The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association appreciate donations to
help with their funding that is assisting park efforts to stay open during the federal shutdown.
Photo by Elizabeth Fien/Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

FRIENDS OF HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND HAWAIʻI PACIFIC PARKS ASSOCIATION are keeping Hawaiʻi Volcanoes open, with help at Kīlauea Visitors Center and other locations during the partial shutdown of the federal government. They are raising funds to prevent a complete shutdown of the park. Hawaiʻi County is also chipping in with some funding through Jan. 9.
The Kahuku Unit is closed and the Volcano gate is open with no entry fee. Some rangers are volunteering, working with no pay, like Jami Beck, former Miss Kaʻū Coffee and a University of Hawaiʻi student.

Park Ranger, University of Hawaiʻi student, and former
Miss Kaʻū Coffee Jami Beck, working without pay at
Kīlauea Visitor Center during the federal shutdown.
Image from Hawaiʻi News Now

A statement from Friends: "During the government shutdown, Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is providing interpretive assistance with guides to help visitors navigate the park. We are proud to work with our sister partner Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association who is doing the heavy lifting. As we go through this government shutdown, any donation you can provide will be put to keeping the park open."
Hawaiʻi News Now carried a story last night and this morning saying, "Both Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks and the Pacific Historic parks are only open now because of non-profit support. And there is no real plan after that money runs out." The story quoted Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien, saying, "After the 9th, I'm not sure.... The Friends are tenacious. We'll just keep looking for donations."
Donations can be made through Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Donations Page and
Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Donations Page.

Elizabeth Fien asks for donations to help keep open Hawaiʻi
Volcanoes National Park. Image from Hawaiʻi News Now

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A PETITION ASKING TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and end its partial shutdown is posted online, directed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Pres. Donald Trump.

Sen. Mazie Hirono released the following statement this morning: "After two weeks of a partial government shutdown that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers either furloughed or working without pay over the holidays, the new Democratic leadership in the House took a stand and passed legislation to finally end President Trump's shutdown.
"Now, the ball is in Trump and McConnell's court. McConnell and Senate Republicans can choose to let the president, who threatened to keep the federal government partially closed for 'months or years,' to continue to hurt federal employees and contractors as well as millions of families who cannot access the government services they need, or they can take a stand and do the right thing by passing this bill to end the shutdown without granting Trump his useless border wall."
She also described the opening of the 116th Congress on Thursday as "energetic and awe-inspiring," and that it showed "more diversity on the House and Senate floors than ever before -- and we made moves to get things done.

Catherine Awakuni Colón

"It's time Republicans in Congress join us so we can move past this erratic president's attempt to hold our government hostage for a $5 billion border wall boondoggle, and instead use our time and resources towards making health care more affordable, improving public education, and fixing our nation's crumbling infrastructure."

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STATE DIRECTORS OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY have received reappointments from Gov. David Ige and face confirmation by the state Senate.

Said Ige, "These leaders are dedicated to upholding fairness and justice. They have led their departments with integrity and instilled a sense of professionalism among the employees there. I know they will continue to implement reforms and increase efficiencies to better serve our communities.
Catherine P. Awakuni Colón is expected to continue as Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, a position she's held since January 2015. She also served as administrator in the DCCA's Cable Television Division and the department's executive director for its Division of Consumer Advocacy from 2006 to 2009. She previously served as chief legal counsel and commission counsel for the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission. Awakuni Colón holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaiʻi.

"I am humbled by the governor's confidence and look forward to continuing DCCA's important responsibilities. I remain committed to protecting Hawaiʻi's consumers and ensuring that businesses and individuals across the state are operating in a sound and fair manner," said Colón.

Colón reappointed Jo Ann M. Uchida Takeuchi to be her deputy. This position is not subject to senate confirmation. Takeuchi has been the deputy at DCCA since April 2012. She served in staff and leadership
capacities at DCCA including as complaints and enforcement officer with DCCA's Regulated Industries Complaints Office, as executive director of DCCA's Office of Consumer Protection and senior attorney to the OCP. Uchida Takeuchi earned B.A.s in English and political science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaiʻi.

Nolan Espinda

"I am truly proud of the work we've done for Hawaiʻi and its residents in the nearly thirty years I’ve spent at DCCA. I look forward to continuing our work with stakeholders to promote sound consumer practices and maintain public confidence in our marketplace," said Uchida Takeuchi.

Nolan Espinda will continue in his role as director, Department of Public Safety, a position he's held for the past four years. Prior to his appointment as director, he spent 32 years in corrections, serving as Warden at the Waiawa Correctional Facility, the Halawa Correctional Facility, and the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center. Espinda is a 1975 graduate of lolani School and holds a B. A. in political science from California State University at Chico.

"I consider myself privileged and honored to be nominated by Gov. Ige to continue to lead the important work of the Department of Public Safety. I look forward to working with our judicial, legislative and community partners towards making innovative and lasting criminal justice reforms for the people of Hawaiʻi," said Espinda. Espinda’s appointment is subject to senate confirmation.

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

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GOV. DAVID IGE POSTED AN ANNOUNCEMENT on his Facebook for the New Year. He said that 2018 "was a year of progress and challenge — from pushing ahead on my administration's top priorities to responding to natural disasters on multiple islands. At the Dec. 3 inauguration, I called for unity and common purpose as I embarked on my second term. I praised Hawai‘i as both a leader in sustainable growth and an example for the nation and the world that our differences are our greatest strength.

Gov. David Ige

"There are some who talk about making America great again but who do not understand the source of its greatness: its broad and diverse peoples. We are a nation of immigrants, and Hawai‘i is one of its brightest examples of what is possible when we work together — when we celebrate our differences and our common heritage.

"In the last four years, my administration has shown positive change is not only possible, it's happening all around us — to empower schools, build more affordable housing and protect the ‘aina — and I want the public to know state departments are working hard on their behalf. This issue of Capitol Connection describes some of the ways Hawai‘i is moving forward and, in many cases, leading the way to a better future."

The governor encourages subscribing to his monthly newsletter, 1.usa.gov/23jRyto, reading the January Capitol Connection newsletter, bit.ly/2BWcLEF, and reading his Facebook page.

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KAʻŪ TROJANS BOYS BASKETBALL fought hard in two really close games on Thursday, Jan. 3. Hosting Honokaʻa, the JV Trojans scored 10, 6, 11, and 13 points, to end with 40. However, their opponents scraped past, taking the game with 42.

Varsity scored 12, 13, 11, and 13, ending with 49, but Honokaʻa managed three more points, taking the game at 52.

‘O Kaʻū Kākou Halfcourt Shot for Cash went to Honokaʻa's Zakahry Marakami-Mattos, who made the shot to win $250.

Kalei Namohala, Honokaʻa's Zakahry Marakami-Mattos,

and June Domondon with the OKK Half Court Shot.

Photo from Kaʻū Athletics

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KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS BASKETBALL hosted Hiloon Friday, Jan. 4. The windward guests swept both games.

The JV game saw Kaʻū score zero points in the first quarter, then 2, 3, and 12 points, finishing with 17. Desal Dacalio-Camba scored 6 of those points. Hilowon with 42.

Varsity ended at 21 to 65, Hilo, with the home team scoring 6, 5, 4, and 6. Kianie Medeiros-Dancel scored 10 points for the Trojans.

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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 7, Mon., @Honokaʻa, 6pm

Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 8, Tue., host Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 7, Mon., @Hilo

Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

NEW and UPCOMING

OVERFLOW 2019: UNLEASHING YOUR UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman takes place Sunday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 13. The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
Presentations are at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, through Sat, Jan. 13, and Sunday, Jan. 6 and 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway. For more, call 929-7278. See naalehuag.org.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 6

Sunday Clay - High Fire!, new sessions, Sundays, Jan. 6 - Mar. 3, no class Jan. 20. Morning session 11:30-2:30pm, afternoon session 2:45-5:45pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. 8 week session w/Erik Wold on potters wheel - 7 slots open per session - or hand-building - 2 slots open per session - techniques. Beginners and continuing students welcome. $180/VAC member, $200/non-member, plus $15 materials fee for 6 lbs. clay, including glazes and firing. Additional clay available for purchase. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun., Jan. 6, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. 1st Sunday, monthly. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

Overflow 2019: Unleashing Your Untapped Potential, Sun., Jan. 6, through Sat., Jan. 16, 6 p.m., and Sun, Jan, 13, 9:45 a.m., Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God. Seven days of prayer and fasting. Music by Ola Shaw. Special Guest Musician Ricky "RNB" Brown. Event features five guest speakers. 929-7278, naalehuag.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 7

Painting w/Peggy, Mon., Jan. 7, noon-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Monthly acrylic painting session, artists of all levels. Students bring own supplies and easels - suggested material list at margaretstantonart.com. $15/VAC member, $20/non-member. Register at volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222. Questions, email peggystanton007@yahoo.com

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon., Jan. 7 and 21, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Mon., Jan. 7, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue., Jan. 8 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 9, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue., Jan. 8, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tue., Jan. 8, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 8, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Carolyn Parcheta presents. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visits. Dental, Wed., Jan. 9, 8-5pm. Medical, Thu., Jan. 31, 1-5pm. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Wed., Jan. 9, 16, and 31, 9:30-10:30am, Nā‘ālehu Community Center. All ages; geared toward those needing to maintain or increase mobility, and those wanting a gentle stretch. Call 969-9220 to sign up. Free; donations accepted.

Lau Hala - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work - Wed., Jan. 9, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

Compassionate Communication Group, Wed., Jan. 9 and 23, 2-3:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 2nd and last Wednesday, monthly. Free. Pre-registration required. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10

Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Thu., Jan. 10, 17, & 31, 9:30-10:30am, Pāhala Senior Center. All ages; geared toward those needing to maintain or increase mobility, and those wanting a gentle stretch. Call 969-9220 to sign up. Free; donations accepted.

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Jan. 10, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Papa ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i: Beginning Hawaiian Language Classes w/ Kaliko Trapp, Thu., Jan. 10, Part V, 5-6:30pm, Part VIII, 6:30-8pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. 8 week sessions focusing on expanding simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Some (basic for Part V) Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Required workbook for both sessions: Nā Kai ‘Ewalu, available at UH Hilo Bookstore. Hawaiian language dictionary suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

STOKE Screening, Thu., Jan. 10, 7-9pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Film follows Jane, a struggling tourist, who hires two wannabe tour guides to take her to an active volcano. 90 min. narrative feature shot on Hawai‘i Island in 2017. Rated R for language and brief nudity. Directors in attendance for brief Q&A. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

PATCH Class #701, Creating Supportive Environments I, Fri., Jan. 11, 8-11am, back pavilion, Punalu‘u Bakery, Nā‘ālehu. Making connection between the environment, social-emotional development, and challenging behaviors - specifically relating to pre-school, home day care, etc. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

PATCH Class #219, Building Relationships, Fri., Jan. 11, noon-3pm, back pavilion, Punalu‘u Bakery, Nā‘ālehu. Making connection between social and emotional development and challenging behaviors - specifically relating to pre-school, home day care, etc. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Free Artist in Residence Lecture and Concert w/Celebrated Composer Glenn McClure, Fri., Jan. 11, 6pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center. McClure is a composer, educator, and data scientist. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Jan. 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Fan Lamp Project, Sat. & Sun., Jan. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Claudia McCall provides patterns to create a finished lamp or light catcher at end of 4-session workshop. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee/person. Additional $20 supply fee for lamp base and bulb. Limited space, pre-registration required. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

ONGOING
The Public is Invited to Speak Up on Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, health needs, and health care planning for Kaʻū. Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawaiʻi Region annual public meeting and forum will take place Saturday, Jan. 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Hospital, 1 Kamani Street, in Pāhala.

An overview of the operations and financial condition of all facilities, including Kaʻū and Hilo hospitals, as well as a view toward the future, will be presented. Ample time will be available for community members to share their perspectives and concerns regarding access to health care services, said a statement from Hawaiʻi Health Systems.

Dr. Daniel Belcher, Chair of the East Hawaiʻi Regional Board of HHSC, said, "I would like to encourage everyone who has an interest in our hospitals and regional health system to bring your questions and concerns to this meeting."

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.

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"PapahānaumokuākeaMarineNational Monument is of great cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian community
and houses important marine ecosystems that the Department of Commerce is committed to protecting for
future generations," said Dept. of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in 2017. Photo from UNESCO

THE FORMER SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, whose agency oversees 500 million acres of land, including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, "told the Associated Press he's lived up to the conservation ideals of Theodore Roosevelt." The AP story released today said Ryan Zinke stated, "Teddy Roosevellt said conservation is as much development as it is preservation. Much of our work returned the American conservation ethic to bet science, best practices... rather than an elites view of non-management that lets nature take its course."

AP writer Matthew Brown, quoting historian Patricia Limerick, pointed out that Zinke's idea "to reduce the size of national monuments in the West and elsewhere was in direct contrast to Roosevelt's embrace of the law that allowed their creation, the Antiquities Act of 1906."

One of the monuments studied for reduction in size is the PapahānaumokuākeaMarineNational Monument, which covers ‎583,000 square miles acres of ocean, which includes the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, ten islands and atolls. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Due to the government shutdown, the website about the monument, papahanaumokuakea.gov, is unavailable.

PapahānaumokuākeaMarineNational Monument could be opened to commercial fishing, according to recommendations

by former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zenke. Map from PapahānaumokuākeaMarineNational Monument

In August of 2017, Zinke provided a report reviewing the status of 27 National Monuments to Pres. Donald Trump which, according to The Washington Post, calls for the possible overturning of fishing and hunting bans within National Monuments. It also calls for considering reduction in sizes of National Monuments. Papahānaumokuākea, which expanded during the presidency of Barack Obama to become the largest marine preserve in the world, is one National Monument suggested for downsizing.
The Washington Post story by Juliet Eilperin and Darry Fears quotes ConservationInternationalCenter for Oceans. Its senior Vice President Aulani Wilhelm was Papahānaumokuākea's first superintendent. Eilperin and Fears report Wilhem saying Papahānaumokuākea is the world's largest gathering spot for seabirds and is home for a myriad of endangered species that have proven largely resilient despite climate change. "There's a need to have areas in the ocean not only to understand the changes underway but to protect functioning systems as a hedge against those changes," Wilhelm told The Washington Post.

"The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to one of the
most diverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet and a
sacred place for the Native Hawaiian community," said
Sec. of Interior Sally Jewell in 2017. Photo from UNESCO

Also in the article, The Washington Post reports long-line fishery groups in Hawaiʻi have "argued that the expansion of Papahānaumokuākea's boundaries… impedes its catch."
In regards to the requested report, Zinke wrote, "No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object." He said the recommendations he sent to Trump will provide "a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation."
According to The New York Times, Robert D. Rosenbaum, who serves as counsel to the National Parks Conservation Association, said no president has sought to shrink a monument's boundaries in the past four decades: "If the president attempts unilaterally to take adverse action on any of the monuments under review, he would be on very shaky legal ground, and we expect the action would be challenged in federal court."

The Hawaiian monk seal is at home in the PapahānaumokuākeaMarine
National Monument. It is one of the most critically endangered marine
mammals in the United States. Photo by James Watt/
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

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THE AFTER DARK IN THE PARK TALK BY CAROLYN PARCHETA from U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory for Tuesday, Jan. 8, is cancelled, USGS Scientist in Charge at HVO Tina Neal told The Kaʻū Calendar.

"We will make decisions on remaining USGS talks depending on a return to operation," says the scientist. "Talks by non-USGS scientists at UH Hiloand LymanMuseumlater in the month are unaffected. Apologies for the inconvenience. We will try to reschedule missed talks when possible."

This comes on day 16 of a partial government shutdown, affecting Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the point where even funds donated by Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi County will only keep parts of the Park operational through Wednesday, Jan., 9. See yesterday's Kaʻū News Briefs for more.

Websites like NOAA's Papahānaumokuākea site are unavailable
during the partial government shutdown.

President Donald Trump is still refusing to sign any bill to reopen the government that does not include $5.7 billion to fund a southern mainland U.S. border wall, which he promised during his campaign. He said Mexico would pay for it.
Trump has threatened to keep refusing bills "for months or even years," though the U.S. House approved a bill on Thursday to fund the government, without border wall money. The Senate passed a similar bill in late December. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the House's bill was "political theater," and has said he would not bring any bill before the Senate that Trump won't sign. Trump has also threatened to declare a national emergency in order to use the military to build the wall.

Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted a number of effects of the shutdown. He said "some National Parks are entirely closed. Others that are allowing people in need their maintenance crews on the job, at least to clean the bathrooms."
He predicted that tax refunds will be late. He said that government funds to help Hawaiʻi recover from recent disasters will be delayed. Thousands of people who are not receiving their government pay "are late with rents and mortgages," he said. "Americais being harmed by the American President."

Schatz tweeted, "FBI agents not getting paid. E-verify not working. Courts shut down. National Parks sullied." He said, "Contractors not getting paid. This shutdown is stupid for Americaand it's about to get way worse, quickly.

Sen. Brian Schatz has promised to start work on a bill to
protect federal employees and contracted workers
from future shutdowns. Photo from Schatz's Flickr

"The authority to declare a national emergency gives POTUS extraordinary powers for real emergencies. It is not for a POTUS who isn't getting his way. Imagine the freakout if a D declared an emergency for something other than an attack on homeland or a massive natural disaster.

"The next President should have more sympathy for tenants than landlords. The next President should know regular people. The next President should know what the government does.

"If Trump doesn't open the government soon hundreds of thousands of American public servants will have to go 30 full days without pay. We should just pass the bill we already passed and end this shameful episode."

Schatz also retweeted, from @HannahMiyamoto, "Congress should pass a law protecting federal employees and contracted workers from civil proceedings during and as a result of any #shutdown, similar to the Service Members Civil Relief Act. Make corporations and banks share the pain of federal workers." He tweeted "This is a good idea and I have my legislative team working on it over the weekend."

Food security for 98,000 Hawaiian households hangs
in the balance as the government shutdown continues.

Upcoming effects from a continued shutdown include SNAP (food stamps) benefits being cut, and places like airports unable to process travelers as more and more TSA agents, forced to work more than two weeks without pay, say they will not show up for work, according to their unions, because they can no longer afford transportation. This will, in turn, affect tourism numbers, and food security for the 98,000 households in Hawaiʻi that receive SNAP benefits.

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GROUND PENETRATING RADAR will map the condition of Hwy 11 in the Volcano area from tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 7, through Friday, Jan. 16. The state Department of Transportation will carry out the subterranean survey work. The vehicle with ground-penetrating radar will travel along Māmalahoa Highway between mile markers 28 and 32. The road in the Volcano area suffered severe damage and undermining during the daily earthquakes during Kīlauea's eruption last year.

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A LARGE EARTHQUAKE SOUTH OF THE PHILIPPINES TODAY, registering 6.6 on the Richter Scale, does not put Hawaiʻi in danger of a tsunami, reports the PacificTsunamiWarningCenter. The quake struck at 7:27 a.m. in the MoluccaSea, south of the Philippine island Mindanao, where DavaoCity is, and between the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi and North Maluku.

The 6.6 earthquake today near the Philippines did not generate a tsunami threat for Hawaiʻi.
Map from earthquake.usgs.gov

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KAʻŪ TROJANS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL team played an away game against Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy. Kaʻū scored 38, while their opponents scored 60.

Trojans Boys Soccer hosted Kealakehe the same day, ending TKO with Kaʻū at 0, Kealakeha with 9.

See the schedule of upcoming home games for all Trojans Winter sports, below, for a chance to root for the home team.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 7, Mon., @Honokaʻa, 6pm

Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 8, Tue., host Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 7, Mon., @Hilo

Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

NEW and UPCOMING

New Stained Glass Open Studio Sessions on Monday
evenings available at Volcano Art Center.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS NEW STAINED GLASS OPEN STUDIO SESSIONS on Monday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at their Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Studio drop-ins are available for artists with some experience in Copper Foil Stained Glass who wish to use the equipment, hand tools and facilities independently. There will be a resource person for project help and questions. Fees are $10 per session or $40 for four sessions which includes a grinder bit. All other materials and supplies are not included in the fee.
If special project help is required, notify Volcano Art Center prior to Open Studio. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

A FREE COMMUNITY DANCE AT THE COOPER CENTER IN VOLCANO VILLAGE, is hosted on Friday, Jan. 11, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a variety of music. Coffee, tea, water and snack provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. It is an alcohol-free event. Minors are allowed with supervision only. For more, call 967-7800, or visit thecoopercenter.org.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 7

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Mon., Jan. 7, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tue., Jan. 8, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

CANCELLED: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 8, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Carolyn Parcheta presents. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Compassionate Communication Group, Wed., Jan. 9 and 23, 2-3:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 2nd and last Wednesday, monthly. Free. Pre-registration required. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Jan. 10, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13

A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place Sunday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 13. The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
Presentations are at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, through Sat, Jan. 13, and Sunday, Jan. 6 and 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway. For more, call 929-7278. See naalehuag.org.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

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

The old Nāʻālehu Fruit Stand property was cleared late last year in hopes of providing a site for senior housing in
Nāʻālehu. A meeting on the subject will be held Sunday, Jan 27, at 4 p.m., at Nāʻālehu Community Center,
sponsored by ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Photo by Nalani Parlin

SENIOR HOUSING FOR NĀʻĀLEHU is the subject of a Special Meeting called by ʻO Kaʻū Kākou at Nāʻālehu Community Center for Sunday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m. A flyer distributed throughout the community promises an "Update on the Fruit Stand Project property. We would like input from all of our local residents. Please try to attend. We need our communities' voice regarding this project."

OKK has been negotiating the purchase of the old Nāʻālehu Fruit Stand property mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu in order to build senior housing. Many volunteers have provided labor and equipment for clearing the 1.9 acres, including during a cleanup today. A fundraiser with OKK Pres. Wayne Kawachi walking 100 miles – in his slippahs – last January to raise money for the project brought in $55,000. Additional money has been donated since his walk, some through fundraisers like a spaghetti dinner at St. Jude's Church.

