Latest news with #Hula
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
3 elephants, including mother & calf, killed by train while being driven away by hula party in Bengal's Jhargram
Three elephants — including a mother and her calf — were killed after being hit by a train in West Bengal's Jhargram district early Friday while a state forest department-backed Hula party was attempting to drive the herd out of a human settlement. The incident occurred near Banstala railway station under the Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railways, around 14 km from Jhargram town, when the herd was crossing the tracks. The Kharagpur-bound Janshatabdi Express hit the animals around 1.45 am. State Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda told The Indian Express, 'It is an extremely sad incident. Personally too, I am very upset. A mother elephant, a calf, and another adult elephant died after being hit by the train. I will visit the spot shortly.' Hansda added that the Railways had been informed hours earlier of an elephant drive in the area. 'At around 11 pm, we alerted the Railways…. despite this, the incident occurred. We have ordered a probe. Unlike in North Bengal, where speed restrictions are in place in elephant corridors as per Supreme Court orders, there are no such rules in South Bengal,' she said. Forest officials later removed the carcasses and cleared the area. The hula party — a group of local youth hired by the state government to drive away elephants that stray into villages and farmlands — had been driving the herd through the area late at night when the animals crossed the railway tracks. Suvrajyoti Chatterjee, secretary of the Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL), an NGO working on reducing human-animal conflict in Bengal, said: 'It is now evident that a more pragmatic, science-backed, and robust conflict management strategy is urgently required.' 'The solution to the complex issue of man-elephant conflict must involve inclusive decision-making, with active participation from all stakeholders including the Forest Department, local communities, independent wildlife experts, railway authorities, civil society, and conservation organizations,' Chatterjee said. In August last year, a pregnant elephant that had strayed into Jhargram town died after it was allegedly attacked with a burning spear by a hula party. In February this year, an elephant was severely injured after villagers in Jalpaiguri chased it with an earthmover. In June, forest officials had launched a probe after fireballs were allegedly hurled at a herd in Jhargram, one of which struck a calf. Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business Insider
I've been to Hawaii several times. Here are the best things I did for free on my recent trip.
I learned the living art of hula for free. The Royal Hawaiian Center is a luxury shopping destination that offers complimentary Hawaiian cultural experiences, like hula lessons, every day of the week. The classes are first-come, first-served, so I arrived a bit early. Even 15 minutes before my lesson started, there was already a crowd of students eager to learn how to hula. I learned about the significance behind the hand formations of this storytelling art as I swayed my hips in the cool ocean breeze. If you're lucky, your lesson will be taught by renowned Hula dancer Puakeala Mann, who shares with students the history of hula while teaching them basic hand gestures and footwork. I went on a stunning waterfall hike. I fondly remember hiking to Manoa Falls with my family as a child. I was eager to set out on the moderate trail again and was delighted that it was free to visit. I went on a leisurely stroll through the lush jungle full of fragrant flowers and dense tropical vegetation, which brought me to a 150-foot cascade. Nearby is the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, which features 6,000 tropical and subtropical plants and is also free to visit. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the arboretum does Beaches are free here, but visiting them still feels like a luxury. All beaches in Hawaii are public and free. No trip to Oahu is complete without spending a few hours in the sunshine at Waikiki Beach. I spent a day strolling down the iconic boardwalk, where you can snap a photo in front of the bronze Duke Kahanamoku Statue for a meaningful free keepsake. Kahanamoku was an Olympian surfer known for spreading the spirit of Aloha globally, and I loved checking out the larger-than-life statue of him on the boardwalk near Kuhio Beach. It's easy to spend a whole day here without spending tons of cash. You can go down to the beach to watch surfers catch waves or take a dip in the crystalline waters. Right nearby, you can also visit the astonishing Diamond Head crater for $5. The entry fee is well worth it, in my opinion. I also visited less-crowded beaches that were just as beautiful, such as Queens Beach and Kaimana Beach. Hiking the Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail brought me to one of the most gorgeous views I've ever seen. The Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail is a free, moderate, 2-mile round-trip hike. It offers stunning views of the southeastern coastline, including Koko Head, Koko Crater, and the trail's namesake — the historic Makapuu Lighthouse, built in 1909. During the whale season from November to May, the trail is one of the best places to see humpback whales. Although I didn't see any on my recent trip, I have treasured childhood memories of watching the whales here during past visits. I learned how to make a fresh flower lei for free. The Royal Hawaiian Center also offers free classes on how to make your own flower lei. Classes are held on a first-come, first-served basis and can fill up fast, so it's best to arrive at least 30 minutes early. As I learned how to delicately thread local orchids into a lei, the guide taught us about the cultural significance of lei. We also learned the meaning and pronunciation of some Hawaiian words. I left with a stronger understanding of Hawaiian culture and a gorgeous keepsake that I kept refrigerated so I could wear it for a few days.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Kamokunani Hula Hālau founder shares Aloha spirit via dance
