Latest news with #HCH
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOGE cuts hit Native Hawaiian programs
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The recent funding cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could have a devastating impact on humanities programs across Hawaiʻi. These cuts target the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a crucial source of support for local organizations that preserve and promote Hawaiʻi's rich cultural heritage. The NEH has been a vital part of Hawaiʻi's community life and has been funding programs that enrich public education, strengthen local history and foster cultural understanding. Since 2020, NEH has granted more than $9.3 million to support 42 humanities projects in Hawaiʻi. Aside from the money infusing Hawaiʻi's economy, the support has benefited iconic institutions such as the Bishop Museum, Hawaiʻi Community College and Iolani Palace. These grants help organizations engage with the public, foster education and preserve Hawaiʻi's history, while also supporting local tourism economies. According to Mark Ombrello, a history faculty member at the University of Hawai'i at Kaua'i and board member of the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities (HCH), the proposed cuts are part of a larger trend of federal institutions being targeted for defunding. Ombrello warned, 'This cut is part of a larger assault on longstanding federal institutions that strengthen our freedom and democracy through education—following recent Executive Orders targeting the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Department of Education. Collectively, these cuts will drastically impact the services that humanities organizations across our islands provide to their communities.' These cuts would not only affect larger institutions but also local organizations like the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities (HCH), which partners with NEH to serve local communities. HCH was established in 1972 and has worked tirelessly to enrich the lives of Hawaiʻi residents by funding humanities programs and providing grants that support a wide range of community-driven projects. In 2024 alone, HCH funded more than $905,000 in local programs and events that reached more than 33,500 people across Hawaiʻi. One such program, Hawaiʻi History Day. This program helps teach students about the history and civics of Hawai'i and provides professional development for educators and classroom materials. In 2025, the program will partner with 46 public, private and charter schools across the state to reach grades 4-12 students. Other programs, such as the Hawaiʻi State Poet Laureate program, allow Hawai'i's diverse communities to engage with social issues through storytelling, creativity and poetry. Another essential program supported by NEH is Try Think, which organizes humanities-based conversations at correctional facilities. These conversations allow incarcerated individuals and community members to connect as a means of reducing public stigma against those involved in the criminal justice system and providing a pathway for successful reintegration into society. Try Think has programs year-round at three correctional facilities on Oʻahu. These include the Women's Community Correctional Center, the only women's prison in Hawai'i. For those focused on the preservation of Hawaiʻi's culture, the cuts could halt the critical work being done by local organizations to preserve oral histories and historical Hilo, the Lyman House Memorial Museum received an NEH grant to digitize 13 ledgers from 1896 to 1950. These papers offered valuable insights into Hawaiʻi's medical history. The East Hawai'i Cultural Center also received funding for a project to collect personal histories about the Hilo police department. The program is meant to help to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. On Molokaʻi, the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities supported projects like the Kalaupapa Portraits Identification Project that is helping to redefine the narrative of Kalaupapa by identifying and preserving historical photographs. Additionally, the HCH funded the 'Ho'ohui Maka'i' project. It explores food and cooking stories by multicultural women of Molokaʻi and engages the community in educational discussions to preserve the island's culinary traditions. The potential cuts threaten to disrupt this vital work, leading to a loss of jobs, reduced services, reduced economic influx into the state's economy and halted projects. According to Kehaulani Costa, chair of the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities Board, 'The humanities help us reflect on the past, imagine the future, and connect across our differences. We need the humanities in housing and social services, in development, in community planning. Valuing histories, cultures, and stories benefit all our sectors.' This situation is especially dire for Indigenous communities in Hawai'i. Many of the funded projects highlight Native Hawaiian culture and history that include those addressing the legacy of the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and support the revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻi's indigenous language) and traditions. One such program supported by HCH is the creation of a children's book about the traditional Portuguese bread-baking process in Kona. This book continues to be used to teach K-12 students about life in 1890s Kona as it ensures future generations understand and appreciate their local history. On Kaua'i, a $10,000 grant to Kaua'i Museum will support a new interactive storytelling exhibition about the history of Kānaka Maoli, further strengthening the connection between Hawai'i's Native people and their land. This is part of a broader effort to preserve and share the history of Hawai'i's Indigenous communities. Aiko Yamashiro, the executive director of HCH, emphasized the importance of humanities programs in creating stronger communities. 