Wayne Kawachi and his support crew at Mile 7 along his 100-mile walk last

January to raise money to build senior housing in Nā‘ālehu. Photo from OKK

Should there be the need for the housing, OKK would aim to purchase the land from Asha Mallick, who is offering to sell it at a discount for the project. Once in possession of the property, OKK would build some 25 to 30 housing units for seniors, cooperating with government and other nonprofit organizations.

Kawachi said at the beginning of his campaign that there are so few housing locations in Ka‘ū, he is worried that some seniors will have nowhere to live.

See okaukakou.org or call Kawachi 937-4773 for more.

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ELECTRICITY FROM SOLAR, to be generated on the west side of the island, is promised at a lower cost than power from Hū Honua bioenergy north of Hilo, which would burn eucalyptus grown in Kaʻū and elsewhere. The large solar farms would also produce power at lower cost than proposed industrial solar installations planned for lots in Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos, according to filings with the state Public Utilities Commission.

In their proposals before the PUC, AES Distributed Energy promises 30 megawatts with battery storage on 200 acres southeast of Waikola Village to sell to Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co. at 8 cents per kilowatt hour. Innergex proposes to produce 30 megawatts with battery storage at Hale Kuawehi on 300 Parker Ranch acres near the intersection of old Saddle Road and Māmalahoa Highway. The cost to HELCO would be 9 cents per kilowatt hour.

Objections to solar installations in Hawaiian Ocean View
Ranchos range from the high cost to unsightly security
fences in residential neighborhoods. Photo by Annie Bosted

Those producing the westside solar projects, according to HELCO's new rules, are required to interact with communities that would be affected by the location of the solar farms. Meetings have been held at Waikoloa.

Developers of the solar proposals claim their projects could cut an average household electric bill by about $7 per month by 2023, assuming they go online in 2022. The savings could help offset the proposed HELCO rate hike of 3.4 percent, which would hike the average family electric bill by $8.25 a month.

In a press release, Hawaiian Electric, parent company of HELCO, says that seven solar projects statewide "will help stabilize customer costs while reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuel and cutting greenhouse gas emissions."

The cost of producing electricity using fossil fuel on this island is about 15 cents per kilowatt hour, the company states.

The Hū Honua project promises to produce electricity at a cost of 22.1 cents per kilowatt hour to HELCO. SPI Energy, which proposes the Ranchos solar farms, would receive 23 cents per kilowatt hour from HELCO under the Feed in Tariff program, if a key component of the project is approved by the PUC.

The Feed in Tariff program was launched in 2008 to wean Hawaiʻi from fossil fuels for electric power. The plan was for 32 small projects, each around 250 kilowatts, around the island so that farmers and ranchers could use fallow agricultural land to produce solar power. The rates were set at a level generous to attract them.

Industrial solar farms are incentivized by federal and state tax credits, but proposed installations will cost consumers

less per kilowatt hour than other installations proposed in recent years. Photo by Annie Bosted

One developer gained permission to develop 26 Feed Tariff projects. The investor purchased three-acre house sites in Ranchos neighborhoods and planned mini solar farms for each of them. Combined, they would create an industrial-scale project of 6.5 megawatts.

With the small lots the developer would be paid a higher price for "small scale" production than it from one big solar farm. The project completion date was set for September, 2012. Two Ranchos residents filed a complaint with the PUC on Sept. 16, 2016. As a result of that complaint, an application by HELCO for a key overhead transmission line was put on hold by the PUC, effectively stalling the project to this day.

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, speaking at a meeting of NORML,
a group working to reform marijuana laws.
Photo from Gabbard's Flickr

ENDING MARIJUANA PROHIBITION is a goal of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who said in a message to her constituents yesterday:

"America's federal marijuana prohibition affects people from every community in our country. Medical patients, veterans, low-income, and minority communities bear the brunt of the impact of our draconian drug policies. The drug war is used as an excuse to militarize the border and increase our country's prison population -- the largest in the world. Instead of reigning in the reckless greed of Big Pharma and the drug lobby, our policies addict and then punish Americans who can least afford it."

Gabbard asks the public to add their name to a petition to end marijuana prohibition. She says the focus of Congress members should be ending federal marijuana prohibition, expunging the records for people with nonviolent marijuana offenses, and passing a bill for the President to sign.

Marijuana prohibition reform in on the mind of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

She is asking the public to sign a petition, urging Congress to

address the issue of changing the federal legal status of marijuana.

Photo from Gabbard's Facebook

"Last Congress, I introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act," writes Gabbard. "We have even more momentum to pass it in this 116th Congress. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug by the Federal Controlled Substances Act -- the same as heroin and other deadly narcotics. Yet a former Speaker of the House sits on the advisory board of a cannabis company and tobacco companies are investing in cannabis. If we don't take a stand now to put people first, the profiteers will continue to rig the system to their benefit.

"Federal law is in conflict with the laws of states across our country that have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. It's time to stop the drug war for a substance that medical professionals, veterans groups, and public servants on both sides of the aisle agree is painfully over-regulated."

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RAISING KIDS IN HAWAIʻI IS SAFER than in almost any other state, according to a report from SafeHome.org. Four broad categories were used to assess safety.

Hawaiʻi ranks second safest, after New Hampshire. Hawaiʻi ranks as second lowest in childhood poverty, 11th lowest in child abuse, 24th lowest in youth murders, and 23rd lowest in school shootings.

The study says there is "no broad national definition of what is considered child abuse." The national data covers medical neglect, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, sexual abuse, and other forms of abuse perpetrated against children by caregivers. But, the report says, many states do not report some forms of abuse to federal databases: in 2016, only 40 states reported medical neglect.

"Neglect is by far the most common type of child abuse reported in the U.S., and in 2016, it accounted for nearly 65 percent of child abuse cases," says the report.

Hawaiʻi ranks in the top 5 for each category, meaning it has relatively low rates of child abuse across all the areas reported.

A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in the United States, and the U.S. has among the worst child abuse and neglect records in the industrialized world, says the report. "Child abuse and neglect have long-term consequences, with the emotional and psychological scars lasting long after bruises have healed. Studies have repeatedly tied traumatic childhood events (abuse, incarceration of a parent or mental illness and addiction in the family, among others), to poor adult health and even premature death.

"If you see something, say something." Report suspicious behavior to police, local agencies, or call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Learn more about the signs of child abuse at usa.gov/crimes-against-children#item-36422.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 8, Tue., host Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

NEW and UPCOMING

INTRODUCTION TO ZENTANGLE WITH ELLEN O'DUNN, at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village, takes place Saturday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Zentangle method is an "easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well-being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over the world, across a wide range of skills, interests, and ages. We believe that life is an art form and that our Zentangle Method is an elegant metaphor for deliberate artistry in life," states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org.

The class provides a background in the history of Zentangle, introducing participants to the basic steps of the method, and exposing students to the associated vocabulary and tools used. Participants will create Zentangle tiles using five elemental strokes, the repetitive nature of the process bringing "a state of relaxed focus that some call meditation. The Zentangle Method, developed by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, will fuel your creativity as you discover that 'Anything is possible – one stroke at a time,'" states the description.
Principles of the Zentangle method, as stated by volcanoartcenter.org are: there is no up or down; there is no left or right; it's non-representational; strokes are deliberate; there are no mistakes; and it is fun and relaxing. Benefits of a Zentangle practice, as stated by volcanoartcenter.org are: confidence, empowerment, focus, inspiration, relaxation, and increased awareness.
A Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) has been trained by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts to guide students in the mindful, meditative practice of the Zentangle method. During the class, she will demonstrate the tangle patterns and techniques in a supportive, encouraging, and caring environment. "The method can be used to conquer your stress and relax your mind. It has been described as yoga for the brain," states the description.

To join the three hour class, call 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org to register. The class fee is $30 per Volcano Art Center member, or $35 per non-member, plus a $10 supply fee. All supplies are included. Participants are asked to bring a light refreshment to share.
It is recommended, but not required, that students attend a Basics class, such as this, before taking other Zentangle classes.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 8

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tue., Jan. 8, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Compassionate Communication Group, Wed., Jan. 9 and 23, 2-3:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 2nd and last Wednesday, monthly. Free. Pre-registration required. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Jan. 10, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

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

Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.
The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

The whale count goes on, despite the government shutdown, with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
stepping in to organize it. Photo from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

DESPITE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, ANNUAL WHALE COUNT IS ON, declared the the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation today. It is stepping up to help Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, a federal program. The annual Ocean Count will begin Saturday, Jan. 26, despite the federal government shutdown. National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the national non-profit partner for the National Marine Sanctuary System, will coordinate Ocean Count.

Kris Sarri, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, says, "Through the support of dedicated volunteers, Ocean Count has provided more than 20 years of data that supplements scientific research and helps monitor humpback whales during their annual migration to the Hawaiian Islands. Fewer humpback whales are being observed in the main Hawaiian Islands in recent years, and we don't know why. Unfortunately, critical sanctuary research that could help us understand these changes is on hold indefinitely due to the government shutdown."

Heads, tails, and full bodies of humpback whales will be counted on Saturdays,
Jan. 26, Feb. 24, and March 30, at Punaluʻu, Kalae, and Miloliʻi. On the shore
of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, whether the count takes place depends
on the status of the federal government shutdown. NOAA photo

Ocean Count is a community citizen science project hosted every year during peak whale season by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. With the federal government shutdown, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is stepping in to make sure the count is not interrupted.
The count, conducted the last Saturdays in January, February, and March, provides a snapshot of humpback whales sightings from the shoreline. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey.
Ocean Count promotes public awareness about humpback whales, the sanctuary, and shore-based whale watching opportunities on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island. The Great Whale Count takes place on the same dates on Maui, led by the Pacific Whale Foundation.
More than 300 volunteers are expected to participate in Ocean Count on Saturday, Jan. 26. Other counts are scheduled for Feb. 23 and March 30.
Ocean Count participants must be registered in advance. Registration can be completed online at oceancount.org. For information, contact oceancount@marinesanctuary.org.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports national marine sanctuaries by protecting species, conserving ecosystems and preserving America's maritime heritage through on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. See marinesanctuary.org.

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

Madeleine Longoria Garcia, brewing, well known to Kaʻū Coffee farmers, is headed to the United States Brewers Cup
in Kansas City this March. Photo by Danielle Orlowski

MADELEINE LONGORIA GARCIA, well known in the Kaʻū Coffee industry from the time she worked here, is headed to the national competition for the Untied States Brewers Cup, March 15 through 17, in Kansas City. She took fifth out of 36 competitors at the December 2018 United States Brewers Cup Qualifying Round in Denver. The USBC highlights and celebrates the art of manual brewing. Garcia is a professional barista, Q-grader, and cupping contest judge—a strong representative of Hawaiʻi coffee.

The road to nationals began last summer. In August, the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association sponsored Pacific Coffee Research in hosting Hawaiʻi's inaugural U.S. Coffee Champs Brewer's Cup Preliminaries at Hawaiʻi Agriculture Research Center in Kunia, Oʻahu. Attendees included baristas from across the islands who went head-to-head brewing two compulsory Kona coffees: Half Mile Hi and Hala Tree coffee farms.

Head Judge Beth Beall of Texas Coffee Trades looks over
the work of Madeleine Longoria Garcia as she faces a
panel of judges. Photo by Danielle Orlowski

Over the two-day competition, Garcia took second place overall, landing a spot in the qualifier round. Danielle and Jean Orlowski, owners of Hala Tree coffee farm, sponsored Garcia during the following months. Garcia worked closely with the couple during harvest season to select varieties to use in the competition. With the help of her coach, Brian Webb of Pacific Coffee Research, the team developed a blend and roast profile using a parchment-dried (washed) Bourbon and fruit-dried (natural) Kona Typica.

"Madeleine's performance at the two qualifiers was seamless," notes Brittany Horn of Pacific Coffee Research. "She is a professional, confident, and proud representative of the Hawaiʻi coffee industry." During Garcia's presentation, she talked about the burgeoning specialty coffee industry in Hawaiʻi, and improvements in coffee quality, which she has experienced in the five years she has lived on the island. She also talked about the opportunity for education from seed to cup on the islands and Hawaiʻi's unique position as a leader in scientific research for the larger specialty coffee industry.

"The HCA is thrilled that local a local barista is excelling in this important competition using locally sourced coffee," said Kaʻū Coffee broker, Kaʻū Coffee Festival organizer, and HCA President Chris Manfredi. "It really highlights the unique combination of people and place that makes the Hawaiian coffee culture so special. We're cheering for Madeline and will be looking for her in the finals."

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

Sen. Mazie Hirono challenges Pres. Donald Trump's
views on fed shutdown. Photo from Hirono's Twitter

"AUWE!" SAYS SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, in a Tweet that shows her opinion on the continuing partial government shutdown: "Someone who is amoral makes no distinction between right and wrong and does not care. On Friday, @realDonaldTrump confirmed he was prepared to keep the government shut down for months or years. Americais a moral country with an amoral president. Auwe!"

In an address to the country tonight- his first from the Oval office - Trump said the border is filled with danger and needs a wall to protect the U.S. He vowed to continue the partial shutdown of the federal government until the wall is funded.
Responding to the Trump speech on prime time television, House Majority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer said that Trump attempted to stoke fear in the American public to force Congress to fund his wall. They said his government shutdown holds hostage innocent federal workers, contractors, and others dependent on the contribution of the federal economy to their communities. They urged him to separate the wall from everyday federal government and to fund the fed so people can return to work, and citizens can receive those services that are cut back during the shutdown.

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

FOREVER GI BILL HOUSING PAYMENT FULFILLMENT ACT was signed into law last week by Pres. Donald Trump, while more than 800,000 federal employees remain out of work and with no pay due to the partial government shutdown.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, standing with veterans of a selection of
wars, hopes veterans will be out from under "added stress and
financial hardship" with the signing of two new bills.
Photo from Gabbard's Facebook

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said on Twitter: "Our veterans deserve better than added stress & financial hardship due to the VA's incompetence & bureaucratic red tape. This law that I helped introduce will hold the VA accountable & ensure that our veterans receive the benefits they've earned & deserve."

A CBS News article by Stefan Becket and Anna Gunther says the new law is one of two "meant to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable for an IT failure that delayed payments to thousands of veterans under the Forever GI Bill."

The law will establish a team to "audit housing payments made to veterans and identify those affected by the delay," says the article.
Trump also signed the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 on Dec. 31, which includes a provision barring schools from penalizing students whose payments were delayed because of the VA's failure.

A new system, meant to process veteran payments
under the 2017 Forever GI Bill, will be delayed
until the end of 2019.

Becket and Gunther report the VA has "come under harsh scrutiny" by Congress and veterans groups for "its botched implementation of a new system for making payments under the 2017 Forever GI Bill," which expanded housing and tuition benefits for veterans pursuing an education. The law "mandated a change in the way payments are calculated, and the VA was supposed to implement the changes by August 2018. However, the department's decades-old IT systems were unable to handle a backlog of claims and were crippled for weeks, delaying payments for thousands of veterans."

The Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act implements a "Tiger Team" to determine veterans affected by the IT failure and establish how to make sure they receive their benefits. The team "must be established within 15 days and submit reports to Congress every three months, with a final report due in 2020," says the CBS News report.

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

KAʻŪ TROJANS SPORTS: On Monday, Jan. 7. Girls Basketball, nearly beat Honokaʻa. The Trojans scored 44, but Honokaʻa scraped by, scoring five more points to win at 49.

Boys and Girls Soccer at Waiakea in Hilo were both TKO, with Hilo Boys winning with 9, and Hilo Girls winning with 15.

See below for scheduled home games for chances to root for the home team.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Images of a past poetry night. Photo from Bee Boys Facebook

NEW and UPCOMING

JOIN THE BEE BOYS IN THE BREEZEWAY BY THEIR HONEY SHOP IN NĀ‘ĀLEHU on Friday, Jan. 18, starting at 6 p.m., for Nā‘ālehu Poetry Night. The potluck event, with plant-based dishes - features an open mic with poetry readings, acoustic music, and more. For more, call 333-6895, or email info@beeboys.org. See @beeboys on Instagram or Facebook.

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Compassionate Communication Group, Wed., Jan. 9 and 23, 2-3:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 2nd and last Wednesday, monthly. Free. Pre-registration required. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Jan. 10, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.
The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.

For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Hawaiʻi County will submit a $155 million budget to the 2019 state legislature to help recover from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

The federal government also promises assistance. See story, below. Photo from Paradise Helicopters/Tropical Visions Video

NEW PUC CHIEF IS JAY GRIFFIN. Gov. David Ige made the announcement yesterday and Griffin immediately became Chair of the Public Utilities Commission. Randy Iwase retired in December.

In 2009, Griffin became an Assistant Specialist at the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, working on research projects analyzing integration of renewable energy sources into electricity grids, energy policy, and energy-economic modeling.
In 2012, at the request of then-PUC Chair Mina Morita, Griffin took a leave of absence from HNEI to serve as the Chief of Policy and Research at the PUC. He returned to HNEI in July, 2016.

New PUC Chair Jay Griffin

In May of 2017, Griffin was appointed to become one of three commissioners on the PUC, filling the seat left vacant by Tom Gorak. At that time, Morita testified, "I have known Dr. Griffin for over 17 years and have followed his career since he first worked for me as a legislative aide when he was a graduate student. Later, I hired him as the Chief of Policy and Research during my tenure as the Public Utilities Commission Chair."
Griffin earned a bachelor's degree in political economy from Williams College, joint master's degrees in public policy and environmental management from Duke University, a master's degree in economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in policy analysis from Pardee RAND Graduate School in Santa Monica.

Said Griffin, "Serving on this commission has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I am proud of the progress that we have made and am deeply committed to building on this momentum."
Iwase retired from the PUC chairmanship with a history of coming to Kaʻū.
In February of 2016, Iwase chaired a public meeting in Ocean View to hear public opinions on the application for a high-voltage overhead transmission line by Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co., to connect the proposed industrial 6.76 megawatt Ocean View solar project to the grid. All testifiers, except for one, criticized the project; Iwase told about 80 attendees that their words had not fallen on deaf ears.

Randy Iwase, at an Ocean View meeting, when he served as PUC chair.
Photo from Big Island Video News

In September of 2016, when Ann and Peter Bosted, of Ranchos, filed a formal complaint with the PUC against HELCO for facilitating industrial solar in their neighborhood through a Feed In Tariff program, Iwase ordered suspension of the transmission line application.
"Nobody is going to move on the FIT project," Iwase said, according to a report in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "We have suspended any action on the application pending a review or an investigation or resolution of the complaint filed by the Bosteds."
To date, the PUC has made no decision regarding the formal complaint.
Iwase served as a Honolulu City Council member, as a state senator, and was also the Democratic candidate for governor in 2006. He lost in the general election to Republican incumbent Linda Lingle, by 62.5 percent to 35.4 percent. He was appointed PUC chair in January 2015. In 2016, he voted against Florida-based NextEra Energy's proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co.

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

HAWAIʻI COUNTY WILL ASK THE 2019 HAWAIʻI LEGISLATURE FOR $155 MILLION to help repair damage and rebuild communities and the economy following the disastrous 2018 Kīlauea eruption. A significant disaster of this scope was last seen in Hawaiʻi after Hurricane Iniki hit Kauaʻi in 1992, said Ashley Kierkiewicz, who assisted the county administration in presenting the proposal to the County Council on Tuesday. The County administration and Council are expected to lobby the legislature for the funding.
The proposed budget includes $23 million to sustain emergency operations, since the eruption is not necessarily over. It includes $61 million for infrastructure, like roads and waterlines destroyed by lava and earthquakes, and $55 million for housing to respond to the loss of more than 750 structures to the lava. It includes $10 million for implementation, using half to establish and maintain a State Disaster Recovery Coordinator office for 3 years, the other half to establish and maintain a County Disaster Recovery Coordinator office for 3 years. It includes $4 million to increase the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund to "help revitalize the impacted agricultural industry."
Another $2 million would go toward health, with $1.53 million for air quality monitoring site development and maintenance, $300,000 for air conditioning and air filters in Department of Education classrooms, and $167,000 for mental health staff.

Lava crossing roads during last year's eruption will cost the county millions of dollars. It is asking
the 2019 Hawaiʻi Legislature for help. Photo from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense

Some of the state funding would become matching funds for such federal assistance as Federal Emergency Management Agency's pledge to provide Hawaiʻi County with $180 to $190 million in public assistance funds. Hawaiʻi County also applied for a $350 million Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant from the disaster relief fund.

Hawaiʻi County will ask for money from
state legislators to repair and replace
lava-destroyed infrastructure.
Photo from HELCO

Hawaiʻi County also received $250,000 in Economic Development grants, $225,000 Hazard Mitigation grant, and $25,000 Cities for Financial Empowerment grant.

University Pacific Disaster Center will provide a Kīlauea Eruption Risk Assessment at no charge.

In regards to money already spent, the Governor's Office provided $12 million for emergency response during the disaster; $7.2 million is spent. The Governor's Office issued $10 million for continuing relief "necessary to protect the healthy, safety, and welfare of displaced area residents." It covers food, water, temporary shelter-related goods and services, rental housing assistance, and relocation planning for residents and agricultural enterprises.
Council Chair Aaron Chung expressed thanks to those who worked on the proposal. He indicated that legislators will be happy with "specific proposals, not general amounts." He said they want "something tangible, that they can affix a specific price tag to."

The proposed $155 million in funding would be channeled, with $11 million through state programs and operations, and $144 million through the governor's office via a State Disaster Recovery Coordinator.

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

THE 50K ULTRA AND TEAM RELAY RACE climbed Kīlauea to the 4,000 feet elevation last Saturday, Jan. 5. With solo and team competition, the race began at Reed's Bay Park in Hilo and followed a course along Hwy 11 to Volcano. The race was organized by Big Island Road Runners.
Jacob Fansler of Kona won the men's competition in 4:43. Kona runner Sharla-Ann Fujimoto won in 6:07 in the women's race. It was her first attempt.
Here are the results:

Ultra Open Female: Sharla-Ann Fujimoto, 6.07.49; Emma Erwin, 7.12.30; Stacey Meighen, Early Start, No official time. Ultra Masters Female: Esther Domian, ES, No official time - Unofficial time, 8.29.00; Morgen Bahurinsky, ES, No official time - Unofficial time, 8:10:38.

