The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Merle Becker, adorned with maile lei, takes hayriders on a tour of Aikane Plantation's coffee and cattle fields yesterday.
Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a continues today until 5:30 p.m., with entertainment, food, farm tours,
and the Ka`u Coffee Experience. See more below. Photo by Jesse Tunison

LANI CRAN PETRIE, of Kapapala Ranch, received a certificate of recognition from Hawai`i County Council this week for her work in the horse and cattle industry.

Lani Cran Petrie, manager of Kapapala Ranch, is seen here
with her late father Gordon Cran. Both are members of
the Paniolo Hall of Fame. Photo by Julia Neal

The council honored Petrie for being the fifth woman inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame, which recognizes yesterday’s and today’s paniolo statewide - Hawai`i's cowboys and cowgirls who have contributed to keeping Hawai`i’s paniolo heritage alive.

Petrie grew up riding the rugged terrain of the Waianae Mountains and the pasture lowlands, where she gained a wide perspective of raising livestock and ranching. She pursed a career in animal husbandry and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.
The Cran family moved to Pa`auilo in 1975 to establish the S.C. Ranch Partnership, where she spent summers and all school vacations working on the ranch. The Crans moved to Kapapala in 1977.
In the early 1990s, Petrie organized Hawai`i Cattle Producers Cooperative’s Transportation Division to help ranchers move cattle to West Coast ports. In 1995, she and her husband Bill revitalized the Old Kona Meat Market Co. that supplied the statewide military with beef.

Hawai`i County Council honored
Petrie with a certificate. Photo
from Hawai`i County Council.

Petrie has managed Kapapala Ranch since 2004 and has served as president of Hawai`i Cattlemen’s Association and Hawai`i Cattle Producers Cooperative.

“It is with great pride and respect that we acknowledge your accomplishments, dedication and passion for an industry so deeply rooted in our unique and special island culture,” council member Maile David said.

Petrie thanked the council for honoring her for being a woman in the cattle industry, suggesting that others “make sure you keep a good man around. I’ve tried to do that for 21 years,” she said. She listed ways that ranching benefits Hawai`i Island and the state, including reservoirs that provide early response to fires and water for nene, game birds and mammals.
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YESTERDAY’S KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL events included Coffee & Cattle Day and Stargazing atop Makanau.
Participants enjoyed a ranch lunch and tours of Aikane Plantation’s coffee and cattle operations. Phil and Merle Becker, descendants of J.C. Searle, the first coffee grower in Ka`u, explained how coffee is integrated into cattle ranching and other agriculture.

Stargazers use laser pointers while exploring Ka`u's dark skies.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

Stargazers enjoyed a nearly full moon as the sun set, then used laser pointers and a telescope to learn about Ka`u’s clear, dark skies.

John Cross, of Olson Trust, discussed the land’s history and significance.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH has identified a single imported case of dengue on Hawai`i Island, according to Hawai`i County Civil Defense. Vector control crews have treated the person’s residence and adjacent properties.
There is no evidence to indicate a local transmission has occurred. There have been no reported dengue cases attributed to local transmission since March.

Riding through pasture was one highlight of Aikane Plantation's
Coffee & Cattle Day. Photo by Jesse Tunison

As the summer approaches and more travel is anticipated, Civil Defense reminds the public that the most effective method to reduce the spread of dengue or other mosquito borne illnesses is for everyone to avoid and prevent mosquito bites. Fight The Bite by wearing clothing that minimizes exposed skin, using mosquito repellent and avoiding activities in areas of high mosquito concentration during early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest.

If feeling ill and unsure if you may have dengue, remain indoors to avoid getting bitten and infecting mosquitoes, and contact your health care provider.
For information on dengue, see health.hawaii.gov or call DOH at 974-6001.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD and more than 120 lawmakers urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to take action to combat the Zika virus by bringing the President’s request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding to the House floor.

Keiki paniolo practices his horseriding skills during Coffee & Cattle Day.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

“We write to you today to express our extreme concern over the increasing threat posed by the Zika virus,” the lawmakers’ letter stated. “As you know, there are significant challenges associated with combating Zika, and we must act swiftly to ensure that we have all of the necessary tools at our disposal, including robust funding to support research and response efforts. That is why we support the administration’s full request of $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations to combat this international public health threat. We strongly urge you to bring such legislation to the floor.

“In recent months, it has become evident that we do not have a comprehensive understanding of the Zika virus – how it works and what its immediate and long-term health implications are. As it continues to spread, it is imperative that we make immediate, sustained investments in research that, hopefully, will yield a Zika vaccine, diagnostic method and guide our continued response strategy. We are encouraged by the research being done across the country, including in many of our districts, but there is still much we do not understand. Until we have these answers, we must prioritize robust funding for Zika research.

Participants watch a nearly full moon above the Ka`u Coast
during yesterday's Ka`u Coffee Festival Stargazing event.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

“Zika has spread rapidly in other parts of the world, and we are seeing the same pattern here in the U.S. There are at least 503 reported cases of Zika in the U.S. to date and at least 701 reported cases in U.S. territories. Among these, pregnant women account for 113 cases. This number will continue to rise until Congress acts. Given the neonatal neurological implications of this virus, it is unconscionable to further delay action on this very critical issue.

“We must not underestimate just how destructive invasive pests and diseases can be. We are gravely concerned about the implications of this virus and, for this reason, research and response efforts have our full and steadfast support. We urge you to give this your full and fast consideration and ask that you bring to the floor legislation to provide $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations for Zika.”
Gabbard has strongly supported the President’s emergency request to prepare and respond to Zika. Last week, she hosted a telephone town hall with close to 5,000 residents across Hawai`i to discuss the Zika virus, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Hawai`i expert guests Chief Darryl Oliveira from Hawai`i County Civil Defense and state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park joined Gabbard on the call to address live questions about mosquito-borne illnesses.

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U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO MET with Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Hirono also called on her Republican colleagues to hold a hearing to consider Garland’s nomination.

Sen. Mazie Hirono with Judge Merrick Garland.
Photo from Sen. Hirono's Office

“Judge Garland’s character and record of judicial service are impressive, and Americans deserve to hear from him in a public Judiciary Committee hearing,” Hirono said. “In the Senate’s history of holding public confirmation hearings, the majority party has never before denied a Supreme Court nominee a hearing and vote. It’s been more than two months since the President did his job by nominating Judge Garland, and it’s far past time for my Republican colleagues to do their job by holding a hearing and vote on the nomination.”

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KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL HO`OLAULE`A continues at Pahala Community Center today until 5:30 p.m. The event features entertainment, displays, Ka`u Coffee tasting, farm tours, the Ka`u Coffee Experience and food.

Ka`u Coffee College closes the Ka`u Coffee Festival tomorrow.
Photo from Ka`u Coffee Festival

KA`U COFFEE COLLEGE PARTICIPANTS learn about integrated pest management, coffee berry borer and coffee quality’s impact on price.

Andrea Kawabata, assistant extension agent for coffee and orchard crops with the University of Hawai`i CTAHR cooperative extension service, and biologist Arturo Ballar Ortiz PSM, farm development and research director at Greenwell Farms, discuss Six Years of Farming with CBB: Reflecting and Moving Forward.

Award-winning roast master Mike Perry delves into Coffee Quality’s Relationship to Price Sensitivity.
Falling Coffee, Falling Profits will be discussed by Robert G. Hollingsworth, research entomologist of Hilo’s USDA-ARS-Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center and a specialist on coffee berry borer.
Miguel Meza, owner and director of Paradise Coffee Roasters in Hawai`i and Minnesota, teams up with Lee Paterson, owner of Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, to direct a coffee quality workshop.
The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow at Pahala Community Center.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

Kumu Ab Kawainohoikala`i Valencia and his Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu performed yesterday at Ka`u
Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a. See more below. Photo from Ka`u Coffee Festival

GREG SMITH, OWNER of Earth Matters Farm and president of Hawai`i Farmers Union United’s Ka`u chapter, is looking forward to industrial hemp production coming to the district.

“I believe Ka`u would be ideal,” Smith told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today. “There is plenty of soil and a lot of small farmers struggling to find a crop they can make money on. It’s exciting. It’s never been done before here.”

Greg Smith hopes Ka`u farmers will produce industrial hemp.
Photo by Ron Johnson

Yager said Smith is looking for strains of hemp that qualify for industrial cultivation and is planning a cooperative that could create a processing center.
Smith touted hemp’s values, including Asian and Japanese markets wanting hemp-based medicine. He said there are industrial possibilities for the crop and that it could help rebuild soils depleted by sugar cane production.
“Hemp is the new stepchild of cannabis, and it could easily be the next big thing once the drug classification is taken away,” Smith told Yager. “It’s not a drug; it doesn’t get you high.”
Smith also pointed to Hawai`i’s year-round growing season that could produce three crops annually.
“Hopefully, the state embraces the crop,” he told Yager. “The longer we wait, people in states like Colorado and Oregon are going to monopolize it, and it’s going to make this harder.”
The recently adjourned state Legislature passed a bill allowing pilot programs for industrial hemp production, and Yager reported that state Department of Agriculture chair Scott Enright hopes farmers can begin production by this fall.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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The Gomes `Ohana, featuring Pahala's own Phoebe and Bobbie Gomes,
entertained at the ho`olaule`a. Photo by Julia Neal

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL Ho`olaule`a saw a record turnout yesterday. An early threat of rain failed to materialize, and large, dark clouds filled the sky, keeping the crowd cool.

Cars filled Pahala Community Center lawn and lined surrounding streets as visitors flocked to get a taste of award-winning Ka`u Coffee and other local treats. Musicians and hula dancers, including Miss Ka`u Coffee 2016 Pageant contestants, graced the stage and entertained the crowd throughout the day. Tours to scenic farms informed participants about Ka`u Coffee production. The Ka`u Coffee Experience offered an opportunity to taste coffee brewed using a variety of techniques.

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Miss Ka`u Coffee 2016 Rochelle Koi onstage
at the annual Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a.
Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

HAWAI`I STATE CONSUMER ADVOCATE last week asked Hawai`i Electric Light Co. for answers to tough questions, including who owns the Ocean View solar project, who benefits from the project, how power will be curtailed, and the cost of restoring residential land that the solar project would industrialize.

The CA’s questions quizzed HELCO about some aspects of the project, but wide areas of concern from residents were not included, such as fire danger, the cost of compensating residents forced to move, and how power from the project would drive up the cost of retail power on Hawai`i Island.
HELCO has applied to the Public Utilities Commission for permission to construct an overhead transmission line to serve 27 photovoltaic projects slated to be built on 19 three-acre housing lots scattered among existing homes in Ocean View Ranchos and eight lots in Kona South, an undeveloped subdivision without legal access. The PUC has opened a docket for the case. The CA has filed 24 pages of questions for HELCO in docket number 2015-0229.
The Division of Consumer Advocacy’s role is that of a watchdog, and it is mandated to act in the “public benefit.” Executive Director Jeffrey Ono attended the PUC’s public hearing in Ocean View on Feb. 15, when many residents complained about having their rural neighborhood industrialized, the fire danger, the loss of property values, and the way HELCO’s Feed-in-Tariff program had been confounded. Since then, about 50 people and organizations have contributed “public comment” to the PUC’s docket on the case. With two exceptions, all are against the overhead transmission line, the substation and the project.

Miss Ka`u Peaberry 2016 Chazlynn Pua-Queja shares her
talent at the ho`olaule`a. Photo by Julia Neal

In a set of Supplemental Information Requests, the CA asked detailed questions about the cost of not only placing the high voltage transmission line underground but also maintaining it for twenty years (the life of the project) and then removing the substation, transmission line and the project from home sites and restoring the sites. The CA has, as a participant in the FIT program, argued for lower rates to be paid to developers of PV projects for their wholesale power and has opposed the rate of 23.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. When the standardized rate was set, it was argued that the high rate was needed to allow the developer to cover the cost of building the PV installations. “The CA appears to be using this high rate to justify requiring the developer to cover all the costs of the project, including its dismantling, for twenty years, so that the costs are not passed on to future HELCO ratepayers,” said Ranchos resident Ann Bosted. “If the solar project goes forward and this tab is picked up by the developer, it will represent a huge saving for ratepayers down the line.”

The CA also raises questions of “curtailment” – the process by which HELCO can turn off power from generators when the grid is “full.” This happens during the day and after 10 p.m. when the supply of power exceeds the demand or the “load.”

Ka`u Coffee grower Leo Norberte shares his knowledge
with farm tour participants. Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

“If the CA finds that this power is not needed, he could recommend that the project not go forward as it is not in the public interest to build unneeded power generators,” Bosted said. “The developer, however, stands to gain from building PV generation projects, thanks to the very generous solar tax credits, by which 65 percent of the cost of the project will be paid back by state and federal governments, amounting to a subsidy by taxpayers. The CA will need to evaluate if the earning of these tax credits by the developer serves the public interest, in view of the fact that the Big Island is decades ahead of the state mandated renewable energy goals.”

The FIT permits were issued in 2011. Since then the “load” has decreased by about 20 percent, and several renewable energy facilities have been constructed, including a 1.25-megawatt solar farm at Miloli`i.

Skylark, at right, emceed at the ho`olaule`a, with assistance
from Kumu Debbie Ryder and Makana Kamahele.
Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

The CA also quizzed HELCO for details about its claim that the substation is of benefit to the community because it will improve “reliability and power quality.” Ocean View residents have told HELCO representatives at public meetings that they do not have power outages and do not want the substation. The CA is now asking HELCO to document complaints over the last five years.

See more in tomorrow’s Ka`u Calendar News Briefs.
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Mayoral candidate and former Mayor Harry Kim, with festival organizer

Chris Manfredi, attending the ho`olaule`a.

Photo from Ka`u Coffee Festival

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL’S ENVIRONMENTAL Management Committee last week supported banning Styrofoam. Bill 140 would prohibit the sale, disbursement and use of polystyrene foam containers and food service ware by food providers or vendors to customers effective Jan. 1, 2018.

“I think this is the very first step in our effort as policymakers as opposed to coming with an all-out ban entirely, that we take this step to be mindful policymakers,” Ka`u’s council member Maile David said. “It might not seem fair to everyone, but we have to start somewhere, and we have to take responsibility.”
With a 5-4 vote, the measure moves to the full council with a positive recommendation.
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Delvin Navarro manned a booth at the ho`olaule`a showcasing
his coffee. Photo from Ka`u Coffee Festival

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN AND Rep. Richard Creagan hold a Legislative Talk Story Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.

They and other Hawai`i Island lawmakers will review the past legislative session, the budget and other issues pertaining to the community. There will also be time for questions and answers.

HONU`EA: ENDANGERED HAWKSBILL Sea Turtles of Hawai`i is the title of After Dark in the Park’s program on Tuesday. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has monitored and protected nesting honu`ea and their habitat since 1989. Honu`ea are critically endangered, and only 139 nesting females have been documented. Lauren Kurpita, coordinator of the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, reveals the differences between hawksbill and green sea turtles (honu), threats to hawksbills and the latest conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

$2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Taking off, with birds set to wing to celebrate graduation at Ka`u High School last Friday. Photo by Pam Taylor

FORTY-EIGHT STUDENTS GRADUATED from Ka`u High School Friday. Deisha Gascon, who graduated with academic honors, is valedictorian for the Class of 2016.

Students heard a commencement address by Big Island Honda Hilo Assistant Manager Kiko Martinez. The keynote speaker graduated from Ka`u High 19 years ago, in the Class of 1997. Martinez discussed “Things that Helped Me Get to Where I Am Today.”

“This is a world right here, this gym,” Martinez told graduates. “Any type of career you guys want to get into, it’s a world. …

“I’m trying to share my vision with the world. When you try to share your vision with the world, people are going to feel that you’re crazy. … What you find out is that slowly, people are going to start enjoying it a little bit, and the world starts to see your vision, and the world starts to feel what you feel. And once you get the world to do what you feel, then you can influence.

“Bring your energy to the table; bring it into the world.

“Learn the art of influence because that’s the skill set that’s the most important thing in the world, to me, is learning how to influence people.

Kiko Martinez was keynote speaker at Ka`u High School
graduation ceremonies. Photo by Pam Taylor

“When you go out in the world, you have certain roles. My role, when I wake up, is I’m a husband. I get out the door, I see my kids, drive them to school, I go to work. Each area of my life, I’m influencing people, always trying to do so in a positive way.

“Wisdom is one of the most important things that I had to learn. … Don’t chase the money; chase wisdom, because everything follows wisdom. Success follows wisdom; money follows wisdom; the great marriage follows wisdom; great kids follow wisdom. Be wise in everything that you do. … Watch who you hang around with; make sure they are as wise as you, even more. …
“My only goal in life is to be better than yesterday. … If you continue to grow every day, don’t compare yourself to other people. What you compare yourself to is your potential. If you’re not fulfilling your potential, you better get up, you better work harder. Life is a journey, not a destination. That’s why I feel like I’m not successful. I’ll keep going until it’s my time.

“Understand that the hardest thing in life is, understand yesterday is yesterday. You guys have a new opportunity every day to change your life. What you were yesterday is not going to dictate what you are in the future. …
“Eliminate your bad habits, and replace them with good ones. Tell yourself what am I good at, what am I bad at, and what should I change. Change what you need to change. I promise that if you do that, you will be successful in whatever you do.

