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Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 6, 2019

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La Réunion National Park in the Indian Ocean is a sister park to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Students and educators
 from Réunion will make a presentation to the community next Monday at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center.
Photo from La Réunion National Park
THE ISLAND OF LA RÉUNION, REPRESENTED BY STUDENTS -- who flew 27 hours to reach their sister, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park this week -- will offer a presentation on Monday, March 11 at a special 7 p.m. After Dark in the Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center.
     Réunion National Park comprises 40 percent of volcanic La Réunion Island in the Southern Hemisphere,north of Madagascar and east of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Réunion, a department (region) of France, and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites. They became sister parks in 2015. "The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats," said a statement from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. La Réunion has only been settled by humans for some 300 years. The ethnicity of its people is largely French, African, Indian, and Chinese.

Students from La Réunion Island and their mentors, hosted by Pāhala
 Plantation Cottages and Kīlauea Military Camp. They will give a
 presentation on Monday at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Photo by Julia Neal
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OCEAN VIEW HAD A BLAST as the start of work on the first stage of the long-awaited transfer station began Monday. Dynamite exploded as a prelude to big earth-moving operations that will result in the widening of the highway, part of the first stage of preparing for the transfer station.
     Greg Goodale, the head of the County's Solid Waste Division, told The Kaʻū Calendar that James W. Glover, Ltd. won the contract to widen the highway and install an extra lane, termed an "acceleration/deceleration lane," or "pocket lane," to enable motorists to get out of traffic while waiting to turn into the transfer station.

     Glover will pave the exit from the highway, but the driving surface on the site will be gravel. A temporary transfer station, covering about an acre and designed to be used once a week, will also be built as part of Phase One of the project, according to Goodale. The temporary transfer station will include a large concrete pad for parking the garbage dumpsters and trucks, similar to the pad at the present temporary transfer station.

     Phase Two calls for the permanent transfer station built to a new design. Goodale said the original design drawn up in 2008 will not be used as allocated funds will no longer cover it. In 2011, $3 million was appropriated by the county for the construction of a permanent transfer station in Ocean View. The county plans to build a facility similar to the ones at Volcano and Glenwood, which include the collection of mixed waste, and green waste disposal.
     Said Goodale, "The contract with Glover is just over $2 million. We are looking at having just over $1 million for Phase Two."
     A permanent transfer station was first promised to Ocean View in 2007 after an 11-member task force selected a 21-acre lot for the site. The site, makai of the highway and opposite the Iolani Blvd.junction, was presented to the community at a public meeting on April 6, 2007, and was adopted.  Plans were drawn up and an Environmental Impact Statement was completed in April 2008.

How many trucks does it take to collect garbage in Ocean View? The scene at the temporary transfer station, in operation
since 2010, shows a green van on the left waiting for trash to be moved from the dumpster mounted on the truck to the
right to the larger bin on the left by a claw mounted on the middle truck. Photo by Annie Bosted
     At that time is was estimated the facility would be operational in 2009. However, in 2010, the county took over a lot on Paradise Circlethat was allocated by planners for recreational use, as the site for a temporary transfer station.

     In 2015, Goodale wrote to Kaʻū County Council member Maile David to say that plans to build a permanent transfer station on the 21-acre site were to be scrapped and the site of the temporary transfer station would become Ocean View's permanent transfer station. Residents were dismayed when David broke this news in response to a question at a community meeting.  

     Residents called another meeting in October, 2016, to hash out this issue with David, Goodale, and Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, who, at that time, was the Environmental Management Director in Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration. Goodale floated the idea of building a permanent transfer station on the Paradise Circle site. It was volubly rejected due to extra wear and tear on the private roads, and because the site borders the county's KahukuPark where playing fields, a pavilion, and a keiki playground are established.

A five-man volunteer clean-up crew poses behind some illegally dumped 
trash they recovered from a puka in Ocean View last month; see Feb. 22 
Kaʻū News Briefs. A comparable pile was also created between the two white 
trucks in the photo. From left: Peter Bosted, Steve Lewis, Tomislav Gracanin, 
Ric Elhard, and Berson Jitiam. Photo by Annie Bosted

     Leithead-Todd promised residents that within a year, the temporary transfer station would be moved from its present location to the 21-acre lot, where it would take up one acre. It would be open on Saturdays until the permanent transfer station could be built on nine of the acres. The permanent facility would be open for three days a week. The remainder of the 21-acre lot would be used as a buffer around the facility. Residents at the meeting were also told that the Waiʻōhinu transfer station had been damaged by a fire and that it would need urgent repairs. To date, the repairs have not been made.
     In February, 2018, a storm further damaged the dumping area, causing more problems for the county and slowing down the garbage collection process in Ocean View. The weakened platform at Waiʻōhinu meant that dumpsters loaded with trash collected in Ocean View could not be driven onto the platform, so trash could not be tipped into the larger bins for hauling to the dump. Instead, the county sent a vehicle with a large claw on a crane to the temporary transfer station in Ocean View. They also sent a large garbage truck and a larger bin. The solution was to use the claw to move garbage from the smaller bin to the larger bin. The extra staff and equipment needed increased the County's weekly cost of collecting garbage in Ocean View.  

     Recently, employees at Ocean View's temporary transfer station noted  that simultaneous dumping and transferring of bagged trash is "dangerous" and instituted a "one at a time" rule. Residents can dump for a short time, but then must wait in lines while that garbage is slowly transferred from the small bin to a larger bin. Then, the expensive equipment and claw operator sit idle while the residents dump their bagged garbage in the smaller bin before the 10-minute cycle is repeated.

     At times 20 cars and trucks are held up while the cumbersome equipment is in operation. Often, the bins are full before the scheduled closing time, so residents wanting to drop off their trash after are turned away. The accumulated down time and shorter hours have meant less efficient collecting of bagged garbage in a town with a growing waste disposal need.  
Rep. Richard Creagan supports truth in labeling of Kaʻū
and other regional coffees. Photo from Creagan's Facebook
     Goodale told The Kaʻū Calendar that the current time-consuming method of garbage collection would continue at the new temporary transfer station until the facility in Waiʻōhinu is repaired. He expects that work on that to begin in late April or early May.


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THE BILL REQUIRING TRUTH IN LABELING FOR KAʻŪ  and other regional coffee brands in Hawaiʻi moved from the state Senate to the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 144, cosponsored by west Kaʻū's Rep. Richard Creagan, would require coffee labeled Kaʻū or other regional brands to be comprised of at least 51 percent of the coffee it claims to be. The current requirement is a minimum of ten percent.

     The rule would be administered by the state Department of Agriculture and require labeling all ingredients by weight and stating origin of all coffees in the blend. It would apply to Kaʻū, Kona, and other Hawaiʻi brands.

    Creagan chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, and was joined by  the Hawaiʻi Coffee Farmers Association to support tightening of labeling restrictions. He noted that local coffee has no strong protection of its brand name. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development noted the lack of protection in a recent study.

     For more than two decades, those who blend and call it local coffee have argued that pure local coffee is too expensive for many people buying from local outlets and from afar. State Rep. Bob McDermott voted against the bill to require 51 percent to call it Ka`u, Kona and other Hawai`i regional brands. He called the blending labeling argument a "turf war," and aid the law would be useless when coffee is sold out of state.

Labels like this will no longer
be acceptable if HB144 passes.
     Those who testified in favor of the bill include Hawaiʻi County Council member Rebecca Villegas, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Kuaiwi Farm, Hala Tree Coffee, Kanalani ʻOhana Farm, Origin Coffee Roasters, Lokoea Farms, Sugai Kona Coffee, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau Federation – Kona County Chapter, Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety, Hawaiʻi SEED, and numerous individuals.

     Vincent Mina of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United wrote: "The opponents of this legislation are those 'downstream stakeholders,' who the United Nations says 'reap the economic benefits' of 10% blended coffee. They have testified that 'no one can accurately predict' the economic effect of requiring Hawaiʻi's Origin coffee blends to contain 51% Kona, Kaʻū, Hamakua, Maui, or Kauaʻi coffee. We can predict however, that Hawaiʻi Origin coffee blends will no longer be deceptively marketed. We can also predict that 51% coffee blends will still be less expensive than 100%-- only now their cost will be linked to the fair value of Hawaiʻi's Origin coffees."

     Those who testified against the bill include Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association, Hawaiʻi Coffee Company, and the Kona Coffee Council.
     Eric Stoddard of Hawaiʻi Coffee Company wrote: "Hawaiʻi Coffee Company employs approximately 125 people in the state. Our business is coffee - Lion Coffee, Royal Kona Coffee, Koa Coffee, additional private label blends for local retailers and tea. There are other coffee companies of our size within the state as well. Enacting a 51% Kona Coffee blend requirement for Kona Blend coffees would in all likelihood put most, if not all, of HCC employees out of work as well as employees at the other similar size coffee manufacturing companies in the state. There's simply not enough Kona coffee to support."


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RESTORING NET NEUTRALITY is the focus of Sen. Mazie Hirono in a letter to her supporters today: "You may remember in 2017 when the Trump Administration rolled back net neutrality protections that prevented internet service providers from blocking content or charging more for faster internet speeds. Today, I'm joining a bipartisan group of Senators cosponsoring a resolution to restore net neutrality in an effort to maintain a free and open internet for every American."
     Said Hirono, "Restoring net neutrality protections is about more than just what shows you can watch on Netflix and Hulu. Our society and economy depend on the internet in countless ways, and people depend on it for accessing important information in times of need. Last year, residents throughout Hawaiʻi relied on the internet to access lifesaving information and communicate with loved ones during a series of devastating natural disasters.


Image from theracquet.com
     "Under Trump's FCC, the undoing of net neutrality protections has allowed large corporations focused on maximizing profits to control what information we can access and how quickly we can access it -- plus, it opens the door for them to charge consumers more for 'fast lanes.' That's not right.


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NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAIʻI FROM 6.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE this morning, with an epicenter south of the Kermadic Islandsin the South Pacific, about 500 miles northeast of New Zealand.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Softball:
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, , @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 9, , @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea

NEW and UPCOMING
KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS A ST. PATRICK'S DAY RAINBOW ARTS AND CRAFT ACTIVITY, for keiki 5 to 12 years old, on Wednesday, Mar. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room. Registration began Monday, Mar. 4. Free.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS 2ND CHANCE PROM, for adults, on Saturday, Mar. 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Register through Wednesday, Mar. 20. Attendance fee is $25 per person.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7
Women's Support Group, Thursday, March 7 – 1st Thursday monthly – , PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org


All Ages Game Nite, Thursday, March 7, , Ka‘ū District Gym. Register through March 5. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, March 7, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner, Friday, March 8, doors open at , dinner served , St. Jude's Episcopal Church. $8/single meal, $15/couple, $20/family. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org


Community Dance, Friday, March 8, Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, March 9, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org


The Business of Art, Saturday, March 9, Volcano Art Center. Intensive training for artists who want to grow their business, led by Ira Ono. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, March 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.orgfacebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii


Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Saturday, March 9, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Saturday, March 9, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527


TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 7, 2019

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Invasive Fire Trees, Morela faya, were surveyed by helicopter today in the upper region of the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. See the schedule, below, for more air activity in the park. Photo from Forest and Kim Starr
LEAD AND CHLORDANE are contained and removed from soil at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, according to the state Department of Education. Lead has also been removed and contained at Nāʻālehu Elementary.
     Highly contaminated areas at each school were addressed with containment measures, ranging from removal of affected soil and either replacement with clean soil, ground cover, or pavers, to restricting access to affected areas.
Chlordane was banned in 1988 but has
lasted in some soils on the school campus in
Pāhala where it was recently removed and
contained, along with lead. Those who
stored it after it was banned are urged to 
dispose it to prevent future contamination.
     DOE and the state Department of Health completed soil studies at 23 east Hawaiʻi schools. Lead, chlordane, and/or arsenic were discovered in the soils of 18 schools. DOE states the information is being shared "out of an abundance of caution," that exposure to these contaminants is preventable, and that contamination of this kind can "persist around any older home or building."
     Banned chemicals, like arsenic-containing pesticides and chlordane termite treatment, stored in garages and other buildings in the community, can be disposed at the Kailua-Kona Transfer Station at 74-611 Hale Makai Pl. from 7:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and at Hilo Transfer Station on Saturday, June 15 at 1471 Hoʻolaulima St. from, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
     An information sheet from DOH about the contamination on school grounds states the chemicals found were mostly in narrow three- to four-foot-wide strips around buildings. Lead contamination is thought to be due to use of lead paints prior to 1978, arsenic due to pesticide use in the 1910s through the 1940s, and chlordane due to termite control measure in the 1940s through the 1980s.
     The sheet explains ways to limit effects of possible exposure to contaminants include washing hands after outdoor activities, washing soil-grown food well, and cleaning up tracked-in dirt.
    Parents concerned about exposure are encouraged to contact the 24-7 Hawaiʻi Poison Control Hotline at 800-222-1222 or their child's physician. Questions or concerns about a specific school can be directed to the school's administration staff.

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A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING FOR PĀHALA, the first in many years, will be held next Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House. The new Community Police Officer for Kaʻū, Shawn Ibarra, said he hopes the community will join in the effort. He plans meetings monthly at either Pāhala Community Center or the activity room at Kaʻū District gym.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

FLIGHT PLANS FOR HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK are set for March: In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation. The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors, says a statement from Hawai`i Volcanoes. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather. Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.

   • Today, March 7, between and , a helicopter departed from the rainshed at Kīlaueasummit for invasive faya tree surveys in upper Kahuku mauka and east units, above 5,000-ft. elevation. 

   • March 12 and 13, between 7 a.m. and noon, to fly supplies and crews for petrel monitoring between Mauna Loa at about 9,000-ft. elevation and the rainshed at Kīlauea summit. The faya, also called the Fire Tree 

   • March 19, between and , for fountain grass survey and control in the Ka‘ū desert between sea level and 3,000-ft. elevation.  

   • March 19, between and , to transport fence material to Kapāpala boundary nēnē pen.
   • March 20, between and , to transport fence material to the Ka‘ū desert boundary between sea level and 3,000-ft. elevation.  


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WHY LAVA FLOW THICKNESS MATTERS is one subject of today's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     How is lava flow thickness measured and why does it matter?

     Eruption rate (how much lava comes out of the ground per unit time) is probably the best measure of volcanic activity, and the first step in that calculation is to measure lava flow thickness and area.

Lava flowing down streets in Leilani Estates during 2018's eruption.
USGS photo
     During the first few years of Kīlauea Volcano's Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption, episodic high lava fountains produced multiple lava flows. After each event, HVO scientists measured thicknesses using hand levels at multiple locations along the edges of each lava flow.

     The flow volume was then calculated as the product of the flow area multiplied by the average flow thickness. The eruption rate equaled this volume divided by the duration of the eruption in seconds.

     For the first year of Puʻu ʻŌʻō activity, calculated eruption rates were 15-65 cubic meters (4,000-17,000 gallons) per second.

     But this method didn’t capture all the variations of lava flow thicknesses across flows. For example, many ʻaʻā flows, like Kīlauea's fissure 8 lava flow in 2018, host an empty lava channel. If we assumed that the flow was uniformly as thick as the height of its edges, we would overestimate the lava flow volume as well as the eruption rate.

     It gets better.

     In 1993, scientists used an airborne radar flown over Kīlauea at an altitude of just under 8 km (26,000 ft). The radar could image a lava flow with accuracies of 1-2 m (1-2 yds) and determine thousands of surface elevations for each lava flow, not just a few thicknesses along its edge. Flow volumes calculated this way (pre-eruption elevations of the ground surface subtracted from the 1993 elevations of a lava flow) were slightly higher than those calculated with the simpler method of measuring thicknesses along flow edges.

     The eruption rates calculated for the continuous lava eruption after 1986 were much lower than for the episodic high fountaining phase -- 3-5 cubic meters (800-1,300 gallons) per second.

 A river of lava flowing from fissures during 2018's eruption. USGS photo
     The next improvement in measuring flow thickness was the development and use of Light Detection and Ranging (lidar). Specialized equipment was flown over an area by airplane or helicopter, from which billions of laser pulses showered down to the ground. This produced details on lava flow surface elevations accurate to a few centimeters (an inch or less).

     Over the last few years, similar results have been obtained by geologists in helicopters snapping overlapping digital photos of the ground, each tagged with the camera's GPS coordinates. Computer software, using the "Surface-from-Motion" (SfM) technique, can automatically identify common locations in adjacent photos and assemble a 3-dimensional image of ground elevations from hundreds of photos. A bonus is that the photos can be stitched together to produce a single, high-resolution, photo mosaic map of the area.

     During Kīlauea's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, cameras on Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) did the photography. Using about 2,800 aerial photographs, the SfM software calculated 1.5 billion common points that were connected to create a centimeter-scale digital elevation model of the Puna lava flow. A pre-eruption lidar digital elevation model was subtracted from the drone SfM digital elevation model of the erupted flows to produce a lava flow thickness map. A preliminary version of this map was posted on the HVO website on February 19.
This preliminary thickness map of Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flows was calculated by 
subtracting pre-eruption ground surface elevations from post-eruption ground surface elevations mapped with 
USGS Unmanned Aerial System (drone) flights. The drones acquired 2,800 aerial photos from which 1.5 billion 
common points were automatically selected by Surface-from-Motion software. It is still preliminary because 
additional ground control points are needed to finalize the map. USGS map
     The posted map is preliminary for two reasons: 1) It is missing coverage of some earlier lava flows to the south, and 2) we need more carefully surveyed ground control points to match the areas unaffected by the 2018 lava flows in the pre- and post-eruption elevation models.

     Using the preliminary map, we can calculate a rough estimate of the total volume of lava erupted and added to the land surface -- about 0.8 cubic kilometers (over a million cubic yards). When corrected for voids in the lava and divided by the duration of the eruption, this yields a minimum eruption rate of about 50-200 cubic meters (13,000-53,000 gallons) per second. This eruption rate is significantly larger than most, if not all, known Kīlaueaeruption rates.

     Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption was a truly remarkable, but very destructive, event that has prompted much discussion and rethinking in various fields, from volcanology to emergency management and land use planning. HVO scientists will be working to better understand the eruption and its significance for years to come.
     One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred in Kaʻū during the past week: a magnitude-2.6 quake 11 km (7 mi) southeast of Leilani Estates at 6 km (4 mi) depth on March 3 at 8:50 a.m.


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TALES OF FORGIVENESS – THE THREE MONKS will be told at VolcanoArtCenteron Thursday, April 11 from to $10 VAC Members, $15 general. Jeff Gere opens with a long local tale of Forgiveness (a true supernatural tale): a Hawaiian Family begs a stone to forgive them. Then Gere performs the Tale of the Three Monks as "live narrative amid a unique video of collage illustrations and musical bed. A discussion ends the evening." This is not a show for children, states the event description, as it contains sexual references, violence, Buddhist thought, and supernatural events.

     Says Gere on the Tale of the Three Monks: "This 'new show' is thrilling, scaring & daring me to create something wonderful: I'm putting myself into a movie - I've created supporting images & sound - and live, in the middle of it, I tell three sad tragic love stories, The Three Monks.
     "Three monks meet on a forlorn mountain trail. One face shows the refinements of court life. Another wears battle scars. The third face is round and soft. Their tragic tales reveal that each man's fate is entwined with the others. Their thrilling adventures, worldly wisdom, and exquisitely sad beauty has inspired tears.

Watch Jeff Gere, storyteller, April 11 at Volcano Art Center.
Photo from Jeff Gere
     "I read this Japanese tale in college 40 years ago, a collection authored by Donald Keene. It did not include the 3rd monk's tale. Then, in Thailandin 2015, a Vietnamese teller remarked how his traditional tales are so sad! Right then, the 3rd tale fell into place: a Vietnamese folktale I read as a picture book years ago. I don't question these things. I told them with masks at Honolulu's SpaldingHouseMuseumin 2016. People wept. Oh, my fascination with the powerful emotional effects of tragic tales increased. I've been collecting images & plotting this theatrical storytelling show since.

     "I told these tales at the Hawaiʻi Book & Music Fest in 2017, as the second half of a solo show for Hawaiʻi Public Radio in June 2018, and this audio/video version premiered at the Oʻahu Fringe in January. How exciting & scary to be so consumed with a tale!... or three -- with composed & coordinated visual & audio technology! I'm still not sure why such tragic tales of love 'work' on me & my audiences. But they do."


Masks Jeff Gere uses as part of his performances.
Photo from Jeff Gere
     Gere blends talents as painter, puppeteer, and mime into performances which have electrified audiences in Hawaiʻi for 25 years. Gere's physical energy, morphing elastic face, and voice characterizations make his shows events; he becomes his stories. Born on Halloween, Gere performs constantly. He produced the Talk Story Festival, Hawaiʻi's biggest storytelling celebration, 26 years; Story TV, monthly, 23 years; Talk Story Radio, 2 years, weekly shows; story camps; and conferences. He taught Storytelling at UH Manoa in the Spring of 2017. He performed at the National Storytelling Festival in 2010, with a Residency in 2013, and in Spain, Hong Kong, Turkey, Vancouver, and the Yukon. Gere retired from Oʻahu Parks Departmentin 2014, and began international tours to Thailand, China, Japan, Australia, and twice to India, Romania, and Taiwan, with Kenya planned for June. Find him at jeffgere.comand on YouTube.


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SPIN ON DOWN THE ROAD, the 33rd annual Special Parent Information Network Conference, geared toward parents and families of, and professionals who work with, children with disabilities, happens April 13 at UH-Mānoa campus on Oʻahu. The conference offers opportunities for learning about supports and evidence-based practices and networking with other parents and professionals across the state.
     SPIN is co-sponsored by the Department of Education and the Disability Communication Access Board. The mission is to provide parents of children with disabilities, and the professionals who serve them, with timely and useful information about the special education process, parenting a child with special needs, specific disabilities, special events, and community resources.
     Last year's SPIN Conference workshops drew over 150 professionals in the field of disabilities in addition to families from across the state. Over sixty agency tables, offering valuable information on a wide range of resources for keiki birth to young adulthood, are expected to be on hand this year.
     See spinhawaii.org, call 808-586-8126, or email spin@doh.hawaii.gov for more.


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KAʻŪ TROJANS HOSTED KONAWAENA for a softball game Tuesday, March 5. Final score was Kaʻū 1, Kona 18, with the home team up against a much larger school. See more Spring sports events scheduled, below.