Ultra Open Male: Clinton Fowler, 5.41.03; Quinn Wallace, 5.43.50; Michael Ablan, 5.52.51; Kenyon Smith, 5.55.24; Michael P. Monaghan, 6.17.20; Elijah Kolb, 6.40.52; Christopher Bord, 6.40.55. Ultra Masters Male: Jacob Fansler, 4.43.36; Adam Bonus, 4.50.43; Daniel Hill, 5.09.36; James Tuscany, 5.22.08; Dan Berman, 6.17.03.

Female High School Relay: We Got the Runs, 4.42.33; Sunrise Athletics Wahines, 4.49.23; Sole Crushers, 4.55.35. Male High School Relay: Sunrise Athletics Kanes, 3.45.54; Waiakea Warriors, 4.11.46. Mixed High School Relay: One Team One Dream, 3.55.41.
Open Female Relay: The Dream Team, 5.12.54; Wicked Wahine, 6.54.27. Open Male Relay: West Side Rejects, 2.58.53; Got the Runs, 3.37.29; Fo Da Miles, 3.49.18; Na Koa Lina Polu, 6.12.44.

Some of the Big Island Road Runners, the group that helped organize the
50K Ultra and Team Relay Race this past Saturday.
Photo from Big Island Road Runners

Female Masters Relay: Together at Last, 3.58.26.Male Masters Relay: Sons of Agony, 4.04.07; 3 Hosers, 4.38.58; Team Padilla, 4.52.12.

Open Mixed Relay: Team Dandy Horse, 4.03.35; HI Five-O (K), 4.17.14; We Thought They Said Rum, 4.19.12; Humboldt Bureaucrats, 4.23.00; Tutu Warriors, 4.32.36; Tres Pollos Locos, 4.46.43; #ranSAKed, 5.02.37; Worst Pace Scenario, 5.26.14; Try Ack Leets 2, 5.48.03; Try Acks Leets 1, 5.48.05; Try Ack Leets 3, 5.48.11. Mixed Masters Relay: Team Nowicz, 4.13.46; Three's Company, 4.30.51; Team Pueo, 4.45.46; Team California, 5.38.09; Been There, Done That, Now Doing This. 6.21.55.
Superteams: Waiakea Supers, 4.19.52; Better at Running Up a Tab, 4.29.19; Team Young, 4.36.18; It's "T" Time, 4.43.02; So Rich, So Abundant, 4.53.43; Sunrise Supers, 4.59.23; Team Swanson, 5.40.35; Keep Running Fat Boy!, ES, No official time.

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

KAʻŪ TROJANS BOYS BASKETBALL hosted Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi yesterday, for both Varsity and JV games.
JV earned 38 points. Kamehameha won with 42.
Trojan Keenan Toriano scored 14 points, while Kealiʻikoa Reyes Nalu scored 10.
Varsity also played a close game, fighting hard for 48 points to their opponents' 58. Trojan Shesley Martinez scored 17 points, while Izaiah Pilanca Emmsley scored 15.
See upcoming home and away games, below, and come root for the home team.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

NEW and UPCOMING

Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo. Photo by Kenji Kuroshima

HULA KAHIKO, FEATURING NĀ KUMU HULA PELEHONUAMEA HARMAN AND KEKOA HARMON, with Hālau Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo, takes place on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting on the kahua hula (hula platform) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park near the Volcano Art Center Gallery. The free event kicks of the monthly Hula Kahiko performances sponsored by Volcano Art Center. Park entrance fees may apply.
The students of Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo come from the Hawaiian language immersion K through 12 school – Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. For the past seven years, their mission has been to perpetuate the Hawaiian language and culture through mele and hula. All classes are conducted through the medium of Hawaiian.

Loke Kamanu.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

These free performances are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ʻohana. See volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222 or email volcanohula@gmail.com for more.

NĀ MEA HULA WITH CULTURAL SPECIALIST LOKE KAMANU AND HER ‘OHANA is held, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lānai of the Volcano Art Center Gallery, in conjunction with the Hula Kahiko performance. Presenting a display of Nā Mea Hula (all things hula), they will share a variety of instruments, implements and lei styles that play an integral role in the life of the hula practitioner. This memorable demonstration is hands-on and family friendly. See volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222 for more.

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Jan. 10, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

Stained Glass Basics II: Fan Lamp Project, Sat. & Sun., Jan. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Claudia McCall provides patterns to create a finished lamp or light catcher at end of 4-session workshop. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee/person. Additional $20 supply fee for lamp base and bulb. Limited space, pre-registration required. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13

ONGOING

The Public is Invited to Speak Up on Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, health needs, and health care planning for Kaʻū. Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawaiʻi Region annual public meeting and forum will take place Saturday, Jan. 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Hospital, 1 Kamani Street, in Pāhala.

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.
The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

The community is invited to join in the stewardship of Kāwā this Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See event listing, below. Kāwā is in public hands through its purchase with money collected through county
property taxes, and state and federal funding. County funding for such projects is threatened by a
proposal to reduce the amount of property taxes set aside. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā

TESTIMONY ON PROPOSED REDUCTION IN FUNDS FOR PUBLIC LANDS WILL BE HEARD Friday, Jan. 25, in Kona and Friday, Feb. 8, in Hilo at the county Charter Commission meeting. Kaʻū's Charter Commission member Michelle Galimba recently voted against the measure that would reduce the funding from 2 percent to less than 1 percent of property taxes received on this island for purchase of precious lands.

Debbie Hecht – a manager of the campaign that succeeded in securing 2 percent of property taxes for land conservation through an amendment to the County Charter – urges the public to attend the Charter Commission meetings to testify against proposed Charter Amendment 7 and support Charter Amendment 9. She also encourages email testimony be sent to charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov.

Students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences collect seeds in Kāwā
during an August field trip. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā

Charter Amendment 7, says Hecht, "Guts the 2 percent land fund by reducing the fund to .75 percent of property taxes ($1.5 million which will not be enough money to purchase anything) and takes the Maintenance Fund from the Charter to the County Code where it can be changed each year to adjust the budget. Remember we decided that we needed a Charter Amendment when Mayor Kenoi stopped deposits to the fund for 2 years. Charter Amendments can only be changed by a vote of the people." Lands are chosen by the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Commission, which makes recommendations to the County Council.
Hecht says Charter Amendment 9, which Commissioner Michelle Galimba brought to the commission, "Uses 2 percent land fund monies to pay for a full time staff person working for the Department of Finance who is dedicated to only administering the 2 percent land fund program, acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public with suggestion forms, and the stewardship applications and administration of the Maintenance Fund.
"The Department of Finance will have one less salary to pay. The changes will provide for building toilet facilities, paths, trails, and roads, and allowing board members and staff to be paid. The changes are to empower the non-profits to expand their good work to care for the 2% lands."
During the Charter Commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 11, attendants can answer questions if any are asked, explained Hecht.
Read more on Dec. 17, Nov. 11, and Oct. 16Kaʻū News Briefs.

Students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences water seedlings
of indigenous Hawaiian plants at Kāwā. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā

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HAWAIʻI ISLAND HOME SALES DECLINED BY SEVEN PERCENT in 2018, according to an article by Real Estate Editor Janis L. Magin of Pacific Business News. She reports the eruption of Kīlauea failed to stop prices from rising, as the inventory shrunk with the loss of at least 750 homes. According to statistics from Hawaiʻi Information Service:
Single-family home sales declined to 11.22 percent in December, to 182 homes sold, down from 205 homes sold in December 2017. The median price was $399,500, which was a 17.5 percent increase, from $340,000, in Dec. 2017. The median price for all of 2018 for a single-family home was $358,750, a 2.5 percent increase from $350,000 in 2017. Sales of single-family homes, however, declined by 6.69 percent to 2,330 houses sold, from 2,497 houses sold in 2017.

Community work day at Kāwā, where the public is invited to help steward

the land. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā.

Condominium median sales price last month was $384,000, which was a 36.41 percent increase from $281,500 in Dec. 2017. Numbers of condos sold in December increased to 78 units sold, a 14.71 percent increase from 67 units sold during Dec. 2017. Condo sales for all of 2018 declined by 2.57 percent to 833 units sold, from 855 units sold in 2017. The median price for a Big Island condo in 2018 was $350,000, a 12.9 percent increase from $310,000 in 2017.
In Puna – where the eruption of Kīlauea destroyed some 700 homes between May and July – sales of single-family homes in Puna declined by 6.76 percent in 2018 to 855 homes sold, from 917 homes sold in 2017. The median price of those homes rose 1.33 percent to $228,000, from $225,000 in 2017. Vacant land sales in Puna – much of the land destroyed by Kīlauea were undeveloped parcels – dropped 25.14 percent to 1,036 lots sold, from 1,384 lots sold in 2017. The median price of vacant land sales, however, rose to $22,000, a 10 percent increase from $20,000.

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David Yamamoto, the new County Public Works Director.
Photo from Big Island Video News

NEW COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS DAVID YAMAMOTO. The County Council confirmed his nomination by Mayor Harry Kim yesterday during its Hilo meeting. Yamamoto is promoted from serving more than six years as Building Chief in the Building Division. A registered Professional Engineer, he worked in engineering and management for more than 26 years.
Yamamoto replaces Allan Simeon, who announced in December that he planned to leave the post. Simeon will go back to working as a county engineer when Yamamoto takes over the department on Feb. 1.

Yamamoto, a United States Air Force veteran, joined the County of Hawai‘i in 1995 as a Civil Engineer III, and prior to that, he worked at the state Department of Health from 1992.
Kim, who was on hand for Wednesday’s council meeting to introduce his nominee, said, "We are really pleased that David agreed to take on this challenging job. David has done great work for the County for many years and has vast experience which will help us greatly."

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AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS offers a new meeting at Discovery Harbour Community Center at 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays. For more information, text (808) 990-7248.
Al-Anon is a group for those affected by other people's alcoholism. Holding meetings since 1952, Al-Anon is also open to Alcoholics Anonymous members who feel their lives are also affected by another person's drinking. "Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem," says al-anon.org. "The alcoholic has three choices: institutions, recovery, or death. I have the same options. I choose recovery," is one message on the site.
As with other Anonymous groups, members are asked to not discuss membership in other Anonymous Fellowships. Anonymous Fellowships – which include Al-Anon, A.A., Narcotics Anonymous, and more – are fee-free groups that rely on donations, where only first names are used. The groups are "a spiritual fellowship," guided by a 12 Step Program similar to A.A. 12 Steps:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Learn more at al-anon.org.

Kaʻū's Kianie Medeiros-Dancel looks for a shot

while guarded by Kamehameha's Juliana Pakele

during Tuesday night's game, hosted by

the Lady Warriors. Photo by Tim Wright

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KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS BASKETBALL went to Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi for a hard-fought game against the Lady Warriors on Tuesday night, Jan. 8.
In the first quarter, Kaʻū scored 7, while Kamehameha scored 12. At Halftime, the score was 16 Kaʻū, 27 Kamehameha. The game ended with Kaʻū at 30, Kamehameha at 51.
See below for upcoming home and away games, and come root for the home team.

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Kaʻū's Reishalyn Jara goes up for an

uncontested shot during Tuesday night's

game against Kamehameha.

Photo by Tim Wright

BIIF 8-MAN FOOTBALL IS OUT, 11-MAN FOOTBALL IS IN. All 11 Big Island Interscholastic Federation teams will play 11-man football for the 2019 season.
League coordinator and Kaʻū Athletics Director Kalei Namohala, who helped create 8-Man football in 2013 for the smaller schools, confirmed the change yesterday. She said the decision was made after Pāhoa's move from 8 back to the traditional team size of 11 players. The change was announced at Tuesday's islandwide monthly athletic directors meeting.
Kohala will also return from 8-man to 11 man.
Namohala said the Division in which Kaʻū will play and the schedule are yet to be worked out. Smaller schools, like Kaʻū, can choose to move up to Division I, where larger schools like Konawaena and Waiakea must play.
For the coming season BIIF will have the second-largest number of 11-man teams of the five high school leagues in the state.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

NEW and UPCOMING

HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE FUND HOSTS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER CLEAN-UP AT KAMILO - located along the Ka‘ū Coast below Green Sands Subdivision in Nā‘ālehu - on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Volunteers, contact Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund to get details. Space may be available in HWF vehicles, BYO 4-wheel-drive encouraged. Free; donations are appreciated. Call 769-7629 or email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

Free Community Dance, Fri., Jan. 11, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Jan. 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Fan Lamp Project, Sat. & Sun., Jan. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Claudia McCall provides patterns to create a finished lamp or light catcher at end of 4-session workshop. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee/person. Additional $20 supply fee for lamp base and bulb. Limited space, pre-registration required. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Jan. 17, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Hui ‘Ohana Parenting Education and Skills for Life Class, Thu., Jan. 17, 10-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Meets every Thursday. Free. Register w/ Lindsey Miller, 333-3460.

Family Reading Night, Thu., Jan. 17, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Lamb of God Baptist Church Revival, Thu, Fri., & Sat., Jan. 17-19, 7-9pm, Ocean View Community Association. All welcome. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.

The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Tulsi Gabbard's team running her campaign for President distributed this image today from Tulsi Now.
Image from Tulsi Now

TULSI GABBARD IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. The 37-year old Congresswoman made the announcement online to constituents, noting that an interview with her will be aired Saturday at 7 p.m. on CNN.

An email to fans reads: "Earlier tonight I spoke with my friend Van Jones about the challenges we face and the future of our country. He asked me bluntly whether I'll run for president, and I told him straight: I've decided to run and will make a formal announcement next week.

"There are many reasons I'm offering to serve you as President — to ensure every American gets the healthcare they need, to bring about comprehensive immigration reform, to make sure we have clean water and clean air for generations to come, to fix our broken criminal justice system, to end the corrupt influence of special interests in Washington, and so much more.

"But the main reason I'm running has to do with an issue that is central to the rest — war and peace. I look forward to talking with you more about this in the coming days.

Gabbard opposes regime change and military intervention in the Middle
East, and supports many veterans groups. Photo from Gabbard's Facebook

"When we stand together, united by our love for each other and for our country, there is no challenge we cannot overcome."

Gabbard was born in 1981 in American Samoa. A Democrat, she served her first political position in Hawaiʻi's House of Representatives, at age 21, making her the youngest woman to be elected to a U.S.state legislature. She left the Hawaiʻi Legislature to serve from 2002 - 2004 in a medical unit of the Hawaiʻi National Guard in Iraq and later in Kuwait.
When she returned, she took a post in 2006 as a legislative aid for U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka. She ran and joined the Honolulu City Council from 2011-2012. She has represented Hawaiʻi in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. Gabbard is the the first Hindu and first American Samoan member of Congress.
She served as vice president of the Democratic National Convention, until she resigned to campaign for Berrnie Sanders for President.
She has visited the Middle East during her congressional tenure, and opposes regime change and military intervention in the politics of the region. She champions many veterans causes. Gabbard remains in the Hawaiʻi National Guard and has advanced to the rank of Major.
In the U.S. House, Gabbard represents Kaʻū and the rest of rural Hawaiʻi. She has been here many times, in particular to meet with farmers and ranchers. She is also an advocate of regulating pesticides.
Should Gabbard win the presidency, she would be the first female, the first American Samoan, and the first Hindu to hold the position. At 39, she would also be the youngest person to become U.S. President.

Gabbard's father is Sen. Mike Gabbard, who serves in the Hawai`i Legislature. Her husband is photographer Abraham Williams.

See facebook.com/TulsiGabbard/, twitter.com/TulsiGabbard, and tulsi2020.com for more.

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A CONGRESSIONAL BAN ON PESTICIDE CHLORPYRIFOS is an aim of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Today she announced support for legislation to re-ban the use and stockpile of the "toxic pesticide, chlorpyrifos to protect our environment and the health of our people. The dangerous pesticide has been linked to damaging and often irreversible health outcomes in workers, pregnant women, and children. In addition to numerous harmful effects on human health, the chemical also creates severe learning and memory deficits in honey bees – potentially jeopardizing a critical pollinator and the health of ecosystems in Hawai‘i and across the country."

Chlorpyrifos harms the nervous system of children and could also
damage the memory of bees, says Tulsi Gabbard.
Image from EarthJustice

Kaʻū's two physicians in the legislature, Sen. Josh Green – now Lt. Governor – and Rep. Richard Creagan, were leaders in the effort that led Hawaiʻi to become the first state to ban the chemical.

Gabbard explained that in March, 2017, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt reversed an existing ban on the use of chlorpyrifos that was put in place by the Obama Administration.

A statement from Gabbard says: "On Kauaʻi, after Syngenta Hawaiʻi exposed dozens of workers to chlorpyrifos (CPY) in 2016 and 2017, Syngenta opted to pay a fine of merely $150,000 and spend $400,000 on worker protection training sessions – a small fraction of the more than $4.8 million the Environmental Protection Agency was originally seeking. Last year, Hawai‘i became the first state in the country to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos."

Gabbard said today, "The people of Kaua‘i suffered the painful consequences of chlorpyrifos being used in our community, where dozens of workers were hospitalized from exposure to this dangerous pesticide. We cannot put a price tag on the health and lives of our people. The use of chlorpyrifos puts the health and well-being of our keiki, expectant mothers, field workers, agricultural communities, and our ʻaina and wai at risk. We must build on progress made in Hawai‘i and keep this toxic chemical out of our air, food, and water, and hold industrial agri-businesses accountable for endangering our people and our planet."

The Ban Toxic Pesticides Act would ban chlorpyrifos by canceling current EPA registration and prohibiting future registration of pesticides that contain chlorpyrifos.

Gabbard has also championed integrated pest management techniques and biocontrol solutions as alternative pathways to reduce chemical applications for controlling noxious weed and pest impacts on agriculture and the environment.

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

HAWAIʻI STATE LEGISLATURE OPENS WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. The Public Access Room reminds constituents that its staff will assist the public who cannot afford to go to Honolulu to keep track of legislation, legislators, and those promoting and opposing bills.
For those able to join in the opening day, Public Access Room will host the Legislative Reference Bureau's annual Opening Day Potluck in room 401 of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol.

PAR gave a presentation in Ocean View last year to help the citizenry get ready for the session. PAR offers online resources to learn how laws are made in Hawai‘i and how to participate in that process, including tips and tools citizens can use to effectively communicate with lawmakers. Workshops, designed to be helpful to newcomers and seasoned advocates alike, are held annually on Hawaiʻi Island.

PAR staff can be reached by calling 808-587-0478 or emailing par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Their website is lrbhawaii.org/par. See information on important dates coming up in the 2019 Hawaiʻi State Legislature on Dec. 29 Kaʻū News Briefs.

http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2018/12/kau-news-briefs-saturday-december-29.html

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SPEAK UP ABOUT HEALTH MATTERS IN KAʻŪ TOMORROW, Saturday, Jan. 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Hospital, 1 Kamani Street, in Pāhala. The public is encouraged to give opinions on Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, and health needs and health care planning for Kaʻū, during Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawaiʻi Region annual public meeting and forum.

An overview of operations and financial condition of all facilities, including Kaʻū and Hilo hospitals will be presented. A view toward the future will also be presented. Ample time will be available for community members to share their perspectives and concerns regarding access to health care services, says a statement from Hawaiʻi Health Systems.

For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

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FIRST ANNUAL ACTON CHILDREN'S BUSINESS FAIR IN PĀHALA happens Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fair aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala. Applications are due Friday, Jan. 25.
The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."

Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Action Children's Business Fair began in Austin Texas in 2007, with seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees, under the guidance of Jeff and Laura Sandefer and a few other families. The fair in Austinhas since grown to over 115 entrepreneurs and over 1,500 attendees.

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

HIGH SURF IS APPROACHING WESTFACINGSHORESof Hawaiʻi Island. The National Weather Service has forecast a large Northwest swell to impact shores from Upolu Point to South Point. NSW states it will issue High Surf Warnings and Advisories as the swell grows closer.

Surf is forecast to build up through Saturday along Northwest shores and peak Saturday evening through Sunday. The highest threat for coastal impacts will coincide with the high tide, which occurs 8 a.m. Sunday.

NWS warns: Oceanfront residents and beachgoers should be on alert for high and dangerous surf. Boat owners and oceanfront residents should take action to secure their property. Closures of roads and beaches may occur without notice.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

NEW and UPCOMING
MAKING LEI WITH RANGERS AND HAWAI‘I PACIFIC PARKS ASSOCIATION STAFF is the focus of the ‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, two-hour program on Wednesday, Jan. 23, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center Lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, starting at 10 a.m. Participation is free; however, park entrance fees apply.

Lei making is a skill and art enjoyed in Hawai‘i for countless generations. Lei were constructed of flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, feathers and even bone or teeth of various animals. See nps.gov/havo for more.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Jan. 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Fan Lamp Project, Sat. & Sun., Jan. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Claudia McCall provides patterns to create a finished lamp or light catcher at end of 4-session workshop. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee/person. Additional $20 supply fee for lamp base and bulb. Limited space, pre-registration required. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org,
facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Jan. 17, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Hui ‘Ohana Parenting Education and Skills for Life Class, Thu., Jan. 17, 10-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Meets every Thursday. Free. Register w/ Lindsey Miller, 333-3460.

Family Reading Night, Thu., Jan. 17, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Lamb of God Baptist Church Revival, Thu, Fri., & Sat., Jan. 17-19, 7-9pm, Ocean View Community Association. All welcome. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

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

Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.

The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Firefighters tackle the Keauhou Ranch wildfire, reportedly sparked by repairs to a bulldozer, last August. The fire
burned more than 3,200 acres in and around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. See a warning on expected dry conditions
this year. Learn preparations from Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization, below. NPS photo/D.Benitez

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION are among the federal agencies challenged to provide services during the partial government shutdown. The shutdown is now the longest in history, at 22 days. Yesterday marked the first missed paycheck for the 420,000 federal employees working without pay and the 380,000 furloughed.