Ka`u High School Trojans Class of 2016 graduated 48 students. Photo by Pam Taylor

“Learn to turn all negatives into positives. Make negatives your best friends; make failures your best friends. Keep them close. Failure is the way to get better; failure will test your character. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the blessing.
“I view negatives as a video game. … Just like one video game, if you don’t pass all the levels, what are you going to do? Stay up all night. Practice. Figure it out. … If you are struggling, do whatever you can to get past it, because there’s another level waiting for you, a bigger and better level.
“Do not make any excuses. … By blaming others, you lose the chance of learning or building your character. Do not cheat yourself out of that.

“Find your passion. When we have passion, we have sacrifice.” Martinez said that when he found his passion, he devoted himself to it, even when it meant missing family gathers year after year.
“The world is right out this door. … As soon as you walk at that door, make wise choices. … Succeed, make Ka`u proud. …”
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Hawai`i County Council member Maile
David honored Keola Awong.
Photo from Hawai`i County Council

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL last week commended Volcano resident Keola Awong for being selected as manager of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit.

Awong graduated from Konawaena High School in 1981. She holds a master’s degree in American Studies and graduate certificates in museum studies and historic preservation from University of Hawai`i at Manoa. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from University of Hawai`i at Hilo, minoring in Hawaiian Studies.
Awong began her career with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in 1999 as a fee collector and moved to Volcano in 1984. From 2005, she served as the national park’s cultural anthropologist and continues to serve as the national park’s liason to the Native Hawaiian community.
“On behalf of the Hawai`i County Council, please accept this certificate of recognition with our sincere aloha and heartfelt appreciation for your personal achievements, hard work and extraordinary contributions to our visitors and the citizens of Hawai`i Nei,” Council member Maile David said.
“This is my small way for me to be able to take care of the `aina I love,” Awong said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the support and love from my family.”
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HAWAI`I CONSUMER ADVOCATE’S questions to Hawai`i Electric Light Co. regarding a proposed substation and transmission line, while eliciting responses to many issues, did not address several concerns of Ocean View-area residents, according to Ranchos resident Ann Bosted.
One of those concerns is fire danger, Bosted said. Ocean View is prone to fierce winds and dry brush that can be a fatal combination. “Solar installation fires have been caused by electrical faults. Defective solar panels can also cause problems, and with 30,000 panels to be installed, the risk of even a small percentage being bad is significant,” Bosted said.

At the Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing in February, an Ocean View firefighter said, “You are going to get someone killed if you put all that (photovoltaic equipment) down there.” He said that each year the firefighting budget gets smaller, yet the amount of work gets larger. In letters to the docket, residents have called for an independent fire hazard study of the area.

Friends and family congratulate Ka`u High School seniors
on Graduation Day. Photo from KHPES

Also left off the CA’s list of questions was the cost of reimbursing property owners who may leave their homes because of the project. Many chose Ranchos for its rural, ranch-like atmosphere, low crime rate, wide-open vistas and ambiance. “From published comments by Ranchos residents, it is clear that many will move if the project is built,” Bosted said. “Added to the fire risk is the eyesore problem. Each PV site will be leveled edge-to-edge and surrounded by a six-foot chain link security fence. Herbicides will be used to control over 60 acres of weeds, so groundwater contamination is a risk for the whole town. The unwanted project will be a magnet for crime and vandalism. Some handgun owners have talked of using the solar panels for target practice. This is not what residents signed up for.”

According to Bosted, the CA asked questions about the 26 owners of the project, but allowed the answers to be filed electronically, “thus keeping the tangle of related and associated corporations a mystery,” she said. “It is assumed that 17 of the 26 owners are shell companies incorporated in Delaware, owned by another shell company, Calwaii, that is owned by SPI Solar, headquartered in Shanghai. The eight Kona South lots are supposedly leased from the Doolittle Trust, but county records do not indicate that. They appear to be under the control of Hawai`i FIT Twelve LLC, which appears to be a shell company of Green Island FIT LLC. The 26th site is supposedly under the control of South Point FIT LLC, also owned by Green Island, but county records show it belongs to Jasmine Drive Aina LLC. Does SPI Solar also own Green Island? The spokesman for the 26 owners, Ian Craig, of Roseville, California, refused to speak at the PUC’s public meeting, failed to show up at a community meeting he called in September and has declined to answer questions from West Hawai`i Today.”
The CA did not ask how the developer intended to access the eight sites in Kona South, for which FIT permits have been issued. Each subdivision in Ocean View is a “stand alone,” and it is not legal to access one from another, Bosted said. “Craig has asked the Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corporation for permission to access this subdivision from Ranchos and has been refused. Mats Fogelvik, President of HRRMC, was walking his dog when he encountered a surveyor staking out a route to be bulldozed from Ranchos to Kona South. Mr. Fogelvik ‘ran him off.’ Craig later claimed that the surveyor had ‘lost his way,’” Bosted said.
HELCO has until June 1 to answer the CA’s questions. The reply will be filed in the docket.
See puc.hawaii.gov for more on docket 2015-0229.
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Learn about the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project
tomorrow at After Dark in the Park. Image from NPS

LAUREN KURPITA, COORDINATOR of the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, reveals the differences between hawksbill and green sea turtles (honu), threats to hawksbills and the latest conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

$2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

LEARN TO PLAIT Lau Hala Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Many Pacific cultures weave leaves of pandanus (called lau hala in Hawai`i) into useful and decorative items.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Learn about critically endangered hono`ea Hawksbill sea turtles, at After Dark in the Park this evening.
See more below. Photo from NPS

HALEMA`UMA`U’S LAVA LAKE LEVEL was 95 feet below the crater floor yesterday afternoon, Hawai`i Volcano Observatory reported. The lava level has risen several meters since that time in concert with the continuing summit inflationary tilt.

The active lava lake at Kilauea's summit is rising. Photo from NPS

Big Island Video News reported that lava and spattering were visible last night from Jaggar Museum overlook, where visitors have flocked to view volcanic activity since the vent opened in 2008.

Data from GPS networks and interferometric satellite radar show continued long-term inflation of the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone magma reservoirs, according to HVO.
See bigislandvideonews.com.
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KEEPING UP THE QUALITY of Ka`u Coffee was stressed by coffee broker and Ka`u Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi during Ka`u Coffee College on Sunday. He said that farmers can help each other when they notice growers having a hard time with coffee berry borer and other challenges. He said the reputation of Ka`u Coffee is fantastic but always at risk. Quality needs to be in the front of the minds of everyone in the coffee business, he said.

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Chris Manfredi stressed quality at Ka`u Coffee College on Sunday.
Photo by Julia Neal

PRESENTERS AT KA`U Coffee College on Sunday focused on quality.

Andrea Kawabata discussed the reality of farming with coffee berry borer for six years and the need to adapt to the change of growing coffee in Hawai`i. She and other staff of University of Hawai`i CTAHR identified some of the strengths, weaknesses, real threats and opportunities for Ka`u farmers.

“Ka`u has world-class coffee, but farmers still must uphold their quality by implementing CBB control and while acknowledging highly rated specialty coffees grown in regions under the stressor of coffee rust, a disease not yet occurring in Hawai`i,” Kawabata said.

Other presenters who discussed coffee quality included award-winning roast master Mike Perry, of Klatch Coffee; Robert G. Hollingsworth, research entomologist of Hilo’s USDA-ARS-Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center; and Miguel Meza, owner and director of Paradise Coffee Roasters in Hawai`i and Minnesota, with Lee Paterson, owner of Hula Daddy Kona Coffee.

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The late Lopaka Ryder, a Kona musician,
was murdered, allegedly for being a
police informant for a drug bust.

DEBBIE RYDER, OF PAHALA, and two sons Buddy and Wailau, are suing Hawai`i County over the death of Debbie Ryder’s son Robert Keawe Lopaka. Lopaka Ryder, 37, went missing around Thanksgiving in 2013 and was found buried in a shallow grave north of Kona between Hwy 11 and the ocean near Puako on March 12, 2014. Lopaka Ryder was a talented and well known musician, a beach boy and friend to everyone. While living in Kona, he was allegedly asked by police to become an informant in a drug bust.
According to a story by Graham Milldrum in West Hawai`i Today, the suit alleges that “Lopaka was murdered because (Martin Frank) Booth learned that he was acting as an informant against him. This action is premised upon the Kona Police Department’s failure to protect Lopaka’s identity, which led to his murder.”
Milldrum reported that Lopaka Ryder agreed to be an informant in Oct. 2013 after being sentenced to a year in prison for violating probation.
According to the story, the county prosecutor’s office denied county responsibility. A county court filing from the office stated that “Booth told numerous people that he killed Ryder because Ryder had sexually assaulted a young woman living on Booth’s property,” Milldrum wrote.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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Maenette K.P. Ah Nee-Benham

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS TRUSTEE selection is open to comment by the public. The public can weigh in by Tuesday, June 14 at 4 p.m. regarding three court-approved candidates. Testimony can be sent to jobs@inkinen.com.

The state Probate Court named the finalists last week for the trusteeship for Kamehameha Schools and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop estate. Kamehameha Schools, with its $11 billion endowment and its financial strength as largest non-government landowner in the state, provides education to native Hawaiian youth. The trust also leases land for agriculture, forestry and housing.

Kamanamaikalani Beamer

In Ka`u, Kamehameha lands include parcels located adjacent to Punalu`u Beach Park, at Ka Lae, above Pahala where eucalyptus was planted and koa reforestation has begun, at Volcano and across thousands of acres of pasture and open land in the district.

The three finalists are Kamanamaikalani Beamer, executive director of The Kohala Center; Maenette K.P. Ah Nee-Benham, dean of the Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawai`i at Manoa; and C. Kanoelani Naone, CEO of the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, or INPEACE.

The pay for trustees is $165,000 annually, with the chairman receiving $207,000 a year.

C. Kanoelani Naone

Inkinen & Associates conducted the candidate search. Screening was accomplished by a committee comprised of volunteers Wendy Crabb, George “Keoki” Freeland, Joanne Lo Grimes, Michelle Ho, Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui, Michael Rawlins and Kaiulani Sodaro.
The Probate Court can appoint a trustee for a term through June 30, 2022, with a possible extension by the court for another five-years. The position opened up when extension of a trusteeship of a sitting trustee was turned down by the court.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE INFORMING the public that the enforcement period for the National “Click It or Ticket” campaign that runs through June 5. During this period, police are increasing islandwide enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws.

Under a law signed on May 20, 2013, the driver now is responsible for all other occupants of the vehicle. If the driver is stopped and any passenger is not using a seat belt, car seat or booster seat – whether in the front seat or back seat – the driver will be the one cited.

Police will enforce child passenger restraint laws and ticket drivers if children under the age of four are not properly restrained in a child safety seat, or in a booster seat until age seven. Child restraint and booster seat violators must go to court. They face a fine of $100-$500 depending upon the number of offenses and must attend a mandatory four-hour class.
National statistics have shown that use of seat belts is the single most effective step drivers and passengers can take to protect themselves in a traffic crash. In 2014, use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,802 lives. From 2010 to 2014, seat belts saved an estimated 63,000 lives.
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Sen. Brian Schatz called for immediate action to stop the spread
of Rapid `Ohi`a Death. Map from Hawai`i DLNR

U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ CALLED for immediate action from the Department of the Interior to stop the spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death. In a letter to Interior Department Secretary Sally Jewell, Schatz called for additional personnel and resources to protect `ohi`a on Hawai`i Island and prevent spread of the tree disease.

“If this was a forest fire, there would be no question about an all-hands-on-deck, no-holds-barred response. Rapid `Ohi`a Death is bigger than a forest fire in size and scope, and we need to treat it as such,” Schatz said. “Researchers have given us clear guidance on how we can stay ahead of this tree disease and prevent its spread to the rest of the state. That is why I have requested Secretary Jewell to direct the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service to provide the additional personnel and resources that will be necessary to protect our `ohi`a.”
In addition to the Department of the Interior, Schatz is rallying support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On Thursday, the Senate passed the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017, which included a provision introduced by Schatz that would direct the USDA to study reported recent outbreaks of Rapid `Ohi`a Death in Hawai`i and report recommended action for response and management within 90 days.

The disease was first reported in 2010 and has become a major threat to Hawai`i Island’s native forests and the watersheds that depend on them. More than 35,000 acres have been infected by the fungus that causes Rapid `Ohi`a Death.
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Support Tutu & Me by buying their Big Island Candies chocolate bars.

ONO CHOCOLATE BARS from Big Island Candies are still available during Tutu & Me’s current fundraiser. Cost per bar is $3.50.

“These bars are available only through fundraisers, and I’ve been told on good authority that they freeze well, so this is your chance to stock up!” site manager Betty Clark said.
To purchase, call 929-8571 or 430-1802.
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LEARN ABOUT HAWAI`I ISLAND Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, the differences between hawksbill and green sea turtles (honu), threats to hawksbills and the latest conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction this evening at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
$2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

Learn the craft of plaiting lau hala tomorrow. Photo from NPS

LEARN TO PLAIT Lau Hala tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Many Pacific cultures weave leaves of pandanus (called lau hala in Hawai`i) into useful and decorative items.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.

Call 800-499-4302 for more information.

DONATIONS FOR DOLLARAMA can be dropped off at Ocean View Community Center this week from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At the event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., everything is $1 or less, including food and beverages. Funds raised go toward a new roof for the facility.

Call 939-7033 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Lava flows that broke out from the flanks of Pu`u O`o on Monday had not extended beyond the existing flow field
as of yesterday morning. Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

TWO LAVA FLOWS BROKE OUT from the flanks of Pu`u `O`o yesterday at around 6:50 a.m., in concert with sharp deflationary tilt, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported. One is on the northeast flank, approximately 0.15 mile from the rim of the cone, heading toward the northwest. The other flow is on the east flank of the cone, approximately 0.3 mile from the rim of the cone, heading toward the southeast. At around 8:30 a.m., during an HVO overflight, the vigorous, channelized flow on the northeast flank was roughly 0.6 mile long, and the flow on the east flank was around 0.4 mile long. This second breakout was smaller than the one on the northeast flank, but was still feeding an impressive lava channel. Neither had extended beyond the existing flow field.

Two lava flows at Pu`u O`o are heading in opposite directions.
Map from HVO

Typical of new breakouts, initial flow activity has been vigorous, but neither flow is currently threatening any nearby communities, according to HVO. The floor of Pu`u `O`o crater has subsided slightly with the new flow activity. Persistent glow from spatter cones within the crater continues. No change in seismic activity has been noted and remains low and steady.

The current activity does not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities. However, a glow may be seen at night.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense are monitoring the lava flow breakout closely. Residents and businesses downslope will be kept informed of its progress and any changes. Smoke conditions are currently very light with light variable winds.
Additional updates will be broadcast as conditions change.
Find more information at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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THE LAVA LAKE WITHIN HALEMA`UMA`U Overlook crater remains active, with the lake level measured at around 75 feet below Halema`uma`u crater floor yesterday, high enough to view intermittent spattering from the Jaggar Museum overlook. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that tremor fluctuations associated with lava lake spattering continue. Data from GPS networks and interferometric satellite radar show continued long-term inflation of the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone magma reservoirs.
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Moi season is closed from June through August.
NPS photo by Bryan Harry

A FISH WITH A LOT OF “FINGERS” will be hands-off starting June 1. The season for moi, or Pacific threadfin, will be closed from June through August in Hawai`i waters.

Moi is the only fish in Hawai`i belonging to the genus Polydactylus, which is Greek for “many fingers.” The “fingers” are actually six filaments extending from the base of each pectoral fin. It is also one of the relatively few Hawaiian fishes to undergo sex reversal, changing from male to female by the time it reaches about 10 inches in length.
“Moi is one of Hawai`i’s most significant fish species from a cultural perspective,” said Suzanne Case, chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. “In ancient times, it was reserved only for chiefs; commoners were forbidden to eat it. But if moi suddenly appeared in large numbers, chiefs considered it an omen of disaster.
“Today, we still value it as one of our most sought-after reef fishes. The closed season helps sustain moi populations by protecting them during their critical summer spawning period. We ask for the fishing public’s kokua in complying with the closed season and protecting our ocean resources.”
Early Hawaiians also placed a kapu or prohibition on certain fish during their spawning season as a conservation measure.
During the open season – September through May – the minimum size for moi is 11 inches, and the bag limit for possession and/or sale is 15. However, a commercial marine dealer may possess and sell more than 15 moi during the open season with receipts issued for the purchase.
Copies of Hawai`i’s fishing regulations are available at DLNR’s Aquatic Resources offices, most fishing supply stores, and online at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-regulations/.
To report fishing violations, call 643-DLNR (3567).
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Capt. Samuel Jelsma

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE REMIND motorists that right turns are to be made from the roadway and not from the right shoulder.

Puna District Captain Samuel Jelsma said some motorists wrongly believe it is safer to travel onto the right shoulder before turning, to allow traffic to pass on the left. That practice, Jelsma said, presents several hazards: reduced visibility of what is around the corner, reduced visibility for other vehicles attempting to enter the highway from an intersection, the potential for a vehicle properly traveling in the traffic lane to execute a right turn and collide with the vehicle traveling on the shoulder, and increased risk of collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists.
Jelsma noted that Hawai`i Revised Statues 291C-81, which applies to turning, says, “Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.” Jelsma clarified that the “edge of the roadway” means the solid white line.
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THE PAUAHI FOUNDATION has extended the deadline from May 15 to June 15 for Hawai`i Island students of Hawaiian ancestry between the ages of 13 and 17 to apply for full scholarships to Science Camps of America. Science Camps are ten-day overnight experiences that start June 29.

