, power, money and other fleeting things rather than the most important, which is goodness to each other and the care of each other and the place we call home.

I wish I could take away everyone’s disappointment and sadness. I wish I could hold every one of you until sadness ebbs away and is replaced with just the sheer joy that you have given me. We will keep trying in our ways to make this a better place.

I had a call this morning from a very dear old Hawaiian friend named Robert Keliihoomalu, and he said with feelings and words that express what I want to say. Mahalo Nui Loa for being a friend and I love you all.

Much aloha,
Harry

Ho‘oulu Community Farmers Market Moves to New Location

Starting today, the Ho‘oulu Community Farmers Market has a new home at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. The weekly Wednesday market is 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the lawn fronting Kaleiopapa Street. The location provides plenty of free parking.

Find produce, coffee, macadamia nuts, plus arts and crafts. Each week, as many as forty vendors will offer locally grown and made products, all using locally sourced components.

“We are so happy to have an ideal venue for this wonderful community-based farmers market,” said Area Managing Director and Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa General Manager Steve Lindburg. “We look forward to a long relationship with the participants and those in our community that support farmers markets. We also look forward to encouraging our guests to take advantage of the on-property opportunity to meet island growers, crafts people and artists.”

For more farmers market information visit www.hooulufarmersmkt.com. To learn more about Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay, visit www.SheratonKona.com or call 930.4900.

 

Big Island Police Initiate Manslaughter Case in Connection with Death at Care Home

Big Island police have initiated a manslaughter case in connection with the death of an 82-year-old man at a care home in Kailua-Kona.

On August 13, Kona patrol officers responded to a care home on Haʻokuni Street to a report of an unresponsive 82-year-old resident. Fire/rescue personnel took the man to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:58 p.m. He was identified as Oscar Ramos.

Police initiated a coroner’s inquest case.

An autopsy conducted August 15 determined that the cause of death was aspiration of food.

After consultation with Adult Protective Services, detectives focused on the level of care provided and a determination that the Department of Human Services revoked the caregiver’s care home certification on September 24 because of this incident.

Detectives conferred with county prosecutors on November 1. After that meeting, they initiated a manslaughter investigation.

Big Island Police Searching for 16-Year-Old Girl Missing Since August

Big Island police are searching for a 16-year-old Honokaʻa girl who was reported missing.

Chelsey Olival

Chelsey Olival was last seen in Honokaʻa on August 29.

She is described as 5-foot-3, 110 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

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 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. 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.

Two Honolulu Men File New Clergy Sex Abuse Suit

Two Honolulu men have filed new clergy sex abuse lawsuits.  They accuse a former Damien Catholic teacher of sexual abuse.  He has allegedly molested at least 12 kids in five states and a former Damien principal has also been named as predator.   A new Hawaii state law lets victims expose abusers & protect kids.

What:

Holding signs and photos of themselves when they were abused, abuse victims and their supporters will disclose a new child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit against the Honolulu Catholic diocese and a convicted predator cleric. The suit charges that a Catholic brother:

— Sexually abused two Damien Memorial School students,

— Was transferred from school to school because of abuse allegations,

— Was removed from Damien for abuse allegations, but parents and students were never informed.

They will also:

— Discuss a recent child sex abuse accusation against a former Damien principal,

— Urge victims and witnesses to report to abuse to law enforcement, not church officials, and

— Show how a landmark new Hawaii law is helping to warn parents about predators.

Where:

Outside of Damien Memorial School, 1401 Houghtailing Street (at School Street) in Honolulu

When:

Thursday, November 8 at 11:00 am

Who:

Two to three victims of child sex abuse and their supporters who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPNetwork.org), including a California woman who is the group’s Western Regional Director and a former priest who is now one of the nation’s leading experts on the Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis.

Why:

This week, two former Damien Memorial students filed a new child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit against the Honolulu Catholic Diocese and Br. Robert Brouillette, an Irish Christian Brother and former teacher at the school.

Brother Robert Brouillette

Both men, who are still Oahu residents, charge that Brouillette sexually abused them while both were young students at the school. One victim was abused in 1984 and the other was abused in 1986. They were able to come forward and expose Brouillette because of a landmark new Hawaii law that allows victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and seek justice in the courts, no matter when the abuse occurred. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/opinion/more-time-for-justice.html?_r=0.

Separate from the lawsuit, the Irish Christian Brothers, a New York-based Catholic religious order that runs Damien, declared bankruptcy in 2011 to avoid costly and public child sex abuse civil trials. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16904070/group-says-child-predators-worked-at-catholic-school. Both victims also filed claims against Brouillette in the bankruptcy. According to attorneys, sixteen victims from Damien have come forward as a result.

