Big Island ASL Users

History has been made. The first movie theater on the Big Island of Hawaii has closed captions. In August this year the Hollywood Cinema in the Prince Kuhio Plaza mall changed its movie system to digital. Last week the technician finally got the bugs out of the installation and the result, the CaptiView closed captioning system. A text display sits in your cup holder. Sorry, you'll have to hold on to your Pepsi or borrow your neighbor's cup holder for your drink. The wireless CaptiView system works in all the theaters so all of the movies are captioned.

By Thijs van den Berg The Haute Trash Fashion Show was on Saturday, October 20 2012 in the air-conditioned comfort of Moanahoku Hall at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. The huge success Haute Trash Fashion Show is sponsored by the EHCC. The goal of this full-evening designer competition of more than 30 designer originals and their models and runway show was a fundraiser for the East Hawaii Cultural Center and education about awareness about the importance of reusing and recycling. This show featured competition and prizes in two categories: keiki Designers (18 and younger) and Adult Amateur Designers. One of them was deaf model, Reiko Yamamoto. Her design name was “Rose Red Cocktail Dress”. She has designed her whole clothes. After the trash fashion contest, the crowd cheered for them. Reiko Yamamoto Reiko with Ira Ono, one of founders Trash Art show Designers were judged by four judges. All of the Keiki Designers (18 and younger) were winners. Adult Amateur Desi

September 7 2012. UPDATE: This course is cancelled. The University of Hawai`i at Hilo's College of Continuing Education and Community Service (CCECS) continues to offer its popular Fitness for Life program in the fall with registration currently underway. One of the courses is "Basic American Sign Language Course". Go online at http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/ccecs/fitness/ to view full class offerings and descriptions.   To register or for any questions, call 974-7664.

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo's North Hawai`i Education and Research Center (NHERC) in Honoka`a has opened registration for its Fall 2012 Lifelong Learning program. One of them is “Basic American Sign Language” course. Ku Mei Kern, who is nationally certified through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), will conduct a one-day “Introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture” workshop in September where participants will learn about deaf culture and basic signs. The workshop will be followed in October by Kern's four-week “Basic American Sign Language” course, which will teach students about ASL grammar, spatial setting and vocabulary. Advanced registration is required and space is limited.   For class details, visit http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/nherc/NHERCNon-Credit.php.   To register or for more information, call NHERC at 775-8890 or email vickyann@hawaii.edu

There is an interpreters ASL available at this yearly event ! 

UPDATE April 30 2012 DVR cancel this event and will find a new date for this event. Tell please to your friends and family ! Thank you! Thijs Aloha, I want to pass this information to you at the request of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).  There will be a community forum sponsored by DVR, and they will be actively soliciting feedback from the deaf communities in the State of Hawaii about the possibility of creating a Comprehensive Deaf Center on the island of Oahu.  The Deaf Center will serve to provide many things including life skills training, and work re-entry skills development for the Deaf. If you are interesting in providing DVR with feedback, you can either go to their open forum which will be held on Saturday May 5, from 10 - 12 noon at Tutu's House in Waimea (64-1032 Mamalahoa Hwy.), or you can email your comments to Ms. Eleanor MacDonald at emacdonald@dhs.hawaii.gov . Thank you, and much aloha, Susan Shirchi, Disability Services UH Hilo

Three hundred and fifty deaf people will be sailing to the Big Island, arriving in Kona on April 27, 2012 from 8am to 6pm  and Hilo on April 28th from 7am to 4pm. Information about the cruise can be found on http://www.passagesdeaftravel.com/hawaii2012.htm If you are going to be in town or want to help these visitors find their way around, please great them with aloha.

Deaf woman, Reiko Yamamoto will be showing her recycled clothes at recycled fashion show. Please support her ! Visit the fashion show at 11:30AM or 1PM to see Reiko Yamamoto's fun recycled fashions. Updated April 19. There is an ASL interpreter available between 10 am and 12 !  

This is a new resource for people to share information about events and information for Big Island Sign Language users. This is a resource for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people who either know sign or want to know sign language. This is a great place to find out where and when to find the next: sign language event deaf friendly events public events where interpreters are provided These events are a great way for people learning or who want to improve their sign language to communicate with experienced sign users. For example, this is a resource for sign language students, professionals who need to communicate with deaf people, and families who want to communicate better with deaf family members. This includes parents, grandparents, siblings, children, in-laws, great aunts and uncles, cousins, half-cousins and any other relationship.