In support of its mission to support the educational needs of people of Hawaiian descent, and through funds provided by the TMT International Observatory, the Pauahi Foundation will sponsor twelve students to attend Science Camp in 2016 – six for Land & Sea camp and six for Air & Space camp.

Scholarships for Science Camps of America are available
through the Pauahi Foundation.

“We at the Foundation are so proud to be able to offer this funding in support of STEM programs on Hawai`i Island,” said Mavis Shiraishi-Nagao, Scholarship Services Manager for Pauahi Foundation.

At Science Camp, students go outside to learn about the volcanoes, mountains, ocean, forests, plants and animals of Hawai`i. “Science Camp is a unique experience for teens to learn and do science while having fun. Each day, we head out on field trips from our base camp in Ka`u to science destinations across Hawai`i Island, where we explore new environments, help collect scientific data for research, meet working scientists, and experience and study Hawai`i’s unique natural environment.” said founder and Executive Director Michael Richards. “We are very excited by this opportunity that Pauahi Foundation is providing to Native Hawaiian students interested in science. We are proud to be part of the greater effort to encourage young people in Hawai`i to embark on science careers that will help them have a long-term positive impact on our local environment.”
Interested students can learn more at http://ScienceCampsAmerica.com. Additional information and application forms for the scholarships offered by Pauahi Foundation may be found at http://www.pauahi.org/science-camps-of-america/.
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Ocean View Community Center is raising funds for a new roof.

DONATIONS FOR DOLLARAMA can be dropped off at Ocean View Community Center through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At the event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., everything is $1 or less, including food and beverages. Funds raised go toward a new roof for the facility.
Call 939-7033 for more information.

LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
Call 800-499-4302 for more information.

KEIKI LEARN TO SWIM at Pahala Pool this summers. Sessions begin on June 6 and continue through July 29. Fee is $15 for each two-week session.
Registration takes place on Thursday and Friday, June 2 and 3. For more information, call Rina Martineau at 928-8177.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

A nene fledgling tests its wings. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park urges motorists to slow down and watch out
for young and adult geese on roadways both inside and outside the park. NPS Photo by Kathleen Misajon

THE 2016 CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON begins next Wednesday, June 1, following a hurricane forming southwest of Hawai`i early this year and 2015, an El Nino year marking one of the most active on record. The map of 2015 cyclones shows the Hawaiian Islands looking like a kipuka of calm in the middle of many tropical storms and hurricanes spinning around the islands.

Tropical weather jumpstarted 2016 with Hurricane Pali forming south of Hawai`i on Jan. 7 and becoming the earliest Central Pacific tropical cyclone on record, demonstrating that tropical cyclone formation is possible all year long. She did no damage.

Hawaiian Islands looking like a kipuka of calm in the middle of many

2015 tropical storms and hurricanes spinning around the islands.

Image from NOAA

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center released its predictions today, forecasting a 40 percent chance of normal hurricane activity and a 40 percent chance of above-normal activity, with only 20 percent likelihood of a below normal season. Normal is about four or five tropical cyclones. Last year marked a record with 15. The lowest number of storms was zero in 1979.
The season ends on Nov. 30.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center recently issued this message:
“Are you prepared for a hurricane? You’ll need supplies not only for the duration of the storm but also for the potentially lengthy recovery period that could follow. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of one week. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long. You’ll need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. You’ll also need a portable, crank or solar-powered USB charger to charge your cell phone.”

See http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/pages/news.php.
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MAILE DAVID, KA`U’S HAWAI`I County Council member, this week wrote to the Public Utilities Commission asking members to “seriously consider the voices of the many residents directly impacted by this flawed proposal and deny the application.”
David’s letter was in response to an application by Hawai`i Electric Light Co. to build a high-voltage overhead transmission line, along with a new substation to tie a proposed 27-site solar project to the grid. This project has proved to be very unpopular in Ocean View, as the proposed two-acre sites are scattered among homes throughout the Ranchos subdivision. David’s letter also stated: “At the outset, there have been procedures that give rise to valid questions whether such a development (despite its permitted use under state law) met all the lawful requirements to qualify as a participant in the FIT program. There are existing issues that raise valid questions regarding that: 1) the project was not shovel ready; 2) it exceeded the maximum size for projects; 3) the developer did not obtain authorization to combine permits; and 4) the project exceeds the five megawatt requirement for competitive bidding. It was also brought to the attention of the Commission via written testimony that ‘site-control,’ a basic pre-qualification requirement for the Feed-In-Tariff program, was not secured.

“Given the fact that the request by HELCO is to approve an overhead 69kV transmission line specifically to accommodate this developer under the FIT program, if requirements of qualification have not been met by this developer under the FIT program, then I submit that the proposed mini substation and overhead line being proposed to handle the power generated by a such a non-conforming company is therefore unnecessary and should be denied.

“As decision-makers, I believe it is incumbent upon all of us, and particularly in this application, that we recognize and acknowledge that the intent, as beneficial and supportive of our goal to achieve energy self-sufficiency and protect our environment may be, our decisions cannot be made at the expense of the health, safety and welfare of our community.”

Maile David

David also wrote about the demise of a bill introduced to the recent state Legislative session by Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan. It died, without explanation, on the last day of the session. If it had passed, it would have required a developer who intends to build a large solar farm in a non-conforming subdivision to get a county permit.

“Finally, from a legislator’s point of view, it is very disappointing that our Senate and House Conference Committees were unable to come to an agreement regarding the intent of House Bill 2636 HD2 SD2, and thus the measure died,” she wrote. “HB 2636 added an important component that would have expanded HRS Section 205-2 to require a special permit approval when the capacity of solar energy production totals more than twenty-five kilowatts. This would have created a much needed check and balance in the governmental approval process and would have required the Hawai`i County Planning Commission’s review and approval of certain uses within agricultural and rural districts. More importantly, review and authority at the county level would afford an impacted community its right to participate and to have their voices heard.”
Jeff Barger, interim President of Ranchos Community Association, praised David’s letter.
“Maile hit the nail on the head,” he said. “The developer broke FIT rules to get the lucrative permits and is only building this boondoggle project to qualify for Federal and State tax credits. We all need to write to the PUC and let them know we are wise to all this. This docket is the closest we have come to due process.”
Six hundred thirty residents have signed a petition against the project, and scores have written to the PUC docket that was opened to consider HELCO’s application. To date, 65 documents have been filed, the vast majority from writers opposed to the project.
In May, public comment protesting HELCO’s application were received from Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee, Steve Smith, Bob Werner, Tomislav Gracanin and Veda Hackell, Tim and Linda Shutt, Daine Ware, Sandra Mayville, James Cohn, Ray and Linda Raquinio, Sammi Fo, Ron Riggs, Bob South, Susan Moss, Phil and May Flanders, Barbara Winch, Michelle Wall-O’Connor, Larry & Sandra Shelton, Jay Hibbard, Peter and Ann Bosted, Bobbi Wood, Jeffrey Barger, Cynthia Cohn and Vernon Harvey. No public comment in favor of the project was filed during the month.
Ka`u residents and others wanting to voice opinions can email puc.comments@hawaii.gov with docket number 2015-0229 on the subject line. Comments can also be mailed to the PUC at 465 S. King Street, 1st Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. All comments should be addressed to “Dear Chair Randy Iwase and Commissioners Lorraine Akiba and Michael Champley.”
To view public comments and contents of docket 2015-0229, see puc.hawaii.gov.
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Nene blend in with their environment and are difficult to see
alongside roads. NPS Photo by Kathleen Misajon

THE NENE CLASS OF 2016 is taking flight. Nene have begun to reappear in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park after being less visible since fall and winter, when they hunker down to nest, raise goslings and grow a new set of flight feathers (molt).

Nene have started to flock, and younger nene are taking their first flights. Drivers are reminded to slow down and watch out for the native geese on roadways in and out of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
An unknown motorist killed two fledglings last Saturday on Crater Rim Drive between Kīlauea Overlook and Jaggar Museum. A park ranger discovered the young birds, which were around six months old.
“Young fledglings test out their wings and explore new territories this time of year,” said Wildlife Biologist Kathleen Misajon, Manager of the park’s Nene Recovery Program. “The park uses nene crossing signs to alert motorists to key areas, however, until the young birds learn the ropes from their parents, the areas they choose to land can be unpredictable. It’s so important to be extra vigilant when driving so these kinds of accidents don’t happen.”
Nene, the largest native land animal in Hawai`i, are present in the park and other locations on Hawai`i Island year-round. They blend in with their surroundings and can be difficult for drivers to spot. They are federally listed as endangered.
Nene crossing signs posted throughout the park call attention to roadside areas frequented by nene. These include Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and sections of Hwy 11. Motorists are urged to use extra caution in signed nene crossing areas and to obey posted speed limits.
By 1952, only 30 birds remained statewide. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park began efforts to recover the species in the 1970s. The Nene Recovery Program continues today, and more than 250 birds thrive in the park from sea level to around 8,000 feet. More than 2,500 exist statewide.
Wild nene, the world’s rarest goose, are only found in Hawai`i and are the last survivors of several other endemic geese. Their strong feet sport padded toes and reduced webbing, an adaptation that allows them to traverse rough terrain like lava plains. Most nene fly between nighttime roosts and daytime feeding grounds.

Military personnel arrive tomorrow to prepare
for next week's Tropic Care

To report nene on the road in the park, call 985-6170. Outside the park, call 974-4221.
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MILITARY SECURITY ARRIVES at Ocean View Community Center tomorrow in advance of Tropic Care 2016, which begins on Tuesday, May 31. The security requires that all who enter the facility be authorized.

Tropic Care brings Army Reserve personnel to provide services including hearing screenings, eye exams, dental services, veterans services and more.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 12 p.m. in Ocean View and also at Ka`u High School in Pahala.

DOLLARAMA ON SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center raises funds for a new roof at the facility. All items are $1 or less, including food and drinks. Donations are also being accepted tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Call 939-7033 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

A new program at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National park explores its Realms and Divisions.
See more below. Photo from NPS

KA`U HOSPITAL AND OTHER EAST HAWAI`I Region facilities operated by Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. will receive sufficient funding from the state for the next fiscal year, according to a story by Ivy Ashe, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. Ashe attended a forum at Hilo Medical Center where CEO Dan Brinkman updated the community on HHSC East Hawai`i Region’s status.

Dan Brinkman

“The first part of the year, it was tough,” Brinkman said, referring to previous layoffs. “That loss was certainly hard for people,” but the action “did improve our stability.”

He said no further layoffs are expected.
He also said privatization, such as is happening with HHSC’s Maui facilities, may be an option in the future to alleviate a gap in services.
“This is basic stuff that most communities have: If you have diabetes, you need to see an endocrinologist,” Ashe reported Brinkman saying. “What our board believes, what I believe, honestly, is (we) really should have the choice, that option to decide what our future is.”

See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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NEXTERA ENERGY MAY pull the plug on its effort to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries, Bloomberg’s Jim Polson reported.
According to Polson, the Florida-based utility may try to buy Oncor Electric, of Texas, instead of HECO. Texas’ largest transmission and distribution company became available for purchase after Hunt Consolidated ended it interest.
According to Polson, NextEra can stop the proposed $4.3 billion deal by paying HECO $95 million. The deal, which has received criticism from some state agencies, expires on June 3.

Intelligence analyst Stacy Nemeroff told Polson that “sustainability and governance concerns may trump any potential concessions NextEra is willing to offer to sweeten the deal. NextEra may decide to take the loss so that it can move forward with other potential acquisitions.”

See bloomberg.com.

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DOZENS OF SCIENTISTS, FORESTERS, surveyors, researchers and educators are actively involved in the fight to try and stop the spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death. The fungal disease has decimated tens of thousands of acres of native `ohi`a on Hawai`i Island. A virtual army of specialists from a wide array of federal, state, county and nonprofit organizations are engaged in the fight to find a treatment and simultaneously to stop it in its tracks. That’s where education and outreach come in.

Rapid `Ohi`a Death is devastating Hawai`i Island forests.
Photo from DLNR

Anya Tagawa, of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Natural Area Reserve program, is one of the soldiers on the frontline of spreading awareness about Rapid `Ohi`a Death. She created signs that hunters, hikers, mountain bikers and other people recreating on state public lands will soon see.
DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “It is critical that every person who goes into the woods or forest anywhere in Hawai`i takes steps to prevent this disease from spreading. Anya’s work, along with a team of other outreach experts, is vitally important in getting kama`aina and visitors alike to be certain they don’t inadvertently track the fungus from place to place.”

Rapid `Ohi`a Death kills one of the most important native trees quickly and in wide swaths. Failing to follow the simple recommendations outlined on both signs could make you responsible for spreading this disease interisland and intra-island.
Tagawa’s passion is borne of a life spent in the forest. “My life has always been intertwined with `Ohi`a, with our native forests,” she said. “I grew up hiking, exploring and being captivated by our forests. I continue to learn about their unparalleled uniqueness and feel an intimate connection with these special places. Rapid `Ohi`a Death threatens this way of life. It is imperative that we do all what we can to ensure `Ohi`a is present for our future generations to experience, engage and form a relationship with. It is critical for the continued persistence of the countless unique plants and animals that rely on `ohi`a.”
Tagawa’s signs will eventually be at every DOFAW trailhead on the Big Island: more than 50 in all.
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Morrison transformed a Volcano Village shack
into an art studio, gallery and guest house.
Photo by Boone Morrison

A SPECIAL TOUR LED BY ARCHITECT Boone Morrison will offer a rare look inside some private homes in Volcano Village. The tour, sponsored by the Volcano Community Foundation, takes place on Saturday, June 4.

Designing a new home with modern amenities while reflecting both a historical architectural style and carefully considering the environment in which it is placed has long been the hallmark of the Volcano architect.
A 1963 graduate of Stanford University, Morrison has lived in Volcano Village since 1971. A strong advocate for the arts, he is a founder of Volcano Art Center and a noted photographer. He formally established his architectural practice in 1986 and has completed 45 projects in the Volcano region, plus two dozen more elsewhere on the island. He is a Federally Certified Historic Preservation Architect and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Hawai`i County Cultural Resources Commission.
The four homes and the art studio that will be included on the tour range in size from 880 square feet to 3,200 square feet. All exhibit a keen sensitivity to their rainforest setting and contain the finely detailed use of woods in the interior that are characteristic of the architect’s style.
The tour begins with a 9:15 a.m. check-in and concludes after a light lunch. Participants carpool from Kilauea Lodge to properties on the tour. Participants will be required to remove their shoes before entering each of the homes. Fee for the event is $40, with advance registration required. Funds raised support a scholarship fund that is awarded each year to an outstanding high school senior from Volcano as well as other community projects. This program is limited to 16 people.
To reserve space, email volcanocommunity@gmail.com or call Kilauea Lodge at 967-7366. Reservations will be confirmed when payment is received.
Volcano Community Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Hike to a Hawksbill turtle nesting site tomorrow.
Photo from NPS

A CENTENNIAL HIKE ABOUT HONU `EA takes place tomorrow at 9 a.m. Lauren Kurpita, coordinator of Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, and Supervisory Park Ranger Andre Kaawaloa-Okita lead a three-mile, 2.5-hour roundtrip hike to Ka`ena Point to learn more about nesting and monitoring activities of hawksbill sea turtles, the human and cultural history of the area and how eruptions have impacted both.

Sturdy footwear, water, light rain gear, sun protection and snacks are recommended. Be prepared for hot, windy weather.
Meet at Pu`u Loa Petroglyph parking lot. Free; park entrance fees apply.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER raises funds for a new roof tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Dollarama. All items, including food and drinks, are $1 or less.

REALMS & DIVISIONS OF KAHUKU is a free, moderately difficult, two-hour guided hike on Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s newest trail, Pu`u Kahuku. Participants experience the sense of place that evolves through the inter-relationship of nature and culture while exploring the realms and divisions of the traditional Hawaiian classification system at Kahuku.
Meet near the parking area tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

Jazz in the Forest presents two performances tomorrow.
Photo from VAC

JAZZ IN THE FOREST 2016 SERIES continues with two performances tomorrow featuring Jr. Volcano Choy and the Volcano Art Center’s Jazz Ensemble. The series offers an opportunity to hear the highest caliber jazz – anywhere – up close and personal.

The Wine and Beer Room will be open for attendees to enjoy before and after the concert. Ticket holders will be able to purchase Volcano Red Ale and Mauna Kea Pale Ale from Mehana Brewing Company, as well as wine. As usual, an area has been set aside for dancing.

Two shows are offered, with a matinee at 4:30 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for VAC members ($25 non-members) for both shows!
Tickets are available at volcanoartcenter.org, at VAC’s Administration Office in Volcano Village and VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Today is the last day to purchase tickets online to be held at Will Call. Tickets will be sold at the door if they are not sold out.
Call 939-7033 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

A seldom seen view from a closed area of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park shows spattering along the edge
of Halema`uma`u Crater's lave lake. Photo from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

THE HAWAI`I DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION is the destination this weekend for Ka`u Democrats elected by their precincts earlier this year. Among those attending from Ka`u and Volcano are Pahala Precinct President Malian Lahey, District Three Chair Raina Dale, Rep. Richard Creagan and Hawai`i Farmers Union United Ka`u Chapter President Greg Smith. They join about 1,000 delegates from around the state. The convention involves supporters of Bernie Sanders, who won the state Democratic caucus, and Hillary Clinton supporters. The delegates are expected to negotiate the state platform for the Democratic Party.

