The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary are feeding students, and those 18 or younger, each weekday. The school is also issuing
laptops to students - contact the school to request one. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGING THE PICKUP OF LAPTOP COMPUTERS for students studying at home during the pandemic. At Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School, they are available at the Band Room by appointment. If a student of the school needs a computer, contact the school at khpes.org/contact or 313-4100.

Kaʻū reports that more than 100 packages of food, prepared for students in Green Sands, DiscoveryHarbour, and Ocean View, will be delivered on Wednesday. A notice went out to families via school messenger yesterday with details. On Friday last week, a KHPES administration team delivered food and computers to families in the Ocean View community.

At Nāʻālehu Elementary, and

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School, Grab & Go breakfast is served to anyone 18 or younger on weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Grab-and-go lunch is served at both locations, 11:30 a.m. to noon.

A new online resource for keiki comes from After School All-Stars, where a new activity is posted each weekday: instagram.com/allstarshawaii/?igshid=13j2emehck36.

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THE CURVE COULD BE FLATTENING, BUT DON'T BREAK AWAY FROM RESTRICTIONS,
warn health state officials. It takes time for the virus to finish circulating in the community and for COVID-19 to be gone. Even when new cases and hospitalizations drop in number and analysts predict a recovery earlier than predicted, it is better to make sure, said state Department of Health chief Bruce Anderson.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense recommends people continue

to stay home but to go outside tonight to see the biggest, brightest

moon of the year. Photo by Richard Taylor

The County of Hawaiʻi's Coronavirus update for Tuesday reported no new cases here. The number of people who tested positive on this island to date is 26. Twenty-one have recovered and cleared by the state Department of Health. The five still quarantined at home are monitored by the Department of Health.
On Hawaiʻi Island, no one has been hospitalized because of infection by the virus and no one is known to have died here because of COVID-19.

The state Department of Health reports that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state increased by 23 to 410 since Monday. No new deaths were reported.
Nationally, confirmed cases approached 400,000. More than 12,800 people have died. More than 22,000 have recovered.
Internationally, over 1.4 million cases have been confirmed. More than 82,000 people have died. More than 300,000 people have recovered.
The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense message for Tuesday says, "You are asked to do your share to prevent of the COVID-19 virus. Heed the policies of 'Stay at Home', social distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness. And for now, just say 'hi'.

"To all, practice everyday measures of prevention, and keep yourself physically and emotionally healthy. Do stay connected with your Kūpunas, especially at these difficult times.Thank you very much for listening and look for the full moon tonight, the biggest and brightest of the year. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense."

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Volcano Cookshop offers a slow-roasted, garlic rubbed top round, sliced thin for sandwiches, at 1/2 lb. for $8. See the
menu at facebook.com/heatherandkurtnelson. Photo from Volcano Cookshop

VOLCANO COOKSHOP is offering Volcano-area delivery on Wednesdays and Fridays. All menu items are delivered cold, to heat up or freeze for a later date. See facebook.com/heatherandkurtnelson for the menu. Call 808-634-6061 to order. Orders must be placed by noon, the day before delivery. If ordering McCall's produce, orders must be made two days before, by 6 p.m. Volcano Cookshop charges a $3 delivery fee. The delivery range is from Volcano Golf Course down to Kahaualea Road (Atkatsuka Orchids).

Ground beef lasagna, made with homemade
pasta, is one of the entrée offerings from
Volcano Cookshop. Photo from
Volcano Cookshop

Volcano Cookshop can also arrange pick-up for people in FernForest or Glenwood.

Volcano Cookshop is run by Heather and Kurt Nelson, professional chefs who have lived in Volcano Village for four years. They have been selling gourmet soups, entrees, deli items, and desserts at Volcano Farmer's Market for the past year. Heather Nelson said, "We ensure a spotless, professional kitchen with the highest sanitation standards. Kurt and I are the only ones doing all of the food prep, cooking, packaging and cleaning." She said they encourage payment by Paypal or Venmo. They also accept credit card by phone (3.5% fee), check, or cash.

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SCRAP METAL AND GREEN WASTE DISPOSAL IS SUSPENDED at county waste transfer stations beginning next Monday, April 13 through April 30.
County Solid Waste Division Deputy Chief Michael Kaha reports greenwaste collection discontinued at its usual
places – Volcano, Kealakehe, Keʻe, Pāhoa, Keaʻau, and Waimea Transer Stations. White goods and scrap metal collection is suspended at Volcano, Pāhala, Keauhou, as well as Hilo, Keaʻau, Pāhoa, Keauhou, Puako, Waimea, Hawi, Honokaʻa, and Laupāhoehoe Transfer Stations.

No scrap metal or white goods will be taken for disposal
at county transfer stations like Pāhala. Photo by Julia Neal

Greenwaste collection services are still offered at East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility at the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill and at West Organics Facility at West Hawaiʻi Sanitary Landfill in Puʻuanahulu, 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily, Mondays through Saturdays.

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A RESOLUTION TO URGE GOV. DAVID IGE TO SUSPEND RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS, especially for nonpayment of rent, during the COVID-19 state of emergency, will be reviewed tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Hawai‘i County meeting. Council Member Sue Lee Loy introduced the resolution today.

The resolution notes Ige's authority under Chapter 127A of Hawai‘i Revised Statutes to suspend certain laws during a state of emergency, and asks him to grant relief to residential tenants who face prolonged economic hardship as a result of the ongoing state of emergency.

The resolution states, that the potential loss of a home places additional stress on residents at a time when a stay-at-home order remains in effect. The resolution asks the governor to "take sensible, reasonable, compassionate measures in these extraordinary times." It also aligns the County with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which has sent a letter to the Governor requesting that this relief be granted.

Lee Loy said, "We are in unchartered waters and Resolution 575-20 is an attempt to have us fall forward. The effects of this crisis are unknown and will be for months to come. It is my hope Resolution 575-20 is embraced as a proactive measure to provide certainty for people in our community, especially our kūpuna and keiki, in uncertain times."