'Good governance and strong communities value critical thinking, reflection, and connection. We need increased cross-sector collaboration to navigate this federal funding crisis, and turn back to true community power and voices,' she explained. 'The humanities have a lot to offer. We value many voices and stories, empathy and critical thinking. We connect people to land, history, culture, and each other.' The upcoming federal funding cuts will affect more than just academic programs; they threaten the cultural fabric of Hawai'i. Programs that preserve and share Native Hawaiian stories, histories and traditions will be especially vulnerable. For example, HCH's support for oral history projects, such as the Maui Wildfires Oral History Project, directly contributes to understanding the role of water in Hawai'i's past, present and future. These projects preserve Hawai'i's indigenous knowledge and protect the stories of those who lived through significant events. As Hawai'i faces these challenges, it is crucial for community members to advocate for the humanities. One way to help is by contacting Congressional senators and representatives and sharing why these programs matter. The humanities provide education and a space for communities to reflect, connect and grow together. Without these programs, Hawai'i's cultural heritage and local communities will suffer. The potential loss of funding could also affect local tourism economies, which benefit from historical sites and cultural programs that attract visitors to Hawai'i. With tourism being a significant part of Hawai'i's economy, the effects of these cuts will be felt far beyond the humanities community. In response to these challenges, the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities urged individuals to take action. They are asking that Hawaiʻi residents write letters to our senators and representatives and urge them to prioritize funding for public humanities in order to make one step toward protecting these essential programs. The fight to preserve funding for humanities programs in Hawai'i is ongoing. It's a fight for the preservation of culture, history, and community. You can click to learn more about HCH. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 As Kehaulani Costa said, 'We connect people to land, history, culture, and each other.' Without support, these connections could be lost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
See - Sada Elbalad
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Int'l Musician Among Honduran Jet Crash Victims
Rana Atef At least 12 people including a popular international musician died in a plane crash in the Caribbean Sea. The small plane crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Roatan, Honduras, officials said. The plane departed from Roatan and headed for the port of La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. The aircraft "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said. "The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing," a fisherman, whose name was not given, told HCH television. The fire department said 12 people were killed and five others were rescued. Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas told Reuters that survivors were taken to a nearby hospital. Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez, who is a member of the Garifuna music scene, was killed in the crash. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Ireland Replaces Former Israeli Embassy with Palestinian Museum News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
The Guardian
18-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Leading Garifuna musician reportedly among 12 dead in Honduras air crash
At least 12 people have died after a small plane crashed into the sea while taking off from a Caribbean island off Honduras, officials said. The Lanhsa airlines plane departed at nightfall on Monday from Roatán, one of the Central American country's main tourist destinations, heading for the port of La Ceiba, on the mainland. The aircraft 'made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water', civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said. 'The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing,' a fisherman told HCH television. The fire department said 12 people were killed in the crash. Five people were rescued and one is missing. The Honduran musician Aurelio Martínez, a prominent member of the Garifuna music scene, was among the dead, according to local media reports. Martínez, who between 2006 and 2010 was the country's first Black congressman, recorded a string of records, and was described by the Guardian in 2017 as 'the finest living exponent of the lilting, soulful music of the Garifuna people.' Dramatic video uploaded to social media by the national police showed officers and other rescue workers carrying survivors on to a rocky coastline, some in stretchers, as a nearby boat shone a bright light amid the darkness. The injured passengers included a 40-year-old French citizen, who will be transferred to hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula on the mainland, said Maj Wilmer Guerrero of the fire department. Fifteen passengers were onboard the plane, along with two pilots and a flight attendant, police said. The crash, which happened about a kilometer from the coast, was caused by an 'apparent mechanical failure' on the British-made Jetstream 41, the statement added. The Honduran president, Xiomara Castro, said she had 'immediately activated' an emergency committee made up of the armed forces, firefighters and others to assist the victims of the accident. Agence France-Press and Reuters contributed reporting
