Maunalua Bay ready for APEC

Talk about beautifying Oahu in advance of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting here in November:

Maunalua Bay is looking better than it has in years, thanks to about 3,000 people removing almost 3 million tons of an alien pest called mudweed from 26 acres along the eastern shores of the bay. A key player in the effort was Pono Land Management, which hired about 50 people to wade in the nearshore waters of the bay and pull out the algae — which really was making the bay look muddy.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and Malama Maunalua also helped with the project, aided by volunteers and school students.

The 18-month effort was funded with $3.4 million in federal stimulus money and will be continued via volunteer efforts coordinated by Malama Maunalua.

Kudos to all involved.

We ‘heart’ this positive finding

Coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U. S., is at the lowest rate in Hawaii, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A random phone survey showed the rate nationally fell from 6.7 percent in 2006 to 6 percent in 2010, while Hawaii’s rate declined from 4.7 percent to 3.7 percent.

That does not mean all Hawaii residents have strong hearts. Across the country, the risk of coronary heart disease increases with age and decreases with education. Overall, men are more at risk than women. American Indians and Alaska Natives are at high risk, while the risk lessens among blacks, Hispanics, whites and, at the low risk of 3.9 percent, Asians or Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders — perhaps a major factor in Hawaii’s overall low rate.