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LIMITING COVID-19 MISINFORMATION ON FACEBOOK and WhatsApp is an aim of Senators Mazie Hirono, Kamala Harris, and colleagues. They sent a letter to Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg, pointing in particular to WhatsApp. The Senators sent their letter after widespread reports of dangerous false information about the coronavirus circulating among the two billion WhatsApp users worldwide.

The Senators wrote that AFP FactCheck – the fact-checking arm of Agence France Presse – has already identified and debunked at least 140 different myths circulating around WhatsApp, including false cures and false ways to avoid COVID-19.
The Senators wrote: "On Jan. 30, Facebook announced that it would take steps to limit the spread of misinformation and harmful content relating to the coronavirus on both its main platform and Instagram. Notably, Facebook made no such commitment to combat misinformation and harmful content on WhatsApp. Facebook's lack of action has allowed WhatsApp to devolve into what has been called a 'petri dish of coronavirus misinformation.'

"The spread of misinformation about the coronavirus compounds what is already an extremely difficult problem of stopping this worldwide pandemic as individuals receiving misinformation may fail to take adequate precautions and/or seek out proper medical care."
After receiving the letter, Facebook announced that WhatsApp will reduce the number of people or groups that a particularly viral message can be forwarded to from five to one. The Senators still await a response to the other points their letter raises, and have asked for that response by Monday, April 13.
Read the letter here.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS across Hawaiʻi – including Bay Clinic, which services Kaʻū – will receive more than $10 million in additional grant funding to respond to, prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19. Sen. Mazie Hirono announced that the funds are available as part of the CARES Act, the third coronavirus relief package Congress recently passed. Community health centers in Hawaiʻi also received about $1 million in funding in the first coronavirus relief package.

Hirono said, "Our community health centers continue to meet the daunting challenge of responding to the coronavirus pandemic. This infusion of funds will provide much-needed resources to a vital health care network. Community health centers throughout Hawaiʻi – and all health care providers – need additional support to keep up their work, and we must provide full funding and authorization for community health centers going forward."
Grants to Hawaiʻi Island community health centers include $876,290 for Bay Clinic and $783,110 for West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center.

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS COULD BE FIRST in economic recovery in Hawaiʻi. That's the message from former state Senator and founder of Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Gary Hooser. His op-ed is entitled: Neighbor Islands Posed to Lead:

"Essentially, economists say, there won't be a fully functioning economy again until people are confident that they can go about their business without a high risk of catching the virus." - New York Times April 6, 2020.
A high bar to overcome, with new cases of COVID-19 being reported daily through-out Hawaii. For the City and County of Honolulu and its 1,000,000 residents living in relatively dense urban communities, the challenge to reach this threshold is significantly greater than the other three less populated, neighbor-island counties.

Thus Kauai, Maui and Hawaii County could, in fact, lead the way in terms of both protecting health and restarting the economy. Oahu, of course, will also get to the same place, but primarily because of the larger population, it will likely take longer to do so.

Step one for all islands is to eliminate the spread of the virus. Thankfully, the flow of incoming travelers has slowed to a trickle and police are increasing enforcement of the 14-day quarantine. We need to take the next step and basically lock our islands down.

If we show the discipline and commitment needed, we can, in fact, stop the virus. But we must do better and avoid going out, period. Running errands because we are bored, is not acceptable - we must only go out when it's absolutely required - as in urgent.

So first we aim for zero. No new cases of COVID-19 are the goal. In order to even start a gradual reopening of businesses, we must slow the spread and reverse the trend.

To get to zero and stay there we must also further tighten requirements for all incoming travel. With the coming availability of the FDA approved Abbott laboratories "15 minute test", every incoming traveler regardless of their point of origin should be tested (either prior to their point of origin departure or upon arrival). This is the same test taken by President Trump and the same test currently being deployed widely in Detroit Michigan.

Gary Hooser, former state Senator and founder of
Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action,
says isn't time for a conversation on the future.

With an approximate population of fewer than 75,000 people on Kauai, 160,000 on Maui and just over 200,000 on the Big Island of Hawaii - and with increasing testing capacity, soon we should be able to test virtually 100% of neighbor-island residents. Oahu, with a population of about 1,000,000 people, represents a much greater logistical challenge.
Think about it. When any island can get to zero spread (or statistically as close to zero as is possible), and testing of travelers is mandated, then all businesses on that island can reopen and residents can go back to hugging, high-fiving and shaking hands with family, friends, and neighbors.
That island or islands then becomes the most valuable visitor destination on the planet that people cannot come to unless they first "test negative".
According to a report recently released by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Office (UHERO): "Tourism could resume quickly if two necessary conditions are met: (1) Potential tourists perceive Hawaii to be a safe place to visit and (2) Hawaii residents can be assured tourists are free of the coronavirus.
The first condition could be satisfied sometime this summer if Hawaii builds on its already considerable achievements by moving ahead with the testing, contact tracing, isolation, and mask policies recommended in this report.
The second condition could also be satisfied this summer if rapid antigen and antibody tests become readily available to people wanting to vacation in Hawaii. Travelers will take a rapid antigen test within a day of boarding their flight to confirm that they do not carry the coronavirus.

While essential services like the tree trimming along the highways and roads to protect utility lines are ongoing

during the pandemic, a focus on generating jobs through improving infrastructure is expected. Photo by Julia Neal

A second antigen test might be required in Hawaiʻi within a day of the passenger's flight home... Abbott Labs is currently rolling out an antigen test that provides results within 5-15 minutes... It is possible, but far from certain, that Hawaiʻi will become particularly attractive as a vacation destination later this year if it is one of the first global visitor destinations to have its epidemic under control." Read the entire UHERO Report.
The UHERO report is important reading and focuses on the entire state of Hawaiʻi. The reality, though, is that the neighbor-islands have the ability to reopen their economies independently of Oʻahu and each other. With a population of only 75,000 people, a Mayor who has been particularly assertive in enforcing the "stay at home" orders, and the potential introduction of "15 minute" airport testing - Kauaʻi County is in a unique position to lead.
Each island community can and must pull together to make this happen. As hard as it is, we must continue to stay home. Our government leaders must work together with the medical community, and with the airline and travel industry, to make this happen, sooner and not later.

