Here's to Health!

On Monday, Reps. Marcus Oshiro and John Mizuno were each presented with a Kulia Award from the Hawaii Primary Care Association for their work towards promoting better healthcare for the people of Hawaii.

Rep. Oshiro, Chair of the House Finance Committee, was recognized for his work on community health issues by "not only understanding rural hospitals but also supporting critical healthcare financing issues for community health centers." As Finance chair, Rep. Oshiro provided grant-in-aid support for HPCA's Medicine Bank Program and for numerous individual health center initiatives.

Rep. John Mizuno, a freshman legislator who serves as Vice Chair of the House Health Committee, won the Kulia Award for being a "champion of the most vulnerable, including abandoned infants, uninsured children, and the needs of communities served by health centers." Last session, Rep. Mizuno co-introduced legislation to provide universal healthcare for all of Hawaii's children. He also serves as co-chair of both the Kupuna and Keiki caucuses.

Kulia Awards were also presented to Senate Health Committee Chair David Ige and Star Bulletin Health reporter Helen Altonn, who has been with the Bulletin for over 50 years.