Gov. David Ige speaking at the Hawai`i Democratic Convention
today. Photo by Malian Lahey

Gov. David Ige spoke as the convention opened. Lahey reported that he said Hawai`i prepaid healthcare is better than that provided by the federal Affordable Care Act. He urged Democrats to focus on homelessness, separation of religion and state, and protecting the middle class. “The rich can and should pay more to provide services that we all use,” he said.

He also asked his party to “embrace young people and encourage them to be part of the solution.”
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KA`U HIGH AND NA`ALEHU SCHOOLS are among state campuses receiving upgrades funded by the Legislature in Capital Improvement Projects, awaiting Gov. David Ige’s signature. Work will include electrical upgrades and walkway lighting in the historic school buildings, some of them included on the state list of historic sites.
The high school campus is also the site for ongoing construction of one of the largest school gyms in the state, for one of the smallest school populations – the graduating class last week was 48 strong. The gym is nearing its opening, with installation of windows being completed and final work on the wood flooring coming up. It is seen as a potential economic engine for the town, with possibilities of hosting volleyball and other sports tournaments, camps and workshops, cultural events and other activities in addition to school activities. It will seat more than 1,000 people and be managed by the county Department of Parks & Recreation.

Riki May Amano

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CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY of a court appeal are driving Thirty Meter Telescope supporters to call for removal of the recently appointed contested case hearing officer, Timothy Hurley reported this morning in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The actions follow opponent Mauna Kea Hui calling for Judge Riki May Amano to be replaced because of a perceived bias based on her membership at University of Hawai`i-Hilo’s `Imiloa Astronomy Center.
TMT’s board filed a request as a “pre-emptive action,” saying that “it is the only option to ensure that this contentious issue and any alleged appearance of impropriety is resolved. ... This will also minimize any further delay caused by Judge Amano’s selection as hearings officer.”
Hurley reported that UH Hilo expressed concern that Amano did not disclose a mediation she in conducting there. When she filed a disclosure this week, she said the mediation would not affect her impartiality it the TMT case.
According to the university’s filing, it fears that the state Supreme Court would side with Mauna Kea Hui’s “appearance of justice” arguments if the case is appealed, Hurley reported.

See staradvertiser.com.
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A wide view shows spattering in two locations along
the lava lake's edge. Photo from USGS HVO

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY shared spectacular views of the lava lake in Halema`uma`u Crater. Taken from an area along the crater rim that is closed to the public due to hazardous conditions, the images show spattering along the lake margins.

The lake was at a high level earlier this week and partially visible from Jaggar Museum Overlook at times. It has since dropped slightly, but HVO reported this morning that the level has begun to rise again.

Two lava flows that began recently at Pu`u O`o vent remain in that vicinity and presently pose no threat to communities, HVO reported.
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov for more photos, videos and updates.
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THE BAN ON `OHI`A WOOD TRANSPORT interisland will likely become permanent during Tuesday’s Board of Land & Natural Resources meeting in Honolulu. The proposal, as reported by Ivy Ashe in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, describes Hawai`i Island as a “Rapid `Ohi`a Death Infested area,” and the BLNR fears that it could jump to other islands through transport of `ohi`a posts, boards and foliage.

J.B. Friday

An emergency rule prohibiting interisland `ohi`a transport went into effect last summer. “I’ve been delighted with the Department of Ag being proactive on this and not waiting until all the science was settled,” J.B. Friday, extension forester at University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, told Ashe. “If they had waited to settle this until everything was answered, it would be too late. It would be on all the islands already.”

Researchers have identified the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata as the cause of rapid `ohi`a death, and researchers continue to try to understand more about the disease. Ashe reported that a tree may have the disease for a long time but not show any symptoms. “I liken it to a heart attack,” Friday told her. “Someone might have been building up plaque in his arteries for years (before).”

Tens of thousands of acres have been infected by the disease on the Big Island, and the quick death of `ohi`a forests has been documented on aerial flights over the island. Rapid `Ohi`a Death in Ka`u has been observed in areas including Wood Valley, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Ocean View.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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Southside Volleyball team returns for another round at Boys
Junior National Champiohships. Photo from Julie Enriques

SOUTHSIDE VOLLEYBALL TEAM is raising money to fly again to the mainland for the Boys Junior National Championships, this year in Dallas. The team is comprised of young men who have been playing volleyball together since age ten. The training and competition has led to superior high school play and college scholarships.

This year, Southside competes as a 17’s team, after rolling through different age groups over the years. Recently, team members received college volleyball offers, including Kekaulike Alameda for Barton College, Emmett Enriques for California Baptist and Kai Enriques for Briar Cliff.

After a weeklong volleyball camp in Pahala, Southside flies out on June 30 and begins play on July 3. This will be Southside’s eighth trip to the competition. In the last five years, they have once become National Champs and finished twice at fourth, once as a Silver Division champ and once tied for thirteenth.
Ka`u players are Kameron Moses, of Pahala; Nai`a Makuakane, of Na`alehu; and Addie and Avery Enriques, of Punalu`u. All attend Kamehameha Schools on this island.
To donate toward plane tickets and accommodations for Ka`u players to attend the national championships, call Brenda Iokepa Moses at 896-3932.
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Start preparing, and register now to finish at Volcano Rain
Forest Runs. Photo from Sharron Faff

IT’S TIME TO GET OUT YOUR running shoes, tie up those laces and begin training for the seventh annual Volcano Rain Forest Runs Half Marathon, 10K and 5K on Saturday, Aug. 20.

Cooper Center will be the happening place for the Start/Finish for all three races and where the very popular, free Volcano Keiki Runs for ages one to seven are held. Sponsored by Kilauea Lodge – where every keiki is a winner.
Volcano Rain Forest Runs’ Half Marathon is the third leg of the Big Island Triple Crown Series. Participants who ran the Hilo Half and plan on running the Kona and Volcano races can sign up for the Triple Crown Series. Final ceremony will be at the Volcano event.
Register online for all events at volcanorainforestruns.com.
Local Artist Awards will be given for male and female runners who place first, second and third in each race and first and second in 10-year age divisions for all three.

The public is invited to KMC's
Memorial Day Ceremony

Rotary Club of Volcano will serve a BBQ lunch on race day. There will also be health and fitness booths, entertainment and much more.

“Make it a family affair, and bring everyone for a fun-filled day,” Race Director Sharron Faff said. “We would like to thank the community for last year’s overwhelming support of this event, and we sincerely hope that you will join us again for this year’s festivities as a runner, walker, volunteer or spectator.

For more information, call Faff at 967-8240.
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THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Memorial Day Ceremony Monday at 3 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s front lawn in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
A Memorial Day Buffet follows the ceremony from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at KMC’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes Hawaiian kalua pork sandwich, local-style fried chicken, chili con carne and more. $18 adults; $9 children 6-11. Call 967-8356 for more information.

Park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Raina Whiting, a candidate for Hawai`i County Council District VI, met U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
at the Hawai`i Democratic Convention yesterday. Photo from Bob Martin

KA`U DELEGATES AT THE STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION are making a big splash in Honolulu this weekend. State Rep. Richard Creagan, one of the representatives of the Na`alehu precinct, said there is “tremendous energy compared to two years ago. It’s the Bernie buzz. Bernie Sanders supporters want to elect a new Hawai`i Democratic Party chair who would support Sanders and go to Philadelphia as a delegate. This is an important post,” said Creagan, noting that Sanders won the Democratic primary in Hawai`i. Creagan said that those running for the chairmanship include a lobbyist for the construction industry, a lobbyist for the HMSA medical insurance organization, a liaison for the United Public Workers Union and a community organizer for responsible development.

State Rep. Richard Creagan

Ocean View Democratic Party precinct president Raina Whiting, 28, a Na`alehu School teacher and candidate for County Council, was chosen to nominate the community organizer Ken Venderveer for the state Democratic Party chairmanship. Vanderveer is associated with such slogans on O`ahu as “Keep the Country Country.”

Creagan said that Whiting “brings new energy to the Democratic Party. I am really proud of how Raina stepped up to the plate.” Along with Creagan, she has been selected to the central committee, which elects the statewide officers for the Hawai`i Democratic Party.

Both Creagan and Whiting are Bernie Sanders supporters.Yesterday, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard met Whiting and held a rally on the grass under the palm trees outside the convention hall at Sheraton Waikiki. “It ended up being a rally for Bernie,” Creagan said. He said that Whiting is an at-large member of the Hawai`i Democratic Party's environmental caucus. She is working on her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in educational leadership. She also worked at the Legislature on the staff of Sen. Russell Ruderman.
At the convention, Na`alehu is represented by precinct Vice President Bob Martin and Creagan, who is also a delegate for District V, which runs from Honu`apo to Lako Street in Kona. Raina Dale represents Volcano. Rollie Litteral, who is president of the Na`alehu precinct, could not attend.
Richard Abbett, who was living in Ocean View and talked about running for an office this year, has moved to Maui, where he is running against House Speaker Joe Souki for his seat in the Hawai`i Legislature.
Bob Martin said this morning that he is very proud of District V’s participation in the convention, with all 22 slots filled. He said that Democratic Party members helped each other with fundraising for air travel, rental cars and arranging home stays on O`ahu. Some money was raised through Go Fund Me campaigns. He credited District V Chair Steve Sakala with helping to make South Hawai`i well represented.

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BY ORDER OF GOV. DAVID IGE, the United States flag and the Hawai`i state flag will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon on tomorrow. This action is in honor of Memorial Day and in memory of the brave Americans who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and security of our nation.

“This Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives for us, and we reflect on the high cost of our freedoms. We especially remember the 12 Marines who were lost over the waters of the North Shore during a training exercise in January. They were our friends and neighbors – part of our community – and we grieve with their families,” Ige said.
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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY’S current issue of Volcano Watch is courtesy of its U.S. Geological Survey colleagues at the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, which focuses on Hawai`i’s biodiversity.
“Mosquitoes have been on the minds of Hawai`i Island residents and visitors due to the recent outbreak of dengue fever,” the article states. “On Feb, 12, 2016, Hawai`i Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency for all mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue fever and Zika virus.
“To help understand our collective risk, it’s useful to review the ecology and natural history of mosquitoes in Hawai`i and their impacts on the health of humans and native wildlife.
“Although six species of biting mosquitoes have been introduced to the state of Hawai`i, only three are likely to occur in natural areas like forests and parks – the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), Asian rock pool mosquito (Aedes japonicus japonicus) and southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus). All three use water-filled containers and pools in the forest and along the coast as larval habitat.
“Larvae of the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and bromeliad mosquito (Wyeomyia mitchellii) also use small containers but are more closely associated with homes and gardens than forests. The sixth species, the inland floodwater mosquito (Aedes vexans nocturnus), can also be found in more developed areas where larvae are found in irrigation and roadside ditches.
“All of these mosquitoes can cause annoying bites and allergic reactions, but only two are currently recognized as vectors of human disease in the Hawaiian Islands – the yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes.
“The yellow fever mosquito is recognized throughout the tropics as the primary vector of the yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. Fortunately, these mosquitoes appear to be restricted to small coastal populations and have rarely been seen inland on Hawai`i Island.
“Unfortunately, Asian tiger mosquitoes are abundant, widespread and capable vectors of dengue fever in Hawai`i. They have also been implicated as vectors of the chikungunya and Zika viruses, but transmission of these diseases has not yet been reported from Hawai`i.

Mosquitoes infect native birds with avian pox.
Photo from USGS

“These two species share similar larval habitats, but Asian tiger mosquitoes have largely displaced yellow fever mosquitoes from much of their former geographical range. Yellow fever mosquito populations still occur in isolated and dry coastal communities of Hawai`i Island, where this domestic (living almost entirely in and around homes) mosquito may have a competitive edge over the Asian tiger mosquito.

“As one might expect, Asian tiger mosquito populations increase after heavy rains that create more habitat for breeding. When rains coincide with warm summer temperatures, populations explode, providing ideal conditions for virus transmission. But even during drought, persistent populations of yellow fever mosquitoes could still drive local transmission.

“In Hawai`i, mosquito-borne disease is not limited to people. Native Hawaiian forest birds have been losing a long battle with introduced bird malaria and pox virus since the arrival of the southern house mosquito in the early 1800s. “This mosquito can be found from the coast to high montane forests. Year-round transmission of bird malaria and avian pox in the lowlands has restricted most native forest birds to higher, cooler elevations, where mosquito numbers are limited.

“Southern house mosquito larvae are found in habitats similar to the Asian tiger mosquito – lowland forests and developed areas, as well as in feral pig-created tree fern cavities and wallows in remote montane forests.
“Like mosquito-borne human diseases, climate change is expected to increase the geographical range of bird malaria in the Hawaiian Islands, threatening the last populations of our native forest birds. Elsewhere in the world, the southern house mosquito is responsible for the transmission of parasites that cause viruses, such as the West Nile virus.
“U.S. Geological Survey ecologists in Hawai`i are studying the ecology of mosquito-borne disease in native birds, trying to understand how climate change might alter that disease system, and how we can reduce disease transmission. They’re also assisting the National Park Service to monitor mosquito vectors in Hawai`i Island’s coastal parks with a goal of improved mosquito control to protect public health.
“While the development of vaccines and more efficient mosquito control continues, it’s likely that people and wildlife in Hawai`i will be dealing with mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit into the future.
“More information on mosquito-borne illness and how to protect yourself and your family is available online at USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/pierc/) and Hawai`i State Department of Health (http://www.fightthebitehawaii.com/).”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.

KMC's front lawn is the setting for tomorrow's Memorial Day
Ceremony. Photo from wikipedia

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THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Memorial Day Ceremony tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s front lawn in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

A Memorial Day Buffet follows the ceremony from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at KMC’s Crater Rim Café. $18 adults; $9 children 6-11.

Call 967-8356 for more information.
Park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Marian Berger's exhibit Up Close continues through Sunday, June 5. See more below. Image from Volcano Art Center

A NEW CHAIR LEADS the Hawai`i Democratic Party, and Na`alehu School teacher Raina Whiting was the nominator at yesterday’s convention on O`ahu. Vandeveer won narrowly. He is an environmental law student at University of Hawai`i Richardson School of Law, known for his Keep Country Country activities. He is a former union shop steward and unexploded ordnance technician. Vandeveer bested Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, a labor union lobbyist and executive of Hawai`i Construction Alliance; Jacce Mikulanec, a lobbyist for HMSA; and Florence Kong Kee, of United Public Workers Union.

Vandeveer will attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25-28, as a super delegate and is committed to vote for Bernie Sanders.

Whiting, 28, also a Sanders supporter, attended the state convention as a delegate from Ocean View and will also travel to the Democratic National Convention. In the state Democratic Party, she is District V Council Vice Chair, Precinct 5-02 President (Ocean View), Congressional District II (Rural O`ahu/Neighbor Islands) National Convention Delegate and an Environmental Caucus At-Large Officer.

Tim Vandeveer is the new Chair of Hawai`i Democratic Party, being
elected after Raina Whiting, of Ocean View, at right, nominated him
at the state convention. Jana Vandeveer and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono
also attended. Photo from Bob Martin

State Rep. Richard Creagan, who attended the state convention as a delegate, said, “People are really feeling the Bern, and that is why Vandeveer won.” He described Whiting: “Raina is clearly a rising star in our Democratic firmament.”

When nominating Vandeveer before about 1,000 delegates attending the state convention, Whiting said:
“When I look around the room, I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this movement and to be surrounded by so many people who are inspired to be part of making change and growth a reality. I am especially proud that so many neighbor island folks made a 'yuge' financial commitment to travel to the convention.
“This year, we are seeing many new, first-time candidates run for office. This is a perfect opportunity to bring Sen. Bernie Sanders’ political revolution to life and for the people to take back the power in our county, state and federal offices. I encourage you to seek out these newcomers and support them in any way you can.
“Right now, we are making the decisions that will help shape the impact we have in our state and across the nation. We must elect a Party Chair that will be just, honest and a strong supporter of the issues that matter most to us, including who becomes our next president. We need a Chair that can help raise funds and help us hold our Democratic politicians to our Democratic Party platform. We need a chair who will take the resolutions we tirelessly work on and see that they go beyond our conventions.
“Tim Vandeveer is the honest, kind and compassionate leader we need. He has the skill set necessary to lead our party into the future that we have all been working so hard to create.
“When I met Tim, he was leading a group of community organizers on a North Shore outreach campaign to stop further development on the last pristine section of coastline on O`ahu. I was impressed with his tireless advocacy then and have known him to be dedicated to public service to this day. He focuses on the critical issues in our state and is an inspiring environmental activist. I know that when he is elected we can count on Tim to be out in front leading the movement for a better future.
“We are hungry for change. We need to be less concerned with corporate sponsorship and more concerned with strengthening the safety net for our kupuna, giving students a debt-free education and making sure that all of our brothers and sisters are paid a living wage. Grassroots support is the way we must do this.
“Vote for Tim, our only Chair candidate who supports Bernie Sanders, because he knows Bernie is the right man for the job. Vote for Tim to unify our party and keep our progressive democratic revolution alive.”
Whiting is running for Hawai`i County Council against incumbent Maile David.
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Students can look forward to healthy, free meals at school
this fall. Photo from Hawai`i Department of Education

FREE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES will be served this summer at some of the larger schools on Hawai`i Island. Ka`u public schools are not included in the Department of Education program.