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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Softball:
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, , @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 9, , @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

NEW and UPCOMING
PARKS AND RECREATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS FOR KEIKI, 14 years old and younger, are underway at Nā‘ālehu Community Center courts, through Mar. 27. Registration is ongoing.
     For keiki ages 10 and under, the program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For keiki ages 14 and under, the program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Richard Karasuda at 939-2510. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours and address.

PARKS AND RECREATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS FOR KEIKI, 14 years old and younger, are underway at Nā‘ālehu Community Center courts, through Mar. 27. Registration is ongoing.
     For keiki ages 10 and under, the program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For keiki ages 14 and under, the program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Richard Karasuda at 939-2510. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours and address.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner, Friday, March 8, doors open at , dinner served , St. Jude's Episcopal Church. $8/single meal, $15/couple, $20/family. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org


Community Dance, Friday, March 8, Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, March 9, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org


The Business of Art, Saturday, March 9, Volcano Art Center. Intensive training for artists who want to grow their business, led by Ira Ono. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, March 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.orgfacebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii


Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Saturday, March 9, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Saturday, March 9, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527



La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.


TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222



 Next Tuesday's After Dark in the Park offers a virtual visit to Pahu manamana o ʻUmi, an ancient Hawaiian  stellar instrument on Mauna Loa. The event is at  7  p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center. Photo by Kalie Nuʻuhiwa
After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 8, 2019

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John Replogle, Kaʻū's Planning Commissioner, moved that the Special Management Permit for the water
bottling plant be denied. He noted public opposition to the project, holding up many pages of testimony.
Photo from Big Island Video News
KAʻŪ'S PLANNING COMMISSIONER JOHN REPLOGLE joined public opposition against a proposed water bottling plant in Hilo, adjacent to the Wailoa State Recreation Area. On Thursday, Replogle moved that the Windward Planning Commission kill the request for a Special Management Area permit for the Piʻilani Partners water bottling plant. Commissioners voted five to one to deny the SMA. The developers may appeal the decision.

     Replogle said, "Giving private business access to our water, so they can enrich themselves, is not reasonable or beneficial use to our natural resource or to our people. I see nothing in the application that is in the public trust or interest." Replogle contended that drilling into the aquifer would introduce risks to the water supply. He also noted that worldwide there is "a scrambling by corporate business and wealthy individuals to grab up and control all remaining natural resources at the expensive of people who live in the region." He pointed to opposition in the community.
     Twenty six people testified. All of those not representing the developers spoke against the water bottling plant. Most objected to the use of plastic bottles, and opposed extracting a water resource, held in trust by the state and county, in order to sell it as a commodity.

Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian said the water bottling plant was "about raping
and pillaging of one of the last virgin natural resources we have left."
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian asked the commission to "stop this project in its tracts immediately." She said Pi'ilani is "about raping and pillaging of one of the last virgin natural resources we have left." She called the proposal "outrageous." She said allowing such an enterprise is counter to the trend of banning various plastics in the state to save fresh and ocean water resources.

     She said Piʻilani would send out 1.2 million plastic bottles a day, "438 million plastic bottles per year originating right here in Hilo. That's what you are allowing when we want to ban this practice."

     Kalani Souza, a representative of Hawaiʻi to the NationalCenterfor Atmospheric Research, Rising Voices Indigenous Knowledge, and Modern Science effort, opposed the bottling plant from a world resources perspective. He said partners in his international group include representatives of the United Kingdom and the U.S.government's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, and FEMA.
     Souza said scientists in his group believe "we are entering the sixth great extinction moment on the planet. That's for the last 2.5 billion years - it's only the sixth time it's happening  - just to make sure that those of us who cut out of science to go surfing know what I'm talking about." He said that "less than two percent of water available in the world is fresh. Potable water, drinkable water, could be considered the most valuable necessity on the planet. I repeat, necessity. Water is not a commodity. You do not have an option. Whether you'll drink or resist drinking, time and tide, eventually you will need to drink."

Kalani Souza, of Rising Voices, called water "the most valuable necessity
 on the planet" and Mauna Kea aquifer a "treasure of the world."
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Souza said that the "untapped, untouched, hereto unviolated aquifer of Mauna Kea is "clearly one of the great treasures of the world." He called the aquifer "a living legacy we leave our children, our grandchildren, and the unborn future." He lamented that "This, our generation, has shown the propensity for greed, for indulgence, for self-consumption."

     Regarding the water bottling plant issue, Souza contended, "The act of sacrificing the potential survival of our future generations for a pittance of GE tax, in an attempt to create county based revenues, while sentencing our children to an uncertain future, by wresting from them the last great resource to feed our resorts, is the height of both political and civil irresponsibility by our elected officials and our appointed officials."

     Souza called approval of the project "reprehensible" and said it "would energize a movement to establish new leadership."

     Glen Gambla said he opposed a private entity "taking the water, benefiting. There is an outflow of water but I wouldn't see an inflow of money from a financial perspective that would directly benefit the county."

     Dwight Vicente said he represents the HawaiianKingdom. He said the water bottling plant site is on crown and government lands. He contended that water and other "resources belong to the HawaiianKingdom."
     Cory Harden, of the Sierra Club Moku Loa group, asked whether owners of the Piʻilani project are citizens of the state and pointed out that the water is held in trust for citizens of Hawaiʻi.

Cory Harden testified that the Supreme Court ruled
that water must remain in trust for the public.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Harden noted that Earth Justice, during a Kauaʻi Springs bottling plant case before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, said, "government agencies have duties under the public trust independent of permit requirements."

     She said Native Hawaiian leaders oppose Piʻilani. Harden pointed to a Public Access Shoreline Hawaiʻi decision by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, ruling that the Planning Commission "is obligated to preserve and protect Native Hawaiian rights to the extent feasible when doing SMA permits." The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court said, "No person or entity has automatic vested rights to water. Private, commercial use is not protected by the public trust. The agency must apply a presumption in favor of public use, access, enjoyment, and resource protection."

     Harden also said Earth Justice questioned Piʻilani's public benefits proposal that offers student financing to offset the taking of the water resource and other impacts.

     June Juncinto testified that the aquifer is a limited resource needed for future generations. She said "plastic pollution is at a crisis level worldwide... It's killing wildlife; it's killing us. Why contribute to the problem? Let's support more ecologically sound practices."

     Hanalei Fergestrom, representing Na Kapuna O Keawe organizations in all six districts of the island, said Na Kapuna opposes the project. He said the aquifer should be preserved for future generations and for a backup in the event of the Mauna Loaaquifer being compromised.

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A BILL TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA IN HAWAIʻI PASSED the state House of Representatives and a first reading in the Senate today. Cosponsored by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, House Bill 1383 would "Decriminalizes the possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana and establish that the possession is an infraction punishable by a monetary fine of $200. Provides for the dismissal of criminal charges, and expungement of criminal records, pertaining solely to the possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana. Establishes a marijuana evaluation task force to make recommendations on changing marijuana use penalties and outcomes in the State."

Rep. Richard Creagan
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LEGALIZING MARIJUANA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL is a goal of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who calls it "a basic question of fairness and freedom of choice for the American people. A system that puts people in prison for marijuana use, while allowing corporations like Purdue Pharma that are responsible for thousands of opioid-related deaths to walk away scot-free with their coffers full, needs to change."

     Gabbard said it is "unacceptable" that marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug in this country -- "the same as heroin and other deadly narcotics." She introduced two bills this week: Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act would take marijuana off of the federal controlled substances list, giving states the ability to set their own laws without federal interference. Marijuana Data Collection Act requires the federal government to generate one central study on the impact of state marijuana legalization policies to push back against myths and stigma that are being used as excuses to perpetuate federal prohibition.

     During a press conference this week to launch the bills, she said, "Our archaic marijuana policies — based on stigma and outdated myths — have been used to wage a failed War on Drugs. Families have been torn apart, communities left fractured, and over-criminalization and mass incarceration have become the norm. In 2017 alone, our country arrested 600,000 people just for possession of marijuana. Our bipartisan legislation takes a step toward ending the failed war on drugs, ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, and ensuring that our policies are guided by facts and the truth."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, speaking at NORML, a group dedicated
the legalizing marijuana. Photo from Gabbard's Flickr
     Said Gabbard, in a letter to her supporters: "You deserve common sense, bipartisan legislation that actually has a chance to pass in a heavily divided Congress and make real, tangible impacts on our quality of life. We need leadership that will stay focused on getting things done for the American people, instead of playing political games.

     "I didn't suddenly wake up to this issue yesterday. The truth is, I don't smoke pot and never have. I'm not here trying to look cool. I'm here to get things done for the good of the American people. I'm here to stand up for every person's freedom to make their own choices.
     "Sixty percent of voters support marijuana legalization. If members of Congress and leaders in Washington listen to the voices of the vast majority of Americans, they will hear the calls for action that go beyond partisanship. We are long overdue to bring about this kind of change. We can't afford to keep kicking this can down the road given the devastating negative impact it is having on the people of this country."

     
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A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for most of Kaʻū until Saturday, reports the National Weather Service. Sustained northeast winds could blow at 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 mph. Winds this strong can bring down small tree branches, cause localized power outages, and making driving difficult where crosswinds are encountered, the National Weather Service warned.
     Forecasters say: "A mid-level ridge will persist, keeping the inversion in place, and maintaining stable conditions. This stability will lead to an enhancement of the already sturdy trade winds, with an overnight ASCAT pass indicating sustained open- ocean winds of 25 mph or more near the islands. Interaction with island terrain and daytime mixing is expected to bring wind gusts to 50 mph and/or sustained 30 mph winds to parts of Maui county and the Big Island where terrain acceleration is maximized… Breezy trades will keep rough surf in place along east facing shores over the next couple of days, but surf should hold just below advisory levels through Saturday."



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VETERANS BENEFITS WORKSHOP, CLAIMS CLINIC, AND TOWN HALL MEETING happen in Kona at West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, tomorrow, Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. to . Veterans, their families and survivors, and any members of organizations or individuals that work of behalf of veterans are encouraged to attend.
     The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to hear feedback from customers and to make the claims process visible to veterans. The information session is for non-medical benefit questions, such as VA compensation, and vocational rehabilitation and employment. VA Benefit Counselors will be on site to answer question and assist with the claims process.
     Call Aiko Shibuya at 433-0501 with questions.

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KAʻŪ HISTORY PROJECT has a display at Pāhala Library this month, showing 75 years of graduating classes from Kaʻū 
High School. See photos from graduating classes from 1943 to 2018 and some yearbooks. The Kaʻū History Project 
is funded by The Friends of Kaʻū Libraries. Photo from The Friends of Kaʻū Libraries
Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Wed., March 6, , @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Softball:
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, , host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, , @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 9, , @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea

JUST ANNOUNCED
KE ALIʻI MAKA ʻĀINANA -- The Prince of the People – celebrates Prince Kuhio on Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kuhuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Coffee Talk.
     What is Kūhiō Day and why is it a state holiday? Prince Kūhiō was the last prince of Hawai‘i and the first titled royal in the Congress of the United States. He is well known for his efforts to preserve and strengthen the Hawaiian people. The Territorial Legislature passed a resolution in 1949 establishing March 26, his birthday, as a territorial holiday in his honor. In Hawai ͑ i, Kūhiō Day is still celebrated on March 26 as a state holiday. In respect to his memory and his accomplishments, Auntie Jessie Ke, a revered kupuna of Ka ͑ ū, will talk about the Prince, his legacy, the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka ͑ ū.
     Monthly Coffee Talk at Kahuku is an opportunity to get to know the Park and its neighbors, and join an informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka`ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance located just south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy. 11.

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UPCOMING
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, March 9, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org


The Business of Art, Saturday, March 9, Volcano Art Center. Intensive training for artists who want to grow their business, led by Ira Ono. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, March 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.orgfacebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii


Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Saturday, March 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org


MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9 a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527



A Neighborhood Watch meeting for Pāhala will be Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House at the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets. Community Police Officer for Kaʻū, Shawn Ibarra, said he plans meetings monthly at either Pāhala Community Center or the activity room at Kaʻū District gym. The public is invited to Monday's event.

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La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.



TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5 p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30 p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8-11 a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon-3 p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2-3 p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5-8 p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, March 9, 2019

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ʻŌhiʻa lowland wet forest and grasslands are preserved with conservation easements at Honuʻpo mauka.
Photo from Hawaiian Islands Land Trust
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS LAND TRUST has named Laura Kaʻakua president and CEO, with Kawika Burgess moving to the advisory board to head up the organization's development campaign.
     Hawaiian Islands Land Trust has assisted in the protection of 877 acres of grassland and ʻōhiʻa lowland wet
Laura Kaʻakaua, new president and CEO of
Hawaiian Islands Land Trust.
Photo from Hawaiian Islands Land Trust.
forest at Honuʻapo mauka, 211.11 acres of agriculture, wildlife habitat and watershed lands in Nāʻālehu, the Kipuka Mosaic forest canopy over the Taylor, Deemer, Irwin and Jackson lots and homes in Volcano to maintain bird migration corridors, and 184 oceanfront acres at Keopuka in South Kona. Statewide, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust has helped to conserve nearly 18,000 acres.
     Kaʻakua moves from nine years at Trust for Public Land, as Aloha Aina project manager. She holds a law degree William S. Richardson School of Law at University of Hawaiʻi where she has served as lecturer. She also worked as a law clerk for Judge Greg Nakamura, of the Third Circuit Court.
     Hawaiian Islands Land Trust's board chair Johnathan Scheuer said the group is "excited with the level of land conservation experience that she brings," helping to make sure special places on each island are protected for future generations."
     Kaʻakua volunteers for Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana and has served as a committee member of the Access to Justice Commission.
     Lea Hong, state director for Trust for Public Land said, "Laura has shaped and led our Aloha ʻĀina Program, collaborating with Native Hawaiian communities across Hawaiʻi nei to conserve lands that reconnect people to land and their culture. I have no doubt that HILT will benefit from her talents and wish her the best of luck."
     Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, a nonprofit formed in 2011 by the merger of four local land trusts, has conserved nearly 18,000 acres through perpetual conservation easements and fee simple ownership. Edmund C. Olson, founder of Kaʻū Coffee Mill and owner of thousands of acres in Kaʻū, was one of the founders of Hawaiian Islands Land Trust.
     See more at HawaiianIslandsLandTrust.org.

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THE AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTING TRADE DREW MILOLIʻI into statewide publicity this week as a ban on the industry makes its way through the Hawaiʻi legislature. Miloliʻi fisherman Willie Kaupiko told The Honolulu Star Advertiser,"If their kupunas was here, they would get slapped in the head." Kaupiko was referring to aquarium fish collectors, some of them from Miloliʻi.

     The story by Rob Perez quoted aquarium fish harvester Chelsey Lokalia Kuahuia Faavesi, of Miloliʻi, who said, "Fishing is not a hobby. It's our lifestyle." Faavesi told the Advertiser that she "is respectful of the resource, recites a prayer before each trip and seeks permission from the spiritual guardian of an area before she and her fellow divers start collecting... We're gatherers of the sea."
     Faavesi said she has taken a job to supplement aquarium fish collecting, a trade she shares with her father, in order to support her family, with four children. "You're not trying to stop the collecting of fish," she told the Advertiser. "To me, it's like you're trying to take away something that's my birthright. I have every right to gather from this ocean."

Yellow tang, the most collected Hawaiian fish for the aquarium trade.
NOAA photo
     Kaupiko told the Advertiser, "This is all my garden... I'm in the water. How do you say the fishery is sustainable?... When money is involved, that's where you get greed." He told the Advertiser that the aquarium trade impact is not sustainable, that all aquarium trade collection needs to stop.

     Taking fish for the aquarium trade anywhere in Hawaiʻi would be banned by Hawaiʻi state Senate Bill 193. This week, the measure, cosponsored by Sen. Kai Kahele, whose roots are in Miloliʻi, east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, and west Kaʻū and Miloliʻi Sen. Dru Kanuha, passed the Senate and a first reading in the state House of Representatives.

     SB193 would prohibit "harvesting aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes by any means effective 3/1/2024." It would exclude "activities pursuant to special activity permits and aquaculturist licenses."

     The Legislature passed a measure in 2017 that would have prohibited the state from issuing new permits for commercial collection using fine-mesh nets, the primary tool of the trade. Though it passed unanimously in the Senate, and by a two to one margin in the House, Gov. David Ige vetoed the bill, saying science didn't support claims made in the legislation.

West Hawaiʻi waters, including Miloliʻi, have been regulated for decades
through no-take fish replenishment areas and net restrictions.
See the DLNR site for specific rules in each area. DLNR map
     In 1999, no-take, fish replenishment areas were established for the Kona Coast, including Miloliʻi.
     In September, 2017, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court banned commercial use statewide of fine-mesh nets and stopped issuing new aquarium fish permits or renewals, pending an environmental review. This caused the trade collection numbers to go from about half a million per year to 227,000, though skeptics disagree the numbers are that much lower, according to the Advertiser article.
     In January of 2018, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which regulates the industry, made the entire west coast of Hawaiʻi Islandoff-limits for aquarium fish harvesting.
     About half of the aquarium fish harvest occurred in Hawaiʻi Island waters, with most of it along the Kona Coast, says the story.
     DLNR reported that yellow tang, the most collected fish in Hawaiʻi, has increased in population by 65 percent in areas closed to aquarium trade collection, but "has not declined significantly" in areas where collection is allowed, according to theAdvertiser story.
     Rene Umburger, who runs For the Fishes, a Mauinonprofit dedicated to enhancing protections for coral reef wildlife, told the Advertiser, "Any activity that causes a drastic decline in abundance cannot be considered sustainable because the original level has not, in fact, been sustained."


     Read the entire bill here. Read the Honolulu Star Advertiser article here.

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THE MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE COURT is announced for the pageant on Saturday, April 27 at Kaʻū District Gym, beginning at 6 p.m.
Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2018 with longtime pageant and Kaʻū Coffee
Festival sponsor Ed Olson. The 2019  pageant will be held on
Saturday, April 27, Kaʻū Gym at 6 p.m. Photo by Julia Neal
     Contenders for Miss Kaʻū Coffee are: Helena Nihipali Sesson of Pāhala, age 17, attending Kaʻū High School, and Trinity Cutting of Nāʻālehu, age 16, attending Haas Indigital school.
     Vying for Miss Kaʻū Coffee Peaberry are: Evalyn Bedsaul, 9, attending Nāʻālehu Elementary; Helen Miranda, 10, attending Pāhala Elementary; Kendall Haddock, 9 attending Nāʻālehu Elementary; and Lilianna Marques , 6, attending Pāhala Elementary.
     Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower contestants are: Kysha Manini-Kaupu, 4, and Adilyn Aetonu, 5, attending Pāhala Elementary.
     Tickets, sold by contestants and their families, are $10 each for anyone from 12 to 55; and $5 for children 5-11 and for senior citizens, 55 and older.
     Pageant Director Trini Marques promises an evening of beauty, talent, poise, confidence, prizes, food, and entertainment during an event sponsored by Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative and Kaʻū Coffee Fest.

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Kaʻū Trojan girls hosted Kohala today, taking on star Kohala pitcher, whose family comes from Kaʻū.
Mikayla Kekoa struck out Kaʻū players and achieved two grand slams when up to bat.
Photo by Julia Neal
KAʻŪ HOSTIED KOHALA TODAY in girls softball. Pitchers were CeAndra Silva-Kamu and Shailani Vierra from the Trojans. Lead pitcher for Kohala was Mikayla Kekoa, whose family is from Kaʻū. She nailed many stike-outs and brought in a grand slam and a three-run homer. Final score was Kohala 13, Kaʻū 2. Kianie Madeiros-Dancel achieved a run batted in and Marilou Manatan hit a single and came home on three errors.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Softball:
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS A GROUP ART PROJECT, for keiki 5 to 12 years old, on Wednesday, Mar. 27, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room. Registration is open Monday, Mar. 11, through Monday, Mar. 25. Free.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3 p.m. to 5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.


TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10 a.m. to noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, March 10, 2019

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Kaʻū District Gym's electric vehicle charging station, open Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. and Fridays,
 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. State Sen. Russell Ruderman, who represents the district where the station is located,
opposes charging more to register electric and other alternative vehicles. Photo from bigislandev.org
A SURCHARGE ON REGISTERING ELECTRIC, HYBRID, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES faced strong opposition from east Kaʻū state Sen. Russell Ruderman last week. He urged other Senators to consider climate change.
     Senate Bill 409 SD2, which passed the Senate in spite of Ruderman's negative testimony, would add $15 to the $45 annual registration fee for "electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, to be deposited into the state highway fund." The measure goes before the state House of Representatives this week. Only Ruderman and Sen. Donna Mercado Kim voted against it.

     Ruderman said Hawaiʻi "has a special role to play in the establishment of electric vehicles, because we have shorter distances to drive. We have solar all year so that we can charge our cars. We can get electricity to the grid without fossil fuels. We're the richest state in the richest country.
Electric vehicle charging station location at Kaʻū District Gym near
Pikake and Kamani Streets. Image from www.bigislandev.org
     "But now, we're going to put the brakes on supporting the transition, now that  2.5 percent of our cars are electric vehicles and almost four percent are hybrids. We're going put on the brakes because road fees are more important than climate change?"

     According to Ruderman, "It's been said that electric vehicles need to pay their fair share because they're so heavy and they do damage to the roads. An electric vehicle is lighter than the average SUV. It's much lighter than an empty pickup truck. Road damage has an exponential relationship to the weight of a vehicle. Ninety percent of the damage to roads comes from the heaviest truck.... nine percent comes from the second heaviest vehicle.... one percent comes from all the other vehicles put together. It's not a good reason to do this."
     Ruderman said he drives both a traditional fuel pickup truck and an electric car. Even with the surcharge, he promised to "buy another electric vehicle anyway, even if you're penalizing me for it. I realize that most of you folks today are not going to change your vote based on what I say today, but I'm asking you that next time we're faced with the decision whether to take action on the greatest crisis facing our generation, or not, that you turn over a new leaf and prioritize climate change as a matter of public policy."


