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POSTED: Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Conservation projects get $1.7M in grants

The federal government is awarding $1.7 million in conservation grants to Hawaii for projects on Molokai and in North Kona.

Most of the money will go toward preservation of the Kainalu forest watershed on the eastern end of Molokai.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said yesterday that a $1.5 million Recovery Land Acquisition Grant will allow the state to finish buying a perpetual conservation easement of more than 614 acres on Molokai.

The rest of the money will help the state protect endangered species in game mammal management areas in North Kona.

The $183,000 Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grant will address ways to protect 10 endangered animals and 34 endangered plants within game mammal management area boundaries.

End-of-life care to be debated

“;In Search of Death with Dignity”; will be discussed by two speakers with opposing views from noon to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, 2515 Dole St.

The panel discussion, sponsored by the UH's Elder Law Program, will feature:

» The Very Rev. Marc Alexander, vicar general and diocesan theologian of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.

» Attorney Eli Stutsman, board member of the Death With Dignity National Center and lead author of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act.

The two seek end-of-life options that provide death with dignity but do not agree on how to reach that goal, according to the Elder Law Program.

Hawaii laws allow patients to make such end-of-life decisions as withholding or withdrawing medical treatment, including medically provided nutrition and hydration.

However, there is no legal way for patients to end their lives with medical assistance. “;Death with Dignity”; legislation has been proposed unsuccessfully nearly every year since 2002, when passage of a bill failed by three votes.

Parking is available in the parking structure for $4. Call 956-6544 or see .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

UH-West Oahu gets $100K gift

An anonymous donor has given $100,000 to the University of Hawaii at West Oahu to advance teaching excellence.

The University of Hawaii Foundation said that the gift will fund staff professional development, certificate and degree development, and student programs.

Chancellor Gene Awakuni noted the donation came during difficult economic times for the university.

UH-West Oahu's regional, comprehensive, four-year campus is located next to Leeward Community College in Pearl City.

In August, UH-West Oahu hopes to begin construction of the first phase of its permanent campus in Kapolei, providing greater access to higher education throughout Leeward and Central Oahu communities.

Green waste privatization is approved

HILO » A plan to privatize green waste collection on the Big Island has been approved by the Hawaii County Council.

The Department of Environmental Management would seek bids on a five-year contract to allow a private company to collect green waste from the Hilo and Puuanahulu landfills, grind it up and sell it as mulch or compost.

The Council approved the measure Wednesday after passing an amendment by Councilman Dominic Yagong specifying the Kealakehe transfer station will remain open for residential drop-off of green waste.

An initial plan called for moving the green waste processing services at Kealakehe to Puuanahulu. But some Kailua-Kona residents objected, saying people might start dumping their green waste rather than making the trek to the landfill.