Transformation Hawaii

Tyler Parks

The International Transformation Network is a voluntary association devoted to what it calls nation transformation. Its members are actively involved in installing a right-wing Christian agenda in governments around the world. One of the more controversial campaigns associated with ITN is the promotion of a piece of legislation in Uganda known as the “Kill The Gays Bill,” which was inspired by American Evangelical groups. If passed, this bill would extend the death penalty to certain acts of homosexuality, which are already illegal in most of Africa. According to Talk To Action, a website that tracks religious fundamentalism in America, the ITN has endorsed church-based, government-backed death squads in Latin America and Africa.

The influence of ITN in politics doesn’t end overseas. Here in America, Sarah Palin is being endorsed by the New Apostolic Reformation, which includes the ITN; and here in Hawaii, there is an active branch called "Transformation Hawaii." The Hawaii group, which functions as a chartered member of ITN, is chaired by Cal Chinen. The group also claims Lt. Governor Duke Aiona as a member. Another major player in the organization is Francis Oda, the CEO of Group 70, who serves as chairman of the Global ITN. Chinen, Oda and Aiona all traveled to the 16th world conference of the ITN in Argentina. Also at the conference, was the First Lady of Uganda, Janet Museveni.

Aiona is well-known in the islands for his opposition to the same-sex marriage movement. In a July 7 interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, he said, “We need to have a constitutional amendment which will definitively define marriage as being between a man and a woman. We don’t have that in the state of Hawaii, but that’s where the debate needs to go for this to finally end.”

At the ITN 18th World Conference held in Argentina in 2008, ITN CEO Ed Silvoso gave a speech, during which he compared his opponents to rats that would be exterminated.

Aiona was a high-profile participant in E Pule Kakou, a week-long prayer event sponsored by Transformation Hawaii. The mission of this movement is "to see every family in Hawaii pray together" and "to see the Kingdom of God fill, bless, and transform the entire state of Hawaii in marriages, families, communities, schools, business and government." Organizers claim over 350 churches and 400,000 people watched the Thanksgiving prayer event in 2008, which was on nine different cable channels.

During this week-long event, there were several proclamations of miracles. A man was revived from the dead, Thanksgiving dinner turkeys were multiplied, and a man was cured of a terminal blood disease. The man revived from the dead had drowned an hour beforehand, and as the doctor came in the room to sign the death certificate, the man sat up asking what was going on. The Feed the Sheep Thanksgiving turkey donation program started with 200 turkeys, 240 families to feed, and somehow ended up with a surplus of 10. The man with the terminal blood disease had been pretty much given a death sentence, but then the wife asked the church to assist her in her prayers. The next day, his disease was gone and he praised God for his recovery.

In 2009, ITN held an international conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikoloa and Aiona delivered a blessing, stating, “We’re one body of Christ, we’re one church and we’re all here to disciple the nations, here in Hawaii and everywhere else.”

Youth News contacted Aiona, who is now a candidate for governor in the state of Hawaii. Among the questions asked was his opinion regarding the miracles that occurred during E Pule Kakou, and the prosecution of homosexuals. He has not gotten back to us.

Consumer Finance Protection Agency part II

Consumer Finance Protection Agency part II

Tyler Parks

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is good to go except for one thing: It needs a leader.

Of all the candidates promoted for the position, Elizabeth Warren is getting the most attention. Warren, a professor of law at Harvard University, was the person who originally proposed the idea of a central office to protect regular borrowers and savers. She is well known as an advocate of the people, especially in her role as chairperson of the panel overseeing the $700 billion bailout fund. Rumor has it that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is opposed to her appointment. Having been interrogated by Warren during her time as chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Panel, Geithner knows just how tough Warren can be. According to The Huffington Post, “Her toughness on giant banks is said to be a longtime source of tension between the two [Geithner and Warren]."