     See the bill and testimony, and submit testimony to the House, at capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=409&year=2019.
     Kaʻū District Gym's electric vehicle charging station,, near Pikake and Kamani Streets in Pāhala is open Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. and Fridays, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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The HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa, with a space-suited member of the crew exploring outside. Photo from UH
TWO WEEKS OF SIMULATING LIFE ON MARS AND THE MOON ended last Wednesday on Mauna Loa at the Hawaiʻi Space Exploration Analog and Simulation habitat. University of Hawaiʻi organized the HI-SEAS mission with a six-person, international crew. Two more missions are planned for this year.
     Geology students Annelotte Weert and Sebastian Mulder mapped for fresh pahoehoe lava flows and lava tubes. They used drone footage, imagery and 3-D mapping in their studies. The surfaces of the Moon and Mars are similar to Hawaiʻi Island. The study of lava flows can help scientists understand what to expect on the moon and Mars. A statement from U.H. noted that lava tubes on the moon could become shelters while habitats are built for humans.
The six-person international crew, celebrating moments after exiting the
HI-SEAS habitat. Photo from UH
     Nityaporn Sirikan, crew engineer for the mission and European Space Agency systems engineer, completed work to enhance space suits and other technologies at the HI-SEAS station. Her efforts "will set a new standard for future missions at the station and feedback from the crew will allow for upgrades to be performed before another mission," said the U.H. statement.
     Other crew activities included outreach education by anthropology researcher Benjamin Pothier, journalist Josh Burstein, and crew commander Michaela Musilova of UH Mānoa.
     Musilova is chief investigator for HI-SEAS and the International Moonbase Alliance. She organized a Mission to Mars competition last year in Slovakia, which encouraged high school students to design a research experiment for a simulated mission to the Moon or Mars. The winning experiment involved collecting hair from the crew members, dissolving it, and using it as fertilizer to simulate growing plants on the Moon.
HI-SEAS crew members collect samples outside the habitat, wearing full
space suits to simulate being on the moon or Mars. Photo from UH
     Musilova said crew members "participated in all mission research projects and duties. Collectively, we were able to complete the mission and all of our goals." She said she was pleased by "everyone's can-do attitude and teamwork. We got along very well and together we made this mission fulfilling."
     Crew activities and research projects were monitored by researchers and engineers at mission control center, based at the Blue Planet Research laboratory, owned by International Moonbase Alliance founder Henk Rogers on Hawaiʻi Island. Bernard Foing, of Eurpoean Space Agency and executive director of International Lunar Exploration Working Group, was main space-crew communicator at mission control throughout the mission.
     The mission is under the EuroMoonMars initiative, led by the International Lunar Exploration Working Group of Eurpoean Space Agency, in collaboration with the International Moonbase Alliance, European Space Research and Technology Centre, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and HI-SEAS. It is part of a series of projects led by the International Moonbase Alliance, which is planning on building a base on the Moon and a prototype moonbase on Hawaiʻi Island.
The HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa. Photo from UH
     Musilova said the team plans similar missions with Eurpoean Space Agency, International Lunar Exploration Working Group, and Vrije Universiteit with two more this year. "One of our main goals is to get students and researchers from UH and the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems engaged in our future missions. We are also working on proposals for future missions with the NASA's Johnson Space Center, University of South Florida, and companies such as SIFT and Ketone Technologies."
     For more on HI-SEAS and its missions, see hi-seas.org.

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A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING FOR PĀHALA -- the first in may years -- will be tomorrow, Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House at the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets. Community Police Officer for Kaʻū, Shawn Ibarra, said he plans future meetings monthly at either Pāhala Community Center or the activity room at Kaʻū District gym. The public is invited to Monday's event.

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A HIGH SURF ADVISORY for all east-facing shores is in effect for Hawaiʻi Island through Tuesday morning at , reports the National Weather Service. Surf heights of 6 to 9 feet are expected through Monday night.

     Said the National Weather Service: "Surf will hold at advisory levels along exposed north and west facing shores through the morning hours, then drop below this afternoon as the northwest swell eases. Rough surf along east facing shores due to the strong trades in place will continue through Monday night.

     Forecasters warn of strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous. "Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution."


     The "first south swell of the season" peaked today, and is expected to gradually lower through Tuesday.


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KAʻŪ TROJANS BOYS BASEBALL WON THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON on Saturday against Kohala. Kaʻū scoed 5 against Kohala at 3.

     See more hosted games of Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, and Boys Volleyball; schedule, below.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Softball:
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KAHUKU PARK HOSTS CHARADES, for keiki ages 6 to 12 years old, on Friday, Mar. 15, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registration begins Monday, Mar. 11.
     For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3 p.m. to 5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.


TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10 a.m. to noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222



SUNDAY, MARCH 17
The Art of Vocal Freedom Workshop with Rebecca Folsom, Sunday, March 17, Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927


Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527



La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.


TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8-11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30a.m.-3p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon-3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2-3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5-8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9a.m.-2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10a.m.-1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2-3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


SUNDAY, MARCH 17
The Art of Vocal Freedom Workshop with Rebecca Folsom, Sunday, March 17, Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, March 11, 2019

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Kaʻū's Representative in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, at a Town Hall on CNN Sunday in Austin. Image from CNN
REFRAIN FROM LABELING PEOPLE AND DIVIDING THEM was one of the messages from Kaʻū's Representative in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, on Sunday during a CNNTown Hallbroadcast from Texas. It focused on her candidacy for U.S. President. Questioned by the audience and CNN political correspondent Dana Bash, Gabbard resisted giving one word answers to either-or questions that would simplify her points of view into labels. She was asked such questions as, "Are you a capitalist? Does Gabbard believe the head of Syria is a war criminal? Is Gabbard, was she, homophobic?"

     When asked about her most important issue, Gabbard, a major in the National Guard and twice deployed to the Middle East, said "regime change wars." When asked about her view of Syria, and her visit in 2017 to war torn villages and to meet with its president, Bashar al-Assad, Gabbard referred to being been misunderstood as some kind of supporter of the regime.
In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard visited women victims of war in Syria.
Photo by Abraham Williams

     When asked about al-Assad using chemical weapons on Syrians, she mentioned reports of their use by both the Syrian government and terrorist groups. She said the Trump administration aimed to use these incidents "as an excuse to launch a U.S.military attack in Syria." Gabbard said she served in Iraq, where that war was launched "based on lies" and "without evidence. And so the American people were duped. So as a soldier, as an American, as a member of Congress, it is my duty and my responsibility to exercise skepticism anytime anyone tries to send our service members into harm's way or use our military to go in and start a new war."

     The CNN moderator pointed out that the Department of Defense and U.N. agree the Assad regime used chemical weapons against its own people. She asked Gabbard, "So as President, would you trust the conclusions of your government?" Gabbard replied, "We have a recent past, a situation in which our own government told lies to the American people -- and to the United Nations, for that matter -- to launch a war. So what I'm saying is it is our responsibility to exercise due diligence, to ask the tough questions, to get the evidence before we make those very costly decisions about how and when and where our military is used."

     The moderator noted that Syrian refugees in Jordanthis week requested that the first international criminal court case against the Syrian government commence. She reminded the audience that Gabbard visited Syria and its leader. She asked Gabbard, "Do you believe that Assad is a war criminal?" Gabbard said, "I think that the evidence needs to be gathered... there is evidence that he committed war crimes? He should be prosecuted, as such." When Gabbard was pressed with, "But you're not sure now," Gabbard said, "Everything that I have said requires that we take action based on evidence. If the evidence is there there should be accountability."

Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard assured a military officer that she would sign a bill to seek
justice for sexual assault in the military. Image from CNN
     Regarding sexual assault in the military, a female military officer asked Gabbard what she would do to stop it. Gabbard noted she led the introduction of the Military Justice Improvement in the House of Representatives and would sign it into law as President. "As a fellow service member, we have lived through experiences ourselves and things that our fellow brothers and sisters in uniform have gone through. I have sat through hearings and engaged with leaders from the Department of Defense in my role as a member in the Armed Services Committee, where unfortunately, there is a lack of recognition of the serious change that needs to take place for there to be a true path to justice for victims of sexual assault in the military. I believe that we still today don't know how rampant sexual assault in the military is, because there is still a fear of retaliation. There is a stigma and people who don't want to be known as 'that one.' She or he are 'that one' who went against the team, who turned their back.... We know people ourselves who have gone through this and felt they had no place to turn."

     She explained that the legislation takes reporting of sexual assault outside of the command so that no one involved with the victim would know about the report.


     See more on the Gabbard Town Hall on CNN in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.


DETECT AND FIX LEAKS is the campaign for the county Department of Water Supply for the week of March 17 through 23. Customers are encouraged to detect and fix leaks in their plumbing during Fix-A-Leak Week. The national event and effort to promote water conservation prompts DWS to distribute free toilet tank leak detection tablets at the Kaʻū office at 95-6041 Mamalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu, when staff is onsite between Call ahead to 929-9111.

     Tablets will also be distributed from to on Wednesday, March 20 at KTA Puainako, Hilo, and Friday, March 22 at KTA Kailua-Kona.

     According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average American home can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year from running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks.

     To check for leaks, residents should observe their water meter after turning off all faucets, spigots, and other household appliances (dishwashers, clothes washers, etc.) If the meter is still moving, a leak may be present. Customers should also review their water bill for spikes in water usage.

     For more leak detection and water conservation tips, visit the Department of Water Supply website at www.hawaiidws.org or the United States Environmental Protection Agency website at www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.
     The Department of Water Supply is a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Hawaiʻi that is governed by the Water Board. Founded in 1949, its primary function is to provide domestic water service through its 23 water systems throughout Hawaiʻi Island. "The Department continually strives to provide safe, dependable, high quality, potable water at a reasonable cost," says a statement issued today. For more information, visit www.hawaiidws.org.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB'S SEVENTH ANNUAL YOUTH OF THE YEARCELEBRATION, will be held this Saturday, March 16, , at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel's Moku ʻOla Ballroom.  In addition to presenting the Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Club will honor former Mayor Billy Kenoi and retired President of Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co, Jay Ignacio.
     Boys & Girls Club Big Island has served Kaʻū from Pāhala through Ocean View in recent years, with over 67 years of service in Hilo and other locales on the island.
     A statement from the organization says Boys & Girls Club helps thousands of BigIsland youth "by providing safe facilities and positive activities, and instilling healthy living practices along with good character and leadership skills. It offers services in Pāhala, Ocean View, Hilo, Keaʻau, Kealakehe, and Pāhoa to present young people with the opportunity to grow, learn and have fun."

     Youth of the Year will feature youth member performances of ‘oli and mele to celebrate ‘ohana and community; youth-led entertainment; plus silent and live auctions, guest speakers, and honoring of outstanding community supporters, around a banquet-style meal.

     The Youth of the Year winner will represent Hawaiʻi Island in the state competition at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol with a chance to compete in regional and national levels, earn additional scholarships, and possibly visit the White House. One highlight of the evening will be the Youth of the Year's dreams and stories. Selected for leadership, academic achievement, and community service, the Youth of the Year will receive an academic scholarship and serve as youth spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club Big Island in the coming year.
     The Boys & Girls Club describes community leaders to be honored:
Billy Kenoi.  Photo by Julia Neal

     "Growing up on Hawaiʻi Island in the small, tight knit community of Kalapana, former Hawaiʻi County Mayor Billy Kenoi learned firsthand the value of aloha and importance of ‘ohana and community. Taking these childhood values to heart, throughout his tenure as Mayor of Hawaiʻi County, "Billy" exemplified his understanding of aloha, especially towards Hawaiʻi Island's most disadvantaged children. He has been an exceptional supporter of Boys & Girls Club of the BigIslandand the vital services the organization has provided throughout the years. His attendance at previous Youth of the Year Celebrations were high points of the events as he connected, inspired, and influenced youth in attendance through genuine, heartfelt conversations and enthusiastic encouragement. Mahalo to Billy Kenoi for enriching the lives of our island youth and enabling them to be equipped to pursue their dreams."

     "Jay Ignacio recently retired as president of Hawai‘i Electric Light Company after 28 years of service. Born and raised in Hilo, he has been actively involved in the Hawai‘i Islandcommunity, and a long-time supporter of Boys & Girls Club of the BigIsland. Under Ignacio's leadership, Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation committed $100,000 toward BGCBI's Meal Supplementation Program, which provides daily healthy meals or snacks to youth members. In addition, Ignacio mobilized Hawaiʻi Electric Light employee volunteers to help remove 11 old poles from BGCBI's Hilo baseball fields to keep the area safe for youth activities. Ignacio has served on the board of directors for numerous community organizations including the Hawai‘i Island United Way, Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board, Hawai‘i Island Adult Care, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, and Hilo Medical Center Foundation. He also was an active supporter of the Employees of Hawaiʻi Electric Light Toys for Tots Program, and has been a mentor and coach for youth baseball and basketball on Hawaiʻi Island.

Jay Ignacio, longtime President of HELCO.
Photo from HELCO
     A Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Champion for Youth Award will go to Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and Hawaiʻi Electric Light. Boys & Girls Club describes them as "strong, generous, and long-standing supporters of BGCBI and island youth. In 2016, they presented BGCBI with an electric smart car, complete with BGCBI logos. In 2017, they contributed $100,000 to our nutritional supplementation program, which provides full meals or healthy snacks to BGCBI members islandwide.
     "This past October, Hawaiʻi Electric Light volunteers using specialized company equipment, removed light poles from Hilo Club baseball fields. Many of the poles contained hazardous materials and were old, termite eaten and in danger of falling down. The estimated cost for this work was over $70,000, which BGCBI would not have been able to afford. With this award, we honor Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and Hawaiʻi Electric Light and their dedication to Hawaiʻi Island youth."
     To kokua by becoming an Event sponsor, purchasing tickets for the Event, donating an auction item, or making a financial donation. See SPONSORSHIP, REGISTRATION & DONATION FORMS.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.


Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Softball:
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 12, , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
OPEN GYM TO ADULTS AT KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM, Monday through Thursday, through Mar. 28, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Open registration.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10 a.m. to noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087


The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m. to 7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5-6:30p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 12, 2019

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Kamilo Beach in Kaʻū came up in testimony to ban single use plastic bags. Kamilo catches plastics on its shores as
it drifts in from far off places. Volunteers pick it up through Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
THE STATEWIDE BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND STYROFOAM, SB522 SD2, which passed the state Senate last week, goes to a hearing with the House Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Economic Development & Business this Thursday, March 14, at 8:30 a.m. Read testimony and the bill at SB522 SD2. Submit testimony by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, March 13.
     Cosponsored by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, the bill would prohibit "purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, and straws by state and county agencies after July 1, 2021, and by businesses selling food and beverages after July 1, 2022." It would ban "distribution or sale of plastic bags after July 1, 2023. It would appropriate funds and create a plastic source reduction working group to make recommendations for eliminating single-use plastic packaging.
     Ruderman spoke on the Senate floor last week, pointing out his food stores are "a business that's operated 20 years while being a leader in plastic elimination and it hasn't hurt us at all." He said he has helped with sponsorships of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund cleanups at Kamilo in Kaʻū, one of the beaches in Hawaiʻi that receives the most plastics washing in from the ocean. He noted that the Fukishima, Japan earthquake and subsequent tidal wave in May, 2017, brought in a "big wave of trash... but every year new trash gets deposited there from around the world. It just happens to catch it." Sen. Lorraine Inouye noted that 60 Minutes covered the story.
     Sen. Mike Gabbard said, "Plastic is a huge problem in our oceans, our wildlife, and our environment as a whole. My colleagues from Hawaiʻi Island may take interest in this: Kamilo Point in rural Kaʻū on Hawaiʻi Island was highlighted in a May 1st, 2017, Huffington Post article as being one of the dirtiest places in the world because of plastics. Ocean Crusaders report that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic micro fibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea.
     "Shoppers worldwide are using approximately 500 billion single-use plastic bags every year, and this translates to about a million bags every minute across the globe or 150 bags a year for every person on earth. And the number is rising. We use 500 million plastic straws every single day in the U.S. A coastal care reports that 90 percent of seabirds have some plastic in their digestive tracts."
     Said Gabbard, "Now, for the good news: Walmart, the world's largest retailer, announced late last month that they will eliminate non recyclable plastic packaging in all it's private label brands by 2020, impacting over 30,000 products. Our counties have been taking the lead on reducing plastics for the last several years. As of July 2015, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Kauaʻi have all banned plastic checkout bags. At UH, a student-initiated ban on polystyrene food polystyrene food containers at all campus food establishments has been in place as policy since 2012. The Hawaiʻi Ocean Friendly Restaurant program launched in 2016 now includes more than 200 eateries that are certified as foam free. Maui County became the first county in Hawaiʻi to pass a ban on polystyrene foam containers in June of 2017. Hawaiʻi County banned polystyrene containers in October of 2017 and this will go into effect July 1, 2019." Ruderman's Island Naturals Deli is one of the participants in the program.
     Gabbard said SB522 SD2 would "move us forward in a very big way in reducing single-use plastic." He said zero waste plastic reduction plans are already established within the European Union, and many countries, such as Ethiopia and Costa Rica, and municipalities across the U.S.

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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD'S VIEWS ON GAY RIGHTS were questioned at the CNN Town Hall meeting in Austin on Sunday. Audience member Seth Tiven, a musician and software engineer, asked, "Can you convince me that your previous view on gay rights have truly changed? I am especially concerned about your previous support of conversion therapy, which I found really, really repulsive, and I'd like to understand what caused you to reevaluate your positions and change them."
     Gabbard replied, "I want to correct the record.... I personally never supported any kind of conversion therapy, I never advocated for conversion therapy, and frankly, I didn't even know what conversion therapy was" until running for Congress. She said she grew up in a very socially conservative home.
     "My father is Catholic. He was a leading voice against gay marriage in Hawaiʻi during that time. Again, I was very young but these were the values and beliefs I grew up around. My own personal journey, as I went out in different experiences in my life, especially going and deploying to the Middle East, where I saw first hand the negative impact of a government attempting to act as a moral arbiter for their people, dictating in the most personal ways how they must live their lives. And so it caused me to confront that contradiction where, as a shoulder standing for freedom for all people here in this country, but also how that contradicted some of the values and beliefs that I grew up with.
     "I also served with gay and lesbian and trans service members and we became very good friends and knew in the most deep and visceral way that I would give my life for any one of them; and I knew that they would do the same for me, in serving there overseas. Being in a place where race, or religion or orientation - these were things that didn't matter because we were focused on our mission of services. So these experiences caused me to go through some soul searching myself.
     "So I ask you to look to my record in Congress for over six years, where it is a reflection of what is in my heart and it is a refection of my commitment to fight for equality for all people. I have a 100 percent legislative rating from the human rights campaign that reflects on a whole variety of issues and pieces of legislation  - how I have carried through on that commitment, and which will continue as President and Commander in Chief."
     Gabbard announced today that she will be in the Bay Area this weekend for a Town Hall with Tulsi at University of San Francisco on Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. and in Freemont at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ALLOWING COUNTIES FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING .25 PERCENT OF GENERAL EXCISE TAX revenues was approved in similar bills by the state Senate and House of Representatives. Both legislative bodies are considering a final version of Senate Bill 1428 SD 1 and House Bill 1394 HD 1. The House bill "authorizes any county with a population equal to or less than 500,000 that adopts a county surcharge on state tax ordinance to use the surcharges received from the State for infrastructure and public safety." Several legislators and Mayor Harry Kim said the county intends to continue with the implementation of the county's master transit plan.
     Hawaiʻi County receives .25 percent of the 4.25 percent sales tax charged here, its use limited to transportation expenses.
     HB 1394 HD 1, cosponsored by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, has the support of Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim, who said flexibility in spending GET surcharge funds is a "top priority" this legislative session.
     Said Kim, "Please be assured that it is not our intent to downgrade transportation, which is the present beneficiary of GET funding. Rather, each County has expressed different unmet needs for which a funding source has yet to be identified; for example, 'public safety' for Hawai‘i County... Higher contributions to the Employees' Retirement System, and other post-employment benefits have had significant impacts on our ability to fund operations throughout the county. For Hawai‘i Island, dealing with multiple natural disasters, the cost of providing public safety during these events has taken its toll and depleted our funds."
     East Kaʻū's Rep. Richard Onishi voted for the bill, but spoke against it on the House floor last week, saying "The current mass transit system is very lacking, to the point where school children in my district are unable to sometimes participate in extra curricular activities because the school bus leaves right after school ends and there is no way to get back to their communities. Re-purposing this money at the county's discretion is bad policy and it doesn’t equally affect every county in the state."
     Puna's Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, said, "I understand why the neighbor islands want the flexibility, but until they fix our roads and until everyone gets proper access back to their roads and back to their farms, I need to be in opposition."
     Kona's Rep. Nicole Lowen said, "When the county passed its quarter percentage back when the eruption was ongoing, they then pulled their mass transit budget and just replaced it with the amount of revenue they would expect to receive from [the GET surcharge]. I don't have any confidence that if they are given this expanded uses that its going to further the purposes what they say it's for. The mass transit system on Hawaiʻi Island is the furthest behind in the state and in West Hawaiʻi we have basically nothing."
     San Buenaventura was the only dissenter on the third reading to vote against the bill; Creagan, Onishi, and Lowen voted aye with reservations.

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SUBSIDIZING VEHICLE DISPOSAL is offered by the county March 15 through April 30. While the county is unable to accept vehicles for disposal at any of its solid waste disposal locations, they can be driven or hauled to commercial recycler Big Island Scrap Metal in Kona or Hilo. For those who qualify, the county can assist with the $650 disposal fee charged by the scrap metal company.
     The county Department of Environmental Management Derelict or Abandoned Vehicle Section is offering the assistance to encourage disposal of unwanted vehicles.
Abandoned vehicles can draw fines but the county offers a program to
help owners with their disposal. Photo by Annie Bosted
     The program "aims to help registered vehicle owners legally and properly dispose of vehicles, in an effort to reduce the number of derelict and abandoned vehicles left on public roadways," says a statement from Mayor Harry Kim's office.
     A maximum of one vehicle per registered owner may be disposed of at no charge. The County will only pay the disposal fee directly to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor. The registered owner is responsible for arranging the vehicle to be towed to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor's facility and the towing fee to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor's facility.

     Applications will be accepted from March 15 to April 30. Registered vehicle owners are encouraged to submit their applications early, as there are limited disposal appointments available. This program may be extended if allocated funds are still available.
     Visit hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/automotive/ for the application, guidelines, and instructions. Questions? Contact the Derelict and Abandoned Vehicle Program at (808) 9618552 or VDAP@hawaiicounty.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Softball:
Wed., March 13, , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM RECREATION ROOM-FITNESS STATION IS OPEN TO THOSE 15 YEARS OLD AND OVER, Monday through Thursday, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., through Mar. 29. Bring personal towel and drinking water. Open registration.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org


Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 13, 2019

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Tūtū & Me keiki learn about bees at one of their monthly excursions. See story, below. Photo from Tūtū & Me
RAISING MONEY FOR ROADS, HIGHWAYS, AND BRIDGES by charging vehicle operators for miles driven, rather than charging a gas tax, is under consideration by the state Department of Transportation. The DOT has launched a Hawaiʻi Road Usage Charge Demonstration project website.
     The website states, "Hawaiʻi's gas tax will not be a reliable source of road funding as people drive more fuel efficient cars and buy less gas. A road usage charge (RUC) is one promising approach for paying for roads, based on the number the miles you drive. HiRUC includes many opportunities for public involvement.
     "Why do we need a new way to pay for our roads? Currently, a tax on the gas you buy funds our road safety, upkeep and improvement. Soon, that won't be enough. Automakers are making more efficient cars and trucks, resulting in less gas usage. Hawaiʻi is a leader in purchases of these more efficient cars and trucks... As Hawaiʻi moves towards clean energy with the goal of 100 percent renewables by 2045, the transition to more efficient vehicles will accelerate to align with our state and county environmental sustainability goals.

