$1.7M NOAA grant aids UH research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded more than $1.7 million to the University of Hawaii.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye says the grant will enhance the data and research activities for climate studies at the Asia-Pacific Data Research Center. It is a branch of the International Pacific Research Center at UH.

Inouye said in a news release that the funding will allow for the better understanding of climate change.

Inouye said researchers will continue to develop new ways to store and access massive data streams from weather and ocean observation and to refine models that enable climate forecasting.

He added that the work will lead to the building of stronger and more resilient communities in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Attorney education requirement due

The Hawaii Supreme Court has adopted new rules requiring active licensed attorneys to continue their education throughout the course of their careers.

Beginning Jan. 1, the attorneys will be required to complete at least three credit-hours of professional education each year.

Subjects include legal ethics, proper administration of client trust accounts, bias awareness and prevention and making the justice system more accessible to the public. Currently there is no requirement that island attorneys attend mandatory professionalism training after they complete the initial requirements for licensure.

Medical school welcomes 62 students

Women make up nearly half (47 percent) of the 62 new students in the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The students were recently welcomed to the school in a traditional White Coat Ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.

Isle residents make up 89 percent of the incoming class of 2013, including 17 public high school graduates and 30 from private high schools.

Seven students graduated from a neighbor island high school or have ties to the neighbor islands. Three are from Guam. Students range in age from 21 to 33; the average age is 24.

Their white coats were sponsored by the class of 1988, which helped to “;cloak”; them. They also received stethoscopes from the Hawaii Medical Foundation and “;Bates Guide to Physical Examination and History-Taking”; from the Friends of the Medical School.

8 groups aiding homeless get $4M

The city is giving eight groups that help the homeless $4 million in federal stimulus money.

The funding was provided through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program, a city news release said.

The money will help families with housing and financial assistance and housing referral services.

Catholic Charities Hawaii, Helping Hands Hawaii, the Institute for Human Services, Kalihi Palama Health Center, Waikiki Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii received the homeless prevention funds.

Hannemann also released $250,000 for three programs to help domestic violence victims. Domestic violence grants were awarded to the Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii Family Law Clinic and Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter.

'Benchmark' in pharmacy for UH-Hilo

The College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

“;This is another significant benchmark with the very agency that will evaluate us for full accreditation when we graduate our first class in 2011,”; said pharmacy college Dean John Pezzuto in a news release.

All pharmacists in the United States are required to take pharmacy continuing-education classes in order to renew their licenses every two years. In Hawaii all licensed pharmacists must complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education that has been approved by ACPE during each two-year period.

In May the Hawaii Medical Association approved the pharmacy college to offer continuing medical education.

The ACPE also awarded the College of Pharmacy candidate accreditation in July 2008.

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