Michael Barr, an assistant secretary of the Treasury, is who Geithner prefers in the position. Barr fought against GOP efforts to weaken the consumer agency. Seen as an insider, his critics also say he lacks the communication skills of Warren, who has already been proven to be media savvy.

The third candidate is Gene Kimmelman, who is also well qualified. Kimmelman is currently vice president for Federal and International Affairs at Consumers Union, which is a nonprofit organization trying to maintain a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers. He was also the lead consumer advocate during the governmentʻs consideration of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and has a degree in law from the University of Virginia.

Lava in Kalapana

Lava in Kalapana.

Early Sunday Morning, a two-story house in the path of a lava flow caught fire. On July 18, one person was evacuated from the house after a warning from Hawaii County Civil Defensethat molten rock was moving slowly towards the property. The lava made its way eastward along Highway 137. At 3:30 a.m., the property owner and a photographer watched the house burn. Now nothing remains standing except the roof and water tank.

The lava continues moving across the Puna landscape, headed towards the Kalapana Gardens subdivision, now 500-800 feet from the nearest home at a temperature somewhere between 2000-4000 degrees. At 12:44 p.m., Bill Hanson, the Hawaii County Civil DefenseAdministrative Officer, stated that the volcano is in a deflation mode, meaning it’s not erupting and the lava flow is slowing down. He also reported that the lava is moving eastward.

The lava flow is considered sacred ground by Native Hawaiians. Visitors should know safety is also a concern.

The small town of Kalapana was once a treasured Hawaiian fishing village. It was also the site of one of the largest and nicest black sand beaches. In 1990, Pele the fire goddess changed the Big Island. From April through December of that year, lava flowed, burying Kalapana and the Royal Gardens Subdivision under 30 feet of molten rock. When the eruption started up again in 2008, it was unexpected to hit Kalapana.

Hanson takes these recent developments in stride. “It’s a way the island was born,” he said. “It’s a natural reaction.”

Today, park rangers set up stations to monitor tourism to the site. You can hike across the barren lava fields and view current lava flows after dark. So far, only one house has been hit.“It’s not a happy situation, but as long as we respect Mother Nature, it will be okay,“ said Hanson. ”We can all come together and help everyone out.”

The fire department is still on the scene, and the lava viewing is still open.

Byronʻs Health Tip of the Day!

Byron Pranger is the owner of Aloha Fitness located at 215 Railroad Avenue, Suite B2, Hilo, HI 96720-4513. Byron and co-owner Tunya provide a friendly environment to take part in weight lifting, aerobics, zumba, and much more.

Added sugar.....Look at labels and limit your added sugar intake to 5 grams per meal or no more than 30 grams per day. Most cereals are 15 grams or more per serving. And you know you eat two servings.

Unemployment Benefits Extension

By Christian Labuen

Good news! For the people who have been jobless for six months or more, President Obama has signed a law restoring unemployment benefits. From June 2 up until this Thursday, benefits were cut off from an estimated 2.5 million people. These people are now eligible for lump-sum retroactive payments, which could be delivered directly into bank accounts or state issued debit cards within a few days. The 272-152 House of Representatives vote sent the measure to the White House for Obamaʻs signature. Less than 24 hours after the Senate vote on Wednesday, the House vote, which was part of a bigger Democratic jobs agenda, was reached.

"Americans who are working day and night to get back on their feet and support their families in these tough economic times deserve more than obstruction and partisan game-playing," Obama said Wednesday night. This measure is all that remains of February’s attempt to renew elements of last year’s stimulus bill. The previous attempts were vetoed when Democrats were forced by GOP opposition to drop $24 billion to help state governments avoid layoffs, higher taxes, expired tax cuts for the middle class, and a health insurance subsidy for unemployed persons.

