Isle events mark
World AIDS Day’s
20th anniversary
AIDS quilt displays, candlelight
vigils and more are set statewide
Star-Bulletin staff
Bells at St. Andrew's Cathedral will be rung 20 times on Friday to mark the number of years involved in the world battle against AIDS.
The bell-ringing will herald Hawaii's participation in World AIDS Day, which has been observed since 1988. The goal is to encourage the fight against HIV and AIDS and give messages of compassion and hope to people in all countries, regardless of age, race or sexual orientation.
Events will be held by organizations across the state to draw attention to the threat posed by AIDS, to encourage support for programs to prevent the spread of HIV and to provide education on HIV/AIDS issues.
Red ribbons symbolizing the fight will be distributed.
All events are free and open to the public unless noted.
Thursday on Kauai -- A North Shore World AIDS Day event on Kauai will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the United Church of Christ at Hale Aha on the Church of the Pacific grounds. There will be entertainment, light pupus, speakers and a display of panels of the AIDS quilt.
All other events on all islands will be held on Dec. 1.
Oahu
Kapiolani Community College World AIDS Day Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with information and displays by the KCC Nursing Department and community organizations, a piano concert, speaker panels, art exhibit, health fair and Hawaiian club craft fair. A mini film festival from 1:30 to 4 p.m. will feature the films "Everyone's Child," "Travis," "The Heart of the Matter" and "AIDS-Wise."
University Health Service at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., UH Campus Center, with red-ribbon distribution and two panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
World AIDS Day Ecumenical Service and Candlelight Vigil, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Andrew's Cathedral, South Beretania and Queen Emma streets. Two panels of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt on display.
Maui
Candlelight Vigil, Maui AIDS Foundation, 6 p.m., Trinity-by-the-Sea Church, Kihei.
Big Island
West Hawaii AIDS Foundation Candlelight Walk & Memorial, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Meet in front of Huggos and walk to Hulihee Palace, Kailua-Kona.
Big Island AIDS Project World AIDS Day Celebration of Life, 6 p.m. to midnight, Banyan Hibachi (restaurant), Hilo, with candlelight memorial service, music and hula program, art auction, food and Celebration of Life dance. The dance starts at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person for the whole event, $5 dance only.
Kauai
Kauai Community College and Wilcox Memorial Hospital, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with information tables and AIDS quilt display.
Video produced by Malama Pono Youth Peer Educators, "When You Least Expect It," at 7 p.m., Borders Books & Records, Lihue. The cast and crew will answer questions about the video and HIV/AIDS after the video.
Those interested in participating in World AIDS Day may contact their local AIDS Foundation or the STD/AIDS Prevention Program at the Diamond Head Health Center, 733-9281.
AIDS: The facts
Hawaii had 2,435 reported AIDS cases as of September, of which 16 were children under age 13.
About 2,300 to 3,200 Hawaii residents are HIV-positive.
The number of AIDS cases reported in the United States totals 733,000, and more than 850,000 adults and children are thought to be living with HIV/AIDS.
Total reported deaths attributed to AIDS in the United States is about 430,500.
AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, and half of new HIV infections are among people under age 25.
AIDS connected to heterosexual contact is steadily increasing in the United States, representing 15 percent of new cases last year.
About 40,000 Americans are infected with HIV annually.
About 5.4 million people worldwide became infected with HIV last year; an estimated 34.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS.
Women are increasingly affected. About 46 percent of adults with HIV or AIDS worldwide are women.
Source: State Department of Health |
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