By The Way...

Aloha Harvest, a Hawaii-based non-profit organization that works in partnership with food distributors to deliver donated perishable food to feed the hungry, has received a $50,000 grant from Kraft Foods. The funds will be used to expand the collection and distribution of donated perishable foods delivered to social service agencies on Oahu and to partially support the purchase of a new delivery truck.

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The Board of Education has appointed Jo Ann Schindler, Acting State Librarian since the retirement of Virginia Lowell this past June, as the new State Librarian of the Hawaii State Public Library System. Schindler will head the only statewide library system in the nation, which is comprised of the Hawaii Library and 49 branch libraries.

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Forensic Director of the Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division, Dr. Reneau Kennedy, was recently elected to serve a two-year term on the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) for Forensic Director’s National Executive Council. Kennedy represents the Western Region of the U.S., which is made up of sixteen western states including Hawaii, and the Guam and American Samoa territories.

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Maryknoll School recently partnered with the Apple Store at Ala Moana Shopping Center to present Hawaii’s first-ever “Night at the Apple Store” event. The goal of the event was to celebrate the individual achievements of the students, as well as showcase their abilities to collaborate and problem solve using technology. Throughout the evening event, there were numerous Mac computers displaying various student projects, including iMovie book reports, AppleWorks slide shows, as well as projects created on HyperStudio and PowerPoint. In the photo are Maryknoll School students (front l–r) Dane Malinovich, Kate-lynn Fraser, Kristin Rabago, Chad Asato; (back l–r) Denae Krause, Randall Kamisato, James Morris, II.

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Hawaii Pacific University is offering a new graduate degree program designed to help professionals update their knowledge and skills in the IT profession. The demands of the business world are changing rapidly due to the explosion of information technology. It is imperative for professionals to keep pace. The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) for Professionals is an 18-month, executive-style program tailored to individuals with academic, technical and professional experience.

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Douglas Ching was recently promoted to senior web project manager at Team Vision. In addition to Web site programming and database maintenance and design, Ching will manage the entire programming team. Ching previously served as Team Vision’s web programmer where he was responsible for preparing and optimizing client web pages, programming front and backend systems, Web site maintenance, and designing and maintaining databases. Ching joined Team Vision in January 2002 and has more than six years of computer programming experience.

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Bishop Museum recently promoted Nohea Torres to marketing and public relations coordinator. In the newly created position, Torres will be responsible for supporting the Museum’s marketing and public relations efforts as well as special events and promotions. Torres most recently served as an Education Cultural Specialist in the Museum’s Education Department.

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School children can enjoy a Jack in the Box of opera surprises with a new program offered by Hawaii Opera Theatre called the HOT Box. One-of-kind costumes, props, books, music, production and set pieces, pop out of the HOT Box to provide students with a fun, interactive learning experience. The free program is available to classrooms for up to one week. Just call 596-7372 x 18 to reserve the HOT Box for your school.

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Kahala Nui, a Honolulu retirement community, has announced that Debra Takahashi has been hired as marketing Assistant where she will assist the marketing director and senior living counselors in the marketing and reservations of Kahala Nui.

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Parents And Children Together has received a $10,000 grant from the George P. & Ida Tenney Castle Trust to support the Community Teen Center. The program provides a positive and supportive setting for children ages 7 to 18. The Community Teen Center promotes the development of healthy youth, families, and communities by providing an abundance of positive activities and experiences. Youth and family members are invited to participate in educational, recreational, community building, and support services. Case management services are available for youth and families struggling with poor school performance, truancy, and other difficulties.

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The Queen’s Medical Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer Arthur A. Ushijima announced that Kenric Muraya-ma, M.D. has joined the medical center as the new director of The Queen’s Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. Dr. Murayama’s primary responsibilities will include overseeing the planning and implementation of the department, which consists of two integrated operating suites and an inanimate skills laboratory. Dr. Murayama will also serve as Vice Chairman for Clinical and Hospital Affairs in the Department of Surgery for the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

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The Retail Merchants of Hawaii recently honored Hilo Hattie with the Hookela Award at its annual awards ceremony. The award, Resort Retail Business of the Year, was presented to Hilo Hattie for its commitment to the growth and development of the retail industry in Hawaii.