Scott Gottlieb, M.D., the 23rd Commissioner of the FDA, announced, "We're taking steps to expand the scope of food safety surveillance inspections we're doing during the shutdown to make sure we continue inspecting high risk food facilities; 31% of our inventory of domestic inspections are considered high risk." He said foreign food inspections have continued without pause.

Gottlieb said that "while it's not business as usual at the agency," the FDA is bringing back some furloughed employees, who will work without pay, to conduct much needed inspections on high-risk items like seafood, dairy, unpasteurized juices, shell eggs, sandwiches, prepared salads, and infant formula.

Airline unions that represent pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics communicated to legislators and the White House to end the shutdown, saying it "has already inflicted real damage to our nation's aviation system and the impacts will only worsen over time," reported Leslie Josephs of The New York Times. She also reported the shutdown was delaying Southwest launching flights to Hawaiʻi.

Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted, "The Constitution gives the legislative branch the authority to enact a law over the objection of the President." Schatz introduced a bill "to prohibit creditors and landlords from taking action against any federal employee or contractor hurt by the Trump shutdown," mentioning he wouldn't mind having "a few Republican cosponsors."

He remarked, "Shutdowns are stupid, painful, and literally never work. And this is the stupidest one in American history. I'm pleased we were able to enact a law guaranteeing back pay for furloughed or unpaid employees, but that's just a band-aid. We must end this."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who yesterday announced her intention to run for President in 2020, tweeted, "This is not a game." She noted that people need to pay for childcare and transportation on top of rent, food, and medical expenses. "Families are suffering. Our country is less safe. The impact of this shutdown is real."

Sen. Mazie Hirono tweeted: "Let me be clear: the only crisis is the one Trump manufactured and the only wall that's real is the one closing in on him." She remarked that "detention of unaccompanied children for longer periods is the real crisis facing our country."

Hirono also called out Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell, saying, "he has said he has no power to bring these bills to the floor. I'd like to remind him that Congress is a separate branch of government. Senator McConnell can end the #TrumpShutdownright now."

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

CUSTOMERS WHO LEFT PAYMENTS AT HAWAI‘I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY DROPBOX IN HILO at 1200 Kīlauea Ave. between 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, and 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, may be victims of personal information theft. Those customers are asked to call HELCO Customer Service at (808) 969-6999 to check account status.

HELCO is investigating the theft of payment envelopes. Video surveillance shows a man prying the payment box open late Friday evening, Dec. 14, according to a statement from HELCO.

HECLO states security staff is working with the Hawaiʻi Police Department on the theft investigation. The company states it "repaired and re-secured the drop box immediately after discovering the incident and acted quickly to improve the lighting around the box." HELCO states there is "no reason to believe that the thief was targeting bank account or utility account information for the purpose of committing identity theft or fraud. However, those scenarios cannot be ruled out."

The utility states individuals should "promptly and carefully" review utility and bank account statements, and contact HELCO about suspicious activity. Customers should be vigilant in responding to telephone calls or other inquiries about affected accounts, says the announcement, reminding that HELCO will never call and ask for payment using bitcoin or prepaid money cards.

For more, visit hawaiielectriclight.com.

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

Firefighters work to suppress flames burning native forest from a wildfire in
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. NPSPhoto/MarkWasser

FIRE RISK IN 2019 MAY INCREASE due to expected lower rainfall over the next few months, states Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization. "This may provide sunny dry weather and beautiful days, but it also means there will be a higher than normal fire hazard."

Recommended precautions include: Clear yard and rain gutters to make sure they are free of leaves and debris. Keep grass cut short. Keep trees limbed up high from the ground, and away from roofs and windows. Make and practice family emergency plans. Work with neighbors on communal areas.
Hawaiʻi Wildfire asks the public to be "aware of when and where you pull your car over (not on dry grass, please!), and when you use equipment that might spark (not when it is hot and windy, please!). We know from Dr. Clay Trauernicht's analyses at the University of Hawaiʻi that the majority of wildfires are started by accident, so we all need to take appropriate precautions."
"Usually we remind everyone of these strategies at the start of fire season, but 'fire season' is not as much a relevant term right now, with prolonged, dry, fire-promoting conditions persisting through winter. Check out HWMO's many resources for how to keep you and your family wildfire-ready."

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

OVERFLOW 2019: UNLEASHING YOUR UNTAPPED POTENTIAL SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING ends tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 13, with special services at 9:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. The event is hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.
The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

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

HIGH SURF WARNING CLOSES ALL COUNTY BEACH PARKS FROM MILOLIʻI, north to Keokea in Kohala, as of 6 p.m. tonight through Sunday, reports Hawaiʻi county Civil Defense. West and north facing shores will bear the brunt of a "large Northwest swell," according to the National Weather Service.

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

KAʻŪ TROJANS BEAT KONAWAENA WILDCATS on Friday in the boys varsity basketball game at home.

During the JV game, Kaʻū scored 9 in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 6 in the third, and an impressive 22 in the fourth, ending at 51. Konawaena scored 63, barely taking the game. Kaʻū's Kealiʻikoa Reyes Nalu scored 18, Keenan Toriano scored 10.

Varsity saw Kaʻū triumph, with 20 in the first, 8 in the second, 13 in the third, also scoring an impressive 22 in the fourth, to end at 63. Konawaena scored 60. Izaiah Pilanca Emmsley scored 31 for Kaʻū and Shesley Martinez scored 16.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Soccer:

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE CENTER: STORIES FROM THE SUMMIT is offered at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village, on Jan. 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The evening, hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek, features personal accounts by Volcano residents who experienced 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer, including varied tales of those living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Scientist-in-Charge at US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Tina Neal, will share stories of her experience.

This event is free; $5 donation to Volcano Art Center is suggested. For more information, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
This evening is part of a once-a-month Thursday night series at the Volcano Art Center, focusing on art, Hawaiian culture, and the environment. The series is intended to inspire and enhance appreciation of art and life experience, while fostering community connections.

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

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Lamb of God Baptist Church Revival, Thu, Fri., & Sat., Jan. 17-19, 7-9pm, Ocean View Community Association. All welcome. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Clean-Up at Kamilo, Sat., Jan. 19, contact in advance for meet up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ocean View Community Association Annual Members Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 12:30-1:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ham Radio Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 2-3pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

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

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Experience Volcano invites area residents and business representatives to a forum on Thursday, Jan. 24
to discuss the challenges of recovering from the 2018 eruption and earthquakes and new vacation
rental laws and rules. See story, below. Photo from experiencevolcano.com

TULSI GABBARD, WHO DECLARED HER CANDIDACY FOR THE PRESIDENCY this weekend, faced a 24 minute interview with CNN's Van Jones, aired Saturday evening. See the full interview.
Jones called the veteran of Middle East wars and Hawaiʻi Congresswoman "a tough soldier,""a soldier for peace," and "a hawk on terrorism but a dove on regime change wars." She explained there is a "vast distinction.... We have to make sure we defeat those threats" from terrorists. However, "My opposition to regime change wars comes from not only my personal experience but looking throughout history at what the consequences of those wars are.

Gabbard revealed her candidacy for President on the Van Jones show
on CNN yesterday. See the entire interview.

"Time and time again, we see how our intervention regime change wars have not only not made the lives of the people in those countries better. The lives of people in those countries have been made far worse specifically because of our regime change wars, not better.... It has made us less safe.... The trillions of dollars we spend on these regime change wars are dollars that are not going to fixing our infrastructure. They are not going to improve our health care system, not going to improve our education system, not going to rebuild our communities right here at home."
Jones said he thinks Gabbard sees things differently because "you have done things differently. You are a veteran of this most recent round of wars. I think the wisdom of veterans of your generation is something we're going to need, maybe in much higher office."

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

KAʻŪ HOSPITAL IS IN BETTER FINANCIAL SHAPE with a bright future, according to a presentation by its board and executives on Saturday. The annual community meeting at the hospital, held by the East Hawaiʻi Regional Board of Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corp., which manages the hospital and its rural health clinic, drew community health advocates.
Regional Health Executive Officer Dan Brinkman explained Kaʻū's special position as a Critical Care Access Hospital. The federal designation not only allows insurance to pay more for care here, it allows Kaʻū to reach out to other rural communities. Under Kaʻū's designation, new clinics can be opened in Puna and even more urban Hilo to provide medical care for the underserved. With new clinics comes more staff, which can help stabilize the staffing at Kaʻū and the entire region.
The partnership of Kaʻū with other clinics and Hilo Hospital benefits this area with more specialists on staff at Hilo, including cardiologists and orthopedic surgeons. New cardiology capabilities at Hilo will soon make it less likely for heart attack victims to be airlifted to Honolulu. Life saving treatment will be carried out more quickly here, said Brinkman. He also said more specialists in dermatology, endocrinology, and other fields will be available through telemedicine.

The regional board for Kaʻū Hospital met with the community yesterday to take input and assure residents that the
hospital and clinic are on better financial footings with more sophisticated health care planned. Photo by Julia Neal

Brinkman said that Kaʻū Hospital is not as dependent on the state for funding as in the past. He said the hospital is not making money but is much better at covering its costs.
Jessie Marques, founder and executive director of Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, urged the hospital and its clinic to coordinate with her organization in the use of its HMSA telemed kiosk at its facility on Puahala Street in Pāhala.
She also asked whether patients can receive same-day appointments at the Kaʻū Hospital Rural Health Clinic. Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris said the clinic makes every effort to make same day appointments. Depending on the patient's insurance, referrals from such providers as Bay Clinic may be needed for the hospital to be compensated for the visit. However, the clinic will not turn away patients, she said.
Making it easier for veterans to see doctors locally was another topic. One physician clarified that veterans in Kaʻū, who live far from the veterans clinics in Hilo and Kona, can apply through the Veterans Administration to choose a local primary physician. The vet would still go once a year to Hilo or Kona for a checkup at the VA clinic. Marques said she is working with veterans to establish regular telemedicine in Ocean View.

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

THE FUTURE OF VOLCANO VILLAGE and its extended community is the topic of a forum at Cooper Center, Thursday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. The public and county, state, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials are invited to attend and answer resident's questions, says a statement from Experience Volcano Hawaiʻi. The group formed last May to face challenges of recovering from the 2018 volcanic eruption, "its accompanying earthquakes and its devastating effects on the local tourism industry. We're very proud of the low-impact model that we've evolved as a gateway community, serving thousands of national park visitors annually by integrating restaurants, galleries, and lodging into the community and its upland rainforest environment."

Many opportunities for cultural and art experiences are available
in the area, including those at Volcano Art Center.
Photo from experiencevolcano.com

Experience Volcano points out that Volcano is different than the visitor industry "resort node" model. "The community needs to keep that model and build on it, but faces upcoming hurdles as the park rebuilds it infrastructure."

One of the challenges, says the statement, are new "state and country regulations such as County Council Bill 108." The bill passed the County Council and the county Planning Department is finalizing regulations to regulate vacation rentals. The statement says the bill threatens "vacation rentals on which Volcano has built its success. Many folks in our community may be confused about how these changes may affect all of us."

Experience Volcano is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization of Volcano-area businesses and community members "dedicated to sharing the Village's special brand of aloha with the world. The group's mission includes promoting the Volcano area in a sustainable way through social media platforms, print media, and media tours."

Since launching last May, Experience Volcano has printed and distributed 5,000 brochures promoting the area as a destination and has "helped Volcano businesses to develop a unified voice and to pursue common goals. Forums such as this one give the Volcano community a change to refine its vision and mission."

Cooper Center is on Wright Road in Volcano. For more information, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com. See experiencevolcano.com and Facebook.

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

Kīlauea Visitor Center is open thanks to Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes
National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association, which continue to
provide donations and manpower to keep it running.
Photo from InspiredImperfection.com

AREAS OF HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK WILL REMAIN OPEN, despite the partial federal government shutdown - the longest in U.S. history. A statement from Volcanoes, issued today, reports that some visitor services, including cleaning restrooms, trash collection, and entrance stations, will now be completed using revenue generated by recreation fees. See nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoesfor latest information on accessibility and available services.

Areas accessible to park visitors include: Kīlauea Visitor Center, exhibits, picnic tables, and restrooms; Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store in Kīlauea Visitor Center; Crater Rim Drive from the park entrance to Kīlauea Military Camp; Crater Rim Drive from the park entrance to the intersection at Devastation Trail Parking Lot; Crater Rim Drive to viewpoints of Halema‘uma‘u near Keanakāko‘i (pedestrians/bicyclists only), and Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kīlauea Military Camp.

Also open are Volcano House lodging, gift stores and restaurants; Kīlauea Military Camp; Volcano Art Center Gallery; Steam Vents and Sulfur Banks; Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu (vehicles not permitted past the gate at Kīpukapuaulu); Mauna Loa Road to Mauna Loa Lookout – pedestrians and bicyclists only; Kīpukapuaulu day use picnic area; Kīpukapuaulu and trail; Ka‘ū Desert Trail to the new Footprints exhibit; Escape Road from Highway 11 to Crater Rim Drive (no vehicles); and Namakanipaio Campground

The rest of the park is closed, including Chain of Craters Road, Kulanaokuaiki Campground, all backcountry areas, and Kahuku.

Backcountry spaces of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, like Halapē on the coast, remain closed until the
partial federal government shutdown is resolved. Photo from HVNP

National Park Service officials determined that by using Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement funds to immediately bring back park maintenance crews to clean restrooms, remove trash, and complete health and safety operations, the park will be able to continue providing accessibility to the park for visitors while ensuring health and safety.

Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association continue to provide donations to keep the Kīlauea Visitor Center open. Entrance stations will be open to provide safety and information protection messages to arriving visitors, but entrance fees and camping fees will not be collected.

"We greatly appreciate the generous contributions of park partners, especially Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes Lodge Company, Volcano Art Center, and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association who have provided tens of thousands of dollars in financial and in-kind donations during the lapse in appropriations," said park superintendent Cindy Orlando. "Their efforts have contributed significantly to our ability to provide access and basic services to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park."

While basic visitor services continue, other services may be limited or unavailable during the lapse in appropriations, including special events, ranger talks, and programs. Additional information is available at nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes. For updates on the shutdown, visit doi.gov/shutdown.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Soccer:

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING
INTERESTED EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS - such as non-profit organizations, police, emergency response members, and more - are invited to register for a Human Trafficking Workshop conducted by Melody Stone on Friday, Jan. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the PARENTS, Inc. office in Nā‘ālehu. Advance registration is required to participate. Call 430-5710.

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

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Jan. 17, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Hui ‘Ohana Parenting Education and Skills for Life Class, Thu., Jan. 17, 10-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Meets every Thursday. Free. Register w/ Lindsey Miller, 333-3460.

Family Reading Night, Thu., Jan. 17, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources gave an award to Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund on Saturday.
The organization thanked the public for helping to clean up the coast. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR COUNTY COUNCIL members could be a ballot question in 2020, if the proposal passes the County Charter Commission. On Friday, the commission voted six to five to approve the measure for the ballot. The question faces two more readings by the Charter Commission

County Council member Maile David
and County Charter Commissioner
for Kaʻū, Michelle Galimba.
Photo by Annie Bosted

and a public hearing before approval to place the measure on the ballot.

County Council terms would be expanded from two to four years. The proposal is to keep the term limit to eight years. Instead of limiting council members to four, two-year terms, they would be limited to two four-year terms.

Kaʻū's County Charter Commissioner, Michelle Galimba, voted against extending council members' terms of office from two to four years. She said the shorter term is important for accountability.
State and U.S. House of Representatives members serve for two years, requiring them to go back for validation from the voters.

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A honu made from lids graces the Kalae Coffee celebration space, as

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Program Director Megan Lamson reviews the

history of cleaning up the coast. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

HAWAIʻI WILDLIFE FUND WON A CITIZEN CONSERVATION AWARD from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources last weekend. The award arrived on Saturday night as staff and dozens of volunteers marked reaching 250-tons of marine debris collection from the shores of this island. The celebration was held at Kalae Coffee, which donated the venue.

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Funds beach clean-ups on Hawai‘i island began in 2003. Its work has been the subject of numerous international media reports, particularly along a stretch of south Hawai‘i island coastline from Ka Lae (South Point) to Waiʻōhinu, including Kamilo Beach, which has popularly become known as "plastic beach."
From October into January, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund added to its tonnage tally to reach more than 515,000 pounds of marine debris collected on Hawai‘i Island, plus more collections on Maui, Midway Atoll, and French Frigate Shoals.

It's a never-ending project, according to Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Program Director Megan Lamson. "It's hard to envision 250 tons of marine debris. But if you can picture the largest trucks possible and

Bill Gilmartin, Founder of
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

fill 250 of them to the brim with plastics, nets, and all the other stuff that washes onto the reefs and onto shore, you get an idea of the scope of our efforts." The group relies heavily on volunteers, many them recognized at Saturday's celebration. Over the past decade, HWF reports more than 43 thousand hours of volunteer time dedicated to beach clean ups and debris removal.
A statement from DLNR said, "A good example of their good work is what happened a year ago at Kamilo Beach. An enormous tangled ball of discarded fishing net washed onto the reef just off shore. Before it could be recovered vandals lit it on fire. Typically, HWF staff and volunteers spend hours cutting through the tough netting to reduce it to manageable lengths to haul to shore. It’s then loaded into pick-up trucks and taken to a rubbish transfer station. From there, the mass of netting is shipped to O‘ahu where it contributes to fueling the H-Power plant which produces electricity for the island."
Every year, for a decade or more, HWF has provided manpower and support for a major beach clean-up along the coastal section of the Manukā Natural Area Reserve, the largest in the State of Hawai‘i's Natural Area Reserve System.
"The work is tough and normally occurs in hot and dry conditions, which is further testament to the dedication of the organization and its volunteers," the DLNR reports.

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund staff and volunteers celebrate cleaning up 250 tons
of marine debris. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

Lamson said that when the Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund started in 1996, the organization's co-founder Bill Gilmartin was often told, "Why bother? Debris is just going to keep coming ashore." At that point, the plastic debris at Kamilo Beach was shoulder-high, which gave it its moniker of plastic beach.
"Undaunted, HWF, through its educational efforts with school groups and other organizations, has made a huge difference in the appearance of the coastlines where it works, and more importantly in helping keep debris from washing back into the ocean where mammals and other aquatic creatures often get entangled in derelict netting," said the DLNR report.
In recognizing HWF with a DLNR & You Citizen Conservationists Award, DLNR noted "the group and its passionate and dedicated volunteers go way beyond any call of duty to help protect, preserve, and repair Hawai‘i's natural and cultural resources."

See short films with Megan Lamson at https://vimeo.com/311086602.

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THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR CYRIL LANI PAHINUI-KAHAHAWAI is announced. The Hawaiian music teacher, performer and recording artist, taught many young persons in Kaʻū and performed here many times. He was married to Chellle Pahinui whom he met in Kaʻū and with whom he sponsored Hawaiian music events here and on the mainland for the non-profit Nāʻālehu Theatre group.

Cyril Pahinui, 1950-2018

Cyril passed away Nov. 11 at Queen's MedicalCenter in Honolulu. The public is invited to a Celebration of Cyril's Life on Saturday, Jan. 19, at historic Kawaiahaʻo Church at 10 a.m., with formal services at noon. Kawaiahaʻo Church is located at 957 Punchbowl St., Honolulu.

Musicians are encouraged to bring an instrument and join in kanikapila.

Son of famed Hawaiian singer Gabby Pahinui - Phillip Kunio Pahinui-Kahahawai and Emily Polepule Kauha Pahinui, Cyril was born on April 21, 1950. Cyril is recognized in his own right as one of Hawaiʻi's most gifted guitarists and singers, capturing the attention of musicians and audiences alike with his delicate melodies, creative improvisation, and striking percussive sound. Learning music in the traditional way by listening and watching his dad and many of Hawaiʻi's foremost traditional musicians, Cyril developed a unique well-recognized sound that renders an intimate picture of Hawaiʻi, his beloved Islandhome.

As an internationally roving slack-key ambassador, Cyril toured extensively in the U. S., Europe, and Japan, performing twice at Carnegie Hall. Cyril taught for seven years at the annual Chet Atkin's Appreciation Society guitar convention in Nashvilleand extended his love for teaching at worldwide workshops, and throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including providing 10 years of free instruction to over 800 elementary and high school students.

In lieu of flowers in remembrance of Cyril Pahinui, a
donation to Cyril's Hawaiian Music Masters program
at naalehutheatre.com, or purchase of his final
album Marketplace at cyrilpahinui.com,
is encouraged by the family.

Over his long career, Cyril contributed to more than 50 recorded albums, with three receiving Grammy Awards and two others Grammy nominations. Cyril has also been recognized with 19 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and in 2014, received the prestigious Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. As a leader in the Hawaiian music industry, Cyril served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific North West Chapter of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY) and on the Board of Governors for the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA).

In 2012, Cyril received the 2013 Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Artist Fellowship for Music and, in support of his teaching, the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award of the First Peoples Fund. In 2014, Cyril received the Duke's Hoʻokahiko Award, honoring those who "live, exemplify, and pass on the traditions of Aloha." Cyril was also honored with the 2017 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship Award, the highest award for traditional Arts in America. In 2018, he received a Rotary Club of West Oʻahu David Malo Award.

The family encourages, in lieu of flowers, a tax deductible donation to Cyril's Hawaiian Music Masters program at naalehutheatre.com or by purchasing his new CD, Marketplace, at cyrilpahinui.com.

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KAʻŪ TROJANS SPORTS: On Saturday, Jan. 12., Boys and Girls Soccer at Honokaʻa were both TKO, with Honokaʻa Boys and Girls each winning with 8.

See below for scheduled home games for chances to root for the home team.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Soccer:

Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING

KAʻŪ HOMESCHOOL CO-OP GROUP holds meetings every other Monday, with the next on Feb. 4. The group aims to provide social activities in which their children can learn and thrive and form meaningful bonds with one another in a safe environment. It also provides support for those considering or new to homeschooling.

Keiki learn to make goat cheese from locally sourced

goat milk. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

Meetings usually begin at 1 p.m., at the OceanViewCommunity Center; however, the group is known to take field-trips to other locations.