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TIPS ON HOW TO SAVE ENERGY WHILE WORKING FROM HOME come from Hawaiʻi Energy, an organization with a mission to "empower island families and businesses to make smarter energy choices to reduce energy consumption, save money, and pursue a 100 percent clean energy future."

The tips include:
Work smarter, not longer hours - It can be tempting to surf the web and spend time on social media sites. However, cutting down on screen time can save you energy. Shut your computer off when not in use. A laptop uses less energy than a desktop computer.
Take advantage of natural light - Open drapes or blinds in your home to let in sunlight during the day. Move to where natural light is strongest instead of turning on overhead lights or lamps. Pro tip: Natural light is known to boost mood and productivity.

Set your computer for energy savings - Most computers have built-in settings for saving energy to automatically lower power consumption when not in use. Using "sleep" settings can save on your electricity bill. You can use a power monitor, these devices show which items use the most electricity.
Try fans or open windows instead of AC - Office equipment and more people at home can make cooling devices work harder to bring room temperatures down. Try creating a cross-breeze by opening windows and use fans where possible. If you have to use AC, use the energy saver mode and set the temperature to what's comfortable but not cold.

Minimize your gadgets - Unplug devices and appliances you're not using or use an advanced power strip. Standby modes can sap "vampire" or "phantom" or energy. Use advanced power strips to make sure electronics and other items not in use are truly shut off.
Use energy-efficient equipment and appliances - Choosing energy efficient models can save you energy and money today and for years to come. Look for the ENERGY STAR® for the models with the best savings. There are buy-back companies that sell used and refurbished equipment or will recycle/trade in your old gear and appliances.

Light the area instead of whole room - If you need more light to work, use a desk lamp instead of whole room lighting. Placement of lamps near mirrors or in corners where adjoining walls can also magnify the light, spreading more brightness with fewer bulbs. LED bulbs emit less heat than incandescent bulbs while working. If you're still using incandescent light bulbs, it's past time to replace them with light emitting diodes (LEDs). Hawai‘i Energy is offering a $5 home energy kit with 4 LED bulbs and other gadgets.

See HawaiiEnergy.com/Tips-to-Save-Energy for more.

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State Dept. of Health director
Dr. Bruce Anderson

CLARIFICATION ABOUT LEAVING HOME ISOLATION after recovering from COVID-19 symptoms comes from director of state Department of Health, Dr. Bruce Anderson. Anderson said the state is following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's guidelines: those who are untested can leave their home after having no fever for at least 72 hours, without the use of medicine that reduces fevers; when other symptoms have improved – for example, when cough or shortness of breath have improved; and when it has been at least seven days since symptoms first appeared.
Those who were tested can leave home after having no fever for at least 72 hours; when other symptoms have improved; and after having received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart.

Anderson said that, in certain circumstances (e.g., hospitalized patients, immunosuppressed persons, persons being discharged to a long-term care facility), DOH will work with the clinician to determine when a person with COVID-19 should be released from isolation. He said COVID-19 test results are sent to the ordering clinician, and to check with their clinician if results are not received in a timely manner.

In regards to the "shedding period" in symptomatic patients, Anderson said that information on shedding of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, "is limited at this time; however, viral shedding is thought to be greatest when patients are symptomatic. Viral shedding is greatest at the time of symptom onset and declines over the course of several days to weeks. The exact degree of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA shedding that confers risk of transmission is not yet clear."

The information was requested on April 3 by Hilo's Sen. Kai Kahele, who is running to represent Kaʻū and rural Hawaiʻi in the U.S. House of Repreesntatives. Kahele stated he had to wait 16 days for his negative test result. Kahele shared the response from Anderson on April 4. See the letter and response on Kahele's Facebook.

See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of April.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED for the month of April, to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, with l4 days of quarantine required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted. Those in Hawaiʻi should stay at home unless needing to obtain food or medical care.

ONGOING

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary, weekdays, through at least the end of April. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Deliveries of food are being made to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:

The Ocean View location for Tuesday, April 14 will be Ocean View Community Center parking lot, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, instead of at St. Jude's Episcopal Church, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Nāʻālehu location is Sacred Hearts Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on Thursdays, April 9 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.

The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on Thursday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. Call 933-6030.

The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road Thursday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

A Free Dinner for Those in Need is served at Volcano Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road every Thursday, by Friends Feeding Friends, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

On Call Emergency Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is operated by The Food Basket. Call 808-933-6030.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, April 13. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.

Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.

Distribution in the Nāʻālehu area is at Nāʻālehu Elementary, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour Community Center. Distribution in Ocean View is at the county's Kahuku Park, the area in front of Malama Market, and Ocean View Community Center.

At Nāʻālehu Elementary, campus pick-up will be from 9 a.m - 9:20 a.m. for A-H; 9:20 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. for I-P, and 9:40 a.m. - 10 a.m. for Q-Z.

The Waiʻōhinu pick-up: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

The Discovery Harbour Community Center pick-up: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

Morning distribution at Kahuku Park: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

Evening distribution at Kahuku Park: 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Times for distribution in front of Malama Market are: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

Times for distribution at Ocean View Community Center are 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration. Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.

Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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Long line on the Pāhala School campus this morning for free breakfasts, from 7:30 a.m to 8 a.m., and lunches from
11:30 a.m. to noon, prepared by the school cafeteria. About 100 packages are handed out for each meal in the drive
thru, Mondays through Fridays, for anyone under 18 years of age, present in the vehicle, and old enough to
chew food. Nāʻālehu Elementary is providing food on the same schedule. Photo by Julia Neal

MEAL DELIVERY FOR SENIORS IN THE COUNTY NUTRITION PROGRAM in Pāhala and Nāʻālehu will begin this week. The home delivery supplants the late morning lunches Mondays through Fridays that seniors enjoyed at the Senior Centers in Pāhala and Nāʻālehu. Those gatherings were shut down due to social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks & Recreation's Elderly Activities Division announced today its "comprehensive meal delivery program for eligible seniors enrolled in Hawai‘i County's Nutrition Program.