Brouillette has been accused of sexual abuse by at least a dozen victims in IL, CA, HI, AZ and MO. In 2000, he was convicted of possession of child pornography after being arrested in an internet child molestation sting. His last known address was in Missouri. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/1999_12_04_Presecky_CatholicBrother.htm

This is just the latest in a string of scandals at Damien Memorial School. Last week, a former Damien principal was forced to step down from his job in Seattle due to allegations of abuse. Br. Karl Walczak, Damien principal from 1987-1999, was accused of abuse while he was a teacher at an Irish Christian Brother school in Chicago. The alleged victim filed a claim in July, but Irish Christian Brother and Archdiocese officials did not disclose the allegations until Halloween. SNAP and parents were outraged at the delay in disclosure.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/ODea-High-School-principal-resigns-amid-sex-abuse-allegations-176692501.html?tab=video&c=y. A lawsuit against former Damien chaplain Fr. Gerald Funcheon was filed in May. http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/561462/Lawsuit-claims-abuse-by-former-Honolulu-priest.html?nav=5031.

SNAP is urging all victims at the school to come forward and get help while they have civil rights under Hawaii’s new window legislation. The two-year law, sponsored by Senator Maile Shimabukuro, expires in 2014.

The victims are represented by Attorneys Mike Reck (714) 742-6593 and Mark Gallagher (808) 779-5012. Copies of the lawsuit will be available at the event.

Contact:

Joelle Casteix (IN HONOLULU), SNAP Western Regional Director, (949) 322-7434, jcasteix@gmail.com

Barb Dorris of St. Louis, MO, SNAP Outreach Director, (314) 503-0003, snapdorris@gmail.com

David Clohessy of St. Louis, MO, SNAP Executive Director, (314) 566-9790, snapclohessy@aol.com

 

Wordless Wednesday – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Safety Video: Don’t Let This Happen to You

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park released a safety video today to help visitors of the park prepare for their adventure to the lava flows.

The key think about the video… is be prepared and don’t go where you shouldn’t go!:

Halaus Pay Tribute to King David Kalakaua

E Mau Ana Ka Hula-A Tribute to King David Kalakaua Hula Festival is November 16-17 at Keauhou Shopping Center. The “merry” Hawaiian monarch (1836-1891) loved music and the arts and advocated for the dancing of hula, contrary to the wishes of Protestant missionaries.

The sixth annual event opens Friday with hula workshops from 1-8:30 p.m., presented by Kumu La‘akea Arista, Kumu Noelani Ka‘aina (Chang) and Kumu ’Iwalani Kalima. Classes are in the Dance Center next to Kona Stories; registration is at the door. For details contact administrator@nawaiiwiola.org.

Enjoy free Hawaiian performing arts by 16 different halau 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in the Center Courtyard, along with arts, crafts and food booths. Serving as emcee, KAPA Radio’s Kumu Ka‘ea Alapa‘i will explain each halau’s style of dance. Kindly refrain from bringing outside coolers and food.

A Tribute of King David Kalakaua is sponsored by Kamehameha Investment Corporation, Keauhou Kahalu‘u Educational Group, Keauhou Shopping Center, Waimea Music Center, Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay and Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation. For info, visit, www.emauanakahula.org.

Related articles

• Winners Announced of the 7th Annual Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival (damontucker.com)
• 7th Annual Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival Flourishes (damontucker.com)
• Kumu Hula Ehulani Stephany Featured in Traditional Hula Performance at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (damontucker.com)

Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks Joins Other National Parks Waiving Entrance Fees Veteran’s Day Weekend

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park joins all 398 national park units across the country in waiving entrance fees for the upcoming Veteran’s Day weekend, Nov. 10-12.

On the rainforested trail near Thurston. NPS Photo/Jessica Ferracane

“We are indebted to the sacrifices our veterans have made for our country’s freedom and heritage,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “The National Park Service invites all veterans to reconnect with their country through their national parks this weekend, and throughout the year,” she said.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, which counts dozens of veterans among its employees and volunteers, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The park offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails and many opportunities to appreciate the volcanic landscape, the pristine native environment and the Hawaiian culture that define this magnificent World Heritage Site. More than a dozen free interpretive programs are offered daily, and special events, including ‘Ike Hana No‘eau cultural workshops, After Dark in the Park presentations, hula kahiko performances, and Nā Leo Manu “Heavenly Voices” concerts, are ongoing. Check www.nps.gov/havo for information for all events.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is one of five national park units on the Island of Hawai‘i. Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is also free of charge Veteran’s Day weekend. There is no admission at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, or along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.

Information on special offerings at parks nationwide is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

The National Park Service has posted a video about veterans on YouTube: http://pacificislandparks.com/2012/11/06/veterans-day-2012-national-park-service/

 

Hamakua Youth Foundation Community Forum

 

Big Island Police Searching for 47-Year-Old Man

Big Island police are searching for a 47-year-old man wanted on bench warrants for contempt of court and failure to appear in court. Franklin John Rivera Sr., who has no permanent address, is described as 5-foot-6, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Franklin John Rivera Sr.

Police ask that anyone with information on his 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 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. 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.