Members are not required to attend every meeting, but each family is asked to lead a class a two to three times a year. There is no mandatory fee; however, donations of time or money help pay site fees.

The group began early last year with activities ranging from whale watching boat trips, to family beach days, art projects, pirate scavenger hunts, gardening, making goat's milk cheese from scratch, learning about rainbows and light, clothing swaps, pom pom making and finger-knitting, and more.

Laura Roberts the group's organizer, says "Recognizing the need for teen activities, a game nook has been added for our junior high and high schoolers. I feel that group is such a benefit to our community and can really help homeschoolers fill that need for social time." Her daughter Fierra, age 9, says, "You can learn how to do all kinds of things and have fun with friends."

Upcoming events include a beatboxing presentation by Mr. Kneel, a guided hike in Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park, and a field trip to Kula Kai Caverns.

For more details or to join the group, call Roberts at 406-249-3351.

HAWAIIAN VALUE PRINTMAKING CLASSES, featuring donated linoleum block prints of Dietrich Varez, happens every Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Jan. 17, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Hui ‘Ohana Parenting Education and Skills for Life Class, Thu., Jan. 17, 10-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Meets every Thursday. Free. Register w/ Lindsey Miller, 333-3460.

Family Reading Night, Thu., Jan. 17, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Applications for the first annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Kaʻū High Trojans are the kings of Eight-Man Football and will be moving up to 11-man play this Fall.

On Sunday, County Council member Maile David gave them each a certificate for their achievements.

See story, below. Photo by Julia Neal

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BY STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE could put him in a position to serve Kaʻū. The announcement is planned for Monday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo. One possibility is that he will run for U.S. House of Representatives to take the place of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who would be unable to run for her current seat and the U.S. Presidency at the same time. Last weekend, Gabbard said she will run for President.

Should Kahele run and win the House seat, he would represent Kaʻū, the place of his roots – his father's family comes from Miloliʻi. The Democrat would serve all rural populations throughout the islands. His father, Gil Kahele, whose family land is in Miloliʻi, served as a state Senator from Kaʻū before redistricting put him in Hilo.

Sen. Kai Kahele plans a big announcement next Monday. Will
he run for Congress? Photo from Team Kahele

When Gil Kahele died, Gov. David Ige named Kai Kahele to fill his father's seat. Kai Kahele was reelected to the position.

Team Kahele invites the public to the bandstand for the announcement on Monday: "Kai, Maria, their girls, and the Kahele ʻohana is inviting you to join them, next week Monday, January 21, 2019, at 10:30 a.m., at the Moʻoheau Bandstand in Downtown Hilo. They have a BIG announcement that they would like to share with you! Mahalo for all your support through the years and we look forward to seeing you there."

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Diana Aki and Keoki Kahumoku in Pāhala.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE LIFE OF DIANA AKI WILL BE CELEBRATED AT MILOLIʻI this Saturday from noon to 6 p.m at the oceanfront park.
Diana Puakini Aki, 76, died on Jan. 8. Known as the Songbird of Miloliʻi, she performed and taught music many times in Kaʻū, with the late Cyril Pahinui, at Keoki Kahumoku's music camps, Debbie Ryder's hula and music events, as well as Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival & BioBlitz celebrations. She often performed and taught in Miloliʻi, a regular at the La ʻOhana annual event.
Aki was famous for her soaring soprano Hawaiian falsetto voice, wining a Na Hanohano Female Vocalist of the Year award.
View and hear her singing Aloha Punaluʻu, playing ʻukulele and accompanied by steel guitar, on the HVNP website.

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THE KAʻŪ VOICES GROUP will travel to the Third Annual Women's Wave March this Saturday, Jan. 19, in Hilo, beginning at 10 a.m. The group will set up a booth outside the Hawaiʻi State Building. "We will be welcoming members of other Indivisible.com groups and register voters," said organizer Missi Wheeler, of Nāʻālehu. The group formed after the first Women's March in January, 2017. This will be Kaʻū Voices' third participation in the Hilo march.

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ASSESSING TURTLES AFFECTED BY LAVA FLOWS from Kīlauea Volcano last year became a mission of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund. During the nearly four-month course of lava flow in 2018 on Hawaiʻi's Kīlauea volcano and three months of active lava ocean entry from Fissure 8, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund staff and volunteers heard that large numbers of sea turtles were stranded or trapped as a result of the eruption. Surveys completed by state and federal agencies found no turtles in distress, but some community members continued to report and share otherwise on social media platforms.

"Due to this discrepancy, HWF saw the need for a third party to conduct additional surveys and report back to federal and state agencies, concerned Puna community members, and through social media platforms," said the organization's report released on Monday.

A turtle at Kapoho Bay. Photo from Wikipedia/Robert David Linsdell

HWF's Puna Aerial Reconnaissance Survey Report details areas surveyed and methods used. It is available online.

After completing two aerial surveys, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund identified the following:

Turtles appear to be in higher numbers outside of the lava ocean entry areas, likely staying near the food sources that were not covered or "scrubbed" by new sand and wave interactions.

There is no evidence that large numbers of turtles were stranded or killed by lava flow, although there were obviously some tragedies. Turtle experts that were interviewed believe that most turtles would simply swim away from the lava impacted areas.

The recovery of ecosystems in the lava impacted areas will depend on healthy coral reefs nearby that can provide needed resources, and fish and invertebrate larvae, for recolonization.

Hazards such as marine debris and ocean pollution likely have a greater negative impact on turtles and other marine resources worldwide than the recent lava ocean entry event.

Turtles seen from the air, shown by the dots along the coast
most affected by the lava flows last year.
Map from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund reminds the public to refrain from shining lights around turtles as white light disorients them – use only red light. Another tip: A green sea turtle basking on the shore is not in distress.

The organization sends a "big mahalo" to those that shared information and attempted to help turtles during the course of the recent lava flow. "This is how we hoʻo hui (come together) to take care of our native animals, wild places, and learn how this natural event impacts our marine resources."

Those encountering an injured or stranded turtle in Hawaiʻi can attempt to contact designated stranding responders. Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund advises that reports must be timely – ideally within a few hours – include photos, and involve a location that is accessible and safe for responders. NOAA's statewide marine animal stranding and reporting hotline is 1-888-256-9840. Additional information that is less time-sensitive can be sent via email (with photos) to RespectWildlife@noaa.gov.

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Lynn A.S. Araki-Regan

NEW CHIEFS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION are announced. Gov. David Ige and DOT Director Jade Butay yesterday named Lynn A.S. Araki-Regan as first deputy of DOT. She was previously employed with the County of Maui, serving as the economic development coordinator, budget director, and the mayor's chief of staff.

Araki-Regan is also an attorney, with 22 years of experience in litigation, commercial transactions, creditor’s rights and landlord/tenant law. She has a law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i, a B.S. in accounting. She graduated summa cum laude from H.P.BaldwinHigh School on Maui. This appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Derek Chow

Derek J. Chow becomes the DOT Deputy Director running the Harbors Division, overseeing ten commercial harbors across the state. Chow is former chief of Civil & Public Works Branch for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District. His experience also includes serving as chief of the Water & Infrastructure Division, U.S. Forces – Kabul, Afghanistan, and as resident engineer Danger Resident Office, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Tikrit, Iraq.

Ross Higashi

Ross Higashi is re-appointed to DOT Deputy Director running the Airports Division with its 15 state airports across Hawaiʻi. Higashi is responsible for billions of dollars in modernization and facility improvement projects. He has served as HDOT interim director, interim deputy director, and fiscal management officer for the Airports Division. Higashi has more than 25 years of public service in state government. He received his B.A. in accounting from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Ed Sniffen

Ed Sniffen is re-appointed DOT Deputy Director to oversee the Highways Division. He will manage improvements and maintenance of about 2,500 lane miles of state highways. Sniffen was executive assistant to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. He also served as DOT Highways Division administrator and as technical design engineer in the Highways Division Design Branch. Sniffen is a civil engineer, having received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Santa ClaraUniversity.

The appointments of Chow, Higashi, and Sniffen are not subject to Senate confirmation.

Principal Sharon Beck and County Council member
Maile David with a certificate of recognition for
each member of the Trojan football team.
Photo by Julia Neal

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FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT KA‘Ū HIGH each received a certificate from County Council member Maile David on Sunday, honoring the team for its "outstanding athletic achievements" in Eight-Man Football. The Trojans ranked in the top of the pack of 1,687 Eight-Man Football teams across the country.

The Certificate of Recognition from the County Council says, "The Kaʻū Trojans brought pride and honor to Kaʻū and Hawaiʻi Island by sweeping BIIF Eight-Man Football Championships, in 2014 and consecutively in 2016, 2017, and 2018. If that is not an exceptional display of athletic talent and determination in itself, in 2018, the Kaʻū Trojans also defeated Lanaʻi in the 2018 Eight-Man Football State Championship held at Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi."

Trojan Coach DuWayne Ke shakes a Trojan hand as County Council
member Maile David presents Certificates of Recognition.
Photo by Julia Neal

The certificate praises the Trojans' national rankings for 2018: "First in the country for gaining 489 rushing yards, with star player Izaiah 'Bobby' Pilanca-Emmsely ranking first nationwide with 293.3 yards gained, and third nationwide with 193 interceptions. Teammate Kyson Toriano ranked sixth in the nation with 150 interceptions. In total yard stats, the Kaʻū Trojans placed fourth nationwide with a whopping 512.7 yards and 654 in the nation out of 1,687 Eight-Man Football teams."
The 2018 season ends Eight-Man Football for Kaʻū. In the Fall, the Trojans return to playing with the traditional team size for Eleven-Man Football.

Offensive Line Coach Greg Rush presents a
glass trophy to Coach DuWayne Ke.
Photo by Julia Neal

Not only are the Trojans outstanding athletes, said Kaʻū High School Principal Sharon Beck, they serve as mentors for younger students. They are also scholars and "The kindness, you can see it in the hallways," said Beck.
In praising the Trojans, council woman David said that she grew up in a rural community on the island and understands what the achievement means to the students and the community.
Coach DuWayne Ke received a glass trophy for the team, with coaches and team members names inscribed, to be placed in the trophy case at Kaʻū District Gym. Offensive Coach Greg Rush reviewed the Trojan eight-man statistics for families and team members to understand the national significance of their achievement.

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NO TSUNAMI DANGER from a 6.6-magnitude earthquake today north of Vanuatu, says Civil Defense. The quake happened at 8:16 a.m.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Soccer:

Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING

HAWAIIAN HISTORIAN AND STORYTELLER KEPA MALY SHARES TRADITIONS AND HISTORY OF KĪLAUEA and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind, also linking traditions of old to the recent events that have added new layers of history to this wahi pana (storied and sacred landscape).
The program, Mo‘olelo (Stories) of Volcano will be at Volcano Garden Arts - 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd, Volcano Village - on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m., and includes lunch following the presentation. Cost of the program and lunch is $35 per person. Space is limited. Reserve your seat by contacting the Volcano Community Foundation at volcanocommunity@gmail.com or by calling 885-1011.

SOUTHERNMOST ALASKA PICNIC organizers invite everyone from or interested in Alaska to join them at Whittington Beach Park Pavilions at Honuʻapo on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is the fourth annual Southernmost Alaska Picnic, celebrating Kaʻū's close relationship with the many Alaskans who live here in winter. Participants bring a dish to share, beverages, musical instruments, chairs, and stories. Contact Tim Childs 907-388-8546 or Judy Jacobson at 907-314-3191.

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Lamb of God Baptist Church Revival, Thu, Fri., & Sat., Jan. 17-19, 7-9pm, Ocean View Community Association. All welcome. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ocean View Community Association Annual Members Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 12:30-1:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ham Radio Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 2-3pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Mon., Jan. 21, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

WILL BE CANCELLED IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PERSISTS: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING
Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Kaʻū High Trojans' soccer team showed improvements today, hosting big school Konawaena.
Displaying skills throughout the game, Trojans created the opportunity for several shots on
goal, with one going just wide. See more sports, below. Photo by David Berry

THE 2019 HAWAIʻI LEGISLATURE OPENED TODAY at the Capitol in Honolulu. Outside the building, native Hawaiians held an event celebrating local culture and preservation of lands. Many students who came to the Capitol pounded poi.

Inside the Capitol, Hawaiian musician Henry Kapono opened ceremonies for the House of Representatives, which is comprised of five Republicans and 46 Democrats. Former Kauaʻi Mayor Bernard Carvalho opened ceremonies for the Senate, comprised of one Republican and 24 Democrats.
Senate President Ron Kouchi, of Kauaʻi reviewed top issues, offering support for bringing the minimum wage to as high as $15 an hour, better public education, affordable housing, and reducing homelessness. As the first medical marijuana dispensary on this island, Big Island Grown, opened today in Hilo, Kouchi said legalization of recreational marijuana will be considered but he is concerned that it remains illegal on the federal level.
Kouchi supported funding for recovery from the lava events on Hawaiʻi Island and flooding on Kauaʻi, saying, "We are not going to be strong if each one of our counties aren't strong."

Contact Sen. Russell Ruderman at
senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov

Contact Sen. Dru Kanuha at
senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov

Representing East Kaʻū, from Honuʻapo through Volcano, are Rep. Richard Onishi and Sen. Russell Ruderman. Representing West Kaʻū, from Honuʻapo into South Kona, are Rep. Richard Creagan and Sen. Dru Kanuha.

Kanuha vice-chairs Housing and serves on Education, Government Operations, and Ways & Means Committees.

Kanuha can be reached at 808-586-9391 and senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Sen. Russell Ruderman chairs Human Services, vice-chairs Commerce, Agriculture, and Environment, and serves on Consumer Protection and Health Committees.

Ruderman can be reached at 808-586-6890 and senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Rep. Richard Creagan chairs Agriculture and serves on Judiciary and Tourism & International Affairs Committees.

Contact Rep. Richard Creagan at
repcreagan@capitol.hawaii.gov

Contact Rep. Richard Onishi at
reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov

Creagan can be reached at 808-586-9605 and repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov.
Rep. Richard Onishi chairs Tourism & International Affairs and serves on Agriculture and Consumer Protection & Commerce Committees.
Onishi can be reached at 808-586-6121 and reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov.

The Legislative Reference Bureau offers help for citizens to submit testimony, create bills, and follow proposed legislation through the legislature. See lrbhawaii.org/par.

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

Hawaiʻi State Capitol, where the 2019 Hawaiʻi Legislature opened today and Gov. David Ige announced more
appointments to his cabinet. Photo from Hawaiʻi House of Representatives

SCOTT ENRIGHT, WELL KNOWN TO KAʻŪ COFFEE FARMERS AND RANCHERS, is leaving his post as head of the state Department of Agriculture. Enright was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and assumed the position on Jan. 1, 2014, with a reappointment from Gov. David Ige. Enright also served as President of the National Association of Departments of Agriculture.

Scott Enright leaves his post
as chair of the state Board of
Agriculture and head of the
state Department of Ag.
Photo from DOA

Prior to leading the state Department of Agriculture, Enright worked for the Hawaiʻi Sustainable Agriculture and Renewable Energy Project, ITC Water Management, Hamakua Sugar, and Kīlauea Agronomics. He also served as Chair of Agribusiness Development Corp., which worked on developing irrigation water from old sugar plantation tunnels in Kaʻū. He served on the Hamakua District's Community Development Plan Steering Committee. He is a graduate of University of Hawaiʻi - Hilo.
Gov. David Ige announced today the appointment Denise Albano to chair Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. She will be the new executive in charge of the state Department of Agriculture.
"Albano has served as the Department of Agriculture's water director since 2016, creating and improving water systems across state water agencies, using a collaborative approach to water usage in Hawai‘i," said a statement from the governor.

Albano was president and co-founder of Feed the Hunger Foundation in San Francisco, California, where she created, developed, and oversaw a public foundation that provides loans and grants to organizations internationally as well as domestically – in California and Hawai‘i.

Albano also served as president at The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i, where she managed the Capital Campaign; executive director of the YMCA, Richmond district, San Francisco; executive director Project YES/Youth Uprising in Oakland, California; family

Denise Albano is the new chief of
the state Department of Agriculture.

support senior program officer for the San Francisco Children and Families Commission.

Ige remarked, "Denise has extensive executive management experience in both government and nonprofits. Her expertise in strategic growth and leadership, program development and collaborative partnerships, will serve the Department of Agriculture well."

Albano said, "I'm very excited by this opportunity to join the dedicated employees of the Department of Agriculture to support their efforts and the desire of the governor and his administration to continue to vitalize an industry that is so important to the community of Hawai‘i."

Ige reappointed Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as deputy to the chairperson, a position she has held since 2015. Shimabukuro-Geiser is a long-time agriculture advocate who was previously employed at Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc. in Waianae, having served as vice president and administrative and fiscal assistant. She was also vice president at Associated Producers Corp. in Honolulu.

Said Shimabukuro-Geiser, "It has been an honor and privilege to serve in Gov. Ige's administration these past four years. I thank him for this opportunity to continue serving our hard-working farmers, ranchers and nursery growers who are so committed to the success of agriculture in Hawaiʻi."

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CONFIRMATION OF WILLIAM BARR FOR U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL drew concern from Sen. Mazie Hirono, who questioned him before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. She specifically asked him about his views on immigrants and protecting the President from prosecution.

Sen. Mazie Hiorno questions legal experts and U.S. Attorney General
nominee William Barr about voting rights, and protecting the
President from prosecution. Photo from CSPAN

Hirono sent out a statement today: "We know President Trump was furious with former Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Robert Mueller investigation into the Trump campaign's actions and Russian interference in the 2016 election – so much so that he requested Sessions' resignation the day after the November general election last year.

"Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee began its confirmation hearings for Trump's potential new attorney general, William Barr. What worries me is, will Trump expect Barr to pledge loyalty to him and undermine the Mueller investigation, like he expected Sessions to do?
"I grilled Barr on his history of criticizing the Mueller investigation – including a lengthy memo he wrote and then discussed with the president before his nomination – because under this chaotic administration, we must ensure that the next attorney general is independent of the executive and is loyal to the rule of law, not the man sitting in the White House.

Trump Attorney General appointee William Barr in front
of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Photo from CSPAN

"I was direct with Mr. Barr that I want a very clear commitment from him that he will not interfere with Mueller's search for truth in any way, shape, or form.
"Yet he refused to commit to recuse himself from the investigation, despite ethics officials' recommendation that he do so, or ensure that the Mueller report will be fully made public once it's completed.
"This is a critical moment in our country's history, and personally, I'm not convinced that Barr will put the rule of law before Trump's wishes.
"That's why it's imperative that no matter what happens with Barr's confirmation, we pass legislation to formally protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from any potential interference from Trump or his administration, and ensure Congress and the public see Mueller's full report."

Hirono asked constituents to "Sign your name in support if you agree."

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

A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF THE PĀHALA TRANSFER STATION, where people take their recyclables and other trash, will be Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center,

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend an informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule.
"We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

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

Kaʻū Trojans hosted a school with a long soccer tradition today
at the Pāhala field. Photo by David Berry

KAʻŪ TROJANS SPORTS REPORT:

Girls basketball players fought hard against a big school during a set of games on Monday against Kealakehe. JV Trojans ladies scored 29 points against their guests, who won the game at 40. The varsity team took the game even closer, with Kaʻū scoring 39 points, Kealakehe 44.

The Kaʻū Trojans Boys Soccer team played Konawaena at home today. The Trojans showed a competitiveness the entire game against the school with a long soccer tradition. Kaʻū developed opportunities for shots on goal, with one landing just wide.
Final score was Konawaena 7, Kaʻū 0.

Winter sports continue through February; see schedule, below.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Soccer:

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING

JOIN ARTISTS MARY MILELZCIK FOR MIXED MEDIA ENCAUSTIC, a hands-on workshop for beginners and intermediate students, on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Mixed Media Encaustic workshop takes place Jan. 26 in Volcano Village.
See story for details. Image from volcanoartcenter.org

Encaustic is a mixture of beeswax, damar resin, and pigment, which is applied to a solid, absorbent surface. Each time a new layer is applied, it must be fused. The layers can be enhanced by carving with tools or drawing with pigment, oil sticks, or other media. Photographs can be transferred and other materials embedded to create translucent layers, producing a variety of results.

Participants will learn safe studio practices for encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. Various techniques will be demonstrated, and a variety of substrates including panels and paper will be available. After instruction and experimenting, students will have the opportunity to create an encaustic on a panel, and an encaustic on fine art paper.
Milelzcik provides an assortment marking tools and brushes, interesting papers, photographs, minerals, fibers, and other natural and found materials for students to incorporate into their paintings. Students are encouraged to bring additional items to use.
Class fee is $55 per Volcano Art Center member and $60 per non-member, plus a $25 supply fee. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

Milelzcik has a B.A. degree from Sonoma State University's School of Expressive Arts, a radical two-year upper division interdisciplinary experimental program that existed for several years in the 70's. "This transformative educational experience set the path for an interesting career as a mixed media artist and photographer; as the Curator at Highways Performance Space and Gallery in Santa Monica, California; and teaching experimental mixed media art and printmaking. Photography is an important tool in her creative and documentary projects as well as for capturing images to use as a base for mixed media encaustic paintings and prints. She also gathers pigments and organic materials to incorporate into her work," states the event description on volcanoartcenter.org.
Milelzcik's artwork has been shown internationally. In her spare time, she provides strategic consultation and grant writing for small to medium sized nonprofits in Hawai‘i and California. She has a studio in Pāhoa and specializes in mixed media art and printmaking.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Clean-Up at Kamilo, Sat., Jan. 19, contact in advance for meet up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ocean View Community Association Annual Members Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 12:30-1:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ham Radio Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 2-3pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Mon., Jan. 21, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

WILL BE CANCELLED IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PERSISTS: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

The main gate to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park remains open without entry fees. Staffing of Kīlauea Visitor Center
and other park destinations that are open during the partial federal government shutdown are staffed through donations
provided to Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and manpower through Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.
Photo by Peter Anderson

AN ANONYMOUS DONATION OF $76,320 has gone to Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to keep Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park open with limited services during the partial federal government shutdown. County of Hawaiʻi gave $38,160. The combined total of $114,480 funds approximately nine days of service, said Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien.