Opposed by most Republicans, this measure adds an additional $34 billion to a national debt already at $13 trillion. It was argued that this debt should have been paid for with unspent money from last year’s stimulus bill. "The other side says that these unemployment benefits stretching to almost two years are needed. . . even as they claim their trillion-dollar stimulus plan has been a success at creating millions of jobs," said Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La. "It makes you wonder if they're looking at the same jobs data as the rest of us."

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka applauded the passage of the unemployment benefits extension. "This legislation provides long overdue relief to millions of people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own," he said. "I am saddened that many out-of-work Americans were left with no unemployment support for several weeks. I am pleased we passed the extension tonight and I will continue to work to meet the needs of families struggling in this difficult economy."

Akaka, along with U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and Representative Mazie Hirono all voted for the extension, while Representative Charles Djou voted against it.

There are 596,000 employed people in Hawaii. The unemployment rate is currently at 6.3 percent at approximately 40,350 persons, placing it as sixth lowest in the country. The national unemployment rate, on the other hand, is at 9.5 percent. About 2,100 people run out of unemployment benefits each month.

Benefits are expected to extend to November 30 of this year.

Borders Out, Walgreens In

Jasmine Kupihea and Quelyn Nihipali

The sudden shut down of Borders at the Waiakea Shopping Center has been a shock to the community as well as the employees that work there. At the beginning of July, Borders announced they would be closing at the end of the month. Since then, huge signs hanging off the building and people standing on the street corners holding placards have drawn bargain hunters in to the store. Sales of anywhere from 20-40 percent off have left some excited and others nonplussed; hopes linger that prices will hit rock bottom as the month comes to an end.

Another thing costumers and employees have in common when it comes to the closure is confusion about why it happened at all. Workers there say that as many as 15 customers a day come in questioning them, only to learn they are just as clueless.

Although Borders reported a $33.5 million loss during the first quarter, our sources at the Hilo store said this location was doing really well. Borders is now set to close on August 21 and needs to be vacated by September 7.

Many people in the community are speculating that Borders is leaving because of a rent hike. Last year, the bookstore’s neighbor Island Naturals had to pack up and move for that very reason, which might explain why people are jumping to that conclusion. Island Naturals owner Russell Ruderman told Youth News he likes his new location better, claiming it is more convenient. Judging by the activity at the store, his customers have remained loyal.

Borders corporate spokeswoman, Mary Davis told Youth News the company “is not renewing its lease at Waiakea Shopping Center because it failed to meet business objectives.” While it might be hard to decipher that message, our sources told us the closure had nothing to do with a rent increase. Another anonymous source reported that the rent jumped to $60,000/month.

About 40 employees were affected by the shut down. Some of them are having a difficult time coping with the loss, another sentiment shared with the community. As laid off workers scramble for jobs, locals who frequented the store wonder where they will find a cozy corner to enjoy some free time.

Kahana Albinio is the DHHL property development agent for the land where Borders is located. He explained that DHHL is the landowner and they leased the site to Waiakea Center, which in turn is managed by CB Richard Ellis. CB Richard Ellis did not return our calls for comment, but Albinio did explain that while DHHL is involved in the original agreement with all companies renting at the center, once a tenant has occupied the space any changes, such as a rent increase, do not involve DHHL. CB Richard Ellis is responsible for the terms and the agreements with their sub-lessees. Albinio also said that Walgreens will be occupying the space once Borders leaves.

Chatter amongst the crowded store had a feeling of disappointment. Store patron Kara Dunn said, “Now where am I going to get my books”? The Hilo community will miss Borders.

Justin Bieber Acting

Justin will soon be appearing on CBS for CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). He just signed a deal to guest star on CSI, playing “Jason McCann,” a troubled teen facing horrible decisions about his brother. It’s shocking Bieber signed up for this because he also has MY WORLD TOUR, playing music that same week. CSI is hoping that with Bieber on the show it will be a huge hit. CBS is trying to catch the attention of younger viewers. Although CSI has tried this before with also famous teen singer Taylor Swift, they are trying again with new star Bieber.