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Johnette Kamokunani Palumbo uses Polynesian dance to make people feel like ohana or family. 'Because it is my culture, I'm very proud. And what I love about it is I'm able to share with everyone,' she said. Palumbo is the founder of Kamokunani Hula Hālau which stands for Kamokunani's dance school. She offers Polynesian dance classes from Hawai'i, Tahiti and more. 'We do Māori, which is New Zealand as well. So Māori, Tahitian, Cook Island and Hawaii, which also we do modern and Kahiko, which are the ancient dances as well,' she said. Palumbo was born in Hawai'i the same year it became the 50th state of the United she was six, Palumbo's family came to the continental U.S. when they moved to then visited Hawai'i every other year, keeping her connected to her Polynesian heritage. 'And because my mom started me at age four back then it was great. As I was going into my teenage years I was like really I gotta go to Hawai'i again,' Palumbo said. 'I didn't appreciate it until I was older of course. Then I was able to realize that I wanted to do this for most of my life and share it with others.' Palumbo opened her dance school in 2008. There was a period of a six-year sabbatical but she came back in 2023. From Palumbo's mom to her grandchildren, hula is an important part of their heritage. 'When my mom does come down, we do have a four-generational dance. And it's fabulous. She's 93 years old,' she said. 'What's amazing is after all the show everybody's crying seeing my mom dance. She's old hula. Where old hula is this and new hula is this, very soft.' Palumbo said her students become ohana. She wants everyone to take a class to experience the ohana and aloha spirits. 'As you can see we have very mixed nationalities. And I want all nationalities to come and try it,' she said. 'Because it's fun and we love each other and we give to each other and we give the Aloha spirit to one another.' To find a class for you at Kamokunani Hula Hālau click here. See how Breanna Rittman did taking a dance class here: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Lebanon says 9 wounded in Israeli strike
BEIRUT: Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on Tuesday wounded nine people in the country's south, the latest attack despite a ceasefire between Israel and militant group latest reported strike, which the Israeli military did not immediately comment on, came a day after Israel said it had killed a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in the border area of Lebanese health ministry on Tuesday said that an 'Israeli enemy drone' hit a motorcycle in the coastal Tyre people were wounded in the attack including three in 'critical condition,' the ministry said, adding that two children were among the has continued to launch strikes on its northern neighbor despite the November truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah including two months of full-blown the terms of the ceasefire deal, only UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army should be deployed in southern Lebanon, though Israel has retained its forces in five areas it has declared has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks and withdraw all its troops.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SPS kicks off MVP campaign nominating favorite educators and employees, funds will support special education students
The Stillwater Public Education Foundation launched the '2025 Most Valuable Pioneer Campaign' to honor Stillwater Public Schools teachers and staff and support students with special needs, according to an SPS news release Thursday. Funds will directly support the SPS' Special Services program, 'ensuring that all students at Stillwater Public Schools receive the care and attention they deserve,' according to the release. The initiative is sponsored by Oklahoma Community Credit Union, and anyone in the district or in the community may nominate any SPS teacher or employee 'who has made a lasting impact in the classroom and beyond.' Nominations are open now and will run through April 25. To nominate a favorite SPS teacher or employee as MVP, donors may visit and select a nominee. Nominations cost $25, or $100 for five nominees. The SPEF Allocation Committee will select MVP winners, who will be awarded at the districtwide Teacher of the Year celebration on Friday, May 2. 'Stillwater Public Schools take great pride in offering top-notch special education services to children ages three through (22),' said Austin Hula, SPS assistant special services director, in a statement. 'The history of excellent education for all students, including those with disabilities runs deep in our district.' But the cost of providing these services 'continues to increase at an alarming rate,' he said. The equipment required for students with unique medical and/or physical limitations is expensive, and the district purchases all necessary equipment, regardless of the cost, as needed for students to learn and grow. 'One piece of equipment can easily cost in excess of $5,000, and sometimes must be updated due to growing bodies,' Hula said. 'Along with an increase in operational cost, the number of certified special education teachers is decreasing across the state.' To better support the current SPS staff, as well as supporting new staff in the district, Hula said SPS is expanding its mentorship program. 'These mentors are able to work beside our certified special education staff, providing assistance with instructional delivery, classroom management, and the legal documentation that is required in special education,' Hula said. 'These mentors are a pivotal component in the success of our certified special education staff, and we are excited to grow in this area.' Special education is partly funded through the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Hula said, but the funds from IDEA cover less than 20% of the cost for the district. The remaining cost is covered by the district's General Fund. 'Our partnership with SPEF is such an important one,' Hula said. 'We deeply appreciate any and all financial assistance we can receive to help us continue to provide the best possible education to our most vulnerable student population.' SPEF Executive Director Emily Lewis said the MVP campaign provides an opportunity for the community to celebrate teachers while making a difference for students with the most needs. 'We hope that this campaign will not only highlight the incredible work of Stillwater teachers and staff but also provide essential funding to Special Services programs that help our students thrive,' Lewis said in a statement. Lewis thanked SPEF's title sponsor, Oklahoma Community Credit Union, presenting sponsor, Mayes Contracting and community sponsors C-Star Property Management, Central Rural Electric Cooperative and Lucas Grounds – State Farm for their support. 'They make this program possible,' Lewis said. To find more information about the campaign, visit