"We are very grateful to Mayor Harry Kim for his support" and for the anonymous donation, said Fien. "It is wonderful to know that so many care for our public lands."

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AN APPEAL TO THE LEGISLATURE from pensioners, retired unionized sugar workers, went to Kaʻū's state Senators and state members of the House of Representatives yesterday. On opening day of the 2019 Hawaiʻi Legislature, Clyde Siva, President of Pāhala International Longshore and Warehouse Union Pensioners Club, took the ILWU platform to the Capitol offices of state Senators Russell Ruderman and Dru Kanuha, and Representatives Richard Onishi and Richard Creagan, who serve Kaʻū.

Clyde Sylva, President of the Pāhala Pensioners Club, takes
the ILWU priorities list to Rep. Richard Onishi and
Kaʻū's other state Representative and Senators.

ILWU Legislative Priorities support an increase in the minimum wage, with annual adjustments in accordance with increases in the Consumer Price Index. The ILWU supports the continuation and improvement of the Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974, which made Hawaiʻi the first state to require health insurance for all employees working 20 hours or more per week, leading Hawaiʻi to become the state with the highest rate of health-insured residents.
The union supports programs for the growing population of seniors and the disabled. An ILWU statement distributed to legislators says, "Such programs include Kupuna Care, caregiver support (including the CARE Act), protection of the vulnerable elderly, resources for caregivers and care recipients, financing for long-term care (including funding through a proposal to increase the General Excise Tax), and home and community-based care. Support for programs to educate the general public about long-term care needs and costs."
The ILWU also asks the legislature ensure the state receives its fair share of taxes from vacation rentals and ride share services.
Additionally, the ILWU calls for the development of more harbors in Hawaiʻi. "Priority should be given to the development and maintenance of facilities to sustain the growth of operations for manifested cargo without compromising safe working conditions for workers."

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

Harry McKee

HARRY MCKEE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KAʻŪ STUDENTS ARE OPEN THROUGH FEB. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship.

To be eligible, students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.

The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

The website says that "Harry McKee left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at
mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

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

COFFEE PRUNING, COFFEE BERRY BORER, AND BANANA MACROPROPAGATION CLASSES are open for registration. University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources holds the free workshops at Kona Cooperative Extension Center, 79-7381 Mamalahoa Hwy, in Kealakekua. Registration is required for all classes.

Free Coffee Berry Borer 101 Workshop held by
CTAHR in February.

Coffee Pruning Field Day, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 9 a.m.to noon. Educates coffee growers on traditional and experimental pruning methods. Includes hands-on pruning. Speakers include Dr. Stuart Nakamoto, Andrea Kawabata and Matt Miyahara of CTAHR, and Dr. Traice Mastumoto of USDA. Register at hawaiicoffeeed.com/pruning or contact Gina at 322-4892 by Jan. 28. Class size limited to 30.

Coffee BerryBorer 101 Workshop, Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., or Friday, Jan. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.New and beginning coffee farmers or those seeking a refresher are welcome at CBB 101 Workshop. Learn about CBB biology and current integrated pest management techniques. The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Beauveria subsidy program coordinator will be on hand to discuss subsidy of Beauveria products. Register at HawaiiCoffeeEd.com/cbb101 or contact Gina at 322-4892 at least 2 days before the workshop. Registered participants will receive one CBB IPM and record keeping binder per farm.

Banana Macropropagation Workshop 2, Thursday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn how to propagate healthy, disease-free banana plants. The field day includes multiplication of corms using materials from Part 1, and review of propagation of clean banana plants through macropropagation techniques; identification and management of Banana Bunchy Top Virus; and a demonstration on rapid BBTV detection using AmplifyRP® Acceler8® test kits. Participants are welcome to bring in one sample for testing. Register at eventbrite.com/e/kona-banana-macropropagation-workshop-part-2-tickets-54812580905?aff=erelexpmlt.

The Trojans JV team won. They wiped the court with their opponents, scoring 8 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second, then 10 each in the third and fourth, for 45 total points. Kealiʻikoa Reyes Nalu scored 11. Waiakea only managed 29 against the onslaught.

Varsity scored 7, then 15, 8 and 11, to end at an impressive 41, with Shesley Martinez scoring 12. The bigger school managed 71.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Soccer:

Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

NEW and UPCOMING

MILOLIʻI-KAʻŪ JRS. VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT, to benefit Miloliʻi-Kaʻū teams, happens at Kaʻū District Gym on Feb. 9 and 10.

Teams playing are 10s: Miloliʻi-Kaʻū, Cuzins I and Cuzins II, with one more slot open; 12s: Miloliʻi-Kaʻū, Cuzins Girls, Cuzins Co-Ed, and Mau Loa, with three slots open; 14s: Miloliʻi-Kaʻū, Cuzins Girls, and Mau Loa, with four spots open; and 16s: Cuzins 14 Boys and Cuzins 16, with two slots open.

Entry fees are $50 per team. Contact Kaʻimi at 937-1310, Landa at 443-7133, or Tene at 333-7232.

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

Ham Radio Mtg., Sat., Jan. 19, 2-3pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Mon., Jan. 21, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

WILL BE CANCELLED IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PERSISTS: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Swarm Season, a film about the survival of honeybees, premieres at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan 19 at Ka Lae Coffee at
92-2186 South Point Road. The Sarah Chrisman film features bee expert and Ka`u resident Alson Yahna and
her daughter Manu, known for their efforts to save wild hives and take care of honeybees.
See more below. Image from Swarm Season

JAY IGNACIO, PRESIDENT OF HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT CO., is to retire after 28 years with the company. He will be succeeded by Sharon Susuki, President of Maui Electric Co.
Ignacio has has served as HELCO president since 2008. When he retires on Feb. 2, Suzuki will be President of two utility companies - HELCO on the Big Island, and Maui Electric, which serves the islands of Maui, Moloka’i, and Lana’i. The new position is a part of the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ “One Company” transformation strategy, through which HECO aims “to bring together the best practices of Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light to reduce duplication, share resources and maximize efficiency to provide savings to customers while continuing to honor the cultures and meet the needs of each island’s communities,” according to a press release from the three electric companies.

Jay Ignacio talks to Pāhala residents about a biofuels proposal in 2011.
He retires Feb. 2 as President of HELCO.
Photo by Julia Neal

Alan Oshima, President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, the parent company of Maui Electric and HELCO, said, “Our business is undergoing a fundamental transformation and so is our organizational chart. Like many other jobs in our company, the duties of the president are changing to meet new expectations, and this is an opportunity to reduce costs and look at new ways of working.”
“I want to thank Jay for his tireless service to the people of Hawai‘i Island and for his steady, decisive leadership of Hawai‘i Electric Light through some of the most challenging situations any of us can remember, including earthquakes, tropical storms and two volcanic eruptions,” Oshima said. “No matter how complex the issue, Jay always brought the question back to what was best for the customers.”

Jay Ignacio retires after
28 years at HELCO.

Ignacio, a Hilo native, is a graduate of Hilo High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Before joining HELCO, he worked at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in California and for GTE Hawaiian Telephone Company in Hilo. He owned a small business in Hilo.
Ignacio joined HELCO in 1990 as a substation design engineer and was promoted to superintendent of construction and maintenance in 1994. He served as HELCO’s Manager of Transmission and Distribution from November 1996. Ignacio was named president of HELCO in 2008 and in 2015 took on additional responsibilities as senior operations adviser to the president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric.

Sharon Suzuki will oversee both Hawai`i
Island and Maui Island utility companies.

Ignacio has been a local youth basketball coach for many years and is a leader of the successful HELCO Employees and Friend’s Toys for Tots program. He is a member of the Waiakea Lions Club. Ignacio is a Member of the Hawaii County Citizens Corp. Council. He said he plans to stay active in the community after his retirement.
Suzuki holds a Master of Business Administration in finance from California State University at Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and Japanese from the University of Michigan. Suzuki has served as president of Maui Electric since 2012. In more than 25 years with Maui Electric and Hawaiian Electric, she has served in many diverse leadership roles in renewable energy, energy efficiency and customer service.
Active in the Maui community, Suzuki serves as treasurer on the board of directors of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association and vice-chair of the County of Maui Civil Service Commission. She is also on the boards of the Maui Economic Development Board and Boy Scouts of America Maui County Council.

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

U.S. SENATE ARMED SERVICES SEAPOWER SUB COMMITTEE is the post accepted by Mazie Hirono, reappointed this week as Ranking Member. The committee oversees the vast majority of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps programs.

"Our Navy and Marine Corps are at the center of confronting many of our country's most pressing strategic challenges," said Hirono. "I look forward to continuing my role in ensuring that our Armed Forces can meet these challenges in a responsible manner, while also supporting a strong civilian workforce and ensuring that our service members and their families receive the support they deserve."

Hirono was first named Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee in 2015. She oversees Department of the Navy programs including Navy shipbuilding programs, Marine Corps ground modernization, Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs, and the Navy's effort to expand its fleet to 355 ships.

During the 116^th Congress, Hirono also serves on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittees on Readiness and Emerging Threats. The Readiness Subcommittee's responsibilities include oversight of public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, energy and environmental programs, military construction, operations and maintenance accounts, and facility and housing maintenance and repair. The Emerging Threats Subcommittee's responsibilities include oversight of science and technology, special operations, intelligence, and homeland defense.

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EXPOSURE TO TOXIC FUMES FROM BURN PITS - where toxic waste, human waste and other garbage is destroyed by open fires in remote military outposts - is the "Agent Orange of post 9/11 veterans," says a statement from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Founder and Co-Chair of the Post-9/11 Veterans Caucus, and a veteran of Middle East wars.

Gabbard and Rep. Brian Mast, also a veteran, reintroduced the bipartisan Burn Pits Accountability Act to the House of Representatives this week. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Dan Sullivan reintroduced it to the Senate.

The Burn Pits Accountability Act would evaluate exposure of U.S. service members and veterans to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals by requiring the Secretary of Defense to record whether service members have been based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals. The records would including information from the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, in the Periodic Health Assessments, Separation Histories and Physical Examinations, and Post-Deployment Health Assessments.
It would require enrolling any service member who meets the criteria in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, unless he or she opts-out.
The legislation would require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share information relating to exposure of burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals.

A bill reintroduced to Congress would provide for research and care

for veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits during their deployments.

Photo from military.com

Said Gabbard, "Over 165,000 veterans have registered their names in the Burn Pit Registry, something that's voluntary, but there are millions of our troops who have been exposed to these toxic burn pits during their deployment. They deserve recognition. They deserve care, and they deserve the services they have earned. So far, our government has failed to fulfill its responsibility to them, and to recognize the toxins they have been exposed to -- just like what happened to our Vietnam veterans decades ago when our government ignored their exposure and the ensuing illnesses that came from Agent Orange."

Gabbard said: "I've seen the devastating toll that's taken on my brothers and sisters in arms who survived combat and came home, but are now suffering from rare cancers, lung diseases, neurological disorders, and more."

Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America Chief Policy Officer Melissa Bryant said, “IAVA members have been telling us their health concerns from toxic exposures for the last 15 years, and many veterans who I have served with are now becoming sick with cancers and respiratory illnesses. "With 80 percent of IAVA members reporting exposure to burn pits and 63 percent reporting associated symptoms, we know the time to act is now. I often wonder how my own health will continue to be affected in the years to come. As the daughter of Vietnam veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange, I've observed how toxic exposures can plague you for decades long after the wars we fight in - and we know burn pits could be our generation's Agent Orange.This legislation will dramatically increase the quantity and quality of research and data about these exposures and how they have impacted our service members. We urge all Members of Congress to sign onto this bill immediately, and to pass it before the end of this year."

The legislation also has the backing of American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans for Common Sense, United States Army Warrant Officers Association, Marine Corps League, Coast Guard Chief Warrant & Warrant Officers Association, and the Fleet Reserve Association and Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

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

SWARM SEASON, a documentary film by Sarah J. Christman, explores survival of honeybees and the human relationship with the natural world in a critical moment of climate change. The film will be

Swarm Season will screen free to the public at Kalae Coffee on

Saturday evening. Image from Swarm Season

screened free to the community on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ka Lae Coffee.
Swarm Season was filmed entirely on Hawai`i Island from 2015-2018 and features Kaʻū bee expert Alison Yahna and her daughter Manu. Swarm Season documents their relationship with bees.
The filmmakers will join the public at the showing for the community, before Swarm Season's launch in European and U.S. film festivals.
The event is sponsored by Bee Boys, Ka Lae Coffee, and Hawai`i Camera. Ka Lae Coffee is located at 94-2166 South Point Road.

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RACIAL PROGRESS IN HAWAIʻI IS STRONG, states Wallethub in a new report focused on diversity, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. 58 percent of Americans think increased diversity makes the U.S.a better place, says the personal finance site, while only 9 percent say it makes the U.S.worse.

To measure "America's progress in harmonizing racial groups," WalletHub measured gaps between blacks and whites across "22 key indicators of equality and integration," ranging from median annual income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout.

Says the site, "This report examines the differences between only blacks and whites in light of the high-profile police-brutality incidents that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and discrimination against blacks."

Hawaiʻi ranks third overall in racial integration, taking second in overall employment and wealth equality.

Hawaiʻi has the lowest gap in median annual household incomes between whites and blacks, at 7.74 percent, and has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1979, with a change of 33.19 percent.

Hawaiʻi also has the lowest gap in poverty rates between whites and blacks, at 0.87 percent, and the lowest labor force participation gap. The gap in standardized test scores in also lowest in the nation.

Trojans, in white, tore up Keaʻau on the Kaʻū home court last night.
Photos by Julia Neal

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TROJANS TRIUMPHED IN GIRLS BASKETBALL last night, winning both games played against Keaʻau.

The JV game was a clean sweep, with Kaʻū scoring 7 in the first quarter to Keaʻau's 5, and not letting that lead go. The Trojans scored 17 in the second, 10 in both the third and fourth, winning the game 44 to 22.

Kaʻū gave Keaʻau a hard fight in the Varsity game. For the first quarter, the Cougars lead by 9 points, 15 to Kaʻū's 6. But the Trojans ladies weren't going down without a fight, and rallied back, scoring 16 points in the second, 10 in the third, and tying with 16 points in the fourth. Overtime was a hard battle, won by the Trojans, 54 to 53. Kianie Medeiros-Dancel scored 26 of those points, Reishalyn Jara 17.

The Trojans Girls Basketball team will face Honokaʻa in the BIIF Division II semi-finals on Friday, Jan. 25.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Wrestling:

Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Soccer:

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

NEW and UPCOMING

WALKING FOR FITNESS, a program for those 18 years old and above, happens at Kahuku Park on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., from Jan. 22 through Feb. 26. Athletic shoes are required. Registration takes place through Friday, Jan. 18.
For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours.

GLITTER SNOW FLAKE ARTS AND CRAFT ACTIVITY, for keiki 6 to 12 years old, happens at Kahuku Park on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration takes place through Friday, Jan. 18. Free.
For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours.

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

ONGOING
Applications for the first annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

A keiki full of kindness met the Kaʻū Voices group at the Women's Wave March in Hilo today.
See more below. Photo by Laurie Boyle

PRES. DONALD TRUMP'S SPEECH TO THE NATION ON THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN drew a response from Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, following his talk that was broadcast from the White House today. Said Hirono, "This is yet another bogus offer from a president who changes his mind on a whim and can't be trusted. Instead of succumbing to the president's strategy of negotiating through hostage taking, Mitch McConnell should bring the House passed bills to the floor of the Senate for a vote and end this shutdown."

Hirono referred to bills to reopen the federal government that already passed the U.S. House of Representatives but are held up by Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, who could put them to a vote in the Senate and reopen the government. In a letter to constituents, Hirono said that Trump
"negotiates through hostage-taking, which hurts federal workers, contractors, and their families. House Democrats have taken the responsible course of action and passed numerous bills to reopen the government. If the president's 'hostage-taking' negotiations are successful, he will resort to this tactic again and again. We need to send a clear message this tactic is not only unacceptable, but unconscionable. That's why it's beyond time Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stop hiding and continuing to enable the president to wreak havoc on millions of families, our economy, and our country." She asks for constituents to sign a petition to help bring the House-passed legislation to end the shutdown up for a vote in the Senate immediately.

Instead, McConnell announced that he would put Trump's plan before the Senate. The plan calls for $800 million in urgent humanitarian assistance; $805 million for drug detection technology to help secure ports of entry; an additional 2,750 border agents and law enforcement professionals; and 75 new immigration judge teams to reduce the court backlog of 900,000 cases.

The president said that in order to build trust and goodwill, he proposes three years of legislative relief for 700,000 DACA recipients brought here unlawfully by their parents at a young age - many years ago. The extension would give them access for work permits and social security numbers, and protection from deportation. Trump said he would also give a three-year extension of temporary protective status - affecting 300,000 immigrants whose protective status is facing expiration. He said the extensions would give time to come up with a larger immigration policy.
Trump's plans still includes $5.7 billion for a wall to block immigrants from coming across the Mexican border. He also refrained from promising to reopen the government.

The Coast Guard, on Friday, became
the first branch of the military to go
without paychecks during a
government shutdown.

Critics said the president failed to mention the federal workers suffering from the shutdown - accusing Trump of holding them hostage until he receives his wall money. Democrats said they would refrain from negotiating on immigration until he reopens the government.

Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted, "There are three separate and coequal branches of government and there is no stunt, press conference, or tweet that will change that." House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Trump's plan a "not starter."
In the meantime military insurance giant USAA and other financial institutions are offering government employees delayed insurance payments and other services until their income is restored. USAA also provided a donation to the U.S. Coast Guard, where more than 40,000 service members went without a paycheck on Friday, becoming the first military branch to go unpaid during a government shutdown.

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

NOVA WILL PROFILE THE 2108 ERUPTION ON THIS ISLAND in a new PBS documentary—Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire — premiering this Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 9 p.m. It will also stream on NOVA's website. The documentary includes interviews of Volcano residents Tom Peeks and Catherine Robbins. Peeks said, "While the documentary, like other NOVA programs, will focus on the scientific aspects of the eruption, it will also likely include discussion of its human impact and cultural and socio-political aspects, topics we discussed on camera as Volcano residents and former eruption rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi On Fire is the PBS NOVA documentary, profiling the 2018 eruption. It airs this Wednesday,
Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. Image from NOVA/PBS

"We have not seen the film yet, but based on the questions we were asked by the filmmakers during the early stages of the eruption, we are hopeful that its rendering of this life-changing Big Island event will be probing and respectful. We'll see on Wednesday," Peeks said.

Peeks, author of Daughters of Fire and other works, will host a workshop, Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection, Saturday, March 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus. To register, contact the Art Center at 808-967-8222.

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

STORIES FROM THE SUMMIT will feature ten Volcano-area residents sharing personal, sometimes harrowing, stories of the 2018 summit eruption with its explosions, earthquakes, ashfalls, and collapsing caldera. The presentation is this Thursday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m., in the Dietrich Varez Hall at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus. Tom Peek will emcee the event.

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

Kaʻū Voices: Melissa Tveter, Missi Wheeler, Linda Berry, Larry Jonas, and visitor at the Women's Wave March in Hilo.
Photo by Laurie Boyle

KAʻŪ VOICES group registered voters today at the Women's Wave March in Hilo. Signs posted at the booth included Medicare for All; Invoke the 25th Revoke #45; Rise Above Fear, Inequality and Complacency; and Liar Liar (with drawing of pants on fire.)

Laurie Boyle and Judy Knapp

Meliha Corcoran and
Linda Morgan from
Kaʻū.

Today was the third march in three years. Among the group's chants: "This is what Democracy Looks Like."
Marches took place in Kona, Washington, D.C. and many cities and towns across Hawaiʻi and the country.

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

ROOFTOP SOLAR IN HAWAIʻI INCREASED BY 5.3 PERCENT from 2017 to 2018, reports Hawaiʻi Electric Light. Hawai‘i is first in the nation in private rooftop solar, at 18 percent, with Hawaiʻi Island increasing from 15 percent to 16 percent from 2017 to 2018.

Rooftop solar produces 63 megawatts on Hawaiʻi Island.
Photo by Annie Bosted

Statewide, nearly 4,000 new systems came online in 2018, supporting the drive to reach the state's next milestone of 30 percent renewable energy by 2020. Hawai‘i's percentage is more than double that of Connecticut, which is second at 6.8%. Hawaiʻi Island produces 63 megawatts from rooftop solar.

Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service Jim Alberts said, "We are extremely proud of the progress we've made as a company and as a state to build steady growth in residential rooftop solar. Rooftop solar is a critical piece of the renewable mix that will move the state toward a 100 percent clean energy future, and we're excited to see the numbers increase year after year."

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

FREE CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS happen in Pāhala on Tuesday. Jan. 22, and Waiʻōhinu on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 9:30to 11:30 a.m. The program is sponsored by Partners for Safe Keiki, Tūtū and Me, and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, a coalition of Partners of Keiki, and Safe Grant Hawaiʻi.

"Three of four car seats are not installed correctly," say the sponsors. "Feel free to post, share and circulate to help us to reach as many Kaʻū residents as possible. There is no eligibility requirement for these inspections. Just come with your vehicle, keiki and car seat(s)!" To make an appointment, call 896-1336.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

PARKS AND RECREATION TRACK AND FIELD PRACTICE, for keiki ages 6 to 14, continues at Kahuku Park on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., through Feb. 22. Athletic shoes are required. Open registration.
For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours.

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

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

The following event is cancelled due to partial government shutdown: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, will take place, despite partial government shutdown on Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

The historic Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo is familiar to state Sen. Kai Kahele. His late father Sen. Gil Kahele (above)
spoke there many times. Kai Kehele is expected to announce his candidacy Monday at the Bandstand, vying for
the U.S. House of Representatives seat now held by Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard announced her candidacy for
U.S. president last week. Photo by William Neal

STATE SEN. GIL KAHELE WILL ANNOUNCE HIS RUN FOR REP. TULSI GABBARD'S SEAT IN CONGRESS, reports The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper. The Hill refers to a story on Saturday from the Honolulu Star Advertiser, which reported that its sources confirmed the move.
See last Tuesday's Kaʻū News Briefs, which stated that Kahele would possibly announce his bid for Gabbard's seat tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo.
According to The Hill, "Niether Kahele's nor Gabbard's offices immediately responded to requests for comment," regarding Kahele running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gabbard, in her fourth term in Congress, announced last week that she will run for president in 2020.
Kahele's announcement will be carried live on Nā Leo TV beginning at 11:00 a.m., on Spectrum Channel 53, online at naleo.tv, and streaming via mobile app.