Free meals next school year for all students will be offered at Pahala Elementary, Intermediate and High School and Na`alehu School. The two Ka`u campuses are among 30 statewide where meal money will be no longer collected from students.
The program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Education. It is called the Community Eligibility Program and is offered to schools where 40 percent or more of students are eligible for free or reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. The USDA reimburses the state $3.85 for each meal.
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SUPPORT FOR THE $4.3 billion NEXTERA/Hawaiian Electric Light Co. merger is falling, Life of the Land Executive Director Henry Curtis reported. Curtis reviewed poll numbers from Ward Research, Inc. and Merriman River Group.
“Numbers can be manipulated, and polling is inherently dangerous, especially when done with an effort to steer the results,” Curtis said. “The margin of sampling error needs to be explicitly stated. …
“HECO and NextEra proposed merging on Dec. 3, 2014. The following month, Ward Research, Inc. conducted a poll (asking): 'NextEra Energy, a Florida-based company, proposes to buy Hawaiian Electric. Do you think this acquisition would be good for Hawai`i?'
“Almost one-third (32 percent) of respondents were in support. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5.5 points.

“One year after the merger was announced, and just after the first of three rounds of the Evidentiary Hearing, Ward Research, Inc. conducted a poll (asking): 'NextEra Energy, a Florida-based company, proposes to buy Hawaiian Electric. Do you think this acquisition would be good for Hawai`i?'
“The percent supporting the sale had dropped to 26 percent.
“One could rightfully claim that the numbers had not fallen. That is to say, the first poll indicated that the percentage of people supporting the merger was 32 percent plus or minus 5.5 percent (26.5 percent to 37.5 percent), while the second poll showed 26 percent plus or minus 4.7 percent (21.3 percent to 30.7 percent), and thus the two polls could have reflected the same support for the merger, although the odds were against that.
“But the third poll (by Merriman River Group) clearly showed that support for the merger was dropping. Support for the merger was 16 percent plus or minus 3.2 percent, or 12.8 to 19.2 percent.
“Thus, the most likely explanation was that one in six supported the merger, but with the margin of error, the actual number of supporters could range from one in eight to one in five.
“This latest poll could also simply reflect that a minority of the population is pro-business and supports anything proposed by businesses. That is to say, no matter what is proposed by business, a certain percentage will always say yes.
“Similarly, a certain percentage will always oppose what big business is supporting.
“But in between, for the vast majority of those with an opinion that may be swayed, the numbers in opposition are growing.”
See www.ililani.media.
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TROPIC CARE 2016 BEGINS tomorrow and continues through Saturday, June 4 at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Saturday, when it closes at 12 p.m.

Free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services and prescription eyeglasses are among services offered.

Bring water, snacks and current glasses and medications.
Bus transportation is available daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to and from Ocean View Community Center at Princess Kailulani at Lotus Blossom, Kahuku Park and Hele-on Park & Ride.
For more information about Tropic Care, call 808-874-6035.

UP CLOSE, MARION BERGER’S exhibit of her paintings featuring portraits of Hawai`i’s native birds, closes on Sunday, June 5. Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar/May2016.pdf.

Hannah's Makana `Ohana, led by Ka`u Kumu Hula Hannah Uribes, surround Mark Yamanaka, who won
his tenth Na Hoku Hanohano Award last weekend. See more below. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I COUNTY DEPARTMENT of Water Supply is now delivering Water Quality Reports via the Internet. The change takes advantage of technology, reduces paper consumption and helps preserve the environment.

See hawaiidws.org, click on the About the Water link, then Water Quality Reports, and select the appropriate system.
Paper copies are available by calling 961-8670 or emailing dws@hawaiidws.org.
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MINA MORITA, FORMER HAWAI`I Public Utilities Chair, attempts to break down Hawai`i electric system’s complexity in a series of articles at minamoritaelergydynamics.com.

Morita suggests that interested residents watch an online presentation by PUC Commissioner Mike Champley at March’s Maui Energy Conference where, as a panelist on “The Hawai`i Renewable Energy Experience – What Can Be Replicated Nationally and Internationally,” he asked, “What metric do we look at?”

Champley compared islands' renewable capacity vs energy penetration.
Graph from Mina Morita

According to Morita, “Champley said it was important to understand two competing metrics, renewable capacity versus energy penetration, or capacity factor, and walked the audience through each of his slides depicting our renewable progress, current challenges, future challenges and new considerations that come into play regarding key technical and economic tradeoffs. …

“For example, if we make further investments in increasing wind and solar capacity, corresponding investments will need to be made in grid modernization, renewable integration and bulk storage. Therefore, will new investments be made in nascent storage technology or pump storage to store and dispatch solar at evening peak? Or will it be made in smaller and flexible fossil generators with the ability to ramp up and down with the variability of wind and solar during the day and be available to address system peak? Which solution will be less risky? Or do we do both? What solution can we afford and have the greatest system and customer benefits? Can we move forward with a no-regret solution/strategy?

“The logical, economic solutions are there, but it will take the goring of some sacred cows to lay a solid foundation and cost-effective strategy to get to 100 percent.

See Champley’s presentation at vimeo.com/163314542.

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Yamanaka performed at Pahala Plantation House last fall for Uhane
Na Moku O Hawai`i, drawing a spontaneous outbreak of hula.
Photo by Julia Neal

MARK YAMANAKA TOOK HOME his tenth Na Hoku Hanohano award last weekend. Yamanaka, known for his falsetto voice and guitar skills, frequently shares his music at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and has accompanied halau at Pahala Plantation Cottages, fundraising for the Uhane Na Moku O Hawai`i nonprofit group.

During the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts Na Hoku awards in Honolulu on Saturday, he won Best Christian Album of the Year for A Gift of Heart, recorded by Yamanaka and the group Kupaoa.
Jimmy Borges, 80, a famous Hawaiian jazz singer, took home five Hoku awards.
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Sen. Brian Schatz joined Gov. and Mrs. Ige at a Memorial Day
ceremony. Photo from Office of Sen. Schatz

MEMBERS OF HAWAI`I’S CONGRESSIONAL delegation representing Ka`u honored members of the military over Memorial Day weekend.

On Sunday, Sen. Brian Schatz spoke at the Pacific American Foundation Annual Roll Call of Honor Ceremony to honor the sacrifice of Pacific American soldiers.
“Together, we remember with deep appreciation our Pacific Veterans and all of America’s men and women who answered the call to protect liberty,” Schatz said.
Yesterday, Schatz joined Gov. and Mrs. Ige at a Memorial Day ceremony on O`ahu.
Sen. Mazie Hirono paid tribute to service members, veterans and their families on Memorial Day.

Sen. Mazie Hirono attended a ceremony at West Hawai`i
Veterans Ceremony. Photo from Office of Sen. Hirono

“Hawai`i is the home to generations of service members, from the Civil War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Hirono said. “Memorial Day is an opportunity to celebrate these service members, remember those who gave their life in service to our country, and reflect on legacy they left behind. On this solemn day, we not only honor the sacrifices made by our service members and veterans, but also reaffirm our lifelong commitment to support them and their families.”

Hirono spent Memorial Day on Hawai`i Island, attending a remembrance ceremony hosted by the West Hawai`i Veterans of Foreign Wars post at West Hawai`i Veterans Cemetery. Hirono paid tribute to Waimea native Lance Corporal Christopher Camero, who was killed in Afghanistan, and other Hawai`i service members.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met veterans on Maui.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, at Makawao Veterans Cemetery, delivered remarks to honor America’s fallen heroes at an observance hosted by Maui Veterans Council. She joined fellow veterans, their friends, families and the community in honoring heroes from Hawai`i and across the nation who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In her remarks, Gabbard documented the lives lost in recent conflicts. She implored they be honored by ensuring our troops are not sent into harm’s way unnecessarily and that missions be worthy of their great sacrifice.

“We have lost too many of our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters in these counterproductive interventionist wars,” said Gabbard, a twice-deployed Major in the Hawai`i Army National Guard. We owe it to those we’ve lost, and those who have followed in their footsteps, to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them in the future. Let us remember our friends, our family, our nation’s heroes, by being grateful for all that we have, honoring their memory, and by taking action. Forging ahead, making them proud, making sure that their sacrifice was not in vain. Let us be inspired by their example and show through our actions, every day, that they will never be forgotten.”
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TROPIC CARE 2016 BEGINS today and continues through Saturday at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center with free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services, prescription eyeglasses and more.

Bring water, snacks and current glasses and medications.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Saturday, when closing is at 12 p.m.

Bus transportation is available daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to and from Ocean View Community Center at Princess Kailulani at Lotus Blossom, Kahuku Park and Hele-on Park & Ride.
For more information about Tropic Care, call 808-874-6035.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings this week. The council holds a special meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. for the second and final readings of operating and capital improvement budgets.
Committees meet Thursday. Governmental Relations & Economic Development’s meeting is at 9 a.m.; Human Services & Social Services, 10 a.m.; Planning, 11 a.m.; and Finance, 1:30 p.m.
The full council meets Friday at 9 a.m.

Megan Tardif-Woolgar

All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo. Videoconferencing is available at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
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A FREE CLASS ON FREEDOM Release Technique takes place at Margo’s Corner on Wakea Street in Discovery Harbour on Sunday, June 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Megan Tardif-Woolgar is a certified Freedom Release Technique Practitioner and a registered Medical Herbalist from Nova Scotia, Canada. She helps facilitate healing by connecting to an individual’s higher self and releasing past traumas and negative experiences stored within the cellular memory. She also helps facilitate the connection between the human and plant world, allowing plant allies to come forward and offer their healing and support.
For more information, see sacredspiralherbals.com.
RSVP to 929-9614 or 1-902-824-0547 or sacred.spiral.herbals@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

Megan Yarberry, of Hilo, leads a Blue Zones fitness activity during Tropic Care at Ocean View Community Center.
Tropic Care health screenings continue through Saturday at noon in Ocean View and at Ka`u High School.
Photo by Sue Dela Cruz/Blue Zones Project

HAWAI`I ISLAND’S MARINE DEBRIS is concentrated in Ka`u, on the southeastern tip of the island, particularly around Kamilo Point.
A recent imagery analysis identified a total of 2,200 pieces of marine debris on the Big Island’s coasts, and the most common type, at 52 percent, was plastic.
The state Department of Land & Natural Resources and North Pacific Marine Science Organization commissioned the aerial survey of all coastlines of the eight Main Hawaiian Islands. The study, Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris Aerial Imagery Analysis and GIS Support in the Main Hawaiian Islands, was funded by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan as part of the Japan Tsunami Gift Fund awarded to western states, including Hawai`i.

Kamilo Point collects marine debris that rides
currents from other shores. Photo by
Megan Lamson/HWF

“In order to characterize the potential ecological consequences of tsunami and other debris, it’s important to quantify it,” said Kirsten Moy, DLNR’s Marine Debris Coordinator in the Division of Aquatic Resources. “Understanding the types, sizes and locations of debris accumulating on Hawaiian coastlines is crucial in developing plans to streamline removal and mitigate negative impacts.”
Aerial surveys were conducted between August and November 2015. The study found that 38 percent of the total debris identified in aerial surveys of the Main Hawaiian Islands is on Ni`ihau, likely due to its position in the island chain and the particular ocean currents surrounding it. All other islands had 14 percent or less of the debris identified, with O`ahu having the least density at only five percent. “This could be a reflection of continuous beach clean-ups conducted by local residents and conservation organizations,” Moy said.
DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “This survey found a very limited amount of debris associated with the Japan tsunami. Most of what was mapped is common, everyday items that someone haphazardly tossed onto the ground or directly into the water. These items get caught up in ocean currents, and unfortunately much of it eventually lands, mostly on north and east facing shores. Hawai`i is recognized around the world for our beautiful beaches. Unfortunately, we cannot say they are pristine, because they’ve been so seriously impacted by our trash.”
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HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND and The Nature Conservancy in Ka`u celebrated together late last month, with a small group of conservation partners. The event marked HWF’s 20th anniversary of protecting native wildlife and coastal habitat and TNC’s opening of their new office at Honu`apo.
“It was great to come together to celebrate this important milestone with TNC,” said Megan Lamson, HWF’s Hawai`i Island Program Director. “Our nonprofits have similar missions, and we are thankful for such continued opportunities to collaborate for native wildlife.”

Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy staff celebrate
last month. From left are Nadine Robertson, Bill Gilmartin, Nohea
Ka`awa, John Replogle, Shalan Crysdale and son Jack, Linda
Schubert, Megan Lamson, Stacey Breining and son Nico.
Photo by M. Robertson/HWF

HWF’s next Ka`u Coast Cleanup at Kamilo is on Saturday, July 9. A video featuring HWF’s Kallie Barnes during a visit to Kamilo Point where Hawai`i Island students work with California scientists to promote single-use plastics reduction is available at wildhawaii.org.
Email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com for more information about the cleanup and to register.
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A BILL THAT WOULD BAN STYROFOAM food service items is on Hawai`i County Council’s agenda this week. Kohala council member Margaret Wille’s Bill 140 would prohibit food vendors from dispensing prepared food in disposable polystyrene containers effective July 1, 2018. It would exempt ice chest and coolers, county facility users and food vendors with approval by the Environmental Management Director, and county facility users and food vendors procuring supplies during an event declared as an emergency by the mayor.
The council’s Environmental Management Committee passed the bill with a 5-4 vote in May.
The council meets Friday at 9 a.m. Committees meet tomorrow. Governmental Relations & Economic Development’s meeting is at 9 a.m.; Human Services & Social Services, 10 a.m.; Planning, 11 a.m.; and Finance, 1:30 p.m.
All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo. Videoconferencing is available at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
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A storm in the East Pacific is expected to strengthen as it moves
west-northwest. Map from NWS

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS TODAY, and a weather system that could develop into a hurricane is brewing in the East Pacific, the breeding ground for many storms that threaten Hawai`i.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure located about 1,000 miles south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula have become a little better organized over the past day or so, but the low does not have a well-defined center of circulation, the National Weather Service reported. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for additional development of this system during the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week as the disturbance moves west-northwest at about 15 miles per hour. Formation chance through 48 hours is 60 percent, and 90 percent through five days.
Track the storm at www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc.
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PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE starting today for the 21st Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range at Hilton Waikoloa Village on Friday, Sept. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Students work alongside professionals during a class
at Taste of the Hawaiian range.

Attendees will enjoy delectable dishes using pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, goat, mutton and wild boar, plus a cornucopia of fresh island fruit, veggies, honey, spices and beverages. Past events have featured products from Ka`u, including Kapapala Ranch and Kuahiwi Ranch.

The annual agricultural showcase will again sprawl both inside and outside at Hilton Waikoloa Village’s conference center. Culinary adventure seekers can taste and enjoy cuts of pasture-raised beef expertly prepared by Hawai`i chefs. Enjoy familiar cuts like chuck and ground beef, plus infamous Rocky Mountain oysters.
Local food producers will offer samples and displays at friendly booths. While “grazing,” attendees can enjoy exhibits presenting topics related to local agriculture and food sustainability, including the University of Hawai`i at Manoa’s Mealani Research Station—where Taste began.
Pre-sale tickets are $45 and $60 at the door. Entry to Cooking 101 with sampling is $10, while a 1 p.m. class geared for culinary students and food service professionals is free.
Watch for ticket giveaways on Facebook at Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Twitter #TasteHI.
For general event information, call 322-4892.
See tasteofthehawaiianrange.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Army Reserve personnel bring Tropic Care to Ka`u this week.
Photo by Sue Dela Cruz/Blue Zones Project

A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES is available this week. Tropic Care 2016 continues through Saturday at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center with free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services, prescription eyeglasses and more.

Bring water, snacks and current glasses and medications.
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Saturday, when closing is at 12 p.m.
Bus transportation is available daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to and from Ocean View Community Center at Princess Kailulani at Lotus Blossom, Kahuku Park and Hele-on Park & Ride.
For more information about Tropic Care, call 808-874-6035.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT continues Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to clear invasive ginger from park trails.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

A volunteer with Stewardship at the Summit removes invasive Himalayan ginger from a kolea lau nui,
an endemic understory tree found in the rain forests on Kilauea volcano in Hawai`i Volcanoes
National Park. Stewardship dates continue, with another tomorrow.
NPS Photo from Jessica Ferracane

HAWAI`I COUNTY ECONOMIC Opportunity Council’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 2016 application period is now open through June 30. LIHEAP assists households with their utility bill (electric or gas) in two ways.

Energy Crisis Intervention program assists with up to $350 to restore or prevent termination of power to the residence of a household whose electricity or gas has been shut off within 60 days or is about to be terminated within seven days. This is a one-time only payment, which will be deposited directly into their utility account.

Pahala resident Lane Ueda accepts applications for Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program. Photo by Julia Neal

The Energy Credit program provides needy households who are not in crisis with a one-time payment deposited directly into their utility account.

To be eligible for the program, residents must submit an application with all individuals (related or unrelated) living at the residence. Verification of Social Security numbers for all household members is required. Identification for all adults must be submitted, and they must meet U.S. citizenship or permanent residency requirements. Income statements and utility bills must be submitted when determining eligibility for the program. Applications for this program are taken annually, currently in June.
Eligibility for LIHEAP is determined by the community action agencies.
LIHEAP clerk Lane Ueda, of Pahala, accepts applications in Ka`u. Ueda is a member of the Language Arts Multicultural Program and teaches third grade at Na`alehu School. He concentrates on teaching reading, writing, math and science and has several Marshallese students in his classes.
Ka`u residents can apply at Na`alehu HCEOC Office on Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Ocean View Community Center on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Edmund C. Olson Trust Office Building in Pahala on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
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HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK announced flight plans for this month. Management of the park requires 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 maintain backcountry facilities.