"In compliance with Governor Ige's Third Emergency Proclamation on COVID-19, which restricted gatherings and instituted social distancing requirements beginning March 25, 2020, EAD undertook a herculean effort to convert its two standard meals programs for seniors, Meals on Wheels and Congregate [Meals] Sites, into a meticulously organized meal delivery network that services all enrolled seniors at their respective places of residence."
In this initial week of the emergency meal delivery program, the Elderly Activities Division will deliver 3,440 frozen prepared meals to 688 seniors that opted into the program islandwide. Each senior will receive five nutritious meals per week delivered by EAD employees in marked County of Hawai‘i vehicles.
In addition to the delivery of meals, EAD staff members are reaching out by phone weekly to the seniors in its highest risk category, to ensure they are doing okay and to inquire with them what their plans are over the next month and if there is any way that EAD can assist them further in this period of emergency.
During this time, EAD continues to service seniors through its Coordinated Services for the Elderly program, which provides transportation for doctor's appointments, pharmaceutical pickups, two-week essentials shopping, as well as emergency services, such as dialysis and cancer treatments.
A statement from Department of Parks & Recreation thanks the Hawai‘i County Office of Aging for its continued support of this emergency meals programs.
Meal vendors are: Nani Mau, Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, Café 100, Big Island Grill, and L&L Drive Inn.
For questions about the program, call Roann S. Okamura, EAD Operations Director, at 961-8708.

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STOP ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INTO THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI THROUGH APRIL 30, urges Hawaiʻi County Council in a letter to Pres. Donald Trump. Resolution 572-20, approved unanimously by the council on Wednesday, urges the president to issue the ban, "to help reduce the COVID-19 infection rate and ease the burden on our already strained healthcare, housing, food, medicine, and dry goods resources."

Mayor Harry Kim and Gov. David Ige declined to sign a letter to Trump requesting a similar ban, already sent by Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino, Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami, and City and County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk W. Caldwell.
Kim said the 14-day quarantine has "been very effective in deterring travelers coming to Hawaiʻi," citing less than 600 travelers statewide coming in on April 3, when the normal daily arrivals usually number 30,000.

Essential workers discuss surveying for improvements at the Kaʻū High & Elementary School campus, and
the ongoing surveying for new sewer lines in Pāhala. Photo by Julia Neal

The Honolulu mayor said that "dramatically reduced round-trip airfares to Hawaiʻi" will continue to "encourage people to risk traveling to Hawaiʻi – especially those who otherwise may not have been able to afford to come."Caldwell said the ban should not extend to "employees of critical infrastructure industries, including, but not limited to, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply."

Sen Bernie Sanders ended his
campaign for President today but
not his campaign to unseat Pres.
Donald Trump.

State Senator and candidate
for Congress Kai Kahele
praised Bernie Sanders.

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BERNIE SANDERS ENDED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. PRESIDENT today and state Sen. Kai Kahale applauded him for his movement: "Bernie Sanders ran a historic campaign for president, and today we say mahalo. Mahalo, Bernie, for your passion and tenacity in bringing voice to so many working class Americans and for creating a movement focused on people, not profit. You are a heroic inspiration and our fight is not over.
"Now we must unite to focus on defeating Donald Trump. I am proud to unite with my fellow Democrats in supporting former Vice President, Joe Biden. We know the Democrats are the party of the people — we fight for the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the voiceless. When we lift each other up, we lift our communities up. Nothing can stop us — especially not Donald Trump.
"Join me today in coming together so we can defeat Donald Trump. It is going to take all of us to do this. We are stronger together."

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THE ANNUAL HAWAIʻI CONSERVATION CONFERENCE WILL BE VIRTUAL. Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance and Foundation made the announcement today, noting that the reduction of travel to the Oʻahu venue will allow the conservation community to apply lower-carbon technology to its event. The conference is scheduled for Sept. 1-3, entitled Ola Ka ʻĀina Momona: Managing for Abundance. Last year's was called He ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani Au – Resilience in the Face of Change.

The Conservation Conference usually draws many groups from Hawaiʻi Island, from The Nature Conservancy to Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and representatives of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Resource Conservation Service.
The statement says the decision to go virtual was "made primarily to exercise an abundance of caution in consideration of the uncertainty around the impacts and threats of the COVID-19 virus. While we certainly hope that by late summer we will not be working under strict physical separation policies, we also recognize that the number and geographic distribution of our conference attendees make an in-person event particularly high-risk. Importantly, we see this shift as an opportunity to innovate and grow our tool kit. The conservation community has long recognized the need to apply lower-carbon technology to our efforts and we hope that our experience this year will help us learn new approaches to professional development, knowledge sharing and building, networking, and communication within our field.

"Finally, with many of us anticipating budget contraction, we hope that cost savings through reduced conference expenses and eliminated travel costs will mean that more of you will be able to participate in this virtual gathering. All that being said, we do recognize the great value of connecting face to face in real life, and hope to add some sort of in-person gatherings to this virtual conference, should it be safe to do so."
The organizers of the Conservation Convention said that over the next several weeks, they will be focused on scoping. "We have never hosted this kind of event and we need to better understand the tools available to us for a virtual conference. We hope to release a revised registration fee schedule along with virtual platform details in early May. For authors, your abstracts will still be evaluated against the original call for proposals and we will share information about the software platform when we send acceptance notifications."
For more on Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance, see hawaiiconservation.org. To help out with the conference and for more information contact conference@hawaiiconservation.org. Also see
Joint Statement Regarding Society for Conservation Biology Oceania (SCBO) and Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Partnership Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Here.