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

MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS OF PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN is leading to increased issues for the approximate 800,000 federal workers that aren't being paid – about half of whom will not get paid at all, when the shutdown ends. Today, millions of Americans with SNAP (food stamp) benefits received their February food money early. However, if the shutdown continues, the allocation for March is not certain.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's support group Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park received more than $100,000 in donations last week to keep the park open, and they expect more generous gifts. It is unsure, however, how long the visitors center and those trails and roads that are open can remain accessible without the normal funding stream.

Tens of thousands of federal workers, such as scientists at the National Weather Service, are forced to work or lose their jobs, while paying expenses with no paycheck in sight. More federal employees are simply out of work, with no idea when they will be able to go back to providing for themselves and their families.

Kaʻū's U.S.Senators and Representative continue to make their opinion known:

"Open the government," Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted this weekend, "and we will be happy to talk about whatever proposals the executive may have. But risking health and safety, hurting the economy, and delivering pain to families can never be the start of a fruitful negotiation. So, open the government, and let's talk… But if we reward this behavior it will never end, and the pain and chaos will be worse in the future. Let this be the last shutdown. They always backfire."

Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "Instead of succumbing to @realDonaldTrump's strategy of negotiating through hostage taking, @senatemajldrshould bring the House passed bills to the floor of the Senate for a vote and end the #TrumpShutdown." She also praised "staff and volunteers at @hawaiifoodbank for your efforts to support our federal workers and contractors during the government shutdown. Your work this morning demonstrated once again how Hawaiʻicomes together to help those in need."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called the shutdown "reckless," saying Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump "must pass the House's bipartisan legislation and re-open the government now," not "continue to put politics before their responsibilities to serve the American people, leaving our working people unable to pay medical bills, afford their rent and mortgage, and put food on the table for their children." She also praised "everyday Americans," who "haven't hesitated to take this charge, share their aloha, and care for each other."

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

Kaʻū Coffee First Princess Helena Sesson, performing at the 2018 kick off party for the Kaʻū Coffee Festival. This year's event will be on Friday, April 26. See the ten day schedule of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival, below. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL DATES ARE SET FOR 2019. The Festival begins with a free Paʻina & Open House on Friday, April 26, at Pāhala Plantation House beginning at 6 p.m. Meet the Miss Kaʻū Coffee Court on the evening before their pageant. Enjoy live entertainment and refreshments.
Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant will be held Saturday, April 27, at the Kaʻū District Gym.

Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest invites everyone to join in on Sunday, April 28, at Kaʻū Coffee Mill.

Kaʻū Mountain Hike will be held Wednesday, May 1, starting at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Visit the old waterways of the sugar plantation and hike through the rain forest.

Kaʻū Valley Farms tour will be on Thursday, May 2.

Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day will be held on Friday, May 3, at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm on Kalaiki Road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu.

Kaʻū Stargazing on Friday, May 3, will take guests to the top of Makanau with a dark, new-moon sky for excellent viewing.

Kaʻū Coffee Festival Hoʻolauleʻa will be on Saturday, May 4, on the grounds and within Pāhala Community Center.

Kaʻū Coffee College will be held on Sunday, May 5, with education for coffee farmers and Kaʻū Coffee enthusiasts.
See updates in future stories about the events. Also see kaucoffeefestival.com

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

A TOTAL LUNAR "BLOOD MOON" ECLIPSE began before moonrise at 5:58 p.m., ending at 9:48 p.m. Maximum coverage happens at 7:12 p.m. Full coverage ran from 6:41 p.m. through 7:43 p.m. The start of the eclipse was hard to see in Hawaiʻi, as the eclipse began before moonrise. Kaʻū may or may not have visibility due to cloud cover. The next full lunar eclipse visible in Hawaiʻi happens in May of 2021. See more details at timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/hilo.

Phases of a full lunar eclipse. Images from space.com

The Ka‘ū Calendar's astronomy writer Lew Cook offers an explanation:

When the moon rises on the 20th, it will be nearing the total eclipse phase of this evening's eclipse. The total part of the eclipse will begin about 40 minutes after moonrise. 1 hour 2 minutes later, the total phase ends. Hold on – all isn't over then. The moon will move out of the shadow of the earth gradually until it leaves the edge of the darkest part of the shadow. Still, all is not over until the moon exits the penumbra, the gradual shading of the shadow where the earth covers part – but not all – of the sun's disk. This happens at 9:48 p.m., but isn't really that noticeable.

The eclipsed moon is often called the "blood moon" because the dust in our atmosphere causes the light that is scattered through the earth's atmosphere to be reddish, like a sunset. How red and dark will it get? If it is clear, check it out.

See Lew Cook's monthly column in The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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STEWARDSHIP MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT PROJECT, organized by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is the "first intensive effort in Hawaiʻi to take stock of the diverse community of groups that care of our many special places, mauka to makai," says dlnr.hawaii.gov. Groups who care for Hawaiʻi ʻāina (land) and kai (ocean) can fill out a survey, get recognition for their hard work, then be added to a map and database; a resource that "will promote collaboration across communities, landscapes, and topics."

The project collects survey data to create a public online stewardship database and map of community, civic, and other organizations that mālama ʻāina and kai.

Groups that already received a survey are encouraged by DLNR to fill it out "today." If not, go to StewMapHawaii.net to learn more and sign up to receive a survey. While the first portion of the map will focus on Oʻahu, more regions and outlying islands are planned for mapping.

The project aims to answer the questions: Who takes care of this region? Where are there gaps and concentrations of care? Where are groups working, on what issues, and who is working in your community or topic?

Groups of at least two people may benefit by: Being part of stewardship maps and diagrams of neighborhood, Ahupuaʻa, and Moku. Getting students engaged with places that participate in ʻāina based learning. Identifying ways to share information, ideas, and other resources with groups, non-profits, and agencies.

Environmental educators, gardeners, canoe club or hālau hula members, researchers, community organizers, and those that care for a loʻi or clean up the beach are encouraged to get on the map.

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

ALL RECYCLING AND TRANSFER STATIONS ARE CLOSED tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Says Hawaiʻi County: "We respectfully ask for your kōkua. Please do not litter or illegally dump any solid waste at the closed Recycling and Transfer Stations. Mahalo for your cooperation and helping to keep our island a clean and beautiful paradise for everyone."

Contact the Solid Waste Administrative Office at (808) 961-8270 or (808) 961-8339 with questions.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Soccer:

Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

GROUP ART PROJECT for keiki ages 5 to 12 on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room at Ka‘ū District Gym, on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. Registration open through Tuesday, Jan. 22. Free.
For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

SPECIAL MOVIE NIGHT EVENT OPEN TO ALL AGES, on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym, on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. Registration open through Wednesday, Jan. 23.
For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Mon., Jan. 21, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
The following event is cancelled due to partial government shutdown: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Studentsare open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.

The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at
mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

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

Preventing a wall of plastics from growing along the Kaʻū Coast, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund spent the
holiday weekend cleaning up ocean debris. See more below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

THE MOST SPOKEN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. QUOTES during this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend perhaps come from his 1964 visit to the Berlin Wall. Speaking at a church nearby, King called the Berlin Wall, "a symbol of the divisions of men on the face of the earth. For here on either side of the wall are God's children and no man-made barrier can obliterate that fact. Regardless of the barriers of race, creed, ideology, or nationality, there is an inescapable destiny which binds us together. There is a common humanity which makes us sensitive to the sufferings of one another."
Standing near the Berlin Wall that was three years old back in 1964, King said, "America is proving to be the testing ground of races living together in spite of their differences....wherever reconciliation is taking place, wherever men are breaking down the dividing walls of hostility, which separate them from their brothers, there Christ continues to perform his ministry of reconciliation."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Berlin Wall in 1964. His assessment
is much quoted on Martin Luther King Day, today.

MLK's daughter, Dr. Bernice King, talked about the current political climate and repeated many times during her sermon this morning, "We are in a state of emergency." During services, celebrating MLK's 90th birthday at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was pastor, his daughter said, "We are in a state of emergency because of our humanitarian crises, and it's not at our southern border." She also proclaimed, "The concern for human welfare is being threatened. When prejudice and bigotry are emboldened, when schools continue to be unsafe spaces because of impotent gun control laws; this is a humanitarian crisis and we are in a state of emergency."

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REP. TULSI GABBARD SENT OUT THIS MESSAGE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY:
"Responding to white religious leaders from the confines of his Birmingham jail cell, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, 'We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.'"
Said Gabbard, "We reflect on his legacy of love, courage, and nonviolence as we face the trials of our time. Our people, our country, and our planet are in turmoil brought upon by greedy self-serving politicians intent on dividing us in their pursuit of power and profit.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking during Civil Rights Week at University of Hawaiʻi in 1964.
Photo from University of Hawaiʻi News

"Dr. King recognized that it was a loss for humanity as a whole when we fail to see each other as brothers and sisters. We must commit to putting service before self, in a spirit of aloha – love and respect – to lift each other up and reach his vision of a world where we are 'judged not by the color of our skin, but by the contents of our character.'"
According to Gabbard, "When I look around today, despite tremendous progress, it's clear that we are fighting the same forces that he organized against. The same political establishment that led our country into the Vietnam War and has now led us into Libya, Iraq, Syria, and begun the drum beats for Iran; the same corporate oligarchy that exploits workers without a living wage or adequate health care; the same forces of white supremacist ideology spread by people like David Duke, Richard Spencer, and Steve King, continues to give rise to institutional racism and racial violence.

"It's only when we march together as one movement – as Dr. King showed that we must – that we can reach the mountaintop of freedom and equality for all.
"When we put service before self out of love for our country and planet, we can build a bright future with freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity for all. A future worthy of Dr. King's dream."

Gabbard asked for readers to contribute their messages of aloha in honor of Dr. King

for a space to feature "these words of love and service in remembrance of this great American leader."

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

U.S. SEN. KAMALA HARRIS IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, making her announcement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and bringing the number of Democrats seeking their party's nomination to eight. They are: Kaʻū's congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren; Julian Castro, who served as mayor of San Antonio and as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand; businessman and former Maryland Congressman John Delaney; former West Virginia state senator and veteran Richard Ojeda; and universal basic income supporter and former tech executive Andrew Yang, of New York.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard faces seven competitors, so far, in the
race for the Democratic nomination for president.
Kamala Harris, left, announced today.

In a social media message broadcast today, Harris, the U.S. senator and former attorney general of California, said, "Decency. Justice. Truth. Equality. Freedom. Democracy. These aren't just words: they're the values we, as Americans, cherish. Right now, they're all on the line. We face the greatest crisis of leadership we've seen in our lifetimes, and powerful voices are filling the void, sowing hate and division among us.
"We've witnessed an Administration that aligns itself with dictators and refers to white supremacists as 'very fine people.' They've torn babies from their mothers' arms and put children in cages. They've slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthiest among us – placing the burden on the middle class. They've actively fought against efforts to combat climate change. Time and again, they've sabotaged our country's health care. And they've attacked our free and independent press at every turn. We know America is better than this – but it's on us to build it. We're going to have to fight for it."

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

STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE ANNOUNCED HE WILL RUN FOR U.S. CONGRESS. The seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, currently held by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, serves residents of Volcano, Kaʻū, and South Kona, along with the rest of the Neighbor Islands and rural Oʻahu.
Kahele stood on Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo and proclaimed: "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired generations with the simple idea that one person can make a difference, one person can change the world. Dr. King once asked 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?'"

He also said it was on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, three years ago, that he found his father, Sen. Gil Kahele, collapsed at home. The longtime member of Hawaiʻi's Democratic Party died nine days later. Kai Kahele said he felt a call to public service and a desire to follow in his father's footsteps.

"Our family needed leadership. Our community needed leadership. There was work left undone and a legacy to carry on inspired by his dream – the dream of this gentle Hawaiian man from Miloilʻi, to build a better Hawaiʻi for all of us," Kai Kahele said.

Sen. Kai Kahele announced his run for Congress today for a district that serves Kaʻū.
Image from film of his speech today at Moʻoheau Bandstand

Kahele said during his time serving in the State Senate, he has met with a host of residents. Their many concerns include the future for Hawaiʻi's children.

"When I think of them, I think of my own daughters and your children and the Hawaiʻi of the future they will grow up in. And like every parent, we all want more for our children than we had for ourselves. We want the brightest future for them. We want them to have a secure job sustained by a strong and thriving economy. We want them to grow up in a safe community, and a clean environment. We want them to be able to attend outstanding public schools and have access to quality healthcare when they need it. We want them to be able to walk in our ʻōhiā forests, swim in our oceans rich with marine life, and see the Hawaiʻi that we have seen through our eyes."

But in order to achieve this, Kahele said, "Hawaiʻi needs teamwork, focus, and dedicated leadership. We need passion and compassion. We need courage and collaboration. We need commitment and humility. We need elected leaders working together, leaders who put the common interests of Hawaiʻi's people ahead of their own."

Kahele acknowledged some will ask, why now? He answered, "In Dr. King's now famous I Have a Dreamspeech, he talked about what he called 'The Fierce Urgency of Now.' That there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency, the time is now for vigorous and positive action. I am also reminded of President Obama who said, 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.'"

Kahele is a combat pilot, a Major in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, a commercial pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, and a State Senator representing Hilo. See and hear his speech.

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Sen. Marzie Hirono to the right of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during an ILWU march today.
Photo from Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, joined members of the ILWU in Hawaiʻi. Hirono said she marched "in solidarity with all those fighting for justice in Hawaiʻi and across the country." She quoted MLK who said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
Hirono also asked supporters to sign a petition for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Hirono wrote: "Remember when the Trump administration cruelly separated thousands of children from their families at the border last summer, and then claimed they never instituted such a policy? Last week, we found out that not only did the Department of Homeland Security separate potentially thousands more children than originally reported, but they also premeditated this 'zero tolerance' border strategy in a December 2017 memo, directly contradicting DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's claims that no such policy or plan existed.

"What happened at the border was no accident: the Trump administration crafted a step-by-step plan to 'Increase Prosecution of Family Units' and 'Separate Family Units.' They knew what they were doing when they targeted and separated families seeking asylum, and then lied about it when they got caught. Now, thousands of children and their families have been traumatized, many have yet to be reunited, and it's possible thousands more are still separated and experiencing life-altering harm at the hands of this president.

"As an immigrant and an American, I am appalled by this administration's cruelty and lies. In June 2018, I called on DHS Secretary Nielsen to resign over the migrant family separation. As we continue to uncover more information we realize the situation gets worse and worse. Again, I call on Secretary Nielsen to be held accountable and resign.
"Join me and sign your name to demand Secretary Nielsen resign after overseeing this inhumane family separation policy and then lying about it to the American people," urges Hirono.

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and volunteers battle marine debris so
Kamilo and other Kaʻū beaches don't stay looking like this.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

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

FIVE KEIKI AND 22 ADULT VOLUNTEERS REMOVED MARINE DEBRIS totaling about 1,907 lbs. from Kamilo on the Kaʻū Coast over the weekend. They filled 61 bags and five trucks. Marine debris includes 1,000 lbs. of derelict fishing line and net bundles. Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and volunteers also conducted the 100 meter NOAA Accumulation Survey #22. Volunteers donated labor, and use of four-wheel drive vehicles and four-wheelers.
With volunteers Hawaiʻi Wildlife fund hauled over 258.9 tons of marine debris from the shores of Hawaiʻi Island from 2003 - 2018.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING
FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted on Friday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m., at Amalfatano's Italian Restaurant - located in Waiakea Villa complex at 399 Hualani Street, Hilo.

The all-you-can-eat buffet dinner includes: pizza, pasta dish, lasagna, and salad. Iced tea and water is provided. Guests are asked to provide their own beverage if they prefer a different option.
Proceeds will help fund KDEN's upcoming productions, including the 2019 summer musical, Flower Drum Song. Tickets are $20 cash or check - available at the door. Reservations may be made by calling KDEN at 982-7344.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The following event is cancelled due to partial government shutdown: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

MONDAY, JANUARY 28

Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend the informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule.

"We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

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

On a patch of rolling hills near Kauaʻi's southern coast, solar panels and batteries work to offset fossil fuel usage.

Read about the difference in solar project setup in Ocean View, below. Photo from AES Corporation

THE STATE OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI"IS SOUND," Gov. David Ige reported today, noting that Hawaiʻi is the healthiest state, with health care coverage among the broadest and most enduring in the nation. Hawaiʻi has one of the lowest unemployment rates. Its visitor industry is moving toward another record setting year. Both individual personal income and the state's gross domestic product have been steadily growing. "For four years, we have worked hard have been building our reserves and paying down unfunded liabilities, including those to our employee pension and health benefits system." He noted that Hawaiʻi has earned the highest bond rating in the state's history, resulting in lower interest rates when the state needs to borrow money.

Gov. David Ige gave the annual state of the state of Hawaiʻi address today.
Photo from Ige's Flickr

The governor told state legislators during his State of the State address today that his administration proposes "a prudent budget that does not project to spend all that comes in."

Ige said the future in Hawaiʻi has a name – "the name of your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter." He said the future is "personal, because it is about our home." He spoke of moving forward to a better, more secure, more nurturing Hawaiʻi and: "We do so at a time when the state is strong."

Talking about the future, the governor said, "I am mindful that the world around us has changed since we began this journey four years ago. We are no longer limited by our geographic isolation, freed by the wonders of its technology; but that's also a double edged sword. The very thing that makes us more connected with the rest of the world also makes us more vulnerable to its slings and arrows, including what happens in our nation's capitol. More than ever, we need to take control and shape our own destiny through education and innovation and we need to protect those things that mean the most to us - our natural resources, our way of life, our values, and our children's future."

A full rotunda listened as Gov. David Ige proclaimed the state of
the state of Hawaiʻi as "sound." Photo from Ige's Flickr

Ige praised Hawaiʻi in leading the country in several policy areas: "In 2015, we were the first state to set a 100 percent renewable energy standard, the most aggressive clean energy goal in the country. In 2016, we were the first in the nation to enroll fire arms owners in a centralized information system. In 2017, we were the first state to enact legislation that aligns with portions of The Paris Accord. In 2018, we were the first state to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos to protect our children's health and the first in the world to ban certain sunscreens to protect our environment."

See more from the govenor's State of the State in Wednesday's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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OCEAN VIEW AND KAUAʻI SOLAR PROJECTS SHOW A STARK CONTRAST in design and price of electricity. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is purchasing power from AES Corp., which built a new 28-megawatt Lāwaʻi Solar and Energy Storage Project on Kauaʻi to deliver power when needed, at a cost of 11 cents per kilowatt hour. The price of electricity from the proposed 6.5 megawatt Ocean View project by SPI Energy would be 23 cents per kW hour.

Black lots are approved for solar installations. Green lots

are where homes or other improvements are built. Pink lots

are where businesses are built. Yellow lots are undeveloped.

The Kauaʻi project is reported to be the largest operational solar and storage system in the world. It began operating early this month and is a first-of-its-kind design that transfers power from the sun to batteries and onto the power grid more efficiently than other existing storage systems, said AES Chief Executive Officer Andrés Gluski.

The Kauaʻi project is referred to as a "PV peaker plant" because it can supply solar energy after the sun has set and when demand is at its peak. The lithium-ion battery system is capable of storing 100 megawatt-hours. It can crank a full output of 20 megawatts for five hours. With 100 megawatt-hours of stored energy, the battery can also operate more like a baseload plant, delivering a lower amount of power for more hours through the night until the sun comes back up. AES expects to offset 3.7 million gallons of diesel each year by dispatching more cost-effectively than the fossil-fueled incumbents.

Solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity that must be converted into alternating current (AC) before it's sent over the grid. The AES design uses a more efficient conversion process that makes it faster and cheaper than other designs, said Woody Rubin, president of AES Distributed Energy. "You really are combining speed and flexibility there," Rubin said. "The plant ramps to provide true capacity faster than any thermal ramping resource on the island."

Unlike the Kauaʻi solar farm, the solar project planned for Ocean View is unable to efficiently deliver power when most needed. It is planned for empty scattered lots within neighborhoods – mostly in Hawaiian Ranchos – and is limited by its fragmented configuration.

Example of a fenced solar farm.

Each of the Ocean View project's 26 solar panel sites would need its own meter to measure power being supplied to the grid. Since batteries are installed "behind the meter," each three-acre solar installation would need its own battery if power from this project is to be available after sunset. This would mean 26 smaller batteries – batteries incapable of benefiting from the economies of scale enjoyed by the Lāwaʻi Project on Kauaʻi.

The Ocean View solar project would operate through a Feed In Tariff program, with Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co. paying the higher 23 cents per kW hour under a 20 year contract.

At a lower cost, the Kauaʻi solar farm will supply about 11 percent of Kauaʻi's electricity, making the island more than 50 percent powered by renewables, according to a statement from Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

"The big problem with solar is that it peaks when demand does not peak," said Gluski. With batteries, "that energy is much more useful for the grid and for consumers."

The island of Kauaʻi now gets at least 40 percent of its power for on-peak demand from renewable energy sources, thanks to the completion of the Lāwaʻi Project.
The Ocean View Solar Project is on hold pending the resolution of a formal complaint by Ranchos residents to the PUC.

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THE FUTURE OF VOLCANO VILLAGE and its extended community is the topic of a forum at CooperCenter, Thursday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. The public, and county, state, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials, are invited to attend and answer resident's questions, says a statement from Experience Volcano Hawaiʻi.

The group formed last May to face challenges of recovering from the 2018 volcanic eruption, "its accompanying earthquakes and its devastating effects on the local tourism industry. We're very proud of the low-impact model that we've evolved as a gateway community, serving thousands of national park visitors annually by integrating restaurants, galleries, and lodging into the community and its upland rainforest environment."