Pepeiao is the site of an invasive silk oak control project.
Photo from NPS

Today and on June 13, between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., flights will haul old fence material from Mauna Loa campsites to Mauna Loa Road at about 6,000-ft. elevation.

Tomorrow at 7 a.m., flights will shuttle crew and camp supplies to Kue`e for invasive fountain grass control.

Petrel monitoring, from the summit of Kilauea to Mauna Loa at about 9,000-ft. elevation, takes place on June 8, 23 and 24, between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Flights will shuttle crew and camp supplies to Pepeiao for invasive silk oak control project on June 20 at 9 a.m. and June 23 (time to be determined).
On June 27 at 9:30 a.m. and June 30 at 8:30 a.m., flights will shuttle crew and camp supplies to Keauhou for invasive Guinea grass control.
Ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku is scheduled on June 28, between 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., between 3,000- and 7,000-ft. elevations.
In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kilauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
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A Hawai`i County arborist will work toward control
of rapid `ohi`a death. Photo from UH-CTAHR

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED operating and capital improvement budgets at its special meeting yesterday. The operating budget provides funding for new positions, including planners, park caretakers and an arborist. The council added an arborist who is expected to help identify hazardous trees and work toward controlling the fungal disease rapid `ohi`a death.

Nancy Cook Lauer reported in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald that funding for the arborist’s $80,000 annual salary would come from a current fund set up for removal of albizia and other hazardous trees.
Capital Improvement Project funding includes $3 million for Ocean View Recycling & Transfer Station, with $374,000 previously allotted.
Work on local wastewater systems will continue, with $650,000 appropriated for Na`alehu, which previously received $2.987 million. In Pahala, $645,000 is for land acquisition, infrastructure improvement and planning of a sewage treatment plant, with $250,000 previously allotted.
The budget includes $750,000 for improvements at Kahuku Park in Ocean View.
The council holds its regular meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.

See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE for the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy to close, but Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission has yet to announce its decision on the $4.3 billion deal.

Kathryn Mykleseth reported in Honolulu Star-Advertiser that PUC Chair Randy Iwase said the commission hopes to issue a decision this month.
“If we meet (the deadline), we meet it. If we don’t, we don’t,” Iwase told Mykleseth. “What happens with the applicants, that is up to them. That is not part of our psyche at all.”
After tomorrow, either company has the option to pull out of the deal. According to the contract, NextEra would have to pay HECO $95 million if the Florida-based utility ends its interest.
The PUC has the option to reject the deal, approve it as is, or approve it with conditions.
See staradvertiser.com.
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TODAY IS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE Awareness Day. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz encourages constituents to wear orange to recognize the effort.

According to the Wear Orange movement’s website, “the color orange symbolizes the value of human life. Hunters wear orange in the woods to protect themselves and others. In 2013, teens on the South Side of Chicago asked classmates to honor their murdered friend by wearing orange. That simple call to action has grown into a national movement – and orange is becoming the symbol of gun safety.”

“Right now our country is suffering from a gun violence epidemic, and we must not allow this violence to become normalized,” Schatz said. “Hawai`i has the lowest rate of gun deaths in the country, and it is because we have passed safe and reasonable gun safety laws. If we are going to create a safe country for ourselves and our children, we must address gun violence immediately. We can fix this problem. We know what works, but we need the political will in Congress to pass laws to help keep our country safe.”
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TROPIC CARE 2016 CONTINUES through Saturday, offering free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services, prescription eyeglasses and more.

Vision, dental and other health services are available at Tropic

Care through Saturday morning in Pahala and Ocean View.

Photo by Sue Dela Cruz/Blue Zones Project

Hours at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Saturday, when closing is at 12 p.m.

Bring water, snacks and current glasses and medications.
Bus transportation is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to and from Ocean View Community Center at Princess Kailulani at Lotus Blossom, Kahuku Park and Hele-on Park & Ride.
For more information about Tropic Care, call 808-874-6035.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT continues tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to clear invasive ginger from park trails.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

REGISTER THROUGH TOMORROW for Na`alehu Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The program runs from June 6 to July 15. The theme this year is centered around fitness and health of body and mind, and participants of all ages are encouraged to read 20 minutes per day.
Each week, participants can claim a prize or activity at the library, and those who participate at least four weeks during the program will receive a free book to keep.
Other weekly programs at the library include a fitness- or sports-themed family movie matinee with popcorn every Tuesday at 3 p.m., an activity for grades K-5 on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m., make-and-take crafts on Thursdays at 3 p.m. and healthy snacks to give away on Fridays.
Everyone is welcome to come and be a part of these fun, free programs. Call 939-2442 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

The Birth of Kahuku explores Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone on Sunday. See more below. Photo from NPS

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY is looking for a few good men and women to join the state Sheriff Division.

Recruitment is now open on the Department of Human Resources and Development website. The recruitment period ends on June 17.
To qualify, the applicant must be a high school graduate; be able to demonstrate knowledge of English grammar, spelling and punctuation; have the ability to read and comprehend complex written material; write a clear, factual report; and have at least two years of work experience which demonstrates these abilities.

After initial recruitment, chosen applicants will be tested on physical fitness (pushups, sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run) and have to complete a written test to gauge their reading, writing and comprehension skills. They will also take a pre-employment law enforcement assessment. After successful completion of the physical ability test, written test and the pre-employment assessment, the applicant may be scheduled for an interview.

Individuals who pass the testing and are selected will participate in a six-month Law Enforcement Recruit Class, which will consist of classroom and on-the-job training in the laws, rules, regulations, principles, practices, procedures and techniques of law enforcement; the operation of firearms and other equipment; as well as physical conditioning.
To apply, see http://dhrd.hawaii.gov/job-seekers/civil-service-hawaii-state-government-jobs/. Enter the word Sheriff in the search box.
There you will see the Sheriff Division recruitment links to the application forms.
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HAWAI`I CHIEF JUSTICE MARK E. Recktenwald has appointed M. Kanani Laubach to the District Family Court of Third Circuit on Hawai`i Island. Laubach will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Melvin H. Fujino to the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit.

Laubach has been in private practice since 2011 when she opened the Law Office of M. Kanani Laubach, L.L.L.C. Since 2012, she has been a partner at the law firm of Laubach & Frenz, A.A.I., L.L.L.C., handling criminal cases in District, Family and Circuit Court. She also has extensive experience in family law cases involving temporary restraining orders, divorce, paternity and child custody proceedings.

Between 2006 and 2010, Laubach served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Hawai`i County’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, where she worked on criminal cases in District, Family and Circuit Court. In 2007, she joined the Violent Crime Unit and was tasked with prosecuting violent crime cases ranging from child sex assault to homicide.
From 2003 to 2006, Laubach served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor, Misdemeanor Jury Demand and Felony Trials divisions.
In addition to her legal experience, Laubach has previously worked with families in both the school and home environments, including teaching parenting skills and child development as a Visitation Specialist at Parents and Children Together in Waipahu, O`ahu.
Laubach currently holds the office of Vice-President of Hawai`i County Bar Association and has been providing pro bono services at Hilo Self-Help Center since it opened in 2012. Laubach has served as a Director on the Waiakea High School Foundation Board since 2014 and as a volunteer arbitrator in the Court Annexed Arbitration Program since 2011.

Bernie Sanders and Raina Whiting

Laubach is a graduate of the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai`i State Bar in 2003. She is also a graduate of Chaminade University of Hawai`i, where she received a master’s degree in Counseling psychology in 2000.

The Chief Justice appoints District Court judges from a list of not less than six nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission. If confirmed by the state Senate, Laubach will serve a term of six years.

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RAINA WHITING, A CANDIDATE from Ocean View who is running for Hawai`i County Council to represent District Six, and Hawai`i state Democratic Party Chair Tim Vandeveer met with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders at his rally in Modesto, CA yesterday. Whiting nominated Vandeveer for chair at the party’s convention on O`ahu last weekend.

Sanders spoke to Whiting and Vandeveer about keeping the Vermont senator's campaign's momentum alive and thanked Hawai`i for its hard work so far. “He gave us advice on our Hawai`i campaigns and keeping folks engaged,” Whiting said.

Bernie Sanders met with Hawai`i Democrats Raina
Whiting and Tim Vandeveer in Modesto, CA.
Photos from Raina Whiting

Whiting is Hawai`i County Democratic Party's District Five Council Vice Chair and Precinct 5-02 President. Her education includes a bachelor's degree in language and literature from University of Hawai`i at Manoa and she is studying for a master's in educational leadership from Johns Hopkins University. She also studied history, art and culture at colleges in Spain and Chile and attended Central Michigan University's Global Campus, where she focused on master's work in public administration.

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MAJOR UPGRADES TO HAWAI`I’S geographic information system take advantage of current advances in server-based GIS and cloud services and improve data sharing, accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

“It’s an exciting time for GIS in Hawai`i state government,” said Office of Planning Director Leo R. Asuncion. “The ultimate goal is to make it easier for all state employees, contractors and the public to use, make and share geospatial data, maps and applications on any device at any time.”

The state GIS database has been deployed on a centralized state server that allows agencies to share information, increasing its accessibility beyond the source agency and encouraging a “create once, use many” philosophy. The upgrade also reduces the development of redundant databases, helps to standardize the information being analyzed by decision makers and serves as a means of collecting and distributing the most up-to-date authoritative GIS data.

The same data has been migrated into the “cloud” and will be available to the general public as web services. This will make the data even more widely available for use by anyone with a mapping application connected to web services. Included in the cloud deployment is an open data portal that adds extensive data search and download capabilities.

GIS data have already been incorporated into information products that are diverse and have far-reaching impacts which include tracking the spread of invasive species; surveillance of and tracking human and animal disease; analyzing clusters of pedestrian accidents; planning and maintaining facilities and assets; and analyzing transit oriented development. Many state agencies have also developed an assortment of tools for public use, including web-based applications to find the closest place to get a flu vaccination; locate the nearest recycling redemption centers; determine the zoning of a particular tax map key parcel number or address; and identify lands suitable for renewable energy development.
The Statewide GIS Program is also making a variety of new imagery data layers and historic maps available as web services, including historical topographic maps from 1881 through the 1960s, imagery dating back to the 1950s and the latest WorldView 3 high resolution satellite imagery and 2015 coastal imagery.
For more information, see planning.hawaii.gov/gis.
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Tropic Care continues through tomorrow morning.
Photo by Sue Dela Cruz/Blue Zones Project

TODAY AND TOMORROW MORNING are the final opportunities for Ka`u residents to receive free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services, prescription eyeglasses and more.

Tropic Care hours at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. It closes at 12 p.m. tomorrow.
Bring water, snacks and current glasses and medications.

Bus transportation is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to and from Ocean View Community Center at Princess Kailulani at Lotus Blossom, Kahuku Park and Hele-on Park & Ride.
For more information about Tropic Care, call 808-874-6035.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers free programs this weekend.
Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `ohi`a tree and the lehua flower. Visitors will be able to identify the many differences of the most prominent native tree on this program, which is an easy, one-mile (or less) walk.
Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku Sunday at 11 a.m. during The Birth of Kahuku. Traverse the vast 1868 lava flow, see different volcanic features and formations and identify many parts of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

Volunteer opportunities are available at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo from Friends of Midway Atoll

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial? The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service seeks Refuge biology volunteers for a six-month tour of duty for the Winter 2016-2017 Season at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

Volunteer work emphasizes habitat restoration, including native plant propagation and out-planting, seed collection and processing, removal of invasive plants both by hand and through chemical application of herbicide, and monitoring plant populations. Other work includes seabird and Laysan Duck monitoring, marine debris removal, data entry and equipment maintenance, along with other tasks depending on current projects and refuge needs. Volunteers are expected to work 40 hours/week with additional weekend work when necessary.

The winter season begins on Oct. 11 and ends in late March/early April 2017. Applications are due by July. Start dates are not flexible due to limited flights to Midway and training requirements for new volunteers.
To apply, email a single pdf file that includes a cover letter, resume outlining relevant education and work experience, and three work-related references (with phone and e-mail) to meg_duhrschultz@fws.gov. Title the file in this format: YourLastName_Fall2016.
Before applying, read the full volunteer announcement at http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_1/NWRS/Zone_1/Midway_Atoll/Sections/What_We_Do/Get_Involved/Volunteer%20Announcment%202016.pdf.
Preference will be given to those with an educational or professional background in biology, conservation science or botany. Habitat restoration, plant propagation, weed control, remote field and/or bird handling experience is preferred.
For more information, call Meg Duhr-Schultz at 808-954-4819.
Friends of Midway Atoll relies on volunteer help in a variety of ways, ranging from IT support, to communications and outreach, to sales management. Tasks that it is seeking help with through volunteers include a treasurer to keep track of incoming and expenses; IT support for website updates and maintenance; communications support, including Facebook posts, regular updates to FOMA members and subscribers and blog posts to FOMA website; advocacy support (identifying avenues for advocacy and lobbying, issues that FOMA can advocate for, etc.); education/outreach support (classroom presentations, relaying research about general Pacific marine and terrestrial ecology as well as Midway Atoll NWR ecology to public as relevant, etc.); website background writers (history, birds, plants, interviews with Midway residents from the past, etc.); someone to go through historical documents at USFWS, sort and scan and put on website, if appropriate; and proposal writers.
Inquire at FriendsMidway@gmail.com.
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Judge Riki May Amano

RETIRED HILO JUDGE RIKI MAY AMANO will remain as hearing officer in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case. Hawai`i Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously denied a motion to disqualify her in an order released yesterday. It also unanimously declined to grant objections to board member Chris Yuen’s service on the selection committee that picked Amano.

The board’s Order addresses the public scrutiny facing this hearing and notes that the petitioners and the University of Hawai`i are concerned that Judge Amano’s selection may not survive review in an appellate court. As it reasoned, however, the “Board is concerned that, taken to its logical extreme, ensuring a contested case process that subjectively ‘appears to be fair’ to every possible person who takes an interest in the TMT project would likely necessitate not only the disqualification of Judge Amano but of every potential hearing officer who otherwise possessed the acumen to hear this case.” It goes on to provide that no “qualified hearing officer candidate is likely to satisfy all spectators and remove all fears of reversal. The Board will not go down this rabbit hole.”
Instead, the Board adopts the objective standard cited in a previous Supreme Court decision that found “the commitment to an objective ‘appearance of fairness’ test is consistent throughout Hawai`i judicial decisions.”
Further, the Order provides that, with “due respect and consideration to the parties’ various interests and reasons for asking the Board to replace Judge Amano, the Board cannot and will not sidestep its own administrative responsibility to exercise judgment and common sense regarding whether the selection process up until now has objectively appeared to be fair. Common sense must prevail.”
As for the Petitioners’ claim that Yuen should recuse himself in this matter and should not have served as a member of the selection committee for the hearing officer, the board found that a statement made nearly two decades before the TMT CDUA was filed is not evidence of bias or prejudgment. Quoting Yuen’s written response to the Petitioners’ objections: “I think that the policy for board members is similar to that for judges: there is a duty to serve when you are not legally disqualified, just as there is a duty to disqualify yourself when good cause exists. … Board members should not be selected for the absence of opinions: they have to know how to review facts and decide particular cases on their merits given the legal criteria.”

Rep. tulsi Gabbard

Orders released by the board are available on the DLNR website at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/faqs/mauna-kea-faq/.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD is a factor in Bernie Sanders fundraising campaign solicitations. One email to prospective fundraisers points to her backing of the Vermont senator for President.

“When a Democratic National Committee vice chair, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, was disinvited from our first debate after calling for more of them, people took notice. And when Tulsi quit her post at the DNC to endorse our campaign, it sent shockwaves through the political establishment,” writes Sanders, just ahead of the California primary on Tuesday.
“For the last several months, Tulsi has been a tireless surrogate for our campaign. She has joined me at rallies, appeared in ads, and now we’re campaigning across California where almost every recent poll shows us within just a few points of Hillary Clinton.”
The solicitation asks for contributions that would be split between the Sanders campaign for President and the Gabbard campaign for reelection to Congress. “Tulsi has been a great friend to our political revolution,” the Sanders letter states.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui

State Sen. Russell Ruderman has also been mentioned by Sanders. During last weekend’s Hawai`i Democratic Convention in Honolulu, Sanders spoke in a prepared video, noting Ruderman’s support. Ruderman is the only Hawai`i state senator to have formally endorsed Sanders.
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DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT Hillary Clinton has endorsements from numerous political office holders in Hawai`i. Among them are Sen. Mazie Hirono, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, former Gov. George Ariyoshi and former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is running again. The late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye’s wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, has also endorsed Clinton.
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EXPLORE THE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY of Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow at 11 a.m. during the Birth of Kahuku. Traverse the vast 1868 lava flow, see different volcanic features and formations and identify many parts of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku.

