Create Hawaiian art

People can try their hand at traditional Hawaiian arts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 11 during a holiday arts fair at the Hawaii State Art Museum. Admission is free for the event, sponsored by the museum and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The museum is on Hotel Street, across from the state Capitol.

AARP warns against Medicare cuts

The AARP’s Hawaii chapter says the state’s more than 200,000 seniors could be harmed if Medicare payments to doctors are reduced Jan. 1.

AARP Hawaii State Director Barbara Kim Stanton said Hawaii Medicare enrollees comprise about 16 percent of the state’s population, and they could lose health care access if their doctors refuse to see Medicare patients.

AARP is calling on Congress to prevent a 25 percent reduction in Medicare doctor reimbursements.

The group, which assists people over 50 years old, said the Medicare system reduced physician fees to stay within spending limits as the costs of tests and procedures rose.

NEIGHBOR ISLAND

Nonprofit makes switch to solar power

The Nature Conservancy’s Molokai office will be running its lights, air conditioners and electronics on the power of the sun.

The conservation organization had Maui’s Rising Sun Solar install an 8.88-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of its office in Molokai Industrial Park.

The Nature Conservancy said Wednesday the solar panels will cover all of its energy needs and cap its energy costs.

The office will remain connected to Maui Electric’s grid so that it can buy power from the utility on cloudy days. This also allows the organization to sell excess power to the utility on days when the office is not using much power.

New clinic for veterans is roomier

LIHUE, Hawaii » A new Veterans Affairs clinic on Kauai offers bigger lab facilities, additional exam rooms and more offices.

Social worker Charlene Burgess told the Garden Island newspaper that the clinic, which opened Monday, has seven exam rooms, 13 offices, larger lab facilities and "telehealth" rooms, a conference room and a lunch room.

Joe Clemenson, project manager for Shioi Construction, said the clinic will use solar tubes to minimize the need for electrical light during the day, and a new air-conditioning system will provide more efficiency.