Champion of birds
Rep. Ed Case is working to save threatened Hawaiian birds. Thanks to Case’s efforts, and the Hawaiian delegation, including Sen. Brian Schatz, Hawaii was awarded $14,092,200 in funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in November 2021.
Hawaiian honeycreepers have been hard hit by avian malaria, transmitted by nonnative mosquitoes, and this funding is needed to protect populations from further destruction.
Additionally, Case is a co-sponsor of the Migratory Bird Protection Act and Hawaii Invasive Species Protection Act.
MBPA would hold industry accountable for incidental takes of birds. The Hawaii Invasive Species Protection Act would require more thorough inspections at airports, ports and postal sorting facilities for high-risk invasive species and agricultural materials.
Taken together, these legislative efforts would protect bird life. The American Bird Conservancy Action Fund thanks Rep. Case for his leadership in helping to bolster conservation for Hawaii’s most threatened birds.
Steve Holmer
Vice president of policy,
American Bird Conservancy
Washington, D.C.
Successful event
On behalf of the AARP East Hawaii Volunteer Team, I want to extend a big mahalo to our local partners and the community for supporting Hilo’s first Shred Event &Food Drive earlier this month.
Access Corp brought trucks over from the west side and provided thousands of dollars of free and secure shredding services, Waiakea High School provided a perfect space to hold the event, and the UH-Hilo Vulcans men’s and women’s tennis teams provided youthful strength.
Together, we helped protect over 100 of our community members from identity theft by providing secure shredding for their confidential documents. We also raised $680 and collected 427 pounds of food for Food Basket Hawaii.
It is wonderful to be part of a community that cares about its people.
Mahalo nui loa.
Geoff Casburn
AARP Hawaii volunteer
Hilo
Kudos to DMV
The Department of Motor Vehicles is the butt of much humor in life, the internet and social media (occasionally deserved). But they are also deserving of praise for all they do in difficult situations and with difficult customers.
I needed to visit Hilo DMV (on Sept. 17) to quickly address my license renewal. (Yes, it was certainly my fault. I had not noticed it had expired.)
First, they had a simple screening by a pleasant and highly qualified person to orient me to the right process. Inside, they greeted me with a smile and processed me quickly.
Let’s give them a break, folks, and recognize how well the workers at DMV do almost all of the time in an incredibly difficult and stressful job.
Edwin Montell
Hilo