Hawaii
Alarming figures show Hawaii set new record last year for fentanyl drug overdoses
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Artificial opioids killed a document variety of individuals in Hawaii final 12 months, in accordance with newly-released state Well being Division figures. Statewide, fentanyl is probably going linked to at the least 60 deaths.
Officers say that’s a preliminary quantity is predicted to climb as extra of final 12 months’s post-mortem reviews are finalized.
Thus far, demise certificates present males made up simply over 75% of final 12 months’s lethal overdoses.
HNN realized the overwhelming majority had been between 20 and 65 years outdated.
Whereas the age vary for these males was broad, no specific age group stood out.
As for the place these lethal overdoses are occurring, officers say about half occurred on the Neighbor Islands.
RELATED COVERAGE: HPD administrations of opioid overdose antidote soar amid fentanyl’s rise on Oahu
The spike in overdoses comes a worrisome improve in fentanyl abuse within the islands.
Consultants say the opioid is among the strongest medication ever created.
In keeping with the DEA, a lethal dose equates to just some specks of powder tinier than the tip of a pencil.
And these days, fentanyl is popping up in sudden locations. Oftentimes, it’s unknowingly combined in with different medication like counterfeit prescription tablets, meth, cocaine and heroin.
“You by no means know what you’re taking,” mentioned Hawaii Excessive Depth Drug Trafficking Space Director Gary Yabuta. “And that’s the scary half. As a result of fentanyl is deadly.”
The preliminary knowledge from the state Well being Division exhibits there have been at the least 220 lethal drug overdoses final 12 months in Hawaii. That quantity will possible rise as labs finalize the rest of final 12 months’s toxicology reviews.
“I might predict that it will likely be over 300 on the finish when we’ve got closing coding,” mentioned Dan Galanis, state epidemiologist. That may be the best quantity ever recorded since DOH started monitoring deadly overdoses in 1999.
Officers say the overwhelming majority of overdoses are linked to methamphetamine.
However well being officers say the 60 overdose deaths final 12 months linked to artificial opioids (possible fentanyl) highlights a disturbing pattern. Over the previous 5 years, deadly fentanyl overdoses have elevated 400%.
“There are extra deadly overdoses for Neighbor Islands than you’d anticipate simply on the quantity of inhabitants that they’ve, particularly for Kauai and Maui counties,” Galanis mentioned.
Preliminary numbers present almost a 3rd of final 12 months’s overdose deaths occurred in these two counties.
Some 21% had been in Maui County, whereas 11% had been on Kauai.
Hawaii County accounted for about 15%.
The remaining 53% occurred on Oahu.
In the meantime, officers say the web has made getting ahold of medicine like fentanyl simpler than ever. It’s why Yabuta says Narcan ought to be in each medication cupboard.
“Narcan is the one reversing agent obtainable,” he mentioned.
The state Division of Well being says it hopes to have a closing tally of final 12 months’s overdose deaths this summer time.
Copyright 2023 Hawaii Information Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Hawaii native Savannah Gankiewicz crowned Miss USA after the previous winner resigned
Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii was crowned Miss USA 2023 on Wednesday, more than a week after the previous titleholder resigned citing her mental health.
Gankiewicz, a model who leads a female empowerment nonprofit, will hold the title until August — the remainder of the pagaent’s term, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
“I am ready to make a positive impact with this organization that I hold dear to my heart,” said Gankiewicz, of Maui, during a ceremony at the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach.
As the first runner-up, Gankiewicz was announced as the replacement for former Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt, who stepped aside May 6. In a statement, Voigt thanked her fans and wrote, “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being.”
Voigt, a former Miss Utah, was crowned in September 2023.
Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, also resigned her title within days of Voigt’s resignation in a shock to the Miss Universe Organization, which runs both pageants.
Srivastava, the former Miss New Jersey Teen USA, wrote in a statement that her personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
Hawaii
These seniors are learning Hula to celebrate Hawaiian culture
SAN RAMON, Calif. — “Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people,” says Desiree Elder, a Hula instructor with the Polynesian dance revue, Island Spice.
