HMSA offers members flu shots

The Hawaii Medical Service Association is offering flu shots for HMSA members at eight more community clinics this month on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

Walmart stores will host clinics at these locations: Nov. 11, Mililani, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. .; Nov. 12, Lihue, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Nov. 13, Hilo, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 17, Kailua-Kona, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 21, Kahului, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

On Nov. 17, a clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sam's Club, Pearl City.

Flu shots will be free to HMSA, HMSA 65C Plus and HMSA QUEST members 18 or older while supplies last. Members must show their HMSA card and a photo ID. Nonmembers may get a flu shot for $40.

Medicare Part B beneficiaries who show their Medicare card and photo ID also may get free immunizations.

The clinics will be conducted by ISI Health Enhancement Services, an HMSA subsidiary. For a complete listing of flu shot clinics, see hmsa.com.

Obama wins big in kids' vote

Hawaii kids, reflecting the results of the national and Hawaii election results, voted decisively for Hawaii-born Barack Obama over Republican John McCain.

Obama and Joe Biden received 77 percent of the kids' vote or 90,971 votes, while the McCain/Palin ticket got 18 percent or 21,342 votes, according to results announced yesterday.

A total of 119,756 ballots were cast by Kids Voting Hawaii 2008.

Kids also picked Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who garnered 66 percent (53,868) of the vote, while Ann Kobayashi received 34 percent of their vote (27,201).

In other mayoral races, Big Island students chose Billy Kenoi with 7,786 votes (70 percent) over Angel Pilago with 3,394 votes (30 percent).

On Kauai, Bernard Carvalho beat out JoAnn Yukimura 69 percent to 31 percent.

In the congressional races, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie won in the 1st District seat with 62 percent of the vote over Li Zhao, a Libertarian, and Republican Steve Tataii, who each received 19 percent of the votes.

To view all the results of Kids Voting Hawaii go to http://kidsvotinghawaii.org/2008-results/

Women's college grants offered

The American Association of University Women Windward Branch is accepting applications for several grants from women residents of Windward Oahu.

March 1 is the deadline to submit applications for undergraduate levels of study for the 2009 to 2010 academic year. Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted by a regionally accredited post-secondary institution in Hawaii. They must be legal Hawaii residents who have not previously earned a baccalaureate; and be enrolled at least half-time in a classified degree program.

Selection is based on academic potential and need. Preference will be given to previous grant recipients in good academic standing, according to the group. Grants will be paid directly to the institution after acceptance of the recipient.

Applications are available from all windward and women's high schools. Forms are also at the financial aid offices at all Oahu campuses of the University of Hawaii (including community colleges), Brigham Young University (Hawaii), Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Phoenix (Honolulu).

Awards will be made in April. A scholarship luncheon will be held May 2.

Applications and information are available from Alta Bento. Call 262-9158; e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).; or mail at 428 N. Kainalu Dr., # A, Kailua, HI 96734.