The Hawaii Healing Garden Statewide Festival honors the traditional healing arts of Hawaii’s multi-cultural heritage. The festival celebrates traditional uses of medicinal plants and cultural practices for improved health & vitality.On Wednesday August 27 7:30-9:30pm we have the unique opportunity to explore Seifukujitsu Traditional Healing Massage and Oils at the historic DaiJingu Temple in Nu’uanu Valley.

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Old China Town Herb Walk and Chinese Medicinal Cooking Class offered as part of the Oahu Healing Garden Festival.

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This year’s International Whaling Conference (IWC) in Santiago, Chile was marked by polite avoidance of controversial issues. Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet began the conference by declaring a ban on whaling off of Chile’s waters. South American countries came together to propose a sanctuary in the South Atlantic Ocean. Next year’s IWC will be held in Portugal where both sides hope to come to an agreement.

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Guitar Player magazine is on the hunt for ax masters. Given that the venerable gear aficionado feeds on tech, pedals and shredders, it’s cool to see Hawaii’s Makana selected as a finalist for its fourth annual Guitar Superstar Competition.

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On August 16-17, 2008 University of Hawaii-Maui Community College (UH-MCC) and the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) will host the 1st Annual Maui ISLExpo (Island Sustainable Living Expo) on the UH-MCC campus in Kahului, Maui.  The 1st Annual Maui ISLExpo will offer: a variety of presentations and panel discussions from leading sustainability experts; eco-documentary screenings; edutainment and sustainability-related exhibits; and healthy, local foods and Hawaiian cultural learning opportunities. This event will be open to the public.  A significant attendance from a diverse audience is expected.

The Maui ISLExpo will focus on four core themes we believe to be some of the most important and pressing issues needing to be addressed in order to further sustainability on Maui Island. 

1. Island Energy Security – How can we as an island reduce our dependency on foreign, imported oil for meeting our energy needs and instead, provide clean affordable energy to our island residents?;
(Possible topics include: energy business models; traditional, current and emerging energy-related technologies; sustainable local bio-fuel production & processing; grid design & challenges to incorporating renewables; renewable energy production; energy efficiency & conservation; sustainable transportation models)

2. Island Food Security – How can we, as a part of a remote archipelago of islands, reduce our dependency on imported foods and revive local, sustainable agricultural production?;
(Possible topics include: agricultural models; traditional, current and emerging agricultural technologies and practices; opportunities & challenges to agriculture within an island context; linking buyers and farmers; shipping and transportation; export vs. local markets)

3. Island-based Local Economies – How can we promote the development of sustainable, local island-based economies and entrepreneurship?;
(Possible topics include: local food production, local biofuel production, local construction materials production, local eco- and agri-tourism; preservation of host culture; waste recycling/waste to energy; industrial ecology and symbiosis)

4. Sustainable Living Education – What are the most promising current and emerging models, best practices and lessons learned in sustainable living education being used in K-12 to college level educational institutions, which could be applied within our island’s context?
(Possible topics include: education pipelines; K-12: Independent & DOE Schools, Project East, Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance; College level approaches; workforce development; public-private partnerships)

SLIM’s efforts are gaining momentum within our community and we are excited to be a part of the solution to addressing our island’s and the world’s sustainability challenges.  Additional detailed information, including a program agenda, will be posted on the SLIM website (www.sustainablemaui.org) as it becomes available.  Opportunities exist for volunteers wishing to participate in event planning and implementation.  Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities also exist for interested parties.

Contact:
Alex de Roode - Lead Coordinator, 1st Annual Maui ILSExpo
Executive Director, Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM)
www.sustainablemaui.org
deroode@hawaii.edu
(808) 984-3379

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From Zac’s blog, as he sailed into Honolulu Harbor:Last night I picked up some wind about 30 miles out of the Kawiii Channel, the passage between Mokakai and Oahu which is notorious for bad sea conditions.

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Kidney stones are more prevalent in summer because they’re linked to water consumption, and many people don’t drink enough water to compensate for hotter temperatures, says Dr. Andrew Sambell, a Baylor Medical Center urologist.

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Staph infections are those caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Commonly found in the Hawaiian environment such as beaches, sand, water, pubic facilities, health care settings.

Many healthy people carry staph bacteria in their noses without getting sick. But when the skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections, which can lead to other health problems.

-MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a once-rare drug-resistant germ now appears to cause more than half of all skin infections treated in U.S. emergency rooms, say researchers who documented the superbug’s startling spread in the general population by studying it in 11 cities.

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Having lawn tennis with mini nets, rackets and big foam balls at the all day outdoor festival was like integrating a playground at the center of a great health and cultural bazaar.

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We know tennis is a healthy lifelong sport yet at some point many tennis players have injuries and pains. There’s no doubt a singular focus on tennis can result in over use injuries and imbalanced muscular development. The ultimately successful pro players like Federer played other sports in their youth and as they grew up, cross trained working closely with physical therapists and trainers. Healthy Tennis® workshop by Leilani Magee shows practices that help casual and competitive players increase the chances of staying healthy under the rigors of the game.

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