     The site states "Hawaiʻi wants the community's input on what a road usage charge to pay for our roads could look like."

     Attend a community meeting, share thoughts, volunteer to be a test driver, or drop a line to the DOT. Residents can also provide input and ask questions via an online community meeting on Thursday, April 18, link to be announced in a future Kaʻū News Briefs. See hiruc.org.

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A 5.5 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE SHOOK KĪLAUEA'S SOUTH FLANK at The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the epicenter about 7.5 miles (12 km) southeast of Kīlaueacaldera, near the Hōlei Pali area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, at a depth of 4.1 miles (6.7 km).

     Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reported no tsunami danger from the quake, warned of "possibilitiy of aftershocks." Civil Defense urged those living any heavily shaken areas to check for damages, especially to gas, water, and electricity connections, and to report them to 935-0031.

     Significant damage to buildings or structures was not reported. The USGS "Did you feel it?" service at earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/received over 850 reports today with light to moderate shaking reported around Hawaiʻi Island and on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu.

The large orange dot represents the 5.5M earthquake this morning. The red dot is an aftershock. USGS map
     According to HVO seismic network manager Brian Shiro, the earthquake had no apparent effect on Kīlauea Volcano. "We see no detectable changes in volcanic activity at the summit or along the rift zones of Kīlauea as a result of this earthquake. Aftershocks are possible and could be felt." HVO continues to monitor Kīlauea and other Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.
     Kīlauea's south flank has been the site of 16 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater during the past 40 years, stated HVO. Most are caused by abrupt motion of the volcano's south flank, which moves to the southeast over the oceanic crust. The location, depth, and waveforms recorded as part of today's earthquake are consistent with slip along this south flank fault.

     See more at the NationalEarthquakeInformationCenter website at earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv70863117/or USGS HVO website at volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes/.


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PROTECTING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS is the focus of legislation introduced by Sen, Mazie Hirono this week. Hirono spoke on the U.S. Senate floor yesterday, where she asked the Department of Justice to "protect Americans with pre-existing conditions by defending the Affordable Care Act."
Sen. Mazie Hirono, speaking on the Senate floor yesterday.
Photo from Hirono's Facebook
     Hirono said that last year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions "refused to defend the ACA in court" when 20 states challenged "the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act." She said Sessions filed a brief, claiming "several vital protections of the law should be ruled unconstitutional."
     Said Hirono, "The outcome of this case will have a profound impact on virtually every American, especially the 133 million people living with pre-existing conditions."
     Hirono also said Pres. Donald Trump aims to "cut $1 trillion from Medicare and Medicaid, which one in three Americans rely on for health care. That is devastating and despicable to our communities. While Republicans continue their attacks on the ACA, try to roll back protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and propose massive cuts to life-saving services to pay for their $1.5 trillion tax cut for the richest, Democrats are fighting to protect patients and provide affordable and accessible health care for all."
     She noted that all Democrats in the Senate support the legislation.

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FIELD TRIPS FOR TŪTŪ & ME PARTICIPANTS in Kaʻū give keiki zero to five and their caregivers a look at the wider world. Once a month, Tūtū and Me families are invited to participate in field trips to places like Bird Park or Manuka Park, Kaʻū Coffee Mill, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at Kīlauea and its Kahuku Unit. There is no cost for these trips from the group, just entrance fees in cases like the Park.

     Both Pāhala and Nāʻālehu site participants gathered in Waiʻōhinu Park on Feb. 28 for a "park day," focused on learning all about bees. This huakaʻi - trip - concluded a month of curriculum based around arachnids and insects.
Tūtū & Me keiki observe a Bee Boys beehive.
Photo from Tūtū & Me
     Alex from The Bee Boys brought their demonstration hive for keiki to observe the activity of bees in a hive, close-up but safely. Alex brought a beekeeper's gear for keiki to try on, some honeycomb for them to sample, and age-appropriate activities, including an opportunity for keiki to roll their own candles made entirely of beeswax.

     For March, to conclude a unit about animals, Tūtū & Me will visit Panaʻewa Zoo. For some excursions, a bus is provided for keiki over two years of age, "which for many of our keiki is their first experience riding a bus, and the highlight of their day," says an announcement from the group.

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HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture, After Dark in the Park talks, and stewardship programs during April 2019. The Park will also celebrate National Park Week from April 20 through 28, kicking off with a fee-free day on Saturday, April 20. Visitors are encouraged to check the Park's online calendar of events, and look for program flyers posted after on the bulletin board at KīlaueaVisitorCenter.

     Park programs are free, but entrance fees apply. Some programs are co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

Overlooking the Steam Bluffs at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. NPS photo
     The theme of National Park Week, April 20-28, is "On a Mission." The mission of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is to protect, conserve, and study the volcanic landscapes and associated natural and cultural resources and processes, and to facilitate safe public access to active volcanism, diverse geographic settings, and wilderness for public education and enjoyment. Everyone is invited to the following National Park Week events that celebrate the park's mission:

     Fee-Free Day. National Park Week kicks off Saturday, April 20 with a fee-free day. Take a hike on one of the newly re-opened trails, or walk out to the Keanakāko‘i side of Halema‘uma‘u to see where Crater Rim Drive slid into the crater during last year's eruptive activity.

New Junior Ranger Program at Kahuku will
commence during National Park Week in April.
NPS photo
     Junior Ranger Day at Kahuku. Kahuku Unit will debut its new Junior Ranger Program and wooden junior ranger badge Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keiki who complete the junior ranger handbook, illustrated by Hawai‘i artists, will earn the badge, a junior ranger certificate, and will be sworn in as a National Park Service junior ranger.

     Merrie Monarch Festival Events. Part of the park's mission is to perpetuate Hawaiian culture. During Merrie Monarch Week, the park will offer six ‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, programs for everyone to experience and connect with Hawaiian practices. On Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24, to 1 p. m., come to Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in the Park to learn about ‘ulana niu, weaving coconut leaves; nā lei, lei making, with Patty Kaula and Lehua Hauanio; play kōnane, a Hawaiian game that resembles checkers, with park rangers; and learn about nā pa‘ahana hula – the tools, altar, and plants that symbolize hula – with Amy Ka‘awaloa. Musicians Rupert Tripp, Jr. and Ti Kawhi Chun and Pōki‘i Seto will share their melodies.

Stewardship programs seek to eradicate invasive species,
like morning glory. NPS photo
     KīlaueaVolcano's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption. Kīlauea's long-lasting East Rift Zone eruption changed abruptly when the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor collapsed on April 30, 2018, followed by an intrusion of magma downrift. On May 3, lava erupted in Leilani Estates and within two weeks, 24 fissures had opened along a 4.2-mile-long segment of the lower ERZ. Fissure 8 soon became the dominant vent, erupting a fast-moving channelized lava flow that reached the ocean, burying 13.7 square miles of land and destroying over 700 structures along the way. Join U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Carolyn Parcheta on Tuesday, April 23 at at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium as she recounts the progression of this dramatic eruption and shares her experiences monitoring it. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series.

     Other ongoing April events:

Rangers educate keiki and adults in various programs
throughout Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and
Kahuku Unit. NPS photo
     Stewardship of Kīpukapuaulu. Help remove troublesome plants at Kīpukapuaulu, home to diverse native forest and understory plants. Meet every Thursday at in April: 4, 11, 18, and 25; at Kīpukapuaulu parking lot, Mauna Loa Road, off Highway 11 in the Park. Bring clippers or pruners, sturdy gloves, a hat, and water. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting permanently stained from morning glory sap. Be prepared for cool and wet or hot and sunny weather. New volunteer? Contact Marilyn Nicholson for more info, nickem@hawaii.rr.com.
     Stewardship at the Summit. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park, a World Heritage Site. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at at KīlaueaVisitorCenteron Friday, April 5 and 26, or Saturday, Arpil 13 and 20. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Visit the park website for additional planning details nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm

"Meet" Dr. Thomas Jaggar, founder of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, during
a free presentation offered Tuesdays in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
NPS photo
     A Walk into the Past with Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar. Walk back to 1912, and meet the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, at the edge of Kīlauea Volcano. Dressed in period costume, Ka‘ū actor-director Dick Hershberger brings the renowned geologist to life. Dr. Jaggar leads a tour of his tiny lab located below the Volcano House, showing original seismograph equipment and other early instruments. Learn what motivated Dr. Jaggar to dedicate his life to the study of Hawaiian volcanoes, and how his work helps save lives today. Space is limited; pick up free ticket at KīlaueaVisitorCenter's front desk the day of the program. Program includes climbing stairs and entering a confined space. Supported by the KīlaueaDrama Entertainment Network. Meet at KīlaueaVisitorCenterTuesday in April: 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, at , , and Each performance is about an hour.

Kiʻi carving demonstration at KīlaueaVisitor Center lānai,
by 
James Kanani Kaulukukui, Jr., on  Wednesday,
April 10,  to 
     Ki‘i Demonstration. Hawaiians carved ki‘i, statues, to represent forces of nature, gods, guardians, and the spiritual world. Acclaimed artist James Kanani Kaulukukui, Jr., who has worked on the sacred site of Ke Kahua o Kaneiolouma Heiau on Kaua‘i, will share his expertise and the essential role of ki‘i in Hawai‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes'‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, workshops. Wednesday, April 10 from to  at KīlaueaVisitorCenterlānai.

      The Amazing, Almost Unbelievable, Story of the Coconut Palm. The coconut palm is beautiful, iconic, useful, and deeply connected with many cultures. Palm expert John Stallman guides attendees on the epic journey of the modern coconut palm, from its earliest record in Indiaand Asia, to recent genetic studies and a spectacular shipwreck. The coconut palm has accompanied human migration across the globe and journeyed across oceans, earning the nickname of "the most useful tree on earth." Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series, Tuesday, April 16 at at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

The history of the coconut palm will be the focus of
After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, April 16.
NPS photo
     Explore Kahuku.  Kahuku Unit is open Wednesday through Sunday from to and is free. Take a self-guided hike, or join rangers on Sundays in April for a two-hour guided trek at ; the trail will vary depending on visitor interest. Enter the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Kahuku is located in Ka‘ū, and is about a 50-minute drive south of the park's main entrance. Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended for all hikes. 

     Kahuku Coffee Talk: The Sandalwood Story. Hawaiian sandalwood, ‘iliahi, was once so abundant in the Hawaiian Islands that the Chinese called Hawai‘i Tahn Heung Sahn, or SandalwoodMountains. However, the sandalwood trade in the early 1800s rendered the trees commercially extinct within a few years. Biologist and former park ranger John Stallman delves into the past, present and future of Hawaiian ‘iliahi and the conservation of this irreplaceable species at Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station on Friday, April 26 from to

Come to Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in the Park to
learn about ‘ulana niu, weaving coconut leaves.
NPS photo
     Hawai‘i Volcanoes is one of five national park units on the island of Hawai‘i. Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is also free of charge April 20. Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-HonokōhauNationalHistoricalPark, and the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail do not charge entrance fees. 


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ŌHĀHĀ HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE PROGRAM is accepting applications from high school students until tomorrow, Thursday, March 14, for the Spring 2019 session, March 18–22. High school students and recent grads will deepen their connection with ʻāina and local food production, learn about educational and career opportunities in agriculture, and receive a VISA gift card for up to $125 for successfully completing the program. Learn more and apply at koha.la/ohaha or call The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411.

ECONOMIC INJURY APPLICATIONS from U.S. Small Business Administration for Hawai'i County small businesses are open until tomorrow, Thursday, March 14 for recovery costs resulting from the Kīlauea volcanic eruption and earthquakes that occurred between May 3 and August 17, 2018. For eligibility information and instructions to apply, refer to the agency's press release. Applicants may also call SBA's customer service center at 800-659-2955 for more information.

FOOD SAFETY COMPLIANCE GRANT APPLICATIONS are open through Monday, April 15 to help farmers and ranchers with costs of food safety compliance through Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture. Hawaiʻi farmers and ranchers may apply for reimbursement of costs up to $5,000. For eligibility information and to apply, refer to HDOA's website. For assistance preparing an application, contact TKC's agricultural outreach specialist Maile Woodhall at mwoodhall@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411.

LEARN ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS for Hawaiʻi County businesses and organizations Friday, March 15 from to , at Hawaiʻi County Office on Aging Training Room,
1055 Kino
ʻ
ole Street, Hilo
. Presented by The Kohala Center and Hawaiʻi Energy, with funding support from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the County of Hawaiʻi, speakers from The Kohala Center, USDA Rural Development, and Hawaiʻi Energy will share information about grant, loan, and financial incentive programs available to help businesses and organizations achieve clean energy goals. These programs can help save money on photovoltaic, small hydroelectric, high-efficiency refrigeration, and HVAC systems, perform energy efficiency upgrades, and afford energy upgrades through on-bill financing. Reserve a spot at koha.la/cleanenergy or contact Megan Blazak at 808-887-6411; register online; download flyer. Free.

WEBINARS FOR PRODUCE GROWERS will be presented by Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service on Fridays, March 15 and March 22. Food Safety Modernization Produce Safety Rule affects all fruit and vegetable growers. Growers are encouraged to attend these one-hour webinars for information about best practices, risk management, and regulatory requirements. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required in advance. Contact Luisa Castro at luisac@hawaii.edu with questions; register online; download flyer.

THE COFFEE BERRY BORER SUBSIDY PROGRAM's  annual reimbursement for Beauveria bassiana purchases is available for coffee producers. The state Department of Agriculture is reimbursing for purchases made between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018. The application can be completed online. Request a paper application by contacting hdoa.cbb@hawaii.gov or 808-323-7578.


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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Softball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KEIKI, AGES 6 TO 14 YEARS OLD, INVITED TO PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD GAMES AND COLORING EQUIPMENT at Kahuku Park Pavilion on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571


Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197


FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org


Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 14, 2019

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Farmers and ranchers in Kaʻū draw water under state permits, which are becoming more complicated and 
could be more costly and less secure. See story, below. Photo by Julia Neal
THE COUNTY COUNCIL HIKED THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX  FROM 4.25 PERCENT TO 4.5 PERCENT yesterday. The vote for the additional .25 percent that would go directly to the county was unanimous and the increase goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The tax will be charged through Dec. 31, 2030.
     Introduced by Kaʻū Council member Maile David, the hike is expected to generate an additional $50 million per year for the county. The .25 percent portion of the sales tax going to the county is currently restricted by state law to transportation expenses. A bill before the state legislature would allow the county to be more flexible regarding its use.
     Only one person testified against the increase before the vote. The woman said she believes Hawaiʻi residents "are being overtaxed in every way," that the increase is "asking too much of the people who work jobs." She said county funds should not be going to "parties" like Fourth of July and the Aloha Festival as "this county right now does not appear to be in the position to support those things. We need to support what the county is truly responsible for: police, fire, county parks and recreation, and the county properties -- which would include roads and other things."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KAʻŪ RANCHERS AND FARMERS ARE SWEPT UP in a battle over water on Maui and Kauaʻi. A video presentation this week by the Honolulu Star Advertiser features Kuahiwi Ranch's Michelle Galimba. She explained that Kuahiwi Ranch is one of about a dozen water users statewide, including much larger users, such as Alexander & Baldwin and the electric utilities. All face an end-of-the-year deadline to convert state water permits into long-term leases — or risk losing access to water.
     Galimba said, "I am worried about it if I did lose access. It is not just me, it's a whole bunch of people out here who would be severely impacted. It's people's livelihoods."
Michelle Galimba
     The Legislature is considering House Bill 1326, which would provide public water users like Kuahiwi Ranch, other family farm and ranch operators, and the larger landowners like A&B another seven years to complete the lease process.
     The Star Advertiser presentation says that "House Bill 1326 has drawn criticism from environmentalists who take issue with water users like Alexander & Baldwin who divert large amounts of stream water.
     "The process for gaining a long-term lease isn't all that clear and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees the permitting and leasing processes, hasn't come up with key criteria to help move the process along despite having three years to do so."
     The newspaper reports that "Galimba and other area ranchers have been using about 12 million to 45 million gallons of underground water annually under a state revocable permit, according DLNR documents. The amount is minuscule when compared to Alexander & Baldwin, which until recently was allowed to divert as much as 450 million gallons a day of stream water on Maui."
     According to the Star Advertiser,"State officials recently set the limit at 80 million gallons a day. Despite the disparity, the two users must adhere to the same statutory requirements, according to DLNR."
     That means small ranchers and farmers could be strapped with such big expenses as surveys and environmental impact statements. Even with compliance, water leases could still be put out for auction.
Some Kaʻū coffee farmers use water under state
permits. Photo by Julia Neal 
     The large water users diverted water to irrigate sugar cane fields that are now defunct. Those land owners are ordered by Hawaiʻi courts to return the water to the streams where it naturally flowed and was used for native taro and other farming. However, such companies as A&B are seeking delays in putting water back into streams as they create new agriculture and look toward developing some of their lands that were formerly in sugar, particularly on Maui.
     The situation is different in Kaʻū. Said Galimba, "My ranch and other ranches and farms here in Kaʻū depend on water from the forest reserve. The water comes from horizontal wells that were made 100 years ago up in the forest. We use this water from manmade sources to water our cattle and to irrigate coffee here in Kaʻū. We really depend on this water."
      Said Galimba, "Water should be restored to the streams in Maui and Kauaʻi, but it is also important that that there's water for agriculture. I think that everyone agrees that water for agriculture is important."
     See the Honolulu Star Advertiser presentation. See the bill and testimony on the issue. Submit testimony.

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THE FIRST PĀHALA NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH in years drew residents interested in keeping the community safe. Attended by reserve Hawaiʻi Police Department officer Bill Doar and newly appointed Kaʻū Community Police Officer Shawn Ibarra, the meeting at Pāhala Plantation House on Monday launched an effort to invite community members to become involved.
     The group decided to create a Facebook page to keep in touch with one another and for community members to post concerns and information. Meetings will be held on the second Monday of each month, with the next one April 8 at 5 p.m. at the activity room of Kaʻū District Gym.
     Involvement can be at many different levels, from neighbors looking out for each others homes, to a group of volunteers taking Neighborhood Watch drives around the community, said the police officers. Long time Neighborhood Watch advocate Carla Andrade provided inspiration for Neighborhood Watch to start anew. Dexter Lee, who owns apartments, houses and commercial property in Pāhala, shared stories of resolving problems in his own business. Nadine Ebert represented the Punaluʻu mauka neighborhood here people tend to watch over each others properties, she said. Lori Ah San gave some details on the history of thefts in the coffee industry.
Police Reserve Officer Bill Doar and Kaʻū Coffee
industry representative Lorie Ah San.
Photo by Julia Neal 
     Doar explained the broken windows theory of abandoned places becoming abused and used to set up camp for trouble. He said that in elementary school, on the bus, he and friends saw an abandoned building with broken screens. They started to throw rocks, hang out there and create problems. When places are taken care of there is more respect and people don't want to trash them and create problems, he said.
     Both police officers described Pāhala as a village where people tend to watch out for each other and take care of problems internally. However, the police are hoping to become more involved in the community and welcome calls with any information about any possible problems coming up. Helpful information to share can even be the times when a troubled person moves back into town.
     Several people noted that recently retired police officer Corey Koi is the new security chief at the Kaʻū High & Intermediate and Pāhala Elementary campus, pointing out his knowledge, residency and involvement in the community as good attributes for the position.
     While there are still some drugs in the community -  the police officers said they are aware -several attendees said that there are fewer problems than in the past, especially in the days when most of the community lost their jobs with the sugar plantation shutting down in 1996, more than 20 years ago. Agricultural theft on people's coffee farms and ranches remains a problem. Those present talks about infamous thefts in the town's history, like stealing a giant fish someone caught from his freezer.
     It was mentioned that thefts sometimes happened when people form entire small neighborhoods in the area were gone to an event. Making a plan for someone watching when people are away was recommended. 
     To report an emergency, call 911. To report general information from Neighborhood Watch activities, call the non-emergency number at 935-3311.

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THE BATTLE OVER RAISING HAWAIʻI'S MINIMUM WAGE went to a hearing Thursday before the state Senate Labor, Culture, and the Arts Committee. The committee voted unanimously for House Bill 1191 HD1, which would raise the minimum to $15 an hour by 2024. The hike would be to $12.50 when health insurance is provided.
     The statewide Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce stands against the measure. Its leader, Sherrie Menor-McNamera wrote: "We will wholeheartedly and fiercely defend you and all the businesses that provide opportunities and jobs in our communities. Updates on our advocacy work and priority bills can be found by clicking here. Remember, bills that pass the Legislature will have an impact on Hawaii now and in the future. Our Future is Our Business."
     Earlier in the week, the RaiseUpHawaiʻi coalition went door to door to state legislators' offices at the Capitol, supporting HB 1191 HD1. Hawaiʻi Island advocates Jennifer Kagiwada and George said they told lawmakers that a living raise will be transformative in the community's life, from helping to fund childcare to going to college.
      Among the groups supporting raising the minimum wage are: Faith Action for Community Equity, Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action - HAPA, Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, Living Wage Hawaiʻi, Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic JusticeHawaiʻi Children's Action Network, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Democratic Socialists of Honolulu, and Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi.

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THE U.S. SENATE VOTED TODAY TO BLOCK PRES. DONALD TRUMP'S DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY that would allow him to use federal funds to build a wall to keep out foreign refugees. The vote was 59 to 41, with Hawaiʻi Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono voting with the majority, which included a number of Republicans.
     Trump's declaration would have redirected $3.6 billion from military construction projects to build a wall along the southern border of the continental U.S. In response to the U.S. Senate's rebuke, Trump tweeted, "VETO!" Trump said he plans to veto the measure and the Senate would have to override the veto to block the use of the funds to build the wall.

