The Waimanalo Health Center has begun interior renovation and re-roofing. The interior renovation will add seven examination rooms and create three physician offices, three nurse stations, and a laboratory room. Also being improved are the pediatric hearing and vision room, the patient registration area, the front office, and the administration office.

"We're growing," said Mabel Spencer, President of the Waimanalo Health Center Board, "and this is the first phase, the physical phase. There is a great need for health services in this community."

Kawahine Kamakea-Ohelo, Executive Director of the Waimanalo Health Center, expressed her appreciation to the users of the Health Center who were very understanding when the Center was closed during reroofing. "We ask for your continued understanding and patience during the next few months while the restoration is in progress." The contractor is working with the Health Center staff to minimize disruption. However the Health Center may need to close for a day or two while certain construction activities take place. Notices will be posted in advance of any closings.

The Board and staff of the Waimanalo Health Center expressed appreciation to the State of Hawaii, the U.S. Department of Health an Human Services, and the Queen Emma Foundation for providing funds for the project. n

Water Code Information Meetings

Four Hawaiian institutions are conducting a series of public information meetings to discuss proposed changes to the State Water Code, and their impact on public and Native Hawaiian water rights. The public is invited to these panel format meetings prior to scheduled legislative public hearings this month on the neighbor islands. No pre-session legislative hearings are scheduled for O'ahu, but written testimony will be received by Sen. Randy Iwase, chair of the Senate Committee on Planning Land and Water Use Management and Rep. Dwight Takamine, chair of House Committee on Water and Land Use Planning.

An information meeting in Waimanalo is scheduled for November 18 from 9 am to 12 noon, at Pope Elementary School. The information meeting is sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (594-1888), the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (586-3800), the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council (523-1445), and the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (521-2302). n

O'ahu Speaks

Oceanic Cable has begun a new pre-set automated production service that requires no training or experience of participants. It's like a video "letter to the editor." All that is needed is to prepare a message, schedule a half-hour session, and record the message. O'ahu Speaks will be shown on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm and Sunday at 1 pm. For more information call 834-0007, extension 122.