Tuesday Bridge Bunch meets again
The “Tuesday Bridge Bunch,” a senior social bridge group, is once again meeting in Kailua-Kona.
The group gathers from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Kona United Methodist Church on Palani Road.
Anyone interested in joining the group should call Pat Aldred at (808) 895-9245 for more information or refresher lessons. All members are vaccinated.
State reminds residents to renew expired licenses, IDs
The state Department of Transportation on Thursday reminded residents and motorists that the emergency extension relating to COVID-19 for driver’s licenses, non-CDL permits, and state IDs that expired on or after March 16, 2020, will end Aug. 6.
County DMVs are currently accepting appointments and/or walk-ins, and in some cases are offering extended hours to meet demand and help address the backlog of renewals. The REAL ID enforcement date has been extended to May 3, 2023.
In Hawaii County, the Hilo and Kona Driver License offices are accepting walk-ins for renewals from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those with appointments receive priority. All other offices will remain by appointment only.
For more information, call the Hilo office at (808) 961-2223 or the Kona office at (808) 323-4800. For complete details, visit https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/vehicle-registration-licensing.
Muliwai trail closure planned
The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife will be conducting maintenance work on Muliwai trail and Waimanu campground between July 12 and 16. The Muliwai trail will be closed to all users during this period. The Waimanu campground remains closed due to COVID concerns.
This is part of DOFAW’s routine maintenance of this trail and campground, including maintaining proper function of the composting toilets, litter pick up, removing fallen trees, and clearing land slides and use of herbicide to control invasive plants. Preparation for the reopening of the Waimanu campground will also take place.
For more information on state forest hiking trails and wilderness campgrounds, visit https://hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov/trails/ or call the DOFAW Hilo Office at (808) 974-4221.
BISAC receives OHA grant
The Big Island Substance Abuse Council (BISAC) recently announced a grant award totaling $300,000 that will support the Native Hawaiian community through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Ohana and Community Based Program and COVID-19 Impact Response Grants.
The grants will help to reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana (family), mo‘omeheu (culture) and ‘aina (land and water).
With the $300,000 OHA grant awards, BISAC will provide therapeutic living treatment to adults previously incarcerated, and implement a COVID operational plan that ensures compliance and mitigates gaps in services.
“We are extremely grateful for the award because it will allow us to address the on-going concerns with substance use and mental health issues that have been exacerbated by COVID-19 and provide the needed services for our Native Hawaiian community,” BISAC CEO Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita.
The purpose of the Ohana and Community Based Program and COVID-19 Impact response Grants are to serve the Native Hawaiian community in alignment with the strategic foundations, directions, and outcomes of 15-year Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan.
Learn more at www.bisac.org.