Sen. Brian Schatz
Photo from Schatz's Flickr
     Sen. Brian Schatz remarked, "This vote to terminate the fake emergency is about as clean of a litmus test for Senators as you will find… It is hard to imagine what issue, if not this one, would cause a Senator to stand up to President Trump."
     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "The Senate just stood up to President Trump and put country over party, voting to block his fake national emergency.

Sen. Mazie Hirono
Photo from Hirono's Twitter
     "This is a critical, historic moment for our democracy. While my Democratic colleagues and I have spoken out against this president's unconstitutional emergency declaration, we passed this joint resolution thanks to people like you raising your voices and demanding Republicans join us in rebuking Trump.

     She said the people and Congress, "including those in his party," need to "stand up" and "demand he end this charade of an emergency." She urged the public to sign a petition to "put pressure on Trump to forgo his veto on this resolution and give up on his fake national emergency to build his vanity wall."


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KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS SOFTBALL WON at Pāhoa on Wednesday, taking their opponents down by 27 to 14. This is their first win since the first game this season. Come support the girls this Saturday, March 16 as they host Keaʻau at See more schedules games, below.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Softball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 15, , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KEIKI, AGES 6 TO 14 YEARS OLD, INVITED TO USE OUTDOOR PLAY EQUIPMENT - volleyball, basketball, dodge ball, football, jump rope, hula hoop - at Kahuku Park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer


PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org


Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.



Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 15, 2019

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Nāʻālehu Elementary got STEAMy last week with the E1 EXPLORE! Fair. See story, below. Photo from Sheilah Okimoto
REDUCING TIME KEIKI AND TEENS SPEND ON CELL PHONES, TABLETS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC SCREENS is the goal of legislation introduced by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman. Senate Bill 433 passed from the Senate to the House of Representatives last week, and passed House Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and on Health this week, with no amendments and zero "no" votes.

Sen. Russell Ruderman.
Photo from Ruderman's Facebook
     SB433 "Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to create a social marketing campaign targeting children and their families to inform them of proven interventions to reduce child and teen screen time."
     Said Ruderman, "Great News! My bill... is on its way to the Final Committee, House Finance."
     Read the bill and testimonies. Submit testimony before next committee hearing.

Kaʻū marine debris artist Don Elwing with keiki at Nāʻālehu 
Elementary's STEAM-focused E1 EXPLORE! Fair. 
Photo from Elwing's Facebook
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NĀʻĀLEHU EXPLORE! FAIR last week hosted over 200 people and 70 families. Attendees engaged in science experiments, feats of engineering, make-and-take art, and learning about the Kaʻū environment. 25 door prizes were awarded to fair participants, sponsored by L&L Ocean View, Nāʻālehu ACE Hardware, and KTA, and free food and popcorn were on offer.
     The event focused on the intersection of STEAM -  Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math - with school and community partner displays and activities.

     Interactive and educational displays included stereoscopic photography and computer coding, with the school tech gurus; chemistry and physics with wacky experiments hosted by Nāʻālehu ACE Hardware; an
Keiki and adults competed to make towers made from 
cups to represent buildings that could withstand natural 
disasters. Photo from Sheilah Okimoto

engineering competition to build tall cups towers to represent buildings that could withstand natural disasters, with the first-grade teachers; and making art pieces with eyedroppers and spin art at the pre-school table.
     Marine debris artist Don Elwing's mobile art gallery displayed some of his latest work made from detritus found on Kaʻū shores, and attendees could collaborate to create group artwork with plastic bottle caps.
     Nā Mamo o Kāwā encouraged dryland forest restoration by potting and teaching about native species ʻūlei, and sharing how second graders have incorporated learning about and visiting Kāwā with NMOK into their curriculum.

     The third grade table offered attendees a chance to "become a native species" by crafting take-home animal masks. Electricity and mathematics were explored with fourth-graders, where student-created model homes with a working circuit were on display. The fifth grade table offered a take-home moon shadow box craft.
     Department of Land and Natural Resources field experts Kaʻū resident Nohea Kaʻawa and officer John Kahiapo were on hand to teach about caring for the island's natural resources. An a University of Hawaiʻieducator used a life-size replica of an ʻAlalā to help keiki and adults learn about this special endangered and endemic Hawaiian crow. 
Don Elwing displayed some of his artwork made from Kaʻū shore detritus, and offered a group artwork project 
involving stringing plastic bottle caps together. Photo from Elwing's Facebook
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KĪLAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM WILL CLOSE TEMPORARILY from April 8 through 15 for system upgrades. The visitor center will remain open, but park films normally shown in the auditorium will not be shown during this time.

     Long-needed improvements to the auditorium include a new sound system, a bulb-less projector, a new screen with a 16 by 9 foot surface ratio, new lighting, and a new computer controller interface for multimedia presentations.
     The work will be supervised by the National Park Service and is funded by park entrance fee revenue.



Kīlauea Visitor Center will remain open while its auditorium is closed April 8 through 15 for upgrades. NPS photo
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A TELEPHONE SCAM SOLICITING BAIL MONEY FOR RELATIVES duped at least one target on Hawaiʻi Island, warns Hawaiʻi Police Department. An elderly female in Honokaʻa recently reported that her "grandson" called her and stated he was in jail in New Jersey,and that she needed to send money for his bail.
     Reports HDP: It is unknown how the criminals obtained her grandson's name and her phone number. The caller, posing as her grandson, was very brief and stated his attorney was going to call her with better details. Another male party called an hour later and claimed her grandson was in a traffic accident and arrested for drunken driving and she needed to send $7,500 to bail him out.
     "At first, they wanted her to FedEx the money, but she stated no FedEx in Honokaʻa so she would use Postal Service." They also asked her to forgo the signature required for the money to be received. They stressed for her "to not tell other family members." She visited her credit union, took out $7,500 cash, put it in an envelope, and mailed it to the address provided by the second caller.

     She later called her grandson's wife and spoke to her grandson to learn that he was in a different state and had not been arrested.
     HPD urges, "Please be aware and do not send cash to strangers." Red flags include asking to send cash only and refraining from telling family members. "Warn seniors who live alone, and let them know that they should not be tricked by this ongoing scam."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Softball:
Sat., March 16, , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Track:
Sat., March 16, , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
WIKI WIKI MART HOSTS A FREE FOOD NUTRITION CLASS Tuesday, March 19 from to The event description says, "Live a healthy and prosperous life; find out where's the junk in junk foods. Food consumed in Americahas caused higher incidences of ADHD and Autism compared with other countries. This class can help you protect your children's future. Speaker is Renee Default, PhD, former FDA associate, founder Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, and Kaʻū High School staff associate."


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and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print
edition at
kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated.
RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.


Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.


Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org


Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.





Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, March 16, 2019

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Kaʻū High National Honor Society welcomed ten new members this week.
See story, belowPhoto from David Brooks/Harry McIntosh
WHITE NATIONALIST TERRORISM in New Zealand on Friday drew action from Sen. Mazie Hirono and Gov. David Ige.
     Hirono spoke with the U. S. Ambassador to New Zealand Rosemary Banks to "offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the people of New Zealand. We all must join together to condemn this senseless act of terrorism and stand up to bigotry and hatred in all its forms." Said Hirono, "We know that white supremacist, extremist terrorism is on the rise. But @realDonaldTrump refuses to recognize it. He knows the language that he uses is harmful, that's why he does it - to animate his base."
     Gov. David Ige said, "Our hearts are heavy with grief for New Zealand. Dawn and I and the people of Hawaiʻi send our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all who are affected around the world by this mindless attack. We stand with all New Zealanders and send our aloha."
     Fifty people died after a self-described 28-year old white supremacist from Australia opened fire on worshipers in two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand. Another 50 victims remained in hospitals today.
     New Zealand and Hawaiʻi are within the Polynesian Triangle. Hawaiʻi maintains strong ties with New Zealand, especially among those of the Maori and Native Hawaiian communities. Many educational connections thrive with the universities and the revival of the native Maori and Hawaiian arts, dance, and language teachings in the schools. New Zealand is known for its aroha and Hawaiʻi for its aloha.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

"REPUBLICANS REALLY ARE COMING AFTER YOUR HEALTH CARE," said Hawaiʻi's Sen. Brian Schatz, who delivered the national Democratic Address on Saturday morning. The weekly speech, hosted by the Democratic Party, is a tradition of both Republicans and Democrats. It responds to the Address of the President, weekly since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, and intermittent since Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt started it. However, Pres. Donald Trump discontinued the Weekly Address of the President in 2018.
Sen. Brian Schatz. Photo from Schatz's Facebook
     In spite of the absence of the Weekly Address of the President, the Democrats continue. This morning, Schatz proclaimed, "Republicans are all about tax cuts and paying for it by cutting health care." He said that Trump's budget proposal would cut $1.5 trillion for Medicaid and $845 billion for Medicare. These add up to $2.3 trillion, about the same as tax cuts given to corporations and "the wealthiest Americans" last year. He said Trump is trying to make up for the tax cuts "by coming after your health care."
     Schatz called other Trump budget cuts "totally unacceptable": $25 billion from Social Security, $207 billion from federal student loan programs, $220 billion from programs that feed the poor, and "one-third of the entire budget of the Environmental Protection Agency."
     Said Schatz, "Democrats want to expand health care coverage, invest in students, and protect the air we breathe and the water that we drink. It's that simple."


A celebratory cake with butterflies graced the
National Honor Society inductee potluck table.
Photo from David Brooks/Harry McIntosh
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KAʻŪ HIGH NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY welcomed ten new members to its roster Thursday evening. National Honor Society membership recognizes four traits of scholarship: a minimum 3.2 GPA; service in selfless actions that help others; leadership; and character.
     Kaʻū High School principal Sharon Beck said all four are important; character spearheads the others.
     Inductees are: Crystal Jane Velasco, Destenie Alani Horan, Gabrielle Anne Santos, Alyana Malpal, Emalia Tiner, Angelica Felipe, Terree Oyama, Melinda Eder, David Moskalenko, and Mandy Crabbe-Jones. Other members are junior Maliah Ababa and graduating seniors Jennifer Abalos, Aaron Delos Santos, Bennen Nishimura, Therese Pascua, Justine Rosario, and Kianne Mederos Dancel. Advisor is David Brooks.

     Family and friends of National Honor Society members attended.

     Brooks congratulated the new inductees, and wished "best of luck to the graduating seniors who will be heading off to university or service in the US military."
Kaʻū High's newest National Honor Society members: Krystal Jane Velasco, Destenie Alani Horan, Gabrielle
Anne Santos, Alyana Malpal, Emalia Tiner, Angelica Felipe, Melinda Eder, Mandy Crabbe-Jones,
Terree Oyama, and David Moskalenko. Photos from David Brooks/Harry McIntosh

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THIS WEEK'S MAGNITUDE 5.5 M EARTHQUAKE IS A BUMP IN THE NIGHT, reports Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     Early Wednesday morning, just before  on March 13, houses in east Hawaiʻi began to shake. Without a doubt, it was an earthquake. To those who endured the near-daily shaking from last summer's collapse events at Kīlauea's summit, this week's earthquake was clearly different.

     Geophysicists from the USGS HVO quickly verified that the earthquake did not originate from beneath Kīlauea Volcano's summit region. Rather, the earthquake was centered 12 km (roughly 7 miles) south-southeast of Volcano Village, at a depth of 7 km (~4 miles) below sea-level. HVO reported the earthquake's magnitude as M5.5.

Map of selected earthquakes beneath a portion of southeast Hawaiʻi from May 4, 2018, to March 14, 2019, showing 
principally aftershocks following May 4, 2018, M6.9 earthquake. Black dots indicate epicenters of 13,083 earthquakes 
located during this time interval; yellow stars show locations of the M6.9 earthquake and the March 13, 2019 M5.5
 earthquake. Data source: USGS HVO

     Earthquakes at this location and depth in Hawaiʻi are due to movement along a decollement or detachment fault which separates the top of the original oceanic crust from the pile of volcanic rock that has built up to form the Island of Hawaiʻi. This is the same fault that was responsible for last May's M6.9 earthquake.

     The first earthquake in Hawaiʻi that scientists associated with decollement faulting was arguably the M7.7 earthquake in November 1975, Hawaiʻi's largest earthquake in the past century. The great Kaʻū earthquake beneath Mauna Loa's southeast flank in 1868 has also been interpreted as a result of decollement faulting. This is in part because the decollement is the only fault large enough to produce such a high-magnitude earthquake.

The 6.9M earthquake on May 4, 2018, indicated by the

orange star, was felt as far away as Oʻahu. USGS map
     Wednesday's M5.5 earthquake is, to date, the largest event among the thousands of earthquakes considered aftershocks of last May's M6.9. The aftershock sequence following the 1975 earthquake lasted roughly a decade, and it is generally understood that aftershock sequences could include earthquakes as large as one magnitude unit lower than the mainshock magnitude.

     In this regard, while not strictly predictable, this M5.5 was expected.  And, we expect aftershocks to persist for several more years.

     Importantly, though, this week's earthquake does not signal an increase in volcanic activity. Instead, it is part of an evolution of Kīlauea seismicity back to more typical levels.

     HVO's seismographic network has expanded and improved since 1975. Studies of the 2018 M6.9 earthquake show the extent of earthquake fault movement to underlie a large portion of the island’s southeast coast. This is quite similar to the model computed for the 1975 earthquake developed with more limited observations.

     Besides scientific interest in understanding how faults move during earthquakes, these models of fault rupture factor into considerations of possible tsunami generation and other earthquake impacts.

     The timing of the events in 2018 – the draining of Puʻu ʻŌʻō on April 30, the migration of earthquakes from Puʻu ʻŌʻō to Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone and breakout of lava in Leilani Estates on May 3, the M6.9 earthquake on May 4 and subsequent collapse of the floor of Kīlauea Caldera – suggests connections between and among these processes. Much of HVO's work now is focused on describing these connections to much greater detail. As one of our colleagues wrote several months ago, our ultimate challenge is to understand what Kīlauea will do next https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html?vwid=1393.

Foreshocks and aftershocks of the May 4, 2018, earthquake. NOAA map
     For example, further seismological modeling offers insights into how the M6.9 earthquake rupture progressed in time and space along the decollement.  This relates to redistribution of stresses beneath Kīlauea's southeast flank due to the earthquake. The impacts of these stress changes on the rift zone and how magma was supplied to lower East Rift Zone eruption of 2018 remain to be studied.

     Because of the overwhelming numbers of earthquakes recorded between April and August 2018, much of the continuing aftershock sequence awaits detailed review and analysis. As with any earthquake, the locations and the timing of the earthquakes will provide our first clues of why they happened. They will also help us piece together other important details of Kīlauea's awesome 2018 sequence. 

Activity Update

     Kīlauea is not erupting. Rates of seismicitydeformation, and gas release have not changed significantly over the past week. Deformation signals are consistent with refilling of Kīlauea Volcano's deep East Rift Zone magma reservoir. Sulfur dioxide emission rates on the ERZ and at Kīlauea's summit remain low.
     USGS Volcano Alert level for Mauna Loa remains at NORMAL.

     Visit hvo.wr.usgs.gov for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates and other volcano status reports, current volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a recorded Kīlauea summary update; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KAʻŪ BOYS VOLLEYBALL fought hard against larger school Waiakea Friday, March 15. Kaʻū scored 4 in the first set, 10 in the second, and 8 in the third, with guests Waiakea at 25 for each set. Come to home games – see list below – to support the Trojans.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

JUST ANNOUNCED
KEIKI, AGES 5 TO 12 YEARS OLD, INVITED TO ATTEND READ TO ME, a performing arts program in Ka‘ū District Gym's multi-purpose room on Tuesdays, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open registration.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.





Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, March 17, 2019

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USGS HVO's  summit webcam provides a view into Halema‘uma‘u. In story below, read about a recent rockfall that 
revealed sulfur deposits. USGS HVO photo

TESTIMONY TO FUND A CARDIAC CATH LAB at Hilo Medical Center is urged by Kaʻū Hospital, which would provide the service to its patients. Testimony to the state House of Representatives is open through tomorrow, Monday, March 18, 10 a.m. The bill, SB 911 SD1, will be heard Tuesday, March 19 at 10 a.m. in the House Health Committee.
     Submit testimony online via the Hawai`i State Legislature website, or email the House Health Committee at HLTtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. Contact Elena Cabatu, of Hilo Medical Center, at 808-333-7223 or email ecabatu@hhsc.org for additional information. See video, "Improving Cardiac Care at Hilo Medical Center."

Cardiac care for all of Hawaiʻi Island could be improved if SB 911 passes.
Photo from youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=WYXJRHWFhoQ
     Kaʻū Hospital offers this example for testimony: "SB 911 SD1 would fund HiloMedicalCenter's efforts to provide interventional cardiac care for East Hawaiʻiand potentially for all of Hawaiʻi Island. The procedure involved in this advanced level of cardiac care stops heart attacks in progress and reduces long term cardiac disability. The AmericanCollege of Cardiology recommends interventional cardiac care as a best practice for treating heart attacks in rural areas like Hawaiʻi Island.  

     "HiloMedicalCenteris well positioned to provide interventional cardiac care as it already has available cardiac imaging equipment and software, as well as a cardiology clinic that has space for three cardiologists. The hospital's cardiology program is on track to meeting its goal by the end of 2019 to provide interventional cardiology that will save lives and improve the quality of life for cardiac patients. The funding received in the 2018 legislative session was very much appreciated as it was crucial in the hospital's success in recruiting interventional cardiologists. Funding in this second phase is essential for HiloMedicalCenterto continue the momentum in advancing heart attack care."


The largest sulfur deposit on the northeast talus slope in 
Halema‘uma‘u, shown by the K3 webcam. USGS HVO photo

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A ROCKFALL IN HALEMAʻUMAʻU Wednesday revealed sulfur deposits along the western wall of the recently expanded crater. U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported that at on March 13, the upper part of a gully along the western wall failed, producing a rockfall.

     Said a release from HVO: "When geologists arrived at the summit at , rocks were still falling, and a small dusty plume was visible until This rockfall was likely triggered by instability of the talus slope caused by water that has been trickling out of a round hole in the cliff face since July 2018, when the steep gully first formed."

     Several summit webcams, which constantly record steaming Kīlauea caldera in action or stillness, captured the plume and large swathes of yellow sulfur, which are a result of volcanic gasses rising from the magma store beneath the summit.

     See the 15 USGSHVO webcams of Kīlauea, Puʻu ʻŌʻō, the lower East Rift Zone, and more.

KW webcam in the HVO tower at Kīlauea summit caught the plume from the rockfall. USGS HVO photos
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A MEETING FOR PĀHALA PROPERTY OWNERS & OCCUPANTS, REQUIRED TO HOOK UP TO THE FUTURE SEWER SYSTEM even though they already have cesspools or septic systems, will be held this week. The meeting concerns properties not connected to the old plantation sewer lines along sections of the following streets: Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu.
The meeting this Thursday is for those with homes and businesses coded
purple in this diagram. These properties have their own cesspools or
septic systems, but will be required to hook up to the new county sewer
line once it is installed in the public right of way going by the properties.
Map from County of Hawaiʻi
     The meeting is Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street.
     County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management will present these "newly accessible" owners and occupants with information on financial issues and options regarding requirements to hook up to the new sewer system.
     Hawaiʻi County Code requires hooking up properties along any roadway in the county where a sewer line passes by. The new system is expected to become operational in 2021, and connections must be made within 180 days of the new sewer line going into service.
     RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030. A meeting for Nāʻālehu will be announced – watch for more info in future Kaʻū News Briefs.

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SCHMIDT OCEAN INSTITUTE'S ARTIST-AT-SEA CLOSING CELEBRATION at MokupāpapaDiscoveryCenter,
76 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo
, happens Thursday, March 21, The free event, open to the public, is the last chance to see the Artist-at-Sea exhibit of more than 50 pieces of artwork "made from and inspired by local artists who participated on science expeditions aboard Falkor," the institute's research vessel. Media include watercolor, drawings, photography, fiber, resin, and data visualizations.
     From to , keiki and adults are welcome to meet and engage with the artists. From to , the closing ceremony will feature guest speakers.
     Contact Clayton Watkins at 933-8184 or clayton.watkins@noaa.gov.


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APRIL AT VOLCANO ART CENTER AND GALLERY features a variety of engaging events:

     On Sacred Ground by Dino Morrow exhibit continues through May 5, daily at VAC Gallery in Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park. The exhibit highlights the Hula Arts at Kīlauea Program through the documentary photography of Dino Morrow. A special evening presentation sharing the extensive collection of intimate images captured by Morrow during various hula performances will be held on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at VAC's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

     VAC's yART Sale happens April 6 from to Proceeds benefit VAC programs and workshops.

     Sunday Clay – High Fire! morning or afternoon series with Erik Wold starts Sunday, April 7. Experience "the pleasure of putting your own handmade functional pottery into use." All skill levels are welcome.

     Tales of Forgiveness and Tales of the Three Monks performance from storyteller Jeff Gere at VAC on Thursday, April 11 at Tickets are $15/$10 VAC Members.  

     Soft Pastel Still Life workshop with Patti Pease Johnson on Saturday, April 13 from to encourages artists to "Exaggerate! Be bold with colors and yourself using lights and darks, and enjoy the marks you make on paper using a proven signature rotational method for success with soft pastels."

     Zentangle Celtic Knots workshop, led by Ellen O’Dunn, happens Saturday, April 13 from to

     Jazz in the Forest goes to the movies on Saturday, April 13 at Watch Jean Pierre Thoma and the Jazztones play along with a collection of tunes from the silver screen.

     Food From Wood: Edible Mushroom Cultivation is led by Zach Mermel on Saturday, April 20 from to . "Wondering what to do with those undesirable exotic trees on the Back Forty? By teaming with certain fungi, you can turn that pesky plant problem into an edible solution."

     Abstract Painting introductory techniques, taught by Darcy Gray, happens Saturday, April 20 from to

     Healing Through Words creative writing workshop led by Dr. Heather Rivera happens Saturday, April 27 from to Rivera offers ways to start writing a book.

     Sauerkraut and Kombucha making with Jasmine Silverstein on Saturday, April 27 from to

Kumu Hula Kini Ka‘awa
     Hula Voicesat VAC Gallery on April 3 from to presents "an engaging, intimate 'talk story' session with Hawai‘i Island kumu hula who live lives centered on the practice of hula and its associated arts." This month features Kumu Kini Ka‘awa.

     Hula Kahikoperformance happens on April 13 at with Kumu Kini Kaʻawa features nā haumana of Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, and Nā Mea Hula with Loke Kamanu & ʻohana runs from to , at VAC Gallery.