CooperCenter is on Wright Road in Volcano. For more information, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com. See experiencevolcano.com and Facebook.

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PELE'S ISLAND PLANTS IN OCEAN VIEW will go on the road with Phoeniciaand Bob Zeller's hard-to-find orchid varieties, assorted cactus, and succulents - including all sizes of agaves and aloes. For the collector and hobbyist, the Zellers will be in the Plant People Road Show, where BigIsland growers will explain what plant varieties thrive best in locations around the island. The show will take place at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Talk story with 12 growers from the island's different regions during the sale. In addition, growers will offer cut blooming flower stems and plant selections geared for Valentine gift-giving. Admission is free.

Orchids, like the one above, anthuriums, air plants, bamboo, water lilies,

exotic fruit trees and vines, and cactus and other succulents, will be

for sale, with expert advice on what grows where on this island.

Photo from Plant People Road Show

Here are the other presenters:

Chitose and Tsuyoshi Tsumura of C & T Products in Keaʻau offer many different varieties and colors of anthuriums – the heart-shaped blooms come in a variety of hues.

Peter and Kay DeMello of DeMello Air Plants in Kona sell over 50 varieties of easy-care air plants.

Jennifer Snyder and Bob Harris of Orchid People in Waimea have created warm-tolerant varieties of Cymbidium orchids that flower mauka to makai. Cymbidiums are prized for their multiple flowers on tall spikes.

Susan Ruskin and Peter Berg of Quindembo Bamboo in Kapaʻau market 25 species of fast-growing, non-invasive, clumping varieties of bamboo. Create a fast privacy hedge in your choice of standout black, blue, and red varieties.

Sean Spellicy and Iris Viacrusis of Royal Palm Enterprises in Kuristown sell fruit trees, ornamentals, and water garden plants.

In its seventh year, the Plant People Road Show offers two sales annually, around Valentine's Day and Halloween. The direct, nursery-customer setting enables growers to meet the public and get feedback while providing expert growing guidance. For info, call 808-987-3231.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

NOVA Profiles the 2018 Eruption in a new PBS documentary — Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire — premiering tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. It will also stream on NOVA's website. The documentary includes interviews of Volcano residents Tom Peeks and Catherine Robbins. Peeks said, "While the documentary, like other NOVA programs, will focus on the scientific aspects of the eruption, it will also likely include discussion of its human impact and cultural and socio-political aspects, topics we discussed on camera as Volcano residents and former eruption rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi On Fire is the PBS NOVA documentary, profiling the 2018 eruption.
It airs tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. Image from NOVA/PBS

Peeks, author of Daughters of Fire and other works, will host a workshop, Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection, Saturday, March 23, from 9:30 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. at VolcanoArtCenter's Niaulani Campus. To register, call 808-967-8222.

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

MONDAY, JANUARY 28

Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

"We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Jan. 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

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

Improving Early Education is a promise from Gov. David Ige in his State of the State address yesterday.
See story below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Department of Education

REOPEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT says the bi-partisan legislation that won a 234 to 180 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Kaʻū's Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted for the measure that would immediately re-open the government and pay federal employees. The package is based on legislation previously negotiated between House and Senate Republicans and Democrats prior to the government shutdown and includes $1.6 billion for key border security initiatives. The measure goes to the Senate.

NPS would receive $3.22 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

After the House vote, Gabbard said: "For 33 days, the federal government has failed its citizens. Over 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working without pay. I heard from one federal employee who held a garage sale last weekend, selling as much as she could, so she could raise money to pay her rent. Another who serves in the Army Reserves told me that if the government doesn't open by February, he'd be forced to volunteer to deploy to Afghanistan, to make sure he'd get a paycheck to care for his wife and kids.

BLM would receive $1.31 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

"This shutdown is causing irreparable consequences for the futures of our people and our country. Using the American people as pawns in a partisan game must stop. The shutdown must end now."

H.R. 648 goes to the U.S. Senate. It includes provisions related to:

Department of the Interior: Includes $3.22 billion for the National Park Service; $1.58 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $1.31 billion for the Bureau of Land Management; and $3.08 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education;

WIC would receive $6.075 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

Food and Nutrition Programs: Includes fully funding SNAP through 2019, $6.075 billion in discretionary funding for Women, Infants, and Children; $23.141 billion in mandatory funding for child nutrition programs; $1.716 billion for the Food for Peace program; and $210.255 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program;

Food Safety and Inspection Service: Includes $1.049 billion for FSIS;

EPA would receive $8.8 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

Department of Transportation: Includes $900 million for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER or BUILD); $17.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration; and $49.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, facilitating highway and bridge rehabilitation, and construction and railway crossing improvements;

FWS would receive $1.58 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

New Housing and Public Infrastructure: Includes $31 billion for Public and Indian Housing, including Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (Section 8), which is adequate to renew all existing housing vouchers; $7.7 billion for Community Planning and Development; and $12.7 billion for Housing Programs;

Agricultural Research: Includes $31.16 billion to support agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture;

Natural Resources Conservation Service: Includes $819 million for conservation operations to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land;

SNAP would be fully funded
through the end of the year
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

Farm Service Agency: Includes $1.71 billion for business operations and for FSA's farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs that benefit farmers and rural communities;

Rural Development: Includes $3.64 billion for Rural Development, including $625 million in funding dedicated for infrastructure investments in Rural America;

FAA would receive $17.5 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Includes $417 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Drug-Free Communities programs;

Environmental Protection Agency: Includes $8.8 billion for the EPA;

Indian Health Service: Includes $5.8 billion for Indian Health Service;

President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: Includes $5.7 billion for PEPFAR for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria;

NRCS would receive $819 million
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

Border Security: Includes $1.6 billion for border security related measures, including accelerating the recruitment and hiring of additional immigration judges to address the backlog in processing immigration cases; improvements in ports of entry to meet the latest security requirements, improve border security, and increase capacity for vehicular traffic; and assistance to Central America, a critical investment in improving the lives of those living in Central American countries.

Gabbard voted numerous times to re-open the federal government after the shutdown Dec. 22. She announced that she will donate her salary during the government shutdown to U.S. Vets, a private non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to veterans in Hawai‘i and across the country, including housing and employment assistance, counseling, veterans benefits, and treatment for mental, physical health problems, and substance abuse, and more.

Last week, the congresswoman spoke on the House floor,calling for an end to the government shutdown. She also rallied and marched from the AFL-CIO headquarters to the White House in solidarity with federal employees from dozens of unions, who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay.

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AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THE U.S. SENATE TO VOTE TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, Sen. Mazie Hirono issued this statement: "We are now in day 33 of President Trump's hostage taking of hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors, and now he is trying to take Dreamers hostage too. Over the weekend, he proposed temporary protection for DACA-recipients in exchange for funding for his vanity border wall.

Sen. Mazie Hirono with a group of Dreamers.
Photo from office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

"Trump is using Dreamers to make a deal, but the truth is that the courts have already reinstated the DACA program after Trump tried terminating it. And just yesterday, the Supreme Court announced it would not take up the president's case against DACA during its current term, leaving the program in place until at least 2020.

"That means the nearly 700,000 people brought to this country as children will continue to be eligible for protections under DACA, throwing a wrench into Trump's bogus attempt at a 'deal.'
"Trump is trying and failing to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip, and it's a waste of time. The longer he and Mitch McConnell continue to push this bogus deal and refuse to end the shutdown, the harder it gets for countless families to pay their rent or mortgage, put food on the table, and pay their bills.
"The United States Senate voted at the end of 2018 on an agreement to fund the federal government and the President reneged. Now, McConnell continues to kowtow to Trump by bringing up Trump's dishonest, hostage taking proposal for a vote tomorrow."

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

Early education helps to prepare children for a lifetime of learning. Photo from Hawaiʻi DOE

EARLY EDUCATION WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM GOV. DAVID IGE YESTERDAY. Said the governor, "Our public school system begins with kindergarten, but early education specialists tell us how important it is to prepare young children for a lifetime of learning. Research also tells us that early childhood education, such as preschool programs, are critical for brain development... children's early years set the stage for how well they learn for the rest of their lives."
Ige said that early education has been left "to others and only for families who can afford private preschool tuition. It doesn't have to be that way. First and foremost, we must create a universal, statewide, high-quality public preschool system that will give every child in Hawaiʻi a head-start on learning. Ultimately, we will need more than 300 public pre-K classrooms." He called it a long-term goal, starting now using existing space. He said he wants to do much more than add pre-kindergarten
classes. "I am proposing to the Department of Education that we look at our elementary schools in a whole different light," reinventing elementary education "by making early learning an integral part of our children's overall elementary curriculum. That's what good beginnings are all about."

The governor promises best practices and well qualified teachers for
preschools throughout the public school system. Photo from DOE

He proposes switching schools with Kindergarten through grade 6 to pre-K through grade 5. Grade six in those schools would move to middle schools, where the added classes could be more easily and financially accommodated. The governor pointed out that about half of public elementary schools include sixth-grade classes — most on neighbor islands, where preschools, both private and public, are lacking.
He plans to "kick start this effort, initially in communities where they are most needed. In addition, the phasing in of our public preschools will give us the time to ensure that we have well qualified preschool teachers to staff these classes." He also proposes to apply "best practices" learned from Hawaiʻi's Public Pre-Kindergarten Program and from other states that have added preschools to their public education system. "Of all the initiatives upon which we've embarked, I believe this one will make the greatest difference in preparing our children for the future and in creating a 21st century workforce."
He said that spearheading the initiative are Lauren Moriguchi, Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning, and DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto.
The governor also talked about Early College and Hawaiʻi Promise programs through partnerships with DOE, and UH and its community colleges. Ige also vowed "to expand our pool of teachers in some of our most difficult-to-staff schools. And we're doing so in partnership with UH, HSTA, and the DOE."
See more on the Sate of the State of Hawaiʻi in yesterday's and tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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EXPERIENCING THE LATEST VOLCANO ERUPTION was the talk at the recent Waimea Ocean Film Festival when volcanologist Dr. Rick Hazlett made his presentation. He entertained an audience by recounting his experiences that included ground shakings, flying over flowing lava, and studying the event scientifically.

Hazlett is an associate researcher for the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and faculty member at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo. He told his audience that, from his perspective, the three-month-eruption was not only an opportunity, but an odyssey that is now a study in progress. He readily admitted that although scientists have been studying volcanoes in Hawaiʻi for over a century, the volcanoes really need to be observed for about a thousand years in order to be more fully understood.

Dr. Rick Hazlett sharing eruption stories at Waimea Ocean Film Fesitval.
Photo by Annie Bosted

He has authored books entitled Roadside Geology of Hawaiʻi and Explore the Geology of Kīlauea Volcano. With Jack Lockwood, he co-authored the text book, Volcanoes: Global Perspectives.

During the eruption, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was closed to the public for safety. Hazlett, who was allowed to venture into the park, experienced the severe shaking at the summit as the caldera floor collapsed in steps during 62 explosions. "We could barely stand," he told his audience. "If the public had been in the park, there would have been a panic.

"In a matter of minutes, the caldera floor dropped six feet. The base of the Halemaʻumaʻu vent is now about half way between the summit and sea level. That's a huge drop."

Hazlett formed part of the team of USGS volcanologists called in from all over the country when Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption began May 3, to assist current HVO and National Park Service staff in monitoring and understanding the eruption.

"Flying over the lava flow was amazing," said Hazlett. "The lava covered large areas, but left other pockets of land, or kipuka, uncovered. From the air it looked like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle – some pieces were in place, but huge sections were missing. It was very surreal.

"Drones were used as scientific tools for the first time, and they worked remarkably well. We could set up a good geographic grid for them to fly, so the results were consistent."

Asked about the danger of Mauna Loa erupting, Hazlett replied: "Mauna Loahas been a good neighbor," but added, "I am very concerned about the southwest rift zone, and the town of Ocean View. It is smack in the path of where lava could travel in an eruption that we'll likely be around to see.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

RELAY RACES AT KAHUKU PARK, for keiki ages 6 to 12 years old, are held on Friday, Jan. 25, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Athletic shoes are required. Registration takes place through tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 24.

For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours.

READ TO ME, a performing arts program in Ka‘ū District Gym's multi-purpose room on Tuesdays, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., is open for keiki ages 5 to 12. Register with Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

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

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

MONDAY, JANUARY 28
Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend the informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule.
"We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Jan. 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed., Jan. 30, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Monthly. Seniors 60 years & older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Free Car Seat Inspections happen in Waiʻōhinu on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program is sponsored by Partners for Safe Keiki, Tūtū and Me, and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, a coalition of Partners of Keiki, and Safe Grant Hawaiʻi.
"Three of four car seats are not installed correctly," say the sponsors. "Feel free to post, share and circulate to help us to reach as many Kaʻū residents as possible. There is no eligibility requirement for these inspections. Just come with your vehicle, keiki and car seat(s)!" To make an appointment, call 896-1336.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
Craft Class, Thu., Jan. 31, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Jan. 31, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

ONGOING
Applications for the First Annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."
Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.
The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."

The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.
The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.
The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.
Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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

Ocean Community Center, the site of many community activities - from voting to medical care for vets,
discussions with public officials, and classes - could shut down in three years unless the community
offers more support. Photo by Annie Bosted

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER NEEDS A BOOST. It could close unless more residents join in to help keep the facility open. About 25 members of the Ocean View Community Association attended the annual meeting recently to learn that OVCA has been operating in the red for the past two years.
The Community Center could close in about three and a half years unless the trend is reversed, said outgoing treasurer Paulette Frerichs. She explained that the association suffered unusual expenses in 2018, including critical termite treatment and labor to install new flooring materials. Insurance is a very large annual expense as well. She said that both increasing the number of paid members and soliciting donations and/or grants will be essential for the association to cease "operating in the red."

Ocean View Community Center hosts voting for public
officials, classes, churches, and medical help for vets.

Several members advocated strongly for the community center, one of the major places in Ocean View where people get together. Others called it an invaluable community venue for functions sponsored by schools, churches, and many public service organizations such as AdvoCATS, which brings a spay/neuter program to the area.
Voting for primary and general elections, political forums, veteran medical services, and such regular activities as exercise classes and Ham radio meetings are held there. A member announced that she planned to start a table tennis program.
Another member volunteered to canvas for new members at the swap meet and grocery stores in Ocean View. Members encouraged her to point out that membership in the OVCA costs less than a cup of coffee a month. Dues are $30 a year for a single person, or $50 a year for a family.
"Think of joining as an investment in the community," urged Karen Powell, adding "We should not focus on 'what's in it for me,' but rather 'should the community be without the center?'"
Incoming President, Ron Gall, announced a Classic Car and Bike Show on March 30. The Association will sell hot dogs, chips, and drinks to raise funds for the Association. Two other food vendors will offer grinds.
Gall told The Kaʻū Calendar that the Community Center has become an invaluable place of education, hosting four organizations. "It is used by the Department of Education for a Blended Learning program, the Ocean View Homeschool Co-op, Kua O Ka Lā Charter School from Miloliʻi, and also by Harmony Educational Services.

Sturdy ʻōhiʻa posts of Ocean View Community Center.
Photo by Annie Bosted

The community needs to support education by keeping our Community Center's doors open. We hope more people will join in 2019."
The new officers for 2019 were announced at the meeting. Gall is President, Suzanne Reiter is Secretary, Gary Bailey is Vice President, and Tim Chace is Treasurer. Barbara Lewis and Dave Anderson are Directors. Positions for more directors are available.
Membership in the OVCA is open to all, including residents of all the subdivisions in Ocean View. The OVCA is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation. New members can join online, existing members can renew their membership, and tax deductible donations can be made at ovcahi.org/membership-donation.

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

THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WORE ON TODAY, with 800,000 federal employees remaining unpaid and two proposals failing in the U.S. Senate. Pres. Donald Trump said he will reject signing legislation unless it has funding for a wall along the Mexican border. One bill with wall funding was voted down, with several Republicans peeling away from Trump and voting against it. The bill with government funding and no wall funding also failed. Democrats said they would not allow the President to hold the unpaid government workers hostage in order for him to extract funding for his wall.

Democrats and Republicans met tonight to try to come up with a compromise including more border security funding and the reopening of the government to pay federal employees.

Referring to Trump changing his mind on an agreement to sign a bill that included both wall funding and reopening government, which earlier passed the House and Senate, Sen. Mazie Hirono tweeted, "You can't talk sense to someone who makes no sense, Donald Trump changes his mind as soon as Fox News tells him to.

Hawaiʻi's Seafarers Union hosts Sen. Mazie Hirono while distributing donated food to federal workers
who are going unpaid during the partial government shutdown. Photo from Mazie Hirono

Congress needs to do its job as a separate branch of government." She said that Republican and Senate majority leader "Mitch McConnell should step up and end the #TrumpShutdown now." She voted against the bill with wall funding.

Hirono also reported that before returning to Washington, D.C. this week she "joined Hawaiʻi Food Bank staff and volunteers at the Seafarer's Union Hall to distribute donated food to federal workers affected by the government shutdown. It was a great example of how Hawaiʻi comes together to help those in need. It's past time for Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell to end the shutdown."

Sen Brian Schatz voted against the bill with wall funding in exchange for funding the payroll for government employees. He tweeted: "We must never reward hostage taking."

He also said, "People who hate the government should never be in charge of it," and tweeted, "You don't get to say you want the government open but vote against the bill to reopen the government. It's time to walk the talk."

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

SOLVING A SEWAGE PROBLEM AND ACHIEVING A LAND CONSERVATION GOAL converged with the selection of property for the new Nāʻālehu sewage treatment plant. The county is close to acquiring 25 acres near Nāʻālehu, within 2,209 acres being acquired with miles of Kaʻū Coast and the remains of the ancient Hawaiian village of Waikapuna.

The proposed wastewater treatment site is in green, with areas to be served in purple and aqua.
Orange is the area for future service. Map from County of Hawaiʻi

The Nāʻālehu sewage treatment plant site would belong to the county, after being subdivided away from the larger parcel. The land purchased for preservation would be owned by the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, a community support group for the Ala Kahakai National Trail, the ancient Hawaiian trail that skirts the west side, from inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the north end of the island. It passes through the Waikapuna property along the Kaʻū Coast.
The purchase has been made possible with fundraising and negotiation help from Trust for Public Land. Money came from property taxes collected by the county, the state Legacy Land Conservation Program and federal sources. Purchase of the sewage treatment plant portion of the property is funded by the county Department of Environmental Management, with its county, state, and federal sources.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will vote tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 25, on whether to allow the 25 acres to be cut away from the larger parcel for the sewage treatment plant, and to acknowledge a delay in the use of its funding, as the property must be subdivided to provide the two parcels to the county and Ala Kahakai Trail Association.

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

LT. GOV. JOSH GREEN IS THE STATE'S NEW POINT PERSON "on leveraging private sector partnerships to address the chronically homeless, which includes some of the most difficult situations to resolve," said Gov. David Ige in his State of the State address this week.

Ige said Green will work closely with Scott Morishige, the state's homeless coordinator, who will continue to lead the state's overall homeless efforts. "On an island where land is scarce and the cost of living high, providing affordable homes for our families has been one of the most challenging aspects of caring and looking out for each other," said the governor. "Widespread homelessness across the state is a symptom of how steep that challenge is."

The governor called the problem "a complicated one. And one that will take a 'village' to solve.

But more than any other place in this country, Hawaiʻi intimately understands the village concept, because it is embedded in our values of ʻohana and aloha. With the help of the Legislature, our congressional delegation, the

Lt. Gov. Josh Green served the homeless community during his time as a state senator and has become
the point person for Gov. David Ige to help solve the homeless challenge. Photo from Josh Green

counties, federal agencies, business, and community service organizations, we have made significant strides in addressing homelessness in Hawaiʻi."

Ige pointed to a reduction in the homeless population for two consecutive years - a total reduction of 18 percent. "This includes decreases in every county, as well as decreases in key homeless sub-groups, such as families, children, and veterans. We have also seen an increase in people exiting homeless programs to permanent housing. Two years ago, only a third of those exiting homeless services went to permanent housing. That number has now increased to over 50 percent.

In addition, this year's budget includes $35 million for homeless programs."

The governor said government homelessness is addressed "as a community and not left it to government alone. Queen's Medical Center has seen what the impact of homeless patients has had on its overall mission. Without appropriate housing, recovery was a hit and miss affair and many became repeat patients with prolonged stays. Hospital officials knew that if they didn't treat the whole patient that the process would become frustratingly repetitive for both patient and doctor. That's why they became the first hospital in the nation to place its most medically fragile, homeless patients into housing as part of the recovery process."

The hospital estimates the program has generated savings of more than $5 million and, at the same time, lightened the burden on its emergency rooms and ambulances. "More importantly, it has changed the lives of those they have treated," said the governor.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

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

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

A SPECIAL MEETING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS ABOUT SENIOR HOUSING - the Fruit Stand Project - is held by ʻO Kaʻū Kākou at Nāʻālehu Community Center Sunday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m.

PARKS AND RECREATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS FOR KEIKI, 14 years old and younger, are underway at Nā‘ālehu Community Center courts, through Mar. 27. Registration is ongoing.

For keiki ages 10 and under, the program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For keiki ages 14 and under, the program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
For more, contact Recreation Director Richard Karasuda at 939-2510. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours and address.

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

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Jan. 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed., Jan. 30, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Monthly. Seniors 60 years & older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Free Car Seat Inspections happen in Waiʻōhinu on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program is sponsored by Partners for Safe Keiki, Tūtū and Me, and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, a coalition of Partners of Keiki, and Safe Grant Hawaiʻi.
"Three of four car seats are not installed correctly," say the sponsors. "Feel free to post, share and circulate to help us to reach as many Kaʻū residents as possible. There is no eligibility requirement for these inspections. Just come with your vehicle, keiki and car seat(s)!" To make an appointment, call 896-1336.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
Craft Class, Thu., Jan. 31, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

ONGOING
Applications for the First Annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."
Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."
The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.

To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.
The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.

The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.
The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

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