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Plane crash off Caribbean island kills at least 12, including music star
At least 12 people including a popular musician died Monday when a small plane crashed into the Caribbean sea quickly after taking off from the Honduran island of Roatan, officials said. The Lanhsa Airlines plane departed at nightfall from Roatan, one of the central American country's main tourist destinations, headed for the port of La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. The aircraft "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said. "The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing," a fisherman, whose name was not given, told HCH television. The fire department said 12 people were killed in the crash while five others were rescued. Dramatic video posted social media by the national police showed rescue workers carrying a survivor on a stretcher onto the rocky shore. Another video showed a similar scene, with police reporting that only one body was still missing as rescue teams continued their search. Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez, a popular member of the Garifuna music scene, was among the dead, local media reported. According to the Kennedy Center, Martinez founded the Lita Ariran ensemble, one of the first Garifuna groups to be featured on an internationally distributed album. "Martinez's virtuosic musicianship and passionate performances made him a mainstay of the La Cieba music scene, where he was best loved for his take on punta rock, the high-energy, Garifuna roots-infused pop genre that took Central America by storm in the 1990s," according to the Kennedy Center. Among the injured passengers was a 40-year-old French citizen who was being transferred to a hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula on the mainland, Major Wilmer Guerrero of the fire department said. Fifteen passengers were on the plane, along with two pilots and a flight attendant, according to police. The crash, which happened about half a mile from the island's coast, was caused by an "apparent mechanical failure" on the British-made Jetstream 41, the police statement said. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said she had "immediately activated" an emergency committee made up of the armed forces, firefighters and others to assist the victims of the accident. U.S. Marine Band forced to cancel concert with students of color after Trump DEI order Restoring classic cars in the classroom How DOGE cuts are jeopardizing our national parks
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Plane crash off Caribbean island kills at least 12 people, including popular Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez
At least 12 people including a popular musician died Monday when a small plane crashed into the Caribbean sea quickly after taking off from the Honduran island of Roatan, officials said. The Lanhsa Airlines plane departed at nightfall from Roatan, one of the central American country's main tourist destinations, headed for the port of La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. The aircraft "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said. "The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing," a fisherman, whose name was not given, told HCH television. The fire department said 12 people were killed in the crash while five others were rescued. Dramatic video posted social media by the national police showed rescue workers carrying a survivor on a stretcher onto the rocky shore. Another video showed a similar scene, with police reporting that only one body was still missing as rescue teams continued their search. Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez, a popular member of the Garifuna music scene, was among the dead, local media reported. According to the Kennedy Center , Martinez founded the Lita Ariran ensemble, one of the first Garifuna groups to be featured on an internationally distributed album. "Martinez's virtuosic musicianship and passionate performances made him a mainstay of the La Cieba music scene, where he was best loved for his take on punta rock, the high-energy, Garifuna roots-infused pop genre that took Central America by storm in the 1990s," according to the Kennedy Center. Among the injured passengers was a 40-year-old French citizen who was being transferred to a hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula on the mainland, Major Wilmer Guerrero of the fire department said. Fifteen passengers were on the plane, along with two pilots and a flight attendant, according to police. The crash, which happened about half a mile from the island's coast, was caused by an "apparent mechanical failure" on the British-made Jetstream 41, the police statement said. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said she had "immediately activated" an emergency committee made up of the armed forces, firefighters and others to assist the victims of the accident.