     Aloha Wednesday Creative Arts Classes occur weekly from to at VAC's Ni‘aulani Campus. These weekly short classes on a wide range of arts include lauhala weaving, tile making for the Community Mosaic Project at VAC, and more.

     Hawaiian Values Printmaking– a weekly, hands-on, printmaking class increasing the understanding of Hawai‘i’s rich resources, heritage, and traditions using the donated linoleum block prints of beloved artist, Dietrich Varez – occurs Mondays from 11am – 1pm at VAC’s Ni‘aulani Campus.

     Aloha Friday Cultural Demonstrations take place each Friday on the front porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors and kama‘aina alike are invited to experience a free, hands-on workshop presented by hospitable Hawai‘i Island practitioners, covering topics such as ukulele, lei making, hula and chant, and lauhala weaving.

     VolcanoArtCenteris a non-profit educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop, and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Visit volcanoartcenter.org.    


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KAʻŪ TROJANS HOSTED KEAʻAU Saturday, in both Boys Baseball and Girls Softball.

     The Trojans ladies played a tough game against their opponents, snatching victory by one run, scoring 12 over Keaʻau's 11.

     The Trojans gentlemen also fought hard against their opponents, scoring 3 runs, Keaʻau took the game at 12.
     See below for upcoming home and away games.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net


TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

Wiki Wiki Mart Hosts Free Nutrition Class Tuesday, March 19 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. "Find out where's the junk in junk foods." Speaker is Renee Default, PhD, former FDA associate, founder Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, and Kaʻū High School staff associate.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Pāhala Sewer Hook-Up Meeting for owners and occupants of properties along Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu streets – but not connected to the Large Capacity Cesspools – happens Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street. RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030.

Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.




Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, March 18, 2019

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Home of the new Electric Vehicle fast chargers is Punaluʻu Bakehop in Nāʻālehu, with General Manager Connie Koi;
 Hawaiʻi Electric Light and Maui Electric President Sharon Suzuki; Gary and Paula Miller, of Big Island Electric 
Vehicle Association; state Sen. Russell Ruderman; Emily Ebert and Thomas Kraft, of Big Island Electric Vehicle
 Association; Karen Chaves, of Isemoto Contracting Co.; and Hawaiʻi County Council Chairman Aaron Chung. 
Photo from Hawaiʻi Electric Light
AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER is available during Punaluʻu Bake Shop's business hours in Nāʻālehu. Connie Koi, Punaluʻu Bake Shop general manager said, "We are pleased to have been selected as the new EV site in the district of Kaʻū. Located in such a remote area, we can understand the need of having a charger easily accessible for nearby residents. Hopefully, this availability will encourage more people in Kaʻū to switch over to save and to preserve our environment."
     Hawai‘i Electric Light installed the new utility-owned and operated electric vehicle DC fast charger at Punalu‘u Bake Shop. The unit is Hawai‘i Electric Light's fifth fast charger. Other utility-owned units are located at the company's offices in Hiloand Kona, KTA Super Stores in WaimeaCenter, and The Shops at Mauna Lani. The other EV charger is in the parking lot at the Kaʻū District Gym.

A DC fast charger for electric vehicles, like the one installed at 
Punaluʻu Bake Shop in Nāʻālehu. Photo from Hawaiʻi Electric Light
     Sharon Suzuki, president of Hawai‘i Electric Light and Maui Electric, said: "One of our goals is to provide customers with more services and options. The DC Fast Charger is part of our effort to build the infrastructure to support electric vehicle adoption and lead the clean energy transportation revolution.

     "Fast chargers encourage clean transportation and help us integrate more renewable energy so we can reach our statewide goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045," Suzuki said. "We're proud to partner with Punaluʻu Bake Shop to bring the first fast charger to serve the south Hawai‘i community." Hawai‘i Electric Light operates the equipment at no cost to the host for installation, maintenance, or electricity. Hosts must be willing to provide the requested space and minimal assistance for operation.

     A DC fast charger is a Level 3 charger that can recharge a near-depleted EV battery to 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes, and even less time for shorter recharges. The charger has a CHAdeMO connection (used mostly by Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Kia Soul EV) and a CCS connection (used by the BMW i3). Rates range from $0.51 to $0.53 per kilowatt-hour, depending on time of use, and payment can be made with a major credit card or a Greenlots subscription.
     To become a DC Fast Charger host site, call 808-969-0358 or contact the company by mail at Hawai‘i Electric Light (GoEV), Engineering Department, P.O. Box 1027, Hilo, HI 96721. Detailed information on electric vehicles also is available at hawaiielectriclight.com/goev.


Kamilo Beach, littered with
international debris, much of it
plastic.
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TESTIFY ON THE STATEWIDE BAN OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND STYROFOAM by , tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19. A hearing before the House Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary happens Wednesday, March 20, at SB522 SD2 passed its hearings with the House Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Economic Development & Business last Thursday. Read testimony and the bill at SB522 SD2. See past Kaʻū News Briefs for more: March 12 and March 6.

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Sen. Russell Ruderman
REGISTRATION SURCHARGE FOR ELECTRIC, HYBRID, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES continues to move forward in the Hawaiʻi state legislature. Senate Bill 409 SD2 would add $15 to the $45 annual registration fee for "electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, to be deposited into the state highway fund." The measure passed the state House of Representatives Committee on Transportation last week.
     Senate Bill 409 SD2 passed the Senate and entered the House earlier this month, despite east Kaʻū's Sen. Russell Ruderman's testimony against the surcharge, wherein he urge lawmakers to consider climate change, and stated he would still purchase an additional electric vehicle "even if you're penalizing me for it."
     See the bill and testimony, and submit testimony to the House, at capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=409&year=2019. Read more of Ruderman's testimony in March 10 Kaʻū News Briefs.
     Kaʻū District Gym's electric vehicle charging station, near Pikake and Kamani Streets in Pāhala is open Mondays through Thursdays, to and Fridays,

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BILLS ON HEALTH BACKED BY KAʻŪ HOSPITAL AND HILO MEDICAL CENTER are progressing:

     HB1421 SD2 would appropriate funds for 2019-2021 for Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation operating budget, which includes funds for Kaʻū Hospital. The bill passed from the state Senate to the House of Representatives and is awaiting scheduling for hearings with Senate Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, & Health and Ways & Means.

Sen. Dru Kanuha
     HB1410 SD2, co-sponsored by east Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kanuha and Hilo Sen. Kai Kahele, would authorize funds to "expand the Kaʻū Rural Health Clinic to improve access to urgent care and outpatient behavioral health services." The bill passed the House Committee on Health Thursday. The next hearing is not yet scheduled.
Sen. Kai Kahele
     SB887 SD2 HD1, also co-sponsored by Kanuha and Kahele, would increase "cigarette and tobacco tax on cigarettes and little cigars beginning July 1, 2020. Allocates excise tax revenue generated at the increased rate to specified health improvement purposes beginning July 1, 2020. Specifies moneys in the Cancer Research Special Fund to be used to research liver and bile duct cancer." The bill passed its second reading Friday, and goes before the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce tomorrow at 2 p.m. Testimony received after 2 p.m. today may be read but will be marked "late."
Rep. Richard Onishi
     HB1447 HD1, co-sponsored by east Kaʻū Rep. Richard Onishi, would "promote public education on palliative care and establish home- or community-based palliative care projects." The bill passed from the House to the Senate on March 5 and is referred to Senate Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, & Health and Ways & Means.

     Follow the bills through the links above to read the bills and testimony, and to submit testimony.


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GOV. DAVID IGE HAS APPOINTED Randall Tanaka to serve as deputy director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and Mary Alice Evans to lead the state's Office of Planning. Both appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.
    Said Ige, "Both Randy and Mary Alice have the skills and experience to move the department forward, particularly in the areas of creating an innovation economy and making better use of state lands for our shared priorities of increasing housing residents can afford and locally grown agricultural products."
Mary Alice Evans
     Evans served as deputy director at DBEDT since April 2011 after working as an employee of the Department for 33 years and serving as DAGS' deputy comptroller for two years. Evans holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is a previous president of the Hawaiʻi Chapter of American Planning Association, and chair of the Honolulu City Planning Commission.
Randall Tanaka
     Tanaka is currently the director of Commercial and Auxiliary Enterprises, Safety and Security at the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. Tanaka served as president and executive director of the 2016 World Conservation Congress that was held in Honolulu, directing all logistical functions to host more than 10,000 delegates from 190 countries. He was also chief operating officer for The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. Previously, he served in various capacities at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center – including interim general manager, assistant general manager, director of Business Development, and director of Sales and Marketing. Tanaka was also executive director of the Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau, director of sales at The Island of Lānaʻi, Ihilani Resort and Spa/West Oʻahu, and Westin Kauaʻi and Kauaʻi Lagoons.
    A 1979 graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Tanaka has a wide range of community affiliations, including the Professional Conference Managers Association and the International Association of Venue Management.

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HAWAIʻI RANKS LOW IN INNOVATION compared to other U.S.states and Washington, D.C.according to a recent WalletHub study. However, Hawaiʻi still ranks more than ten points above the lowest-ranked state, Mississippi.
     Hawaiʻi ranks 45th overall, 42nd in Human Capital, and 44th in Innovation Environment. The state's best ranking is 32nd, for Share of Technology Companies. Hawaiʻi ranks 42nd in Research and Development Spending (per capita), 43rd for Projected STEM Job Demand by next year, 45th for Share of STEM Professionals, and 47th in Eighth Grade Math and Science Performance. The state is also 46th in Venture Capital Funding (per capita).

     WalletHub states, "Innovation is a principal driver of U.S.economic growth. In 2019, the U.S.will spend an estimated $581 billion on research and development — more than any other country in the world and about 25% of the world's total — helping the nation rank No. 6 on the Global Innovation Index. According to the results of the ranking, knowledge and technology outputs are America's particular strengths. But certain states deserve more credit than others for America's dominance in the tech era. These states continue to grow innovation through investments in education, research and business creation, especially in highly specialized industries."

     WalletHub compared the 50 states and D.C. across 24 "key indicators of innovation-friendliness."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Tue., March 19, , @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

REMINDERS

PĀHALA RECYCLING & TRANSFER STATION'S FUTURE will be discussed at a community meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19,  at Pāhala Community Center. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division will discuss the operating days and modifying the current schedule.

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY NIUHI-SHARK EXHIBIT closes Sunday, March 24. Open daily, the exhibit invites the public to see art showing perspectives on Kamehameha the Great, featuring a visual experience of important events in his life from two different art styles. See original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.
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UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629


Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net



Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

Wiki Wiki Mart Hosts A Free Nutrition Class Tuesday, March 19 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. "Find out where's the junk in junk foods." Speaker is Renee Default, PhD, former FDA associate, founder Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, and Kaʻū High School staff associate.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Pāhala Sewer Hook-Up Meeting for owners and occupants of properties along Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu streets – but not connected to the Large Capacity Cesspools – happens Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street. RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030.

Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 19, 2019

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Waikapuna, in escrow for preservation with funds partially from the 2% Land Fund, will be part of over 6,400 acres
 conserved - most of it in Ka
ʻū. Kaʻū residents are urged to attend upcoming Charter Commission meetings.
Aerial photo by Shalan Crysdale
THE SAVE OUR LANDS CITIZENS' COMMITTEE urges Kaʻū residents to attend the Charter Commission meeting in Nāʻālehu on Friday, March 29 at Nāʻālehu Community Center. The organization – led by volunteers who helped to establish the 2% Land Fund, which raises money from 2 percent of property taxes on the island to conserve special properties – proposes two charter amendments.
     The group says the charter amendments would "strengthen the 2% Land Fund Program." One would pay for a full time employee under the county Department of Finance to work exclusively on the 2% Land Fund Program. Pay would come from the 2% Land Fund. The second amendment would provide more maintenance funding for lands already conserved. A statement from the group says the charter amendment would "fulfill the original intent of the Maintenance Fund Charter Amendment to empower the non-profit organizations who are already caring for the 2% Land Fund acquisitions with stewardship grants to build buildings and toilet facilities, and to pay workers whether they may be employees or members of the board from their grants."

Rare fresh water near the shore at Kāwā, conserved on the
Kaʻū Coast through the 2% Land Fund.
Photo by Julia Neal
     The statement from Save Our Land's chair Debbie Hecht says, "Hawaiʻi is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Our treasured land should be preserved in perpetuity for our keiki and grandchildren."

     The group also reviews its history: "A small group of citizens met in 2006, and formed the Save Our Lands Citizens' Committee to run a petition initiative campaign. Our petitions were signed by more than 9,600 of BigIslandvoters. The County clerk disqualified more than 6,000 signatures, stopping the petition. The County Council put the 2% Land Fund on the ballot anyway. Mayor Billy Kenoi halted deposits to the Land Fund in 2008 as his first legislation. We realized that we needed a charter amendment that could only be changed by a vote of the people. We did get a charter amendment approved in 2010, but the Charter Commission put it on the ballot at only at 1%. We got the 2% Land Fund back on the ballot in 2012. Each time the Land Fund has been approved by 63% of voters. We believe this is a citizen's mandate!"

     Most of the 4,428 acres conserved are in Kaʻū, with large pieces on the Kaʻū Coast. Another 2,200 acres in Kaʻū, including Waikapuna, are in escrow. Land was acquired with $27.4 million from the 2%LandFund, $8.8 million in grants and matching funds, and $2 million from private funds.

     Income from 2 percent of property taxes in Hawaiʻi County amounts to approximately $5 million a year. There is about $19 million in the fund and the group urges purchase of more special properties before they go to development or their cost becomes prohibitive.

Kāwā, conserved with help from the 2% Land Fund, has brackish waters
where young fish and birds live, alongside visitors enjoying
springs and saltwater. Photo by Julia Neal
     Charter commission meetings around the island coming up soon are: March 25 in Kohala at 5 p.m. at the Old Court Building; March 29 in Nāʻālehu at the Community Center at 5 p.m.; April 1 at Pāhoa Community Center at 5 p.m.; April 2 at Honokaʻa Gym at 5 p.m.; April 3 at Kona Council Chamber at 5 p.m.; and April 4 at Hilo Council Chambers 5 p.m.

     Sign up to be informed at Hecht.Deb@gmail.com. Send an email to Charter.Commission@hawaiicounty.gov. For more information on the history, the process, and the successes of the 2% Land Fund, go to: debbiehecht.com/2018/03/09/hawaii-county-and-the-big-islands-2-land-fund-report-3-9-2018/.


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Rep. Richard Onishi
USE THE COUNTY'S .5% SHARE OF THE SALES TAX TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, urges east Kaʻū's member of the state House of Representatives Richard Onishi. He testified at the Hawaiʻi Legislature that he comes from a very rural district, over 56 miles long, and "the current mass transit system is very lacking, to the point where school children in my district are unable sometimes to participate in extra curricular activities because the school bus system leaves right after school ends and there's no way for them to get back to their communities. I think the BigIsland has huge needs for a mass transit system and, as many of you know, our district, in terms of income, is the lowest in the state." He said to "repurpose the money at the county's discretion is bad policy and it doesn't equally affect every county in the state. I think picking and choosing on this particular matter is not good policy."

Rep. Richard Creagan
     Mayor Harry Kim has asked the legislature to lift the restriction to use the money only for transportation. He said the county intends to continue with the implementation of the county's master transit plan, but that flexibility in spending GET surcharge funds is a "top priority" this legislative session.


     He pointed to increasing cost of public worker benefits, a need for more police officers and recovery from last year's volcano disaster.
Mayor Harry Kim
     Rep. Nicole Lowen, who represents Kona, said she agrees with Onishi that "mass transit is one of the most important things we can be doing for ameliorating cost of living, for reducing carbon emissions, for dealing with traffic." She contended that the "mass transit system on Hawaiʻi Island is the furthest behind in the state."

     Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, of Puna, said county busses need to be replaced. "Until they fix our roads and until everyone gets proper access back to their homes and back to their farms (after last year's volcanic disaster), I need to be in opposition" to allowing the county to use its share of the GET for other purposes.

     Onishi told the Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald that lawmakers should focus on acquiring revenue from taxes largely paid by visitors rather than hitting the "local guys" with higher gas taxes, weight fees, and vehicle registration fees. He contended that as much as 40 percent of the General Excise Tax could come from visitors.

Hawaiʻi County's master transit plan.
     Last week, Hawai‘i County Council approved hiking the county's share of the sales tax - the GET - from .25 percent to .5 percent of cost of goods and services sold, increasing the total tax to 4.5 percent. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2030. The county expects the increase to add $50 million per year to the budget.
     Similar bills in the state Senate and House of Representatives are being considered. Senate Bill 1428 SD 1 and House Bill 1394 HD 1– cosponsorred by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan – would both authorize "any county with a population equal to or less than 500,000 that adopts a county surcharge on state tax ordinance to use the surcharges received from the State for infrastructure and public safety." Neither bill has a hearing scheduled at this time, and testimony cannot be submitted until hearings are scheduled. Keep track of upcoming hearings, and read the bills and past testimonies, via the links above.


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Mukini, #40, batting a single against 
Honoka‘aPhoto from Ka‘ū Athletics

KῙLAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM will close Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22, for electrical rewiring in advance of a planned upgrade slated April 8 through 15.

     The auditorium will again close temporarily from April 8 through April 15 for system upgrades. The visitor center will remain open during both closures, but park films normally shown in the auditorium will not be shown during this time.

     The work will be supervised by the National Park Service and is funded by park entrance fee revenue.


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TROJANS BOYS BASEBALL faced off with Honoka‘a yesterday in a game that ended with Ka‘ū scoring 5 runs. Their opponents took the game with 9. See upcoming games schedule, below.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

JUST ANNOUNCED
WRITING FOR INNER EXPLORATION AND LIFE REFLECTION WORKSHOP, led by Tom Peek, happens Saturday, March 23 from to at Niʻaulani Campus in VolcanoVillage.

     Says Peek, "With all that happens in our lives (say nothing of experiencing the largest Kīlaueaeruption in 200 years!) there's plenty to reflect on and write about. Spring's seasonal transition is always a good time to do that—to pause, ponder and generate new ideas.

     "In that spirit, I'm teaching one of my favorite workshops, Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection, on Saturday, March 23 at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani campus, a rainforest setting perfect for creative respites. We still have a few spots left on the roster… please join us if you can.

     "Discover ways to stimulate the creative regions of your mind and unearth your meatiest memories, highest aspirations, zaniest ideas and most incandescent insights. No previous writing experience is necessary, just the desire to explore!"

     To register, visit volcanoartcenter.org or contact VAC's Program Manager, Alyssa Johnasen, at (808) 967-8222 or workshops@volcanoartcenter.org.
     Peek also announced new stories on the Daughters of Fire news blog, including about the recent gathering of Volcano residents sharing their personal experiences during the 2018 Kīlaueaeruption.


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UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Pāhala Sewer Hook-Up Meeting for owners and occupants of properties along Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu streets – but not connected to the Large Capacity Cesspools – happens Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street. RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030.

Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.


Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 20, 2019

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Volcano Rain Forest Runs are finished, reports founder Sharon Pfaff, unless another group would like
to take over the event that ran for nine years in the Volcano community. See story below.
Photo from Volcano Rain Forest Runs
SKYLARK ROSSETTI, a longtime voice of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival, a radio personality throughout Hawaiʻi, and an expert on Hawaiian music, died this afternoon. A 1971 graduate of Kamehameha School, Leilani "Skylark" Rossetti, 65, experienced renal failure at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua
Skylark Rosetti
Photo by Julia Neal
Medical Center where she was undergoing treatment on Oʻahu.
Makana Kamahele, Kumu Debbie Ryder, and Sklyark
at Kaʻū Coffee Festival. Photo by Jessie Tunison
     Skylark was a leader in developing the Hawaiian radio station KCCN, with Krash Kealoha and Kimo Kahoano. She cofounded the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards that celebrate musical accomplishments in Hawaiʻi. She earned a lifetime achievement award from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts. Skykark was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
     Skylark was a mentor to co-Kaʻū Coffee Festival emcee Makana Kamahele at the festival and in his emergence as a radio personality on Hawaiʻi Island. She was also a close colleague with Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder and her Halau Hula O Leionalani, based in Pāhala.

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VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS are pau, unless a group would like to continue the event into its tenth year. Founder and race director Sharon Faff said she is retiring from the effort that brought runners from around the world to the Volcano Village community for nine years. Late last year, Faff sold her Kona Marathon event, which drew thousands and helped to subsidize Volcano Rain Forest Runs. The new owner is Brent Imonen, of Kamuela.
       While department from managing running events, Faff said she will continue her work as a cultural guide, soon setting off for a 28-day cruise to Tahiti. Faff said she appreciates enormous support for Volcano Rain Forest Runs in the community where she plans to remain, recently building a new house.
      Volcano Rain Forest Runs featured a Half-Marathon, 10K, 5K, and two levels of Keiki Fun Run, held in August since 2010. On the site, Faff wrote, "It has been a great nine year 'run' as a Community Event in Volcano Village. Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators, and especially the CooperCenterfor providing the perfect location for making this such a wonderful event over the years."

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KAʻŪ, KONA, AND HILOCOMMERCIAL TRASH disposal sites will be the three commercial locations in the future for Hawaiʻi County. Solid Waste Division chief Greg Goodale, who spoke at a community meeting in Pāhala last night, said the Kaʻū location will be Waiʻōhinu. Kaʻū is without a commercial site and commercial and institutional trash are technically expected to be deposited either in Hiloor near Waikoloa, a long drive from Kaʻū. The expanded Waiʻōhinu facility could also make it possible for the development of private commercial trash hauling services in Kaʻū, with the closer drop off spot.

Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station. Photo from County Solid Waste Division
     Goodale also said the county is interested in working with a private business in Kaʻū to locate an above ground tank to receive used oil.

     Concerning the days set for residential disposal of trash in Pāhala, residents Liz Polido and Dexter Lee said they support keeping a four-day a week schedule, but spreading out some days.
     The transfer station could be open Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and, Saturdays instead of Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, some residents suggested. However, one day would be moved from the daily Waiʻōhinu schedule to keep the budget in line, said Goodale. He came to Pāhala last month to talk about reducing the number of days from four to three. He said he would take the suggestion to reduce Waiʻōhinu to six days to the county administration and to the Nāʻālehu community.