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The late Irene Hirano Inouye, with Sen. Mazie Hirono, left, at the christening of the USS Daniel K. Inouye, named after
her late husband. Irene Inouye passed away yesterday. Photo from Hinoro

IRENE HIRANO INOUYE PASSED AWAY Tuesday, April 7 at age 71, after a long illness. Widow of former Sen. Daniel Inouye, she served as President and founding CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, chair of the Ford and Kresge Foundations, President of the U.S. Japan Council, and more.

Sen. Mazie Hirono issued the following statement on the passing of Inouye: "My thoughts go out to the Yasutake and Inouye ʻohana today as we mourn the passing of Irene Hirano Inouye. Irene's passion for serving her community on the local, national, and international levels was profoundly

The late Sen. Daniel Inouye at a Hilo Bandstand rally. His widow Irene
died on Tuesday. Photo by Julia Neal

evident in her life's work… Irene was dedicated to the organizations and causes she believed in.

"In the years following the passing of Senator Inouye, Irene worked to establish the Daniel K. Inouye Institute to carry on and preserve the Senator's legacy and continue the work that he started. Last June, I joined Irene at the christening of the USS Daniel K. Inouye in Bath, Maine, and we both looked forward to welcoming the destroyer to Pearl Harbor. Like so many others, I will miss her friendship, determination and spirit, but I and others will continue to build upon the strong foundations that she laid."

Gov. David Ige said, "Irene was a respected, central figure in U.S.-Japanese relations. She worked tirelessly to develop leaders in the Japanese-American community in Hawai‘i and beyond, and to strengthen ties between our two countries. Her wisdom and grace will be missed. Dawn and I send our deepest condolences to the Inouye ‘ohana."

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THE HAWAIʻI COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE COVID-19 report today shows one more case on Hawaiʻi Island and the number of confirmed cases at 27. Twenty-one are cleared by state Department of Health. The remaining six are quarantined at home and are being monitored by DOH. To date, no one has been hospitalized on-island for infection from the virus and no one has died. According to state maps, no Hawaiʻi Island cases are from Volcano or Kaʻū.

Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "Keeping within the policies of prevention, please do maintain the best physical and emotional health that you can be. Your overall health is so important to your resiliency. In addition we need to assure that our kūpuna are taken care of and that they have opportunities to socialize within the policy guidelines of social distancing and grouping.
"Let's all protect each other; wear a mask. Thank you for listening and know how lucky we are to be here on Hawaiʻi. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense."

The state Department of Health reports 435 cases statewide, with 25 new cases reported today. There have been six deaths; four on Oʻahu, two on Maui.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has recorded more than 432,132 cases. The death toll is more than 14,750. More than 23,900 people have recovered.

Johns Hopkins counts more than 1.48 million people worldwide as victims of COVID-19. The death toll is nearly 88,600. The recovery total is more than 329,000. There are cases reported in over 200 countries.

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The Kaʻū Calendar hard copy is printed monthly, with 7,500 copies distributed

throughout Kaʻū and Volcano, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, to all postal

addresses and in stands. To support The Kaʻū Calendar, purchase an ad

for a non-profit or a business, a service, or something for sale.

Contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

FUNDING FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM AND MEDIA DURING THE PANDEMIC is the call from Senators Mazie Hirono, Amy Klobuchar, Corey Booker, and colleagues. Eighteen U.S Senators asked for the support for journalism in future COVID-19 relief packages.
Their letter, sent to Senate leadership, cautions of the already widespread devastation of the coronavirus pandemic on local and regional news outlets, who are experiencing sinking advertising revenue while public demand and reliance on local reporting are increasing during the pandemic. Across the country, local and regional news outlets have furloughed or laid off staff. Some newspapers have also made cuts or stopped print editions.
"Local news is in a state of crisis that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For over a decade, there has been a steady succession of local outlets closing down, reporters being laid off, production schedules cut, and resources tightened as the growth of social media and technology platforms has concentrated critical advertising revenue in the hands of a few," the Senators wrote.
"The current public health crisis has made the already vital role of local news even more critical," the Senators continued. "Some of the most important guidance for families and businesses during this crisis has been highly localized. Local journalism has been providing communities answers to critical questions, including information on where to get locally tested, hospital capacity, road closures, essential business hours of operation, and shelter-in-place orders. During this unprecedented public health crisis, people need to have access to their trusted local news outlets for this reliable and sometimes life-saving information."
The letter can be found here.

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HIGHWAY 11 WAS CLOSED LAST NIGHT at around 10 p.m., reported Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense. The road was closed in both directions between mile markers 56 and 62, at Kāwā Flats in Kaʻū, due to water on the roadway. Civil Defense recommended Saddle Road as an alternate route. The road reopened around 6 a.m.today.

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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of April.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED for the month of April, to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, with l4 days of quarantine required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted. Those in Hawaiʻi should stay at home unless needing to obtain food or medical care.

ONGOING

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary weekdays through at least the end of April. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Students of Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary in Ocean View are receiving food weekly.

The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:

The Ocean View location for Tuesday, April 14 will be Ocean View Community Center parking lot, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, instead of at St. Jude's Episcopal Church, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Nāʻālehu location is Sacred Hearts Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on Thursdays, April 9 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.

The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on Thursday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. Call 933-6030.

The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road Thursday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

A Free Dinner for Those in Need is served at Volcano Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road every Thursday, by Friends Feeding Friends, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

On Call Emergency Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is operated by The Food Basket. Call 808-933-6030.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, April 13. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.

Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.

At Nāʻālehu Elementary, campus pick-up will be from 9 a.m - 9:20 a.m. for A-H; 9:20 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. for I-P, and 9:40 a.m. - 10 a.m. for Q-Z.

The Waiʻōhinu pick-up: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

The Discovery Harbour Community Center pick-up: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

Morning distribution at Kahuku Park: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.

Evening distribution at Kahuku Park: 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Times for distribution in front of Malama Market are: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.

Times for distribution at Ocean View Community Center are 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840.

Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

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Boys & Girls Club food prep kitchen where hot plates were made for delivery to Miloliʻi people today.
Photo from Boys & Girls Club

TWO LOST HIKERS WERE RECOVERED THIS AFTERNOON .75 miles northeast of Honuʻapo Point. The tourists, a man and a woman both in their 60s, were found in high grass about 100 yards off a dirt road. They were unable to return to their vehicle, parked outside a locked gate on Highway 11, on their own. Hawaiʻi Fire and Police Departments worked together to rescue the pair; the man was extricated via Billy Pugh net by Chopper 1. Both hikers were evaluated by EMS; no injures were reported. A total of nine personnel in five vehicles were involved in the rescue.

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FRESH FOOD SOURCES FOR KAʻŪ AND VOLCANO are published and updated in the new online Fresh Food Sources on The Kaʻū Calendar. Read about local farmers and ranchers. Find schedules for delivery and take-out of fresh produce, beef, and prepared foods. Learn about places with gardening tools, soil, seeds, and starter chicks for sale. See schedules for free meals throughout the area.

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Haukea Koprivnikar with her Nāʻālehu Elementary School
Chromebook, hard at work at home during the pandemic
that shut down schools and other public places.
Photo by her mom, Maile Wedemeyer

NĀʻĀLEHU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GAVE OUT CHROMEBOOKS TODAY at the campus, and in Ocean View. The pick-up for students was the second phase of multiple dates of distributing computers and other supplies to students who are learning at home during the pandemic. Chromebooks and supplies were also handed out last week Monday.
Some of the online tools that teachers and students are using during the stay-home time are Google Classroom, Epic at getepic.com, Freckle.com, GoGuardian, and Codemonkey Math Challenge. GoGuardian is the Chromebook management and monitoring tool.
Technology Coordinator for Nāʻālehu Elementary, Bob Martin, said, "Everything we have done has been intentional. What it means for us is getting supplies out for the students who need them whether its food, water color paints, ʻukulele, home work packets, or Chromebooks."

Principal Darlene Javar and Nellie Davis with
Chromebooks that were handed out this morning
at Nāʻālehu Elementary School and this afternoon
at Ocean View to students studying at home.
Photo by Bob Martin

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THE FOOD BASKET FOOD PANTRIES DISTRIBUTION in Ocean View, where families can receive 14 days of food per family, has moved to the lot across from St. Jude's Episcopal Church at 92-8606 Paradise Mauka Circle, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 14.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER REMAINS CLOSED until further notice, with very limited exceptions, such as the CVS prescription drug delivery. Ocean View Community Association president Suzanne Reiter said the center "will re-open as soon as possible, keeping in mind the health and safety of our community. Please abide by all of the prescribed safety guidelines to keep our neighbors and our community safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you again, and anticipate having a reorganized library for your use and enjoyment."

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Masks and gloves for plating up food.
Photo from Boys & Girls Club

MEALS TO MILOLIʻI WERE DELIVERED BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB today. Some two hundred hot plated meals were made "to support all families located down in the Hawaiian village of Miloliʻi," reports the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island. Eight-hundred-and-thirty individual hot meals were provided to the public from Hilo to Kona.
Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island will keep everyone posted on their continued "Community Meal Support" efforts during this COVID-19 period. Meals are going to homeless veterans; elders and families in shelters through Hope Services; the Salvation Army's East Hawaiʻi Homeless Resource Center; Hawaiian Homes communities; public housing programs; and Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island participating youth and families.

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THE HAWAIʻI ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY RECOVERY & RESILIENCY PLAN leader was named Wednesday by Gov. David Ige, state Senate President Ron Kouchi, and House Speaker Scott Saiki. Their proclamation named veteran business executive and community leader Alan M. Oshima to lead Hawaiʻi's efforts to develop and implement a plan for economic and community stabilization, recovery, and resiliency. Oshima most recently served as President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric.
Said Ige, "The health and safety of Hawaiʻi's people will always remain my overriding priority. However, while working to protect our residents, we also need to focus on stabilizing our economy. With the staggering increase in unemployment and the number of businesses shutting their doors, we

need to take action now so we can provide for the basic needs of our citizens – food, shelter, and healthcare – and plan for what the future holds," said Ige. "The only way we can address these issues and rise out of this crisis, is to work together – this includes government, the private sector, non-profits, and the community-at-large."

Boys & Girls Club takes hot meals to many communities from Hilo to Kona. Photo from Boys & Girls Club

A statement from Ige said that Oshima was selected to lead the governor's efforts "based on his experience, long-standing reputation, business acumen, and dedication to leadership and volunteerism with community organizations."

Hawaiʻi Economic and Community Recovery & Resiliency Plan will include a concurrent three-part strategy to address both the economic and community impacts of COVID-19:
Part I: Stabilization. Identify and address critical economic and community impacts, including the allocation of the federal CARES act funds and state and local funding to mitigate the collapse of key economic sectors. Also, provide direct economic relief to individuals to avoid homelessness, hunger and sickness.
Part II: Recovery. Identify and support economic and community development activities which provide recovery, job growth, and capital investment in the economy.
Part III: Resiliency. Re-evaluate and restructure Hawaiʻi's economy to meet the new normal and desired future for Hawaiʻi. Identify and invest in systemic changes in the economy and society which furthers economic diversification, environmental preservation, sustainability, and Hawaiʻi's values and way of life.
Oshima said, "This is a monumental role that the governor has established, and it will be critical in helping Hawaiʻi through this crisis and shaping the direction of our state for generations to come. We need to move quickly to establish a collaborative approach that brings together all stakeholders and maximizes Hawaiʻi's efficiency and response. These are critical times and we can't afford to be duplicating efforts.

Alan Oshima will lead the development of the Hawaiʻi
Economic & Community Recovery & Resiliency Plan.

"While we are sheltering in place to reduce community spread of COVID-19, the task force's primary concern is to ensure that all federal monies are used to the fullest extent possible to stabilize our current economic free-fall."