Megan Tardif-Woolgar Photo from Sacred Spiral Herbals

A FREE CLASS ON FREEDOM Release Technique takes place at Margo’s Corner on Wakea Street in Discovery Harbour tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Megan Tardif-Woolgar is a certified Freedom Release Technique Practitioner and a registered Medical Herbalist from Nova Scotia, Canada. She helps facilitate healing by connecting to an individual’s higher self and releasing past traumas and negative experiences stored within the cellular memory. She also helps facilitate the connection between the human and plant world, allowing plant allies to come forward and offer their healing and support.
For more information, see sacredspiralherbals.com.
RSVP to 929-9614 or 1-902-824-0547 or sacred.spiral.herbals@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

Tropic Care Army Reserve personnel completed their Ka`u tour of duty yesterday. See more below.
Photo from Jessie Marques/Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc.

KA`U’S AINAPO TRAIL IS FEATURED on Hawai`i’s new website, the prime resource for state forest hikers. Managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Division of Forestry and Wildlife, one of the most important features of the site, hawaiitrails.org, is its mobile-responsive design allowing it to adjust to a variety of different devices and screen sizes. In addition, the updated website provides hikers with useful resources and content not found on or provided by other online sources such as trail head directions via GPS, detailed information on approved trail use activities, trail features, amenities, and timely weather and safety/hazard warnings. Features of the new and improved Na Ala Hele website include Google map interface, integrated GPS trail head location finder, mobile first responsive web design, click on trail or search for trail options, trail details and information search engine, easy-to-read trail information sections and updated photos and content.

Ainapo Trail offers expansive ocean views.
Photo from Na Ala Hele

“We wanted an entirely new look and to establish it as the official site for all authorized public forestry program trails and roads,” said Aaron Lowe, Na Ala Hele’s acting program manager and project lead. “We have created the one and only stop for people who are looking for sanctioned, improved trails. All other trails, with the exception of a few other state and city trails, are not improved, and therefore are most likely closed and/or dangerous. People need to know this.”

In addition to the new features, the Na Ala Hele staff has been working to collect new photographs of trailhead signs, trail features, amenities, points of interest and views to upload to the new site. The program hired Hawai`i trail writer Stuart Ball to update trail descriptions statewide.

Ainapo Trail ends at the summit of Mauna Loa.
Map from Na Ala Hele

The Na Ala Hele program contracted the Hawai`i Information Consortium to redesign and build the site. Since that time, both Na Ala Hele staff and HIC have been working to make the website and mobile version user-friendly. HIC used a User-Centered Design approach by inviting multiple users with varying degrees of technical ability to perform different assigned tasks on the new site. This provided developers an opportunity to collect user feedback about what worked and what needed to be fixed or changed.

“UCD allows us to put the users first and design a site to meet their needs rather than expecting them to adapt to the site,” said Russell Castagnaro, HIC General Manager. “This has been a fun and exciting project to be a part of. It is always a pleasure working with Aaron and the Na Ala Hele staff, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with Na Ala Hele in the future.”
DLNR’s Division of State Parks maintains its own website with information about state parks in Hawai`i and hiking trails in the parks at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/.
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Army Reserve personnel show their shakas in Tropic Care's pharmacy at Ka`u High School.
Photo by Michael Worthington

TROPIC CARE ARMY RESERVE personnel completed their Ka`u tour of duty yesterday. It was the second time the Army Innovative Readiness Training mission brought trainees to the remote district. It previously set up camp in June 2013.

Normand Dufresne and Jewel Castro, of Hawai`i Island
HIV/AIDS Foundation, reached out to the community
during Tropic Care. Photo by Michael Worthington

Ka`u residents received free medical screenings, school sports physicals, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional services, veteran services, prescription eyeglasses and more when Tropic Care began on Tuesday at Ocean View Community Center and Ka`u High School.

Sponsors included Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, County of Hawai`i and Hawai`i Department of Health.
Tropic Care services are available at Kea`au High School this Tuesday through Saturday.

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KA`U RESIDENTS CAN NOW APPLY to be permanent absentee voters. The Office of Hawai`i County Clerk is sending out applications that will authorize employees to mail an absentee ballot automatically for all upcoming elections.
Seasonal absentee ballot applications, which are for the upcoming August elections, are available online at http://elections.hawaii.gov.
For more information, call 961-8277 or email hiloelec@hawaiicounty.gov.

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IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF Volcano Watch, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists ask, “Where (and how) you gonna go when the volcano flows?”
“In his popular single Volcano, Jimmy Buffett sings, “I don’t know where I’m a gonna go when the volcano blow,” the article states. “His lyrics referred to Soufrière Hills, a then-dormant volcano on the island of Montserrat in the West Indies, where he recorded the song in 1979. Sixteen years later, the volcano erupted for the first time in over 400 years.

In the past 148 years, lava flows erupted from Mauna Loa's

Southwest Rift Zone have crossed Hawaiʻi Island’s

main road (now Hwy 11) six times.

“Island of Hawai`i residents, especially those living in South Kona and Ka`u Districts, which are at particular risk from Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone, might also wonder where they’re gonna go when the volcano erupts – even if it flows, rather than “blows.” But, more than knowing where to go, a greater challenge might be how to get there.

“Hawai`i Island’s Highway 11 is a busy roadway, used by both residents and visitors to travel between West and East Hawai`i. When people drive the stretch of road between the South Point Road intersection (Ka`u) and Ho`okena (South Kona), they likely notice the lava flows alongside the highway, but may not give much thought to the lava’s origin or impacts.
“In the past 148 years, Mauna Loa Southwest Rift Zone eruptions have sent lava flows across the main road six times – in 1868, 1887, 1907, 1919, 1926 and 1950. Some of these eruptions sent more than one lava flow across the roadway, blocking traffic in several places for weeks or longer.
“The 1868 lava flow is visible from Highway 11 at mile-markers 70-72, just west of the South Point Road intersection. This lava flow was part of a series of events that started on March 27 with a brief Mauna Loa summit eruption, which initiated up to 100 or more felt earthquakes each day.
“Then, on April 2, 1868, the strongest earthquake known so far in Hawai`i struck. With an estimated magnitude of 7.9, this earthquake, probably centered in Ka`u, literally knocked people off their feet – or off their horses, if they were riding – and destroyed rock walls and structures throughout the district. It also triggered multiple landslides, one of which rushed through a village as a mud flow that killed 31 Hawaiian farmers and generated a tsunami that swept the Ka`u and Puna coastlines and killed another 41 people. Earthquakes continued for the next five days but were weaker and less frequent.

The 1887 lava flow crossed the government road (about 1,000 feet

south of today's Hwy 11, traveling nine miles in less than nine

hours. Photo from USGS HVO by J.J. Williams, courtesy of NPS

“On April 7, a voluminous eruption began low on Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone. Lava gushed from a fissure and quickly advanced downslope, crossing an area of today’s Highway 11 and reaching the ocean, a distance of about 16 kilometers (10 miles), in about three hours. Area residents fled their homes and escaped, but 37 buildings in Ka`u were destroyed. The eruption ended on April 11, 1868.

“Continuing west on Highway 11, near mile-markers 73-74, you can see the 1887 lava flow. The eruption started on Jan. 16, when lava briefly broke out at the summit of Mauna Loa. Two days later, fissures on the volcano’s Southwest Rift Zone, just above what is now Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, erupted a channelized `a`a flow that advanced 24 km (15 mi) to the ocean in about a day. The eruption, which was accompanied by frequent and sometimes strong earthquakes, shut off on Feb. 2.
“The 1907 Mauna Loa lava flow crossed the government road (predecessor of Highway 11) in two places – near today’s mile-markers 75 and 78-79. The 1907 eruption began just after midnight on Jan. 10, when glow was noticed at Mauna Loa’s summit, followed four hours later by a Southwest Rift Zone eruption west of the 1887 vent.
“Lava spewing from this vent quickly split into two branches, changing from pahoehoe to `a`a flows, reportedly up to nine m (30 ft) thick, as they moved downslope. Within three days, both branches had crossed the government road, where they burned telephone poles, cutting off all communication, and blocked traffic. The 1907 flow did not reach the ocean, but had it not split, it might have. The eruption lasted about two weeks.
“The 1919, 1926 and 1950 Mauna Loa eruptions and their impacts on the circle-island road will be described in next week’s Volcano Watch. For now, think about where (and how) you’re gonna go when the volcano flows.”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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After Dark in the Park features the Hawaiian language opera Ha`upu.
Image from NPS

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS HAWAI`I presents the Hawaiian language opera Ha`upu Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitory Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Based on the legend of Hina and her son Kana, this all-school production tells the story through beautiful and powerful mele (song), oli (chant) and hula (dance). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and seating is limited.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life during A Walk into the Past. Programs are every Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

Eric Silberger, who will join soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra for a concert in Pahala this summer, was featured
on the Icelandic National News Network Ruv in Iceland for being the first violinist in history to perform
inside a volcano. See more below.

A JOINT TASK FORCE IS ASSESSING the threat of rat lungworm disease in Hawai`i. The task force’s mission is to share scientific knowledge in the application of diagnostics, treatment, mitigation and public education activities. The task force follows the state Legislature killing bills introduced by Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan and Sen. Russell Ruderman calling for funding to research the disease.

Rat lungworm disease is caused by a nematode, which is a roundworm parasite called Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The parasitic nematode can be passed from the feces of infected rodents to snails, slugs and certain other animals, which become intermediate hosts for the parasite. Humans can become infected when they consume, either intentionally or otherwise, infected raw or undercooked intermediate hosts.

Slug love on a Ka`u sidewalk. These slugs can carry
rat lungworm disease. Photo by Julia Neal

Although rat lungworm has been found throughout the state, Hawai`i Island has a majority of the cases. Some infected people don’t show any symptoms or only have mild symptoms. For others, the symptoms can be much more severe, which can include headaches, stiffness of the neck, tingling or painful feelings in the skin or extremities, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, a temporary paralysis of the face may also be present, as well as light sensitivity. This infection can also cause a rare type of meningitis (eosinophilic meningitis).

“Establishing a joint task force with local experts in the medical field and leaders in government will produce a set of best practices that be used to target rat lungworm disease not only on Hawai`i Island, but on a statewide scale as well,” said Wil Okabe, East Hawai`i Liaison to the Office of the Governor. “There is no specific treatment yet identified for this disease, so finding the best ways to prevent its spread and educate the public is crucial.”

Members of the task force are Wil Okabe (Facilitator), East Hawaii Governor’s Liaison Office; Robert Cowie, Ph.D., Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai`i at Manoa; Robert Hollingsworth, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Agriculture; Sue Jarvi, Ph.D., School of Pharmacy, University of Hawai`i at Hilo; Jerry Kahana, Hawai`i State Department of Agriculture; Kenton Kramer, Ph.D., Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine; John Martell, M.D., Hilo Medical Center; Marian Melish, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, Kapiolani Medical Center; Donn Mende, Research and Development, County of Hawai`i; DeWolfe Miller, Ph.D., Tropical Medicine Microbiology and Pharmacology, JABSOM; Peter Oshiro, Sanitation Branch, DOH; Sarah Park, M.D., F.A.A.P., State Epidemiologist, DOH; Joanna Seto, Save Drinking Water Branch, DOH; Aaron Ueno, Hawai`i District Health Office, DOH; Chris Whelen, Ph.D., State Laboratories Division, DOH; and Jonnie Yates, M.D., Kaiser Permanente

For more information on rat lungworm disease, see http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/news/rlwd/.
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Unique Hawaiian fishes populate Papahanaumokuakea Marine
National Monument. Image from R. Thiel/Marine Biodiversity

SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED GLOBALLY significant abundances of unique Hawaiian fishes on deep coral reefs in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

The scientific journal Marine Biodiversity recently published a study documenting deep coral reef fish communities composed exclusively of fishes unique to Hawai`i, which represents a globally significant reservoir of biodiversity.
Scientists refer to species with restricted geographic ranges as endemic species. Hawaiian endemics are those species that are only found in Hawai`i and nowhere else.
“This the highest level of endemism recorded from any marine ecosystem on Earth,” said Randall Kosaki, PhD., first author on the study and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries deputy superintendent for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. “Hawai`i’s one of the most remote archipelagos on our planet, so we have many, many species here that are not found anywhere else.”
Fish communities referenced in the study were documented at depths of 300 feet at Kure Atoll, the northernmost of the remote, uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, part of Papahanaumokuakea. Kure Atoll lies about 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu.
The discovery was made on a research expedition aboard NOAA Ship Hi`ialakai last fall. Divers using advanced closed-circuit rebreather dive technology conducted dives at depths far beyond the range of most scientific or recreational scuba divers.
Deep coral reefs at depths of 150 to 450 feet, also known as “the coral reef twilight zone,” are among the most poorly explored of all marine ecosystems. Deeper than most scuba divers can venture, and shallower than most submersible-based exploration, these reefs represent a new frontier for coral reef research.
The article, entitled 100 Percent Endemism in Mesophotic Reef Fish Assemblages at Kure Atoll, Hawaiian Islands, can be accessed online at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-016-0510-5.

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OPERA SINGER AMY SHOREMOUNT-OBRA returns to Pahala Plantation House on Saturday, Aug. 13. The concert, a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Ka`u Coffee industry, features the soprano, internationally acclaimed violinist Eric Silberger, cellist Daniel Lelchuk and pianist Kwan Yi. It is one in a series in the inaugural year of the Hawai`i International Music Festival, with other performances at Maui Arts & Cultural Center and on O`ahu.

Amy Shoremount-Obra

Shoremount-Obra’s family includes the founders of Rusty’s Hawaiian 100 Percent Ka`u Coffee. She brought operatic music to Pahala in 2009 as a community outreach program for her graduation from The Juilliard School. She brought with her a pianist and tenor. The trio performed humorous operatic music for Ka`u Coffee farmers and other community members at Pahala Plantation House.

Shoremount-Obra made her Metropolitan Opera Debut in October 2014 as First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, singing all nine performances of the opera, three of which were Sirius XM Satellite broadcasts.
Her recent operatic engagements have included Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Las Vegas, The Savannah Voice Festival and New York City’s new Venture Opera, Marchesa in Verdi’s Un Giorno di Regno with Odyssey Opera of Boston, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Annapolis Opera, and most recently, Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio with Grand Harmonie.
Shoremount-Obra has appeared at Carnegie Hall as the soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Brahms’ Requiem and Schubert’s Mass in G and at David Geffen Hall as the Soprano Soloist in Verdi’s Requiem. She was a National semi-finalist and New York regional winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard.
Eric Silberger is a winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition and recently played violin inside a volcano in Iceland. He is excited to visit the volcano here in Ka`u, said Shoremount-Obra.
For more, see himusicfestival.com.

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HAWAI`I COUNTY ECONOMIC Opportunity Council’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 2016 application period continues through June 30. LIHEAP assists households with their utility bill (electric or gas).
Ka`u residents can apply at Na`alehu HCEOC Office on Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Ocean View Community Center on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Edmund C. Olson Trust Office Building in Pahala on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

A Walk into the Past takes place every Tuesday. Photo from KDEN

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK presents Ha`upu tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Students from Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i presents the Hawaiian language opera based on the legend of Hina and her son Kana. This all-school production tells the story through mele (song), oli (chant) and hula (dance). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and seating is limited.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

ADVOCATS OFFERS A FREE SPAY & Neuter Clinic Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Make appointments at 327-3724.

KA`U'S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN holds a legislative talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. "Be a part of crafting legislation that will drive change and help create the community that we all deserve," Ruderman said. Light refreshments will be served.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2016.pdf.

Scientists discovered the largest sponge known in the world at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
See more below. Photo from NOAA Office of Exploration and Research/Hohonu Moana 2015

THE RECORD OF DECISION APPROVING Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Abbreviated Final General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact Statement was signed into approval on May 24, the park announced today. The plan provides long-term management guidance about the preservation and use of the national treasure, UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
“Having a comprehensive plan to guide management decisions as we enter our next 100 years is an important step in protecting Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park for future generations,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. While work may start on some plan elements, Orlando said implementing the plan will not happen all at once. “It’s likely to take many years, as funds and resources become available,” she said.

Hawai`i Volcanes National park's management plan, wilderness
study and environmental impact statement has been approved.
Photo from National Park Service

Over the past several years, many people have participated in the planning process through public meetings and formal comments received via mail, comment forms and website forums. The National Park Service released the Draft GMP/WS/EIS in May 2015 and the Abbreviated Final GMP/WS/EIS in March 2016. The approved plan is identified as the “selected action” in the ROD and as the “NPS preferred alternative” in the Final GMP/WS/EIS. The ROD includes a description of the selected action, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, a summary description of measures designed to minimize environmental harm and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process.

“Having a comprehensive plan to guide management decisions as we enter our next 100 years is an important step in protecting Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park for future generations,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.
While work may start on some plan elements, Orlando said implementing the plan will not happen all at once. “It’s likely to take many years, as funds and resources become available,” she said.
The Record of Decision and related General Management Plan documents can be viewed at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/havogmp.
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SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED THE LARGEST sponge known in the world at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The scientific journal Marine Biodiversity published a study describing sponge found at a depth of 7,000 feet within during a deep-sea expedition last summer. The sponge was close to 12 feet long and seven feet wide, comparable in size to a minivan.

A remotely operated vehicle photographs the sponge. Photo from

NOAA Office of Exploration and Research/Hohonu Moana 2015

The sponge was documented during an expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to explore deep-water habitats in the monument using remotely operated vehicles at depths ranging between 2,300 and 16,000 feet.