“Many people visit Hawaii,” Elder says, “and they think that Hula is just wiggling around. But Hula is so much more than that.”
Elder teaches Hula to all ages, but her most unique class is probably the 55-and-over instruction for mature adults taught at San Ramon-Alcosta Senior and Community Center.
“The soft, graceful movements are really fun to do,” says Fiona Waterhouse, one of Elders students. “And the beautiful music which evokes everything Hawaiian.”
“This is like a godsend class,” adds another student.
Elder says she particularly enjoys teaching seniors because they’re a very engaging group of people.
“They want to learn,” she says, “they’re not done with life, they want to learn, they want to exercise.”
Many of Elders students agree, Hula dancing gives them an opportunity to move and exercise their bodies and their minds. They often give each other tips on how to learn the dance moves, allowing them to socialize and build friendships as well.
“When we came to this class, we didn’t know each other,” says Haldis Maeda, a student of the 55+ beginners class. “I had to learn all the different movements and what they’re called. And it’s really nice, because you’re all learning together. So it’s kind of like you’re helping one another out.”
Beyond creating friendships, the class immerses students in Hawaiian culture.
“When you teach them about Hula, you just can’t teach them moves and language,” says Elder, “They also learn about basic Hula dance traditions, because there are a lot of traditions that go with dancing Hula. How to stand, how to put your costume on, so there are a lot of different aspects of the Hawaiian culture that get brought into classes.”
Elder says learning about Hawaiian culture and Hula is especially impactful during Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage month.
“People from all over the world go to Hawaii and go there for vacation,” she says. “And then you forget about Hawaii. Hawaii has its own unique culture, you have a place that actually had a kingdom on United States land. It’s the only place that has a palace in the U.S. So it’s a very unique type of culture. And for people to recognize that during this month, AAPI heritage month, it’s very good because get a chance to be more inquisitive about it. Maybe they look into it, maybe take a Hula class, maybe buy a book about Hula, or about Hawaii in general.”
AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Through hula, these seniors honor the traditions of the islands.
“Every time we come together and dance hula,” Elder says, “we celebrate the Hawaiian culture.”
To learn more, and to sign up for a hula class, visit here.
Hawaii
A look inside Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Festival, an energetic celebration of native art, dance, and music
- Merrie Monarch is an annual festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
- It celebrates Hawaiian traditions with craft fairs, parades, and hula competitions.
- This article is part of “Community in Focus,” a series highlighting Asian and Pacific Islander events.
As the sun set over the misty town of Hilo, Hawaii, on April 6, about 4,000 people stood up from their seats in the Edith Kanakaʻole stadium and joined hands.
They swayed in unison, their voices reverberating off the bleachers and walls to the tune of “Hawaii Aloha,” a song locals often sing to mark the end of a cultural celebration. This time, they were saying goodbye to Merrie Monarch, an annual weeklong festival for honoring native Hawaiian traditions such as hula and craft making.
When I was growing up in Hilo, attending Merrie Monarch was the highlight of my year. My grandmother would take me to hotels around Hilo, where my uncles would perform Hawaiian music and children would dance the hula, big smiles plastered on their faces. The hotels buzzed with excitement as artisans showcased their crafts, and the scent of traditional Hawaiian delicacies filled the air. At the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, I was enchanted as horseback riders floated by wearing colorful leis and long pāʻū skirts.
The festival, which started on March 31 this year, is marked by a mass migration of Hawaiians to Hilo on the state’s Big Island, also called Hawaii.
These Hawaiians — largely hula dancers who have dedicated their lives to mastering the ancestral dance — overtake the small town of Hilo, bringing with them custom-made hula garments, intricate handmade goods, delectable eats, and goosebump-inducing song and dance.
“It truly is the finest time in Hawaii,” Dillon Ancheta, a Hawaiian-born journalist who has covered Merrie Monarch celebrations for the past five years, told Business Insider. “It feels like the entire state gets excited for Merrie Monarch, and the absolute best of our culture is on display.”
Take a look inside this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
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