The Senate President added, "It is hoped that this task force will be able to advance and expand upon the partnerships that were aborted when the pandemic struck."
The House Speaker said, "This pandemic has reaffirmed what we have known for a while -- that our economy must be diversified and cannot be over-reliant on one or two major industries. This task force must help modernize our economy. The future of our families and state relies upon a sound and resilient economy."
The plan is designed to use the economic and community sectors identified in the Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan: Economy, including Healthcare, Infrastructure; Financial Services, Hospitality, Construction, Innovation & Technology, Government and Military; Environment and Natural Resources; and Community and Social Well-being, including NGOs, social services, culture and the arts, and faith-based.
"To address community needs and expedite the decision-making process, input from key stakeholders and sectors will be essential. Each sector will have a state government appointed liaison to provide support, outreach, and connect ideas and needs with available government and community resources. They will also be asked to identify and leverage tools, resources, and assets available to achieve desired outcomes, including the roles and responsibilities of government, business, nonprofits, labor organizations, and individuals," says the statement.

Oshima said, "There are so many individuals, groups, and organizations in our community that want to help and many have already started looking for solutions. We want to make sure that they all are engaged and that our efforts are streamlined to collectively identify issues, needs, and solutions; facilitate cross-sector planning with government, business, non-profit, and labor organizations; and collect reliable data and information for analysis that will be used as the basis for decision making."
One of the first areas for collaboration is the federal CARES Act and other relief programs. It is anticipated that Hawaiʻi will receive $4 billion, which need to be used by the end of the year. If the funds are leveraged with state and local government (e.g., infrastructure spending, bond financing, tax incentives), private (e.g., targeted industries and investments), philanthropic (e.g., direct
contributions), and consumer initiatives, it will allow for greater utilization and provide for maximum impact to the stabilization and recovery efforts.
Gov. Ige concluded, "There is no time for personal agendas and self-interest – Hawaiʻi is one community, one family. We need to work together. This is the only way we are going to survive." See the Proclamation here.

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HAWAIʻI COFFEE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CHRIS MANFREDI issued a statement today to the coffee industry and friends, with links to resources for coffee farmers. "I hope you are doing well and staying safe. We would like to share some helpful information with farms and small businesses in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the summary of the recent postings below.
"Roll out of the CARE Act and refinement of rules and regulations governing this federal COVID-19 emergency funding iteration #3 continues with the objective of providing relief as quickly and with as limited red tape as possible. By now, you're likely aware that many online sources of information are available. Some

Chris Manfredi

sources are general while others are targeted. Mindful of your time and wishing to avoid an overload of information and links you may have already received, the below links might fall in the non-duplicative category."

COVID-19: Helpful Resources for Food & Agriculture - House Agriculture Committee; House Agriculture Committee - USDA Resources; SBA - COVID-19 Relief for Small Business; Loans for Nonprofits in the CARES Act; Hawaii Lenders Serving SBA's Hawaii District; Paycheck Protection Program Application.
Here is the website for those who are tracking the coronavirus pandemic, from the John Hopkins University of Medicine.
The message also recommends keeping up with the federal Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification policies. DOL recently issued a second round of COVID-19 related H-2A FAQ to address potential issues regarding the H-2A temporary agricultural labor certification program. View the Round 2 FAQs regarding COVID-19. These, along with other ongoing announcements, are being posted at farmers.gov/manage/h2a. Along with these DOL FAQs and State Department's additional interview waiver flexibilities announced last week, USDA continues to work specifically with DHS on flexibilities related to lawful presence and transfer of workers.
FEMA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Public Assistance Simplified Application - last updated on March 23.
Manfredi said Hawaiʻi Coffee Association "will continue to post information that we find valuable to Hawaiʻi's coffee community on our website. Please check there often."
He also wrote, "We will need to work together and support each other throughout - and in the aftermath of this crisis. Please offer any suggestions you have on how we can best support you and our industry by contacting us via contact@hawaiicoffeeassoc.org."

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Temporary bridge along Hwy 11 between Punaluʻu and Kāwā while new bridges are being built. Photo by Julia Neal

IDEAS FOR BEYOND THE PANDEMIC ARE PLENTIFUL. The op-ed from the former state Senator and founder of Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Gary Hooser, is entitled: Post-Pandemic Public Policy - The Conversation Starts Now. He writes:

Incoming travel has just about been eliminated. The hotels and airlines are shutting down, restaurants and many businesses have closed, and residents are staying home. At some point soon, our broader community conversation must shift from the fear and response of the moment to our hope and plans for the future. And yes, for now anyway, we must have this conversation from home.
As a former legislator who served at both the State and County level, I tend to look at problems and challenges through a public policy lens. How do we maximize the opportunity for a strong economic "bounce back" once the pandemic has peaked and life starts returning to normal? How do we immediately and boldly charge down the long-overdue path of food self-sufficiency? What about the 48 percent of those who were already living on the edge of poverty, prior to the arrival of Covid-19? The homeless situation is only going to get worse. How do we get ahead of this issue in a humane and economically sensible way? Can we use this emergency to make our government better and more accessible, by offering statewide access and remote testimony? How can we improve our health care system to ensure that no-one will be denied treatment, and our hospitals and medical facilities remain strong?
For each of these challenges, there are public policy proposals now in place that await legislative leadership. Some measures sit in the form of bills introduced during the 2019/2020 legislative session and others will need to be amended and/or added to existing legislative vehicles. When the 2020 legislative session resumes, the State House and Senate could and should "re-boot" an array of legislative vehicles, hold the necessary public hearings (avoiding the issues with "gut and replace"), and appropriately address these pressing needs. The list and suggestions contained here are not all-inclusive but rather intended to show clear examples of what can and should be done.

