Three Hawaii residents who returned from the Mainland to the islands got infected with swine flu, but have since then recovered. The male Army soldier had symptoms after a trip to Texas. His wife, a civilian, also developed symptoms. The third victim is a school-age child, who came down with swine flu after a trip to California. All three have recovered and there are no new swine flu cases in Hawaii at this time. The state of Hawaii continues to monitor the situation. In Mexico in April this year, a never-before heard strain of swine flu emerge, turning ill more than a thousand Mexicans and causing the death of 68. Swine flu has spread to other parts of the world such as the US and New Zealand... [Read more]

When one thinks of the dangers of surfing, things like sharks, sharp coral reefs, high waves and strong currents come to mind. But who knew that surfing on even a calm day on a harmless beach could be dangerous? A recent newspaper article about a young man who became paralyzed after taking his first surf lesson on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, caught my attention. Even though only a small number of beginning surfers are afflicted by this largely unknown and completely preventable condition called surfer’s myelopathy, it is scary and devastating for those who suffer from it. Surfer’s myelopathy is a nontraumatic spine injury. It usually affects beginning surfers who arch their back too often or too... [Read more]