“The largest portion of our planet lies in deep waters, the vast majority of which has never been explored,” said Papahanaumokuakea research specialist Daniel Wagner, Ph.D, science lead of the expedition with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “Finding such an enormous and presumably old sponge emphasizes how much can be learned from studying deep and pristine environments such as those found in the remote Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.”
While not much is known about the lifespan of sponges, some massive species found in shallow waters less than100 feet are estimated to live more than 2,300 years.
The sponge was captured on high-definition video during a remotely-operated vehicle dive on a ridge extending from a seamount south of Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Scientists from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA’s Office for Exploration and Research and the University of Hawai`i described the sponge after a year of study.
The article, titled The Largest Sponge in the World? can be viewed online at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-016-0508-z.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING for people who have some contact and relationship with youth is planned for Ka`u and Puna. The training is open to schoolteachers, counselors, coaches or interested parents and other adults. Participants learn what youth want to do to keep them occupied and eventually wanting to give back to their community where they live. The interactive two-day training equips educators and community members with strategies and tools to engage students with social and emotional learning in culturally relevant ways. It takes place on Aug. 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Refreshments and light lunches will be provided.
Results of past trainings include helping high school students raise grade point averages a full point in as little as ten weeks, increasing school attendance from 55 percent to 96 percent and helping an alternative high school achieve 100 percent graduating students.

Roberto Rivera brings Professional Development Training to Ka`u
in August. Photo by Bryce Richter

The training engages participants with cutting edge research on Social and Emotional Learning spanning from the fields of Positive Youth Development and Culturally Responsive Practices. It also raises awareness of popular youth culture and how it can be used to activate social and emotional practices while engaging students critically and creatively on individual, interpersonal and institutional levels. Participants will become equipped with the theoretical foundations and practical tools that allow them to begin engaging students.

Trainer Roberto Rivera is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in a major he created titled Social Change, Youth Culture and the Arts. He has worked with some of the top Social and Emotional Learning and Positive Youth Development organizations in the world such as CASEL, Search Institute, and YMCA-USA. He received his master’s in education focusing on Youth Development, Social Justice and Hip-hop at UIC in Chicago. He is a published author and highly sought after public speaker. He is currently also working on his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is dedicated to making his work with Fulfill The Dream in Chicago Public Schools a national model for engaging urban adolescent youth of color.
In 2014, Rivera gave a TedX Talk entitled Hip-Hop(e): the Art and Science of Cultivating Hope in the Hip-hop Generation. He has been featured in numerous television shows, articles, radio shows and magazines. Rivera sees his work as giving back and believes that working as an educator is more than just a career but a calling.
The training is free. Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center and Pahala Boys and Girls Club are raising funds for expenses to bring Rivera here. They and Hawai`i County Department of Parks and Recreation are allowing their staff to register for the training. The partners are seeking more participants who can help raise funds to cover the total expense of the training.
`O Ka`u Kakou has consented to be the fiscal agent receiving all tax-deductible donations. Total cost for the training is $10,000, of which $5,000 has been raised. The deadline to raise funds is June 15.
Contact Leina`ala Enos at 929-8641 or lenos@qlcc.org or Elijah Navarro at 808-430-9461 or e38navarro@gmail.com.
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Apply for Science Camps of America scholarships.

JUNE 13 IS THE DEADLINE for Hawai`i Island students of Hawaiian ancestry between the ages of 13 and 17 to apply for full scholarships to this summer’s Science Camps of America. In support of its mission to support the educational needs of people of Hawaiian descent, and through funds provided by the TMT International Observatory, the Pauahi Foundation is sponsoring twelve students to attend Science Camp in 2016 – six for Land & Sea camp and six for Air & Space camp.

All students stay at Pahala Plantation House & Cottages. Each ten-day session features six or seven travel days to sites around Hawai`i Island where students interact with and help scientist working in the field, from astronomers to weather experts, geologists and biologists. Interested students can learn more at http://ScienceCampsAmerica.com. Additional information and application forms for the scholarships may be found at http://www.pauahi.org/science-camps-of-america/.

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ADVOCATS OFFERS A FREE SPAY & Neuter Clinic tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Make appointments at 327-3724.

KA`U'S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN holds a legislative talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

MAKE A HU KUKUI tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Help revive the practice of making and playing the traditional Hawaiian top.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

VOLCANO ART CENTER in Volcano Village screens Rivers & Tides Thursday at 7 p.m. An open discussion about artist Andy Goldsworthy, moderated by Liz Miller, follows the film.
Call 967-8222 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2016.pdf.

Meet Hawai`i Island potters and view their works at the eighth annual Volcano Pottery Sale. See more below.
Photo from Volcano Art Center

MORE WATER IS ON ITS WAY to Ocean View. Gov. David Ige released $725,000 in capital improvement budget funds to finance plans and designs to develop a secondary Hawai`i County potable water source there.

Gov. David Ige

“Projects such as these are critical components of the public infrastructure and contribute to building a better home for our kupuna, keiki and all the residents of Hawai`i,” Ige wrote in a letter to Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan announcing the action. “By working collaboratively, we can climb the mountains of challenges that face Hawai`i.”

“The release of the money for a second source and the willingness of the Water Department to agree to use it is very important,” Creagan said. “An ample and secure source (sources really) of water for Ocean View is a health and safety issue. The mosquito, dengue and zika problem is water-related, and having another reliable and high quality source of water may help people find solutions to mosquitoes breeding in catchment tanks. The need for a public restroom at the highway intersection and restaurant area is critical and should be helped by a second source of water.”
“Mahalo a nui loa Gov. Ige, Rep. Creagan and Sen. (Josh) Green for your support of this very important CIP funding for our Hawaiian Ocean View Community,” Hawai`i County Council member Maile David said. “I also want to aloha and mahalo Mayor Kenoi; Keith Okamoto, Manager, Chief Engineer for the Department of Water Supply; Warren Lee, Director of Public Works; and their awesome staff who worked so diligently to timely submit the necessary request for allocation to Gov. Ige and the state Finance Department.
“I am humbled to have been a part of a very positive and successful multi-agency collaborative effort and look forward to our continuing relationship.”
Green said he was very pleased for the community. “Good work on your part, Maile, and mahalo to the administrations.”
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YESTERDAY WAS THE DEADLINE for potential candidates to register to run in this year’s upcoming elections. The ballot will include county, state and federal offices.

One of thirteen candidates will replace Mayor
Billy Kenoi, who has reached his term limits.

IN HAWAI`I COUNTY AND STATE RACES, 13 candidates want to take over for Hawai`i County Mayor Billy Kenoi, who cannot run again due to term limits. Those who filed papers to succeed Kenoi are Alvin Akina, of Kailua Kona; Paul Bryant, of Papa`aloa; Daniel Cunningham, of Hilo; Marlene Hapai, of Kurtistown; former Hawai`i County Council member Pete Hoffmann, of Waikoloa; KAHU 91.7 FM radio station founder Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a, of Hilo; former Mayor Harry Kim, of Hilo; former Hawai`i County Managing Director Wally Lau, of Kailua-Kona; Helen Luta, of Kealakekua; Shannon McCandless, of Kamuela; Gene Tamashiro, of Hilo; Timothy Waugh, of Hilo; and Eric Weinert, of Papaikou.

Hawai`i County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth, of Hilo, faces a challenge from Michael Kagami, of Kea`au.
Hawai`i County Council District Six member Maile David, of Captain Cook, faces a challenge from Raina Whiting of Ocean View. David came into office in 2014, when former council member Brenda Ford reached her term limit.
Three candidates are running for Ka`u Democratic state Rep. Richard Onishi’s office in District Three. Challengers are Libertarian Gregory Arianoff, Democrat Ainoa Naniole and Green Party candidate Kealoha Pisciotta, a Native Hawaiian opponent to the Thirty Meter Telescope. All four candidates are from Hilo.
Ka`u’s state District Five Rep. Richard Creagan, of Na`alehu, is opposed by Michael Last, also of Na`alehu.
In state Senate District Two, Ka`u’s Democratic Sen. Russell Ruderman, of Kea`au, faces challenges from Hawai`i County Council member and Democrat Greggor Ilagan, of Kea`au, and Libertarian Fred Fogel, of Volcano Village.
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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ, following yesterday’s deadline to file papers to run for U.S. Senate, faces several challengers. He is the only U.S. senator from Hawai`i in the running this year, as Sen. Mazie Hirono is up for reelection in 2018.

Schatz competitors in the Democratic Party are Makani Christensen, Tutz Honeychurch, Arturo Reyes and Miles Shiratori. Challengers in Republican Party are John Carroll, Karla Gottschalk, Eddie Pirkowski and John Roco. Others running against him are Libertarian Michael Kokoski, Joy Allison of the Constitution Party and John Giuffre of the American Shopping Party.
Schatz, 43, became senator in December of 2012, appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie after the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. In a 2014 special election, Schatz was elected to continue.
John Carroll, one of the Republican contenders, an 86-year-old attorney who owns a Hamakua farm, held a press conference yesterday in Honolulu.
According to a report in this morning’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Carroll is “known for his outspoken opposition to the Jones Act, a post-World War I law that requires all shipping between U.S. ports be conducted with domestic vessels and crews. Carroll argues that the federal law has led to Hawai`i’s high shipping costs.
“Carroll denounced Hawai`i’s high shipping costs, the soaring price tag of the Honolulu rail project, Hawai`i’s high cost of living and the state’s slow pace in moving qualified Native Hawaiians onto homesteads.”

See staradvertiser.com.
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U.S. REP TULSI GABBARD, who serves Ka`u and rural areas of the state, faces challengers in the upcoming elections. Yesterday was the deadline to sign up to run against her.

Challenging her in the Second Congressional District race is Democrat Shay Chan Hodges. Republicans against Gabbard are Eric Hafner and Angela Aulani Kaaihue. Nonpartisan Richard Turner is also running.
Gabbard, 35, defeated former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in 2012. She campaigns for the Bernie Sanders movement and frequently appears on national TV as a veteran commenting on foreign policy.
Democratic challenger Hughes contends that Gabbard is not a true progressive, scoring an F In the Progressive Punch ratings, compared to Schatz and Hirono each earning an A, according to a story in this morning’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

See staradvertiser.com.
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MEET STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN at a legislative talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village this evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

A SCREENING OF RIVERS AND TIDES takes place tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The documentary directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer depicts the engaging and interactive relationship between art and nature and follows artist Andy Goldsworthy all over the world as he opens up about his unique creative process and demonstrates how he engineers and collaborates with nature, space and time.

Volcano artist Liz Miller presents Rivers and Tides
and moderates a discussion afterward.
Photo from Volcano Village Artists Hui

Local earth-media based artist Liz Miller, who has done many earthwork installations, presents the film and moderates a discussion afterward. There will also be a book collection of Goldsworthy’s work for people to peruse that show photos of his latest works as artist-in-residence at The Presidio/Golden Gate National Park.

The film received a number of awards, including Best Documentary of the San Diego Film Critics Society and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle. It is an Anglo-German co-production by Mediopolis Film and the British independent film company Skyline Productions.
Call 967-8222 for more information.

JOIN 14 DIVERSE CERAMIC ARTISTS from Hawai`i Island for the eighth annual Volcano Pottery Sale on Friday afternoon and Saturday. The sale is held at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
This is a great opportunity to see a wide range of ceramic works, all in one location, and to meet and talk story with the artists. Functional pottery and ceramic sculpture ranging from low-fired raku wares to high-fired porcelain with crystalline glazes and soda-fired stoneware will be shown.
There will be wheel-throwing demonstrations on Saturday.
Bentos and sushi from Volcano Hanabi will be available on Friday, and Thai food from Aunty Pon’s Café will be available on Saturday.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2016.pdf.

A high school principal suggests methods rural schools such as Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary can try
to fight chronic absenteeism. Photo by Julia Neal

JOSEPH MANKO, A HIGH SCHOOL principal who serves as Principal Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education, said inadequate housing, transportation, work schedules and improper health care are often reasons for chronic absenteeism in rural communities such as Ka`u. His conclusions were carried this morning on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Chronic absenteeism is higher in Ka`u-Kea`au-Pahoa Complex Area schools than state and national averages. Kirsten Johnson, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reported this morning that about 32 percent of the more than 7,100 students missed at least 15 days of school during the 2013-2014 school year.

Manko wrote that solving the problem requires “diligent, consistent and sometimes tedious work.” He suggested ways communities could combat chronic absenteeism:

Principal Joseph Manko fights chronic absenteeism.
Photo from Joseph Manko

Make School a Desirable Place To Be. “You can’t underestimate the power of making school a positive place,” Manko said. “Schools that have strong, engaging teachers; that are connected to the community; and that offer a litany of before, after and during school activities often have higher attendance rates.”

Create a Unified Front. “Attendance is a team sport,” he said. “It can’t just be delegated to the attendance monitor. As a principal, I need to know the daily attendance and to collaborate with teachers who are the first line of connection, to communicate with families.”
Tend the Big Data Clean-Up. “Improving attendance depends on having good tracking systems and reviewing them at multiple points throughout the day,” he said. “Often, kids marked as absent are really in attendance – they came late and the teacher forgot to change it.”
Do Old-Fashioned Home Visits. “Tracking data often means tracking down kids who are missing over the span of several days, Manko said. “When many phone numbers don’t work, old-fashioned home visits often provide the best strategy for contacting kids and families and building relationships to solve the problem.”
Determine Root Causes. “There is a story behind every issue of chronic absenteeism – serious health issues, a broken car, a foreclosed home,” he said. “While schools cannot solve these problems alone, there are often agencies or support organizations that can help to mitigate them. Each situation requires lots of empathy, a Rolodex of resources, and sense of the possible to improve difficult situations.”
Create a Community Schools Approach. “Schools that can provide some kind of wrap-around services for students and families or which partner with community organizations are simply in a better position to address the health, housing, and transportation that challenge our families.
“Chronic absenteeism is the symptom of larger, deeper problems that can often only be addressed by addressing the larger, non-academic needs surrounding our students and their families. The fact of the matter is that if we want our schools to move students academically, we all have to commit to the hard, first-order work of getting them in the door,” Manko said. See more on Chronic Absenteeism:The First-Order Challenge Facing Our Nation's Schools at http://blog.ed.gov/2016/06/chronic-absenteeism-first-order-challenge-facing-nations-schools/
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

US. SENATE LEADERS NAMED Sen. Brian Schatz to the House-Senate conference committee that will negotiate funding to fight the Zika virus. Schatz’s selection ensures that Hawai`i’s unique public health concerns will be voiced during negotiations.

“Zika is a public health emergency,” said Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. “While I am glad both chambers passed critical funding to address Zika, there are real differences we need to resolve. I look forward to working with my colleagues to secure the highest possible funding to stop the spread of Zika and keep our communities safe and healthy.”
The conference committee will work to resolve differences between House and Senate Zika funding bills. The Senate moved forward with $1.1 billion in a wide-ranging appropriations bill that funds transportation, housing, military construction and veterans affairs, while the House included its package in similar appropriations legislation and passed $622 million in emergency funding, far below the $1.9 billion requested by public health experts.
In April, Schatz visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters and met with top officials to discuss the CDC’s response to outbreaks of dengue and Zika. During the meetings, he called for stronger vector-control programs to fight the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. He also led eight senators in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding for vector-control programs at the CDC.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, welcomed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S Capitol. As part of a select committee of lawmakers that welcomed and escorted the Prime Minister to the House Floor, Gabbard thanked the Prime Minister for his commitment to strengthening the U.S.-India friendship, which will help grow economies, strengthen security partnership in the fight against terrorism and pursue other areas of common ground.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard greets India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

“Prime Minister Modi began his visit to the United States by meeting with President Obama, where they recommitted themselves to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership,” Gabbard said. “President Obama said in 2014 that our friendship with India is the defining partnership of the 21st century. The Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the United States in just two years signifies just how important the burgeoning relationship between our countries is as we continue to address the many challenges that face our nations today – strengthening our economies, promoting renewable clean energy, protecting our planet, improving cyber security and combating terrorism.

“As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India have long shared many mutual goals of peace, stability and economic growth. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the progress our countries have made by partnering in business, national security and renewable energy. U.S. bilateral trade with India has grown to nearly $100 billion over 15 years – a nearly five-fold increase – and India trades more with the U.S. today than with any other country. Similarly, India remains one of our strongest partners in the region in the fight against terrorism. India conducts more security-related exercises with the U.S. than any other country.
“As we look to the potential that lies ahead, the commitment of our countries to grow and strengthen our ties is critical as we work together towards furthering our shared values and interests."
Yesterday, Gabbard joined members of Congress, U.S. Government Officials, members of the Indian Government and top U.S. and Indian business leaders to welcome Prime Minister Modi at the U.S. India Business Council’s 41st Annual Leadership Summit.
In December 2014, Gabbard visited India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi to promote U.S. and Hawai`i interests. During her visit, she traveled to seven major Indian cities and met with the Prime Minister and other government and defense officials and business leaders, among others. During her visit, she also advocated for development of a sister-state partnership between Goa and Hawai`i, which the Hawai`i State Legislature adopted in April 2016.
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Activities at Volcano Art Center include a film and a pottery sale.

VOLCANO ART CENTER in Volcano Village presents the documentary Rivers & Tides today at 7 p.m. An open discussion about artist Andy Goldsworthy, moderated by Liz Miller, follows.

Call 967-8222 for more information.

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL VOLCANO Pottery Sale takes place tomorrow afternoon and Saturday. The sale is held at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
There will be wheel-throwing demonstrations on Saturday.
Bentos and sushi from Volcano Hanabi will be available on Friday, and Thai food from Aunty Pon’s Café will be available on Saturday.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER holds a Stew Day Fundraiser Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Call 939-7033 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.