The approach to the temporary Ninole Bridge, with new bridge construction to the left. Photo by Julia Neal

We need construction jobs and we need to invest in rebuilding our public infrastructure. Investing in construction is an obvious and important part of getting our economy back on its feet. At some point, we also must kick-start our visitor industry back into gear. Both are pillars of our economy. We need construction projects that reflect good planning and benefit our community, without sacrificing our natural environment. We need a visitor industry with limits, that pays its own way, and that caters to travelers who are mindful of their impact, and who tread lightly when they visit our special places.
The fragility of our "supply chain" and the need for food self-sufficiency has never been so apparent. We must attack this challenge with the commitment it deserves. There are many, many ways to tackle this issue, and it starts with requiring all State and County owned institutions that serve food, to, whenever possible, purchase only locally grown agricultural products. Imagine the immediate impact on local food production if every public school, every UH campus, every jail and prison, and every public medical facility, were required to purchase their food from local farmers and ranchers.
The economically vulnerable 48 percent, are likely post Covid-19 closer to 70 percent of our population. Now is not the time to balance the state budget on their backs. Hard-earned and much-deserved tax credits and modest incremental wage increases must be preserved and in fact, expanded.
Those who are houseless require multi-faceted support delivered via intensive individual case management. Mental health services, shelter availability, job training, and access to food and medical services - all must be managed by qualified trained service providers. There is a public price to pay, no matter what. An investment in expanded support services and additional trained social workers is, both morally and economically, the right thing to do.
Creating a system that allows everyone in Hawaiʻi to participate in delivering testimony to the State legislature and other public institutions, without having to fly to Oʻahu, is long overdue. One-third of our population is effectively disenfranchised by the current system. During the current Covid-19 crisis, that number is closer to 100 percent. With the wide availability of modern communication technology, there is no legitimate excuse to continue delaying the implementation of a system that would allow remote testimony and public participation, regardless of where you live.

New construction is expected to help the economy recover after the pandemic.
Photo by Julia Neal

The revamping and providing of increased support for Hawaiʻi's health care system is above my pay grade. While I still have a lot to learn about this topic, I do know one thing for sure. This whole experience has reaffirmed that people's healthcare should not be tied to their employment. Hawaiʻi's residents deserve single-payer universal health care.
Legislative leadership, together with the Chairs' of key committees, can start this process now without convening formal in-person meetings. Discussions with experts, agencies, and key stakeholders can be held remotely and the proposed amendment language developed. Then, when it's safe and appropriate to reconvene the legislative session, the bills can be promptly scheduled, hearings held, the measures amended as needed, and then passed into law.
Yes. Let's turn our attention toward utilizing the urgency of the moment to create something good for our future. We need to stay home and hunker down, but also get moving toward making that lemonade.
Hooser suggests reading the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation - state by state modeling, for a global health perspective that affects us locally, which shows Hawaiʻi peaking on April 30. Go to drop-down menu under United States of America and select Hawaiʻi.

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HAWAIʻI RANKS THIRTEENTH IN THE INCREASE OF UNEMPLOYMENT due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a WalletHub study. It shows that Hawaiʻi unemployment claims were higher in the last week in March by more than four thousand percent (4030.89%) compared to the same time last year. Claims increased 2,808.6 percent over January this year.
The state with the highest number of unemployment claims is Louisiana, followed by New Hampshire, Virginia, Georgia, and Mississppi. The places with lowest number of unemployment claims are Connecticut, Oregon, Wyoming, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Alaska.

WalletHub explains, "As the U.S. has embraced social distancing policies in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, many businesses have shut their doors either voluntarily or by government order. While some businesses have dealt with the crisis by having employees work from home, that option is not available to everyone. Millions of Americans have found themselves temporarily or permanently out of a job as a result, illustrated by the extremely high number of initial unemployment insurance claims, at over 6.6 million, for the week of March 30.
"While Americans can look forward to stimulus checks in the coming weeks, those who are jobless will likely still struggle. However, not all states have experienced the same levels of unemployment due to the pandemic. In order to find out the states whose unemployment percentages are most and least affected, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key metrics. These metrics compare unemployment claim increases for the week of March 30 to both the same week in 2019 and the first week of 2020."

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NONPROFITS CAN REQUEST GRANTS from the newly established Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Pierre and Pam Omidyar have joined together to create the Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund to "rapidly deploy resources and encourage community giving to address the COVID-19 pandemic." Nonprofit organizations should email grants@hcf-hawaii.org to request assistance in the form of a grant award from this fund.
Visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/coronavirus for more information.

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BAY CLINIC AND PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP will offer a drive-through screening and testing clinic for COVID-19 this Saturday, April 11 at Hilo's Hoʻolulu Complex from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Access only through the Piʻilani/Hinano entrance. The testing day has been changed to Saturday, to adjust for Easter Sunday; normally the Hilo testing is done on Sundays.
This free clinic is open to the public. However, individuals must first undergo a screening to determine if they meet the criteria to be tested. Clinic physicians on site will make the determination regarding testing. The screening criteria is based on guidance of the CDC and the State's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
People who visit the screening clinic will be asked to show photo ID. Additionally, people are requested to bring their own pen, and any health insurance cards they have, although insurance is not required.
Bay Clinic operates its dental and medical facilities in Nāʻālehu and east Hawaiʻi locations. The COVID-19 clinic is also supported by the County of Hawaiʻi COVID-19 Task Force. For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

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See updated maps and graphs with more on how the pandemic is affecting Hawaiʻi
at health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii.

DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE: Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports seven active cases of COVID-19 on Hawaiʻi Island as of Thursday, April 9. Two new cases were reported today. Twenty-one people have recovered. None have been hospitalized and none have died on island. No cases have been reported from Volcano or Kaʻū.

The state Department of Health reports 442 cases statewide, with seven new cases reported today. There have been six deaths, four on Oʻahu, two on Maui. 251 people have been reported by the state as recovered.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has recorded more than 466,000 cases. The death toll is more than 16,600. About 26,000 people have recovered.

Worldwide, Johns Hopkins counts more than 1.6 million people as victims of COVID-19. The death toll is nearly 95,000. The recovery total is more than 355,000. There are cases reported in over 200 countries.

Read online at kaucalendar.com. See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar
is free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout Kaʻū, from
Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com and
facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your business or
your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

ONGOING

The Ocean View location for Tuesday, April 14 has moved to the lot across from St. Jude's Episcopal Church at 92-8606 Paradise Mauka Circle, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.