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REP. RICHARD ONISHI SPOKE ABOUT TOURISM on Monday with Carolyn Tanaka during Live at the Legislature, a news segment produced by ʻOlelo Community Media. Onishi is east Kaʻū's member of the state House of Representatives chairs its Tourism Committee.
     Onishi said he expects the state of Hawaiʻi will receive ten million visitors in 2019. He said the last eight years have "seen increases" in air seat capacity, in part due to steady fuel prices, driving down fares and increasing visitor numbers. He also said social media influences visitors, promoting destinations, bargains, and first-time experiences.
Rep. Richard Onishi and interviewer Carolyn Tanaka.
Photo from ʻOlelo Community Media
     Tanaka asked if ten million visitors are "too many." Onishi cautioned that a fast a drop in tourism hurts the economy and noted the abrupt drop in the visitor count during the volcano disaster, even in places with little risk. He acknowledged the economic devastation in Volcano Village and Hawaiʻi Island. He said inaccurate depictions of the threat to visitors drove them away.
     In response to a question from Tanaka about marketing versus managing tourism, Onishi said, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is in charge of both marketing and management, and that its responsibility is to balance guest care and economic benefits, with a focus on attracting those who will "respect Hawaiʻi, our environment, and our culture" when they visit.
     Tanaka also asked whether the short-term vocational rentals industry is "a problem." Onishi said the counties "have not managed them over the course of many years," and that management will help the state get through the difficulty. "We've gone through phases in accommodations in Hawaiʻi," he said, listing hotels, timeshares, and bed & breakfasts. Operators of existing accommodations type oppose new types of accommodations, he said.

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A BILL TO REDUCE DRUNKEN DRIVING, supported by west Kaʻū state Rep. Richard Creagan, who is a physician, passed the Senate Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, & Military Affairs, on Monday.
     House Bill 703 HD1 would prohibit those convicted of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol from purchasing alcohol and from consuming it in public for three years following conviction or license revocation. It would also define habitual DUI as two or more convictions in a decade and increase fines as well as other penalties.
     Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the definition of habitual DUI and raising fines for repeat offenders. The state Office of the Public Defender opposes the three year prohibition on purchasing alcohol and drinking in public, describing the penalty as "excessive," recommending substance abuse treatment, instead of the stiffer penalty.
     Submit testimony, and read the bill and testimonies, here.


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A catheter lab helps to prevent cardiac deaths. Legislation is 
progressing to fund one for HiloMedicalCenter, which 
receives patients from Kaʻū Hospital.
Photo from Wikipdea
BILL TO FUND CARDIAC CATH LAB at HiloMedicalCenter, supported by Kaʻū Hospital, passed the House committee on Health yesterday. SB 911 SD1 would appropriate funds "to improve health care services related to cardiac care at HiloMedicalCenter." Read the bill and testimony.
     Contact Elena Cabatu, of HiloMedicalCenter, at 808-333-7223 or email ecabatu@hhsc.org for additional information. See video, "Improving Cardiac Care at Hilo Medical Center."


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MEETING FOR PĀHALA PROPERTY OWNERS & OCCUPANTS, REQUIRED TO HOOK UP TO THE FUTURE SEWER SYSTEM even though they already have cesspools or septic systems, happens tomorrow, Thursday, March 21,  at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street.
     The meeting concerns properties not connected to the old plantation sewer lines along sections of the following streets: Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu.

     County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management will present these "newly accessible" owners and occupants with information on financial issues and options regarding requirements to hook up to the new sewer system.

     Hawaiʻi County Code requires hooking up properties along any roadway in the county where a sewer line passes by. The new system is expected to become operational in 2021, and connections must be made within 180 days of the new sewer line going into service.
     RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030. A meeting for Nāʻālehu will be announced – watch for more info in future Kaʻū News Briefs.


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NOMINATIONS FOR THE ALOHA ORDER OF MERIT are open through Monday, March 25. The Office of the Governor is seeking nominations for individuals "who have distinguished themselves nationally or internationally in their fields of expertise and who contributed to the attainment of statehood or who have provided extraordinary service to, devoted themselves to the betterment of, or brought honor to the state." The Order was established by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1993.
     Said Gov. David Ige, "We know there are many people who provide extraordinary service to our state, and this is one way we can honor them."

     Those wishing to submit a nomination should email a letter of recommendation, resume of the person being nominated, and any supporting materials to boards.commissions@hawaii.gov. Criteria for consideration are listed in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Sec. 5-7.6. The Legislature must approve the honorees by concurrent resolution.



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KAʻŪ CHALLENGED KEALAKEHE yesterday in Boys Volleyball. The Trojans played hard, scoring 17 in the first set, 7 in the second, and battling for the third set at 26 to Kona's 28. The Waveriders won the first two sets at 25. See more scheduled games, below.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 21, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

JUST ANNOUNCED
EXHIBITONSACRED GROUND, an intimate collection of hula images by Dino Morrow opens Saturday, March 30 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The public is invited to an opening reception with the artist that same evening from to A special evening presentation by Morrow will be held Thursday, April 18th starting at The evening program will share the extensive collection of intimate images captured during various hula performances. The presentation will take place at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in VolcanoVillage.
From the On Sacred Ground photography exhibition at VAC 
Gallery. Documentary photography of the Hula Arts 
at Kīlauea program by Dino Morrow
     In preparation for the annual Merrie Monarch Festival – the week-long celebration of hula – VAC welcomes Morrow's documentary and portrait photography. He specializes in candid shots of indigenous and local cultures, his current focus is "to witness and respectfully document Hawaiian and indigenous cultures as an intimate and traditional expression: sense of place, identity, connection, art, values, spirituality and offering." For Morrow, says VAC, the "ultimate value of an image" is given when the participants "accept the perspective, composition and feeling to be honorable and authentic. In order to achieve this, he relies on a personal connection with the subject and a keen sense of a deeper understanding from their perspective." Morrow says, "Photography, for me, is trying to see what I feel... with a camera."
Self Portrait by Dino Morrow
     VAC "is pleased to have had the contribution of this world class hula and documentary photographer during the 2018 Hula Arts at Kīlauea program. His strong visual aesthetic and attention to detail paired perfectly with the dynamic location in capturing authentic Hula Kahiko performances and other hula related arts."
     Hula Arts at Kīlauea offers free activities year round: monthly live outdoor Hula Kahiko Performances, paired with hands-on cultural demonstrations; weekly Aloha Friday programs, which offer short classes on a wide range of hula arts; monthly Hula Voices presentations featuring evening "talk story" sessions with hula practitioners; and an annual May Day Celebration. The performances and hands-on activities given by recognized Hawaiʻi Island resident practitioners "provide a greater awareness of the hula arts as a cultural experience and as a way to feel a deep connection to the environment. The non-performance hula activities provide intimate, hands-on, enriching experiences to participants. All VAC Hula Arts Programs help support cultural practitioners in perpetuating the hula arts and in sharing the Aloha Spirit."

From the On Sacred Ground photography exhibition at VAC 
Gallery. Documentary photography of the Hula Arts 
at Kīlauea program by Dino Morrow
     These ongoing programs allow VAC to continue its long tradition of culturally rich programming. Support from Hawaiʻi Tourism's Community Enrichment Program allows these programs to be shared with visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. For a complete schedule of events, see volcanoartcenter.org/hula-arts or call 808-967-7565. VAC invites the public to view the beauty and experience last year's events by visiting On Sacred Ground through May 5.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org


PiYo Live Classes, Thursday, March 21 and every Thursday after, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Low-impact Pilates and yoga-inspired workout to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. Bring mat and water. Shoes optional. Donations welcome. Sara, 520-389-0620


Pāhala Sewer Hook-Up Meeting for owners and occupants of properties along Puahala, Pikake, Maile, Ilima, Huapala, Kamani, Hīʻnano, Hala, and Hapu streets – but not connected to the Large Capacity Cesspools – happens Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani Street. RSVP to Mary Fujio of DEM at 808-961-8030.

Poetry Reading with Joe Harrington and Susan Schultz, Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. Donations accepted March 20 and 21, 8a.m.-4p.m., Discovery Harbour Fire Station. No clothes accepted. All tools and appliances in good working condition. Call for pick-up of bulky/large items. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.







Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 21, 2019

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Storybook Theatre Hawaiʻi returns to the PāhalaSchool campus for marine education for children. This year, 
Storybook founder Mark Jeffers brings an inflatable whale, which opens up for the children to sit inside its 
belly for the storytelling. Last year, above, Jeffers told story inside his giant inflatable shark. 
Sponsored by Pāhala Plantation Cottages. Photo by Julia Neal

BILLS TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS WERE GUTTED THIS WEEK AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE. The measures received national attention as they would have made Hawaiʻi the first state to ban most plastics for serving foods in restaurants.
     Senate Bill 522 SD2 HD2 was introduced by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman. The House Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce reduced the measure to a bill that would establish a working group to work toward reduction of plastic and foam use.
     SB 522 SD2 HD1 would have prohibited "the purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, plastic bags and straws by state and county agencies, restaurants, standard bars, and any other businesses or individuals on a certain date." The new wording: "Creates the plastic source reduction working group to make recommendations for eliminating single-use plastic packaging. Establishes the Solid waste Prevention Coordinator. Appropriates funds."
Proposed bans on Styrofoam food containers at Hawaiʻi restaurants received
national media attention this week. Photo from E.W. Scripps

     SB367 SD1 HD1, sought to ban polystyrene foam food containers, is deferred by the House Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary. Introduced by Sen Dru Kanuha and Hilo Sen. Kai Kahele, who has roots in Kaʻū, the bill would have prohibited "sale of polystyrene foam food service containers and the sale or service of food using polystyrene containers statewide," and included funding for Department of Health to "adopt rules for implementation including for enforcement, exemptions, and consumer education."

TO ENFORCE COUNTY VACATION RENTAL LAWS, HB 419 HD1, introduced by Rep. Richard Creagan and east Kaʻū Rep. Richard Onishi, passed the Senate Committees on Energy, Economic Development, & Tourism and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, & Military Affairs. The bill would provide eligible counties with "funds from the State for the purpose of enforcing all applicable laws and ordinances relating to transient accommodations," with "an allocation from TAT (Transient Accommodations Tax ) revenues. Requires reports from counties receiving funds for enforcement of transient accommodations and short-term vacation rentals ordinances."

The arm of the late Bull Kailiawa, known for his 100 percent Kaʻū Coffee.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
TO REQUIRE TRUTH IN LABELING OF LOCAL COFFEE, House Bill 144HD1, introduced by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, passed through the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment yesterday, March 20, with east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman voting aye with reservations. It would require "coffee blend labels to disclose regional origins and percent by weight of the blended coffees. Prohibits using geographic origins of coffee in labeling or advertising for roasted or instant coffee that contains less than 51 percent coffee by weight from that geographic origin.

A BILL TO INCLUDE MORE HAWAIʻI GROWN FOOD IN SNAP, SB 390 SD2 HD1, introduced by Sen. Dru Kahuna and Sen. Kai Kahele, is referred to the House Committee on Finance. The bill would require the Department of Agriculture to "create a dollar-for-dollar matching program for beneficiaries of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase Hawaiʻi-grown produce." The program would also involve the Local Healthy Food Incentive Program.

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TO ESTABLISH AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION, Senate Bill 412SD2 HD1, introduced by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, passed the House Committee on Judiciary and is referred to the
House Committee on Finance. The bill would make "an application for voter registration, including an affidavit, part of all driver's license and identification card applications. Automatically registers each applicant who elects to register for voting unless the applicant affirmatively declines to be registered to vote. Requires sharing of information among the counties, DOT, and election personnel."

TO OFFER HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, SB 12 SD1 HD1, introduced by west Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kanuha, passed the House Committee on Lower & Higher Education Tuesday, March 19. The bill would authorize the Department of Education "to develop and implement a housing voucher program for full-time teachers employed at a hard-to-fill public school, including a public charter school."
See more bills in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs. Keep track of bills, read them and their testimony and submit testimony at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

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PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ IS SLOWLY SLUMPING as small rockfalls fill in the now inactive crater, reports U.S. Geologic Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists. A GPS station on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō shows steady slumping of the unstable crater edge. This motion is not directly related to magmatic activity. Small collapses at Puʻu ʻŌʻō have occurred since the eruption due to the crater's instability.
     After magma drained from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on April 30, 2018, the crater was roughly 356 m (1168 ft) deep, with the upper part of the crater flared and the deeper part a narrower cylindrical shaft. Collapses on the crater walls have since enlarged sections of the crater and filled the deepest part with rockfall debris, creating a much different crater geometry. Ten months later, the deepest portion of the crater is 286 m (938 ft).

3D modeling shows changes in Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater over the last ten months.
USGS images
     USGS HVO created 3D models of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater, constructed from thermal images taken during helicopter overflights, in May of last year and on Monday, March 18. Despite the absence of active lava in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, changes at the crater continue through occasional small collapses within it. However, no major changes have been observed.
     Rates of seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions - which have not changed significantly over the past week at Kīlauea summit, at Puʻu ʻŌʻō, or in the lower East Rift Zone -  remain low, with continuing signs of magma refilling the deep East Rift Zone magma reservoir.

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CRISIS COUNSELING is offered by Care Hawaiʻi, Inc. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View during the Saturday Showers and Hot Meal Days. Care Hawai`i works with victims of the recent volcanic disaster and helps people with "health issues, addiction, loss of home, or almost any crisis. While they may not directly provide the counseling or support for those other types of crisis, they know who can," says a statement from St. Jude's.
     Care Hawaiʻi's Crisis Counseling Program helps survivors "access their strengths and coping skills through community based outreach." The organization is  funded by FEMA and require a presidential declaration of disaster for individual assistance. The counseling schedule at St. Jude's started with the second Saturday of each month, but has grown to  most Saturdays.


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SERVING HAWAIʻI ISLAND FATHERS is the goal of the Hawaiʻi state Commission on Fatherhood. The commission's monthly meeting will be on April 26 from  to  at Liliʻuokalani Trust – Hilo919 Ululani Street.
     Hawaiʻi Island residents, service providers, and community leaders are invited to speak with the commission about issues, programs, needs, and policies related to fathers.

     The commission' mission is to "promote healthy family relationships by emphasizing the important role fathers play in the lives of their children." The commission serves in an advisory capacity to state agencies and makes recommendations on programs, services, contracts, policies, and laws relating to children and families.
     RSVP required: email Caleb Milliken, Hawaiʻi Island Representative of the Commission on Fatherhood and Director of the West Hawaiʻi Fatherhood Initiative, at crmilliken@hotmail.com or 808-747-0267.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea

JUST ANNOUNCED
LLOYD LONGAKIT OF KAʻŪ, featuring Bridget Tripp, with Watty Kaina and Kanani Niles will play a special one night only performance this Saturday, March 23, , at Shaka's. The concert was originally scheduled for Sept. 22 of 2018. Join in dancing and singing along to 60s, Hawaiian, Contemporary, Rock 'n Roll, and Disco music. Tickets range from $10 for lania or bar, to $12 in the restaurant section with seating limited to 50. Call 808-959-3443 or 929-7404.

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UPCOMING
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Center. Food and refreshments available. All tools and appliances in good working condition. No clothes. Tom Reis, 503-260-6187, or Ken Shisler, 410-299-5359.


SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us


Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 22, 2019

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A front-end loader drops a bucket-load of rock into a crusher that will reduce the size of the rocks to be used as a base 
for the new temporary transfer station in Ocean View. Photo by Annie Bosted
SITE WORK CONTINUES FOR THE NEW TEMPORARY TRANSFER STATION to accept garbage and recyclables in Ocean View. Near the intersection of Iolani Blvd. and Highway 11, the most expensive part of the project will be the widening of Hwy 11 to allow a "pocket lane" so that motorists turning onto the site will be able to get out of the traffic and wait to turn.
A plethora of spray-painted dotted lines, solid lines, and notes by surveyors
 indicates how Highway 19 will be widened and new lanes added to
 facilitate traffic turning onto the site of the new temporary transfer 
station in Ocean View. Photo by Annie Bosted

     

According to Greg Goodale, the head of the County's Solid Waste Division, the contract with James W. Glover Ltd. is for just over $2 million to construct the temporary transfer station and widen the highway. A permanent transfer station in Ocean View has been promised since 2007. See story in the March 6 Kaʻū News Briefs.

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO RESPONDED TO THE RELEASE OF THE MUELLER REPORT, an investigation into Russian involvement in the last presidential election, which was submitted to the Attorney General by Special Counsel Robert Mueller today.
     Hirono said Mueller "has concluded his investigation" and that it "has already revealed many details about an extensive Russian campaign to elect Donald Trump and resulted in indictments of high ranking Trump campaign officials.
Sen. Mazie Hirono. Photo from Hirono's Twitter
     "As many of my colleagues and I made clear to Attorney General Barr at his confirmation hearing, the Special Counsel's report must be made public. Transparency is crucial to the integrity of this process and the American people deserve to know the full extent of Robert Mueller's work.
     "We don't yet know what the Special Counsel has concluded about Donald Trump and his campaign's coordination with Russian interference in the 2016 election. But we do know that the Mueller investigation has resulted in 37 indictments and seven guilty pleas from close associates of Donald Trump. And we know that other investigations – local, state, and federal – continue into Donald Trump's campaign, inaugural committee, businesses, and foundation. There is a lot left to learn.
     "My thanks go to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team of public servants, whose integrity and professionalism during this process stood in stark contrast to Donald Trump's contempt for those values. Donald Trump has brought an unprecedented level of corruption and self-dealing to the White House. He cares about only two things: self-preservation and money. Nothing in the Mueller Report can change those facts."

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MORE BILLS MADE WAY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK, SOME STOPPED AND OTHERS GAINING GROUND:

TO PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDE, SB 383 SD2 HD1, introduced by west Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kahuna and Hilo Sen. Kai Kahele, is referred to the House Committee on Finance. The bill would require the Department of Education to "establish a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and model risk referral protocol, based on existing materials created by Department of Health, for all public schools, including charter schools. Requires charter schools to provide the training program and risk referral protocol to all school personnel who work directly with students in department schools and charter schools."


TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE GAME AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, HB 1325 HD2 SD1, introduced by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan and east Kaʻū Rep. Richare Onishi, is referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Ways & Means. The bill would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources "to work collaboratively with the Game Management Advisory Commission to develop and implement sustainable game management practices in areas of watershed protection. Requires Bureau of Land and Natural Resources to give prior notice to the Game Management Advisory Commission prior to issuing or renewing a water rights lease."

TO RESTORE DENTAL BENEFITS TO ADULTS ON MEDICAID, SB 467 SD1, introduced by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, passed the House Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Health on March 20. The bill would make "an appropriation to the Department of Human Services to restore adult dental benefits to Medicaid enrollees. Requires federal matching funds."

TO BETTER MONITOR WATER QUALITY ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, HB 425 HD1 SD1, introduced by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, is set for review by the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The bill would appropriate funds for "an additional full-time Environmental Health Specialist IV position within the Department of Health to monitor water quality on the island of Hawaiʻi."


TO CERTIFY FOOD SAFETY ON SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE FARMS, HB 463 HD1 SD1, introduced by east Kaʻū Rep. Richard Onishi, the bill is referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. It would require and appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture "to partner with the Hawaii agricultural community to establish a food safety certification training program to assist small to medium sized farms to comply with the United States Department of Agriculture Good Agricultural Practices Certification Program."

TO USE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES STATEWIDE TO REPAIR THE CONVENTION CENTER IN HONOLULU, HB 911 HD2, introduced by east Kaʻū Rep. Richard Onishi, passed the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development, & Tourism. The bill would establish the Convention Center Repair and Maintenance Special Fund and the Convention Center Emergency Special Fund. It would allocate "a portion of the transient accommodations tax to those funds. Removes repair and maintenance as permissible uses of the Convention Center Enterprise Special Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature."

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DID GROUNDWATER TRIGGER EXPLOSIVE ERUPTIONS AT KĪLAUEA LAST YEAR? The question is tackled by this weeks'Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     In February 1924, the surface of the lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu dropped rapidly and disappeared from view. Throughout March and April, the crater floor subsided as magma moved out of the summit reservoir into the East Rift Zone. By May 6, 1924, the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu had dropped more than 180 m (about 600 ft) below the crater rim.
Explosive eruption columns of ash rising from Halemaʻumaʻu at 11:15 a.m. on May 18, 1924 (top) and at 11:05 a.m. 
on May 15, 2018 (below) look similar. Researchers are re-evaluating early assumptions about the role groundwater 
played in triggering these explosive eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano and are now looking at the
build-up of gases from retreating magma as a likely trigger. USGS photos
     A series of explosions began during the night of May 10-11, 1924. The violent explosions tossed large chunks of rock onto the caldera floor and sent ash plumes more than 2 km (1 mi) high. The trigger for the explosions was inferred to be heated groundwater.
     The thinking at the time was that after the magma drained away, liquid water (groundwater) flowed into the conduit and was rapidly heated to steam. Rock falls sporadically choked the emptied conduit, trapping steam until sufficient pressure built up to blast out the rocky debris.
     Fast-forward to May 2018 (94 years later) when the scene was frighteningly similar. Magma drained from Kīlauea's shallow summit reservoir and moved into the East Rift Zone. The summit lava lake was no longer visible on May 10, and likely dropped below the water table on May 11-12, 2018. Explosive activity was considered a strong possibility given what happened in 1924.
     But, while moderate explosions and associated ash plumes did occur in 2018, major explosions like those of 1924 did not. Why not? Was groundwater to blame, or was it something else?
     There is much more to the story.
     Within a year after the 1924 eruption, researchers developed a conceptual model for what was happening beneath the surface to produce the explosions. The 1925 model relied on several key factors about the depth of the water table and how quickly groundwater could flow into the area. These factors have since been updated and reanalyzed.
     A deep (1261 m, or 4140 ft) research well drilled about 800 m (0.5 mi) south of Halemaʻumaʻu in 1973 found that the water table was 506 m (1660 ft) below the surface, not at sea level, as was thought in 1925. At that depth, rock permeability (a measure of how easy it is for groundwater to flow through rock) is not "extremely permeable" as the 1925 model suggested.
     Samples from the 1973 drillhole showed that vesicles, or small holes in the rock, have been partially filled by minerals. So, at a depth of around 506 m (1660 ft) - the depth of groundwater - many of the small, narrow pathways that would allow groundwater to move freely are plugged.
     The power of modern computing also helps to develop a greater understanding of what is possible. Researchers recently used a computer model called HYDROTHERM, which can accept different inputs to assess how groundwater would likely move in unique environments. The results show that it would take more time than anticipated in 1925 for groundwater to flow into the conduit after the lava lake has drained.
     In fact, it may take a lot more time. Modern modeling techniques, along with data unavailable in 1925, yields a view that liquid-water inflow into the conduit can be delayed by months to years.
     The evolving thinking is that when a lava lake drains below the water table, the rocks around the conduit remain very hot. Any liquid water creeping into the zone of hot rock is converted to steam before it reaches the conduit. In essence, the hot rock zone maintains a heat barrier that blocks groundwater from moving toward the conduit.
     In 2018, scientists issued hazard notifications about the potential for explosive eruptions at Kīlauea's summit based, in part, on the 1925 conceptual model. Scientists are now reevaluating assumptions about the cause of explosive activity under conditions of a draining summit lava lake.
     New data and techniques are being used to understand more about the 2018 explosions. A currently favored idea is that gas from the retreating magma, rather than groundwater steam, powered the explosions. This idea is being used to reconsider what we understand about the eruptions (and hazards) of Kīlauea Volcano's past, present, and future.
For more information about this research, the Journal of Geophysical Research article can be accessed at doi.org/10.1029/2018JB017133.
     Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call 808-967-8862 for weekly Kīlauea updates. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Softball:
Sat., March 23, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Wed., April 3, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Track:
Sat., March 23, , @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, , @Keaʻau
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
VOLCANO ART CENTER yART SALE & BBQ happens Saturday, April 6,  – BBQ  – at the Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Proceeds benefit VAC programs and Rotary scholarships.
     Items accepted through Saturday, March 30, must be clean and in working order. Wanted items include: garden and yard equipment; kitchen items; art; prints; collectables; tools; appliances; furniture; and "those odd Christmas gifts." Contact VAC at 967-8222 for more.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting w/Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Second Chance Prom, Saturday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 10p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to adults. Register March 1-20. $25/person. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us


Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620


Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with rangers and park visitors about a range of topics. Free. nps.gov/havo


PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com


ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.




Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, March 23, 2019

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Lava approaching Puna Geothermal Venture during last year's eruption. See what PGV and Ormat, its parent company,
plan to do with the plant, and what they're offering Puna residents, below. Photo from Big Island Video News
PLANS FOR THE NEW PĀHALA WASTER TREATMENT SYSTEM drew a crowd Thursday as the county presented ideas to help those local residents who will be required to pay to hook up. Bill Kucharski, Director of the county Department of Environmental Management, reviewed the history. Kaʻū Sugar built sewer pipes that ran downhill to several Large Capacity Cesspools. The federal government banned Large Capacity Cesspools nationwide in 2000, and Environmental Protection Agency required closing all existing large-capacity cesspools by April 5, 2005.  

Bill Kucharski, Director of the county Department 
of Environmental Management.
Photo from Hawai
ʻi County
     The owner of Kaʻū Sugar, C. Brewer, shut down and sold off the homes and land in the town before building a sewage treatment plant to replace the Large Capacity Cesspools. With the townspeople having no funding to build a sewage system, Brewer offered the county a small part of the funding and the county took on the responsibility in 2010. The county received commitments for state and federal loans to build the new sewage treatment plant; the loans to be paid through sewer fees collected countywide. Kucharski explained that all Pāhala residents will pay the same bi-monhly sewer fees as every other resident on a sewer line in Hawaiʻi County.

     The trouble, said several Kaʻū residents, is the cost of hooking up to the new system. All of those on the old system will be hooked up at no charge. Those with cesspools and septic systems along the route of the new sewage pipes will be required to hook up at their own expense and to close their cesspools and septic tanks. These include the church and shopping center on Pikake Street as well as the public schools, along with more than five dozen houses.

     Jade Moses, one of those with a cesspool who will be required to abandon it for the new sewer line, said she can't afford the cost of closing her cesspool and installing pipe and a pump to hook up. She said her family members worked and died for the sugar plantation. She said C. Brewer should not have left her family with a cost that could amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

     Why should some former Kaʻū workers be forced to pay and others receive the hook up for free, asked several attendees.

     Kucharski noted that it is county code islandwide for any property with county water to hook up when a sewer is installed along the public right of way. Several people said their cesspools work just fine. When asked if the county code could be changed, he said it is a legislative matter for the County Council. He can't make a new law himself. When asked whether the county could pay for those who would bear the expense, he said he could ask.

The plant for the Pāhala wastewater treatment plan at Hwy 11 and Maile Street, with its Norfolk Pine scenic drive.
Map from County of Hawaiʻi
     Kucharski presented grant and loan ideas from the federal and state government, involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development funding. For low income people, some low interest loans would require no payment for 20 years. Some outright grants could also be available, he said. He also pointed to a bill in the legislature asking to set up a statewide fund for such expenses.
     While the meeting concerned those homeowners in the position of having to pay for sewer hookup, questions about the overall plan for the sewage treatment plant were also raised.

     Sophia Hanoa talked about the location, saying she prefers a site below Hwy 11, instead of on the corner of Maile and Hwy 11, along the Norfolk Pine Tree Lane. "Welcome to Pāhala. Welcome to our sewer plant," she said, contending the sewer plant could ruin the famed entrance to the village.
     One attendee said the county should look to composting toilets instead of building a sewer system that could cost $40 million or more. He contended that in Sweden, a good percentage of new housing construction includes composting toilets. Kucharski said that composting toilets could be in the future of sewage treatment planning, but that that the Large Capacity Cesspools in Pāhala must be shut down soon, or the county will pay stiff fines from the federal government.


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MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF THE ISLAND'S ELECTRICITY, which went offline when lava covered part of the geothermal power facility in Puna last year, is set to go back online. A community meeting held in Pāhoa last night featured representatives of Puna Geothermal Venture and its parent company Ormat. They detailed their plans to restart the geothermal plant and offered residents of the area who are cut off from their homes by lava flows, access on a road Ormat is rebuilding.

     According to a Big Island Video Newsreport on the meeting, expected protests over the reopening of the geothermal facility failed to materialize.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

MY HAWAIʻI STORY PROJECT 2019 submissions are due by on Friday, March 29. The creative writing contest is open to all Hawaiʻi sixth to eighth grade students. They are invited to submit their best story or poem that addresses the theme He ‘a‘ali‘i kū makani au: Resilience in the Face of Change, which aligns with the theme of the 2019 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, which will be held in July in Honolulu.
     Only one entry per student will be accepted. All entries must be submitted electronically. Contact myhawaiistory@gmail.com with questions.

     The theme "highlights the need to protect our island home, and connect, share, and inspire young middle-school children with the common goal of caring for our natural land and ocean resources," says the guidelines. Entries should tell a story, not simply share information. Acrostic poems – where certain letters in each line spell out a word or phrase – will not be accepted.

     Submit contact information in the entry form online, but do not reveal the student's name or school anywhere in the submission, to maintain anonymity in the evaluation process. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges with no access to student identification information or grade level. By submitting an entry, the student and school authorize the My Hawai‘i Story Project to use the stories or poems for educational purposes including, but not limited to, print and web materials.

     All entries will be judged by the following criteria: "Theme relevance – how well did you connect to the theme and to Hawaiʻi's unique environment? Clarity of message – how well did you express your ideas? Creativity and originality – your work must be your own! Entries will be assessed by how well the author expresses their ideas, using appropriate grammar and writing style."

     Winning entries will be announced on May 17. The winning entries will be published in the My Hawai‘i Story anthology. Winners will receive a copy of the anthology, award certificate, and other special prizes. Contest winners are invited to attend the awards ceremony at the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference in July.
     Project partners include The Pacific Writers' Connection, Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management Program, Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance, Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Foundation, Hawai‘i Department of Education, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife and of Aquatic Resources, Hawai‘i Environmental Education Alliance, National Park Service – Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and the Polynesian Voyaging Society.


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:

Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , host Kamehameha
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Tue., April 2, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, , @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , @HPA
Sat., April 20, , @Kamehameha

JUST ANNOUNCED
ANNUAL WELLNESS FAIR AND EASTER EGG HUNT happens at Kaʻū District Gym Saturday, April 20, from to The fair promotes health and wellness. Participating organizations include Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, Bay Clinic, United Healthcare, Keiki ID, Blue Zones, Children's Community Council, Friends of the Library, PATH, Tūtū and Me, Project Aware - Mental Health First Aid, and Ocean Awareness & Safety. The free Easter egg hunt begins at ; registration begins at Educators are encouraged to participate, and volunteers are welcome.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us


Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620


Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with rangers and park visitors about a range of topics. Free. nps.gov/havo


PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com



SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.


Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982


Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit i daily through tomorrow, Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, March 24, 2019

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A roller used by Loeffler Construction in the repaving of the OceanViewTownCenter parking lot. Two phases are 
complete, and two more are planned. The roller is parked on the new paving, while the parking lot in the 
background needs to be asphalted. See story below. Photo by Annie Bosted
CONGRESS AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE "must hear directly" from U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said Mazie Hirono today. Mueller spent almost two years investigating the possible influence of Russia in the last presidential election, leading to numerous prosecutions and jail time for Trump associates who worked in his campaign and in the White House.
     Hirono issued a statement after today's release of the Attorney General's summary of the Mueller Report. Said Hirono, "Robert Mueller did not exonerate Donald Trump on obstruction of justice.
U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr
Instead, Attorney General Bill Barr made his own determination consistent with his unsolicited 19-page memo arguing that the President cannot be charged with obstruction of justice. Congress needs to see the full report to assess the underlying evidence. The Senate Judiciary Committee must hear directly from Attorney General Barr and Robert Mueller on this matter as soon as possible.
     "I often say that Donald Trump cares about two things: protecting himself and money," said Hirono. "The President has repeatedly demonstrated he will do or say anything to protect himself. He tried to get Michael Flynn (former Trump National Security Advisor) off the hook; he fired (FBI Director) James Comey; he tried to get the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan "unrecused;" he directed White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller; he dangled pardons; he repeatedly insulted and demonized the Special Counsel.
     "Now we must ensure that investigations into his questionable financial activities by the Southern District of New York, the Attorney General of the State of New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney, proceed unimpeded. The American people deserve all the facts."
     In contrast to Hirono's view, Trump said, "After a long look, after a long investigation, after so many people have been so badly hurt, after not looking at the other side where a lot of very bad things happened... it was just announced there was no collusion with Russia... It was a complete and total exoneration." He called the investigation "an illegal takedown."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

The completed dry well that was installed between Kaʻū 
Business Services and Salon 4 to prevent storm water 
from inundating the walkways besides the 
makai stores. Photo by Annie Bosted
OCEAN VIEW TOWN CENTER PARKING LOT, notorious for its many potholes, is in the midst of being paved with asphalt. Caroline Loeffler, whose Loeffler Construction is contracted for the project, told The Kaʻū Calendar that a new drainage feature, a dry well, will be installed to keep rain water away from the strip of stores that overlook Hwy 11.
     Loeffler explained that a dry well involves regrading the surrounding area so that storm water flow is directed towards the well. A ten-foot-diameter pre-cast concrete ring has been installed in an excavated area near Studio Four Salon. The space around the ring was backfilled with drain rock before being covered with a grate set in concrete. The well is not connected to a drainage system or a pipe; instead the storm water will percolate into the rocky ground or evaporate.The Ocean View Town Center parking lot, notorious for its many potholes, is in the midst of being paved with asphalt.
     The asphalt paving is planned in four stages; two are completed. Each stage involves tearing up and removing the old chip-seal, laying down a layer of base course, and then covering that with hot asphalt that is trucked in. If any stage of the operation is delayed, the asphalt can prematurely cool and harden, becoming unusable. During this time, traffic will be diverted away from the work area.
     Jim Steenburg, a one-time part owner of Ace Hardware, told The Kaʻū Calendar the driveway was first chip-sealed in July or August of 1989. Prior to that time, the then-owners of Rancho True Value Hardware, Ken and Maggie Arbo, ran their hardware business from a store in Pohue Plaza, the shopping center makai of the present hardware store.
An excavator is parked outside Salon 4, where a large hole 
was dug for a dry well to stop rain water flooding the 
walkway outside the strip of stores. Photo by Annie Bosted
     According to Steenburg, the Arbo's built the shopping center, then known as Lotus Blossom Town Center, in stages. They constructed the hardware store where they relocated their business, opening it in November 1989. The Arbo's then built half the stores in the strip. Once those were rented out, they built the remainder of the stores, concluding the development with the stand-alone store that is now Kaʻū Business Services. At the time, the Arbo's hoped that the Post Office would rent that space, but the service chose to stay on in Pohue Plaza.
     It was about 1993 when the hardware store changed its name to Ace. The Shopping Center's name also changed to Ocean View Town Center. According to Steenburg, Maggie Arbo's daughters, Robyn and Gail, now own the Center.

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LANE CLOSURES ALONG HIGHWAY 11 in Kaʻū for Monday, March 25, through Friday, March 29, weather permitting, are:

     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 56 and 57, in the vicinity of Ninole Loop Road, , for paving and construction of temporary bridges.
     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 48 and 49 in Pāhala, , for tree trimming work.

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Image from gomidwife.com
A BILL TO REQUIRE LICENSES FOR MANY MIDWIVES, co-sponsored by west Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kanuha, gathered more than 2,200 pages of testimony in advance of a hearing in front of the House Committee on Health last week. Senate Bill 1033 SD2 HD1passed the Health Committee, with amendments, and passed its second reading on Friday, March 22. The bill is referred to the House Committee on Finance.
     The bill would establish "licensure of midwives. Temporarily exempts birth attendants and exempts Native Hawaiian healers from licensure requirements. Establishes task force. Appropriates funds."
     Amendments to the bill from the House Committee on Health include adding a Certified Nurse Midwife to the Director's advisory committee; granting the Director the authority to modify the list of authorized non-controlled legend drugs and devices that may be used by midwives; clarifying that birth attendants may practice and advertise provided they do not claim to be licensed; excepting individuals from licensure requirements for providing care to immediate family members; expanding the authorized legend drugs or devices that a licensed midwife may use or administer; and establishing a task force within the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women to investigate issues relating to home births and direct entry midwives.


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ʻO Kaʻū Kākou volunteers made a clean sweep on Saturday  to clear the proposed senior housing site in
Nāʻālehu. Photo from OKK

ʻO KAʻŪ KĀKOU 'S SATURDAY CLEANUP was a great success. Volunteers were asked to help pick up remnants from the demolition of buildings on the two acres of property along Hwy 11, where the old fruit stand in Nā‘ālehu once stood. The buildings were torn down to make way for a senior housing project championed by OKK. Remaining on the land were bits and chunks of pipes, cables, glass, and other things that can damage a mower.

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TROJANS FOUGHT DRAGONS this weekend, as Kaʻū Girls Softball hosted Honokaʻa Saturday, March 23. The Dragons took the game 16-2. See upcoming games, below.


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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:

Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , host Kamehameha
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Tue., April 2, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, , @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
FINGER PUPPETRY, Tuesday, April 2, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to keiki grades K-6. Free. Register March 25-April 1. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

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UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us


Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620


Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with rangers and park visitors about a range of topics. Free. nps.gov/havo


PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com


SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.


Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5 p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982


Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, March 25, 2019

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Free vision screenings will be offered at Nāʻālehu Elementary, Tuesday, April 9, and Volcano School of the Arts &
Sciences on Thursday, April 11. Above, free eye exams and reading and sunglasses drew Tūtū & Me
participants in Pāhala in March on the campus of River of Life Church. Students on the Pāhala
school campus also received free exams. Photo by Julia Neal
FREE EYE EXAMS, GLASSES ARE HEADED FOR NĀʻĀLEHU AND VOLCANOSCHOOLS. Project Vision Hawaiʻi and Vision to Learn will partner to offer free eye exams and glasses on Tuesday, April 9 at Nāʻālehu Elementary and on Thursday, April 11 at VolcanoSchool of the Arts & Sciences.

     Two hundred thirty-five students at Pāhala Elementary, Intermediate, and Kaʻū High School received free eye screenings on March 11 and 12. Sixty-seven received referral letters sent home recommending eye care. Vision to Learn plans to return to the campus when a minimum of 25 consent-to-examine forms are returned by parents or guardians.
     With parental consent, students will receive a free comprehensive eye exam and, if given a prescription, will receive free eyeglasses, with choice of frames. Vision to Learn will send the eyeglasses to the school, along with an optician who will fit the glasses for each student. Vision to Learn guarantees the glasses for a year and will replace broken glasses for free.
     Project Vision Hawaiʻi is a nonprofit organization that aims to achieve better access to healthcare for Hawaiʻi's people, with a focus on vision health. One of its three mobile units traveled to Kaʻū March 4 and 5 to offer free vision screenings at the Kauhaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu and River of Life Church in Pāhala. Families involved with Tūtū & Me program for early education took advantage of the screenings, as did adult members of the community. The team photographed the eyes of individuals, with retinal images passed onto an eye doctor who will evaluate each person and create a report to be sent in early April.

     Screenings include near and far vision assessments. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. The mission is co-sponsored by Tūtū & Me, pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me, and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-430-0388.
     Project Vision Hawaiʻi and Vision to Learn plan to return to area schools every other year.


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HAWAIʻI IS THE FIFTH BEST PLACE FOR HEALTH CARE but offers some of the lowest pay for physicians in the country, according WalletHub studies. The physician pay study, released today, says that among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi ranks 48th in annual wage for physicians, adjusted for cost of living. It ranks dead last for the average monthly starting salary for physicians, adjusted for the cost of living. Hawaiʻi is 22nd in hospitals per capita. Concerning medical insurance and settlements, Hawaiʻi is 42nd – one of the states with the lowest malpractice award payout amounts per capita.
     According to WalletHub, the best states to practice medicine are Montana, Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. The worst states to practice medicine are all on the east coast, except for Hawaiʻi, according to Wallet Hub, which lists New Yorkas the worst, with District of Columbiajust behind it. See the study at WalletHub.


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RESOLUTIONS TO ASSESS A LIVING WAGE FOR AG WORKERS goes to public hearing before the state Senate Labor, Culture, & the Arts, and Senate Agriculture and Environment committees this Wednesday, March 27 at 2:15 p.m. Co-sponsored by Kaʻū's state Senators, Russell Ruderman and Dru Kanuha, the measures, SCR134 and SR103, ask the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations to collaborate with the state Department of Agriculture to create and submit a report to determine a living wage standard for agriculture workers living in Hawaiʻi.
     See the resolutions and testify through the online portal to the Hawaiʻi Legislature.
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A living wage for ag workers and more education about farming are the focus of two resolutions at the
Hawaiʻi Legislature.  Photo by Julia Neal
A STRATEGY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT MODERN FARMING is called for in state Senate Resolutions 73 and 51. They go before the Senate Agriculture and Environment, Senate Education, and Senate Higher Education committees during a joint hearing this Wednesday, March 27 at 3:15 p.m.
     The resolutions state: "local agriculture is critical to self-sufficiency and food security for the State. About 85 to 90 percent of Hawaiʻi's food is imported, which makes Hawaiʻi particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that disrupt shipping and other modes of transporting food. Hawaiʻi does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. A primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaʻūi during the past several decades is the decline of support for agriculture education from state government, resulting in an insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among youth."
     The resolutions, co-sponsored by Hilo state Sen. Kai Kahele and east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, contend that "in order to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly" and that "agriculture education and interest are key to the development of future farmers and to a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being."
     See the resolutions and testify through the online portal to the Hawaiʻi Legislature.

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CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD MOVIES are sought by Jean Pierre Thoma & The Jazztones – Jeannine Gillory-Kane, Loren Wilken, Matt Spencer, and Steve Bader – for their April 13 concert Jazz Goes to the Movies. They plan to show parts of the videos behind the live music on stage. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Tickets are $20 for VAC members, $25 for non-members, at volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222.
Jean Pierre Thoma & The Jazztones
will play songs from classic
Hollywood films in April.
VAC photo
      Those willing to lend to the group, email JP at jpthomahi@gmail.com or Jesse Tunison at SirJesseTunison@gmail.com.
     The list of songs and films needing to be borrowed is:

     Yesterdays by Jerome Kern from Lovely to Look At (1933), with Katheryn Grayson and Red Skelton

     Smile from Modern Times (1936) with Charlie Chaplin
     Some Day My Prince Will Come from Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

     Somewhere Over the Rainbow, sung by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

     When You Wish Upon a Star from Disney's Pinocchio (1940)

     There Will Never Be Another You from Iceland(1942) with Sonja Henie and John Payne

     Bésame Muchoby Dale Evans from Cowboy & The Senorita (1944)

     It Might As Well Be Spring from State Fair (1945) with Vivian Blaine and Dick Haymes
     Green Dolphin Street from Green Dolphin Street (1947) with Lana Turner, Donna Reed, Van Heflin, and Richard Hart

     But Beautiful from That Road to Rio (1947) with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour

     Speak Lowfrom One Touch of Venus (1948) with Ava Gardner and Robert Walker

     My Foolish Heart from My Foolish Heart (1949) with Susan Hayward

     Our Love is Here to Stay from An American in Paris (1951) with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

     The Man That Got Away from A Star is Born (1954) with Judy Garland

     Morning of the Carnival from Black Orpheus – Orpheo Negro (1959) with Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello

     Summertimefrom Porgy & Bess (1959) with Dorothy Dandridge

     MoonRiver from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) with Audrey Hepburn

     The Days of Wine and Roses from The Days of Wine and Roses (1962) with Jack Lemon and Lee Remick

     The Shadow of Your Smile from The Sandpiper (1965) with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

     It Had to be You from Annie Hall (1977) with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton 


To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:

Thu., March 28, , @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, , @HPA
Thu., April 4, , host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , host Kamehameha
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, , @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, , @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, , host Kohala
Fri., March 29, , @HPA
Tue., April 2, , host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, , @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, , host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, , @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, , host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, , @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, , @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, , @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
AdvoCATS, Tuesday, April 2, 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com


Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org


‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo


Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation


THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.


Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us


Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org


Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620



My Hawaiʻi Story Project 2019 submissions are due by  on Friday, March 29. The creative writing contest is open to all Hawaiʻi sixth to eighth grade students. They are invited to submit their best story or poem that addresses the theme He ‘a‘ali‘i kū makani au: Resilience in the Face of Change, which aligns with the theme of the 2019 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, which will be held in July in Honolulu. Only one entry per student will be accepted. All entries must be submitted electronically. Contact myhawaiistory@gmail.com with questions.

Ke Aliʻi Maka ʻĀinana– The Prince of the People – celebrates Prince Kūhiō on Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kuhuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Coffee Talk. Find out: What is Kūhiō Day and why is it a state holiday? In respect to his memory and his accomplishments, Auntie Jessie Ke, a revered kupuna of Ka ͑ ū, will talk about the Prince, his legacy, the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka ͑ ū. Kaʻū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance located just south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11. Free. nps.gov/havo


PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.


Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222


Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982


Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, APRIL 1
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, April 1, 15 and 29, 1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, April 1, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See 

KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, 
P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777
; or call 808-731-5409.

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