Scholarship measure alive at state Capitol

Hawaii lawmakers are working on a bill that would reduce costs for college students. The bill would create a new scholarship program called Hawaii Promise as part of the state’s goal to increase the number of working adults with higher education to 55 percent by 2025, KITV-TV reported.

The House disagreed with Senate amendments to the bill Thursday.

Under the proposed program, students would receive state aid to help pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation costs not already covered by federal funds or other scholarships.

To be eligible for the proposed scholarship, students must submit an application for financial aid, qualify for Hawaii resident tuition, have good grades and meet the minimum credit requirement.

Food donations accepted at isle banks

The Hawaii Bankers Association has begun its 10th annual Foodbank Drive to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank, with food and monetary donations being accepted at nearly 300 bank branches throughout the state. The campaign started Monday and runs through May 31.

All Hawaii Bankers Association members are participating in this year’s food drive, including American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of the Orient, Central Pacific Bank, Finance Factors, First Foundation Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii National Bank, HomeStreet Bank, Ohana Pacific Bank and Territorial Savings Bank.

“Donations to the Hawaii Foodbank provide food assistance to 287,000 residents in our state,” said Edward Pei, executive director of the Hawaii Bankers Association. “Last year, our customers and bank employees contributed 29,000 pounds of food and almost $83,000 in monetary donations.”

The nonperishable food in greatest demand includes meat or tuna, rice, meals, soup, vegetables and fruit. A $10 donation enables the food bank to distribute food for 25 meals.

HAWAII ISLAND

County officials aim to outfit police cars with defibrillators

HILO >> Hawaii officials are trying to put more automated external defibrillators in police cruisers as part of a countywide effort to save people when they suffer cardiac arrest.

Hawaii County officials want at least half of the county’s police patrol car fleet outfitted with the defibrillators, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported. The county has boosted its rate of people it saves from cardiac arrest to 13 percent. That’s more than triple the rate three years ago, Fire Department Capt. Chris Honda said.

Cardiac arrests often occur between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., and some people are in remote locations far from a hospital or an ambulance when they suffer cardiac arrest, Honda said.

Efforts to improve the number of people saved from cardiac arrest started three years ago. The county has since received a $50,000 donation it used to buy 30 defibrillators for the police cars.

Officers volunteered to be a part of the effort, police Capt. Aimee Wana said.

The goal is for defibrillators to be available for officers during all of their shifts in the Hilo, Puna and Kailua-Kona districts.

The American Heart Association in Hawaii plans to work with the state Department of Education to require cardio- pulmonary resuscitation training for high school students before they graduate.

“It’s anticipated that that will result in a doubling or tripling of survival,” said Don Weisman, the division’s government relations director.

KAUAI

Shark attack victim described as upbeat despite amputation

A man who witnessed a shark attack on Kauai says the victim is a French surfer who had part of a leg amputated but is in remarkably good spirits.

Mac Pigott told KHON-TV he visited the victim Saturday in a hospital on Kauai following the attack at Davidson’s Beach.

Pigott says doctors amputated one of the man’s legs just below the knee. He says the victim is setting goals so he can compete one day in the Paralympic Games.

Officials closed the beach Friday after the attack and reopened it Saturday.