The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Segmented mirror blanks for the Thirty Meter Telescope are produced in Tokyo. See story below. Photo from TMT

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH is hopeful that the Big Island’s current outbreak of dengue fever will be brought under control. State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, that if residents work together to clear out mosquito populations, report cases to DOH and take precautions such as using repellent that contains DEET and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, they can help keep the disease from spreading.

Dr. Sarah Park

Park also asked the public to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding and multiplying. “If you see an abandoned tire on the side of the road, do the Good Samaritan thing and up-end it so you don’t encourage mosquitoes to breed,” she said to Stewart. She also recommended removing water-holding plants such as bromeliads and reporting large areas of standing water.
DOH has confirmed 10 cases of the disease in areas of East and West Hawai`i.
“At this point, we’re seeing it particularly in areas south of Kona, in Ho`okena and Honaunau,” Park told Stewart. “But it’s not just at one point or area. … Unfortunately, those are not the only areas. Your entire island is at risk.”

See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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PRODUCTION ON GLASS SEGMENTS that will make up Thirty Meter Telescope’s primary mirror is underway in Japan, as significant progress continues being made on the telescope’s manufacturing work by many participating nations. 

Over 100 of the 574 segmented mirror blanks needed for TMT’s primary mirror have already been produced in Japan, with fifty of those transported to a Canon factory in Utsunomiya, about 70 miles outside Tokyo, for surface polishing. Canon, Inc. and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan have established a polishing process for the individual mirrors. Coordinated research and development is underway with China, India and the United States to conduct additional polishing work.

A prototype of 492 individual TMT segmented mirrors. Photo from TMT

“Japan is proud to be part of this ongoing effort in building TMT,” said Masanori Iye, vice-chair of the TMT International Observatory Governing Board and Professor Emeritus of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. “This is an example of how people working cooperatively and sharing ideas can create positive results.”  TMT’s primary mirror will consist of 492 hexagonal segmented mirrors, with an additional 82 spare segments.
When in operation, TMT’s primary mirror is expected to have 156 times the light-gathering power and 13 times the resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope.
TMT is expected to deliver sharper and deeper images than existing telescopes both on the ground and in space. According to TMT, this will allow scientists to find possible habitable planets around other stars and determine how earlier galaxies were formed.

Hundreds of astronomers, engineers and technicians from around the world continue to design and manufacture telescope parts for TMT.

“Japan’s mirror segment production is one of many important production assignments taking place,” said Henry Yang, Chair of the TMT International Observatory Board. “With work currently underway in five different regions, the TMT project is truly and literally a global effort.”

The mummy wrap relay was popular at Pahala
Library's Halloween Bash. Photos from
Debbie Wong Yuen

For more information about the TMT project, see tmt.org or www.facebook.com/TMTHawaii, or follow @TMTHawaii.
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OVER 40 CHILDREN AND ADULTS attended Pahala Public & School Library’s first Halloween Bash on Friday. While Halloween movies were being shown, children participated in activities to win treats and had fun playing the Spider Race. The highlight of the event was making fun Halloween snacks: banana ghosts, mandarin orange pumpkins, bat cupcakes, marshmallow ghosts and more. The kids had a blast with the mummy wrap relay that concluded the fun.

Lisa Dacalio won the food decorating contest.

Keiki make Halloween snacks.

“We were happy with the extra helping hands from members of the Friends of the Ka`u Library and Lorilee Lorenzo doing a volunteer service project for school,” manager Debbie Wong Yuen said. “We all had a blast giving the keiki of Ka`u a fun, safe Halloween activity.”
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GOV. DAVID IGE WILL BE TRAVELING to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan from today through November 12.
The South Korean government invited Gov. and Dawn Amano-Ige to participate in various informational briefings and events on their first visit to the country. The governor will meet with various Korean ministries and officials to promote Korea-Hawai`i relationships, cooperation and economic development.
Gov. and Mrs. Ige will visit the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning and the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station to explore potential for renewable energy cooperation. They are also scheduled to visit Seoul National University, Inha University, the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport Corp. to explore the potential for exchanges in education, culture and tourism.
In Japan, the governor will attend the U.S.- Japan Council’s 2015 Annual Conference which convenes each fall to explore cutting-edge topics that provide opportunities for growth and cooperation between the United States and Japan. This year, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the conference will highlight the importance of the enduring partnership of our two countries.
The cost of the Korean portion of the trip is $8,286.71. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea is covering the cost of the trip for Gov. Ige, Mrs. Ige and Protocol Officer Rob Lee, who is accompanying the governor on this portion of the trip.
The governor’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney will accompany Gov. Ige on the Japan portion of the trip, which will cost approximately $5,000.34 and will be covered by the state. Mrs. Ige will accompany Gov. Ige on this portion of the trip at her own expense.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will serve as acting governor while Gov. Ige is out of the state.
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Sen. Brian Schatz

A GROUP OF U.S. SENATORS including Sen. Brian Schatz today released a report from the Government Accountability Office evaluating the ability of federal agencies to address public health risks of climate change. The report found that while federal agencies are planning for and taking steps to address the risks, more work must be done to communicate them to communities across the nation and to bolster research to further understand how climate change will impact health.  

“The effects of climate change are already being felt in Hawai`i and across the country,” Schatz said. “Extreme weather not only threatens the health of our environment, it threatens the health of every American. This new report underscores the challenges federal agencies face when combating the growing public health risks posed by climate change. While the GAO report makes recommendations on how we can prepare for current and anticipated health effects caused by climate change, we must also do more to mitigate its impacts and lead the world in helping solve this great challenge.”

THE BEAUTY OF KA`U continues at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. Hours for public viewing and voting at the art show are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday. See ad below for more information.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY Association holds a Holiday Bazaar Fundraiser this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Table rent is $10 per day or $15 for both in advance. Set up at 8 a.m. inside or out on first come, first to choose basis.

Jane Pettigrew Photo from VA

Pit ham and beef sandwiches will be on sale Saturday.
To sign up for a table and for more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

THE WORLD’S LESS WELL-KNOWN Tea Growing Regions is the topic of tea expert Jane Pettigrew’s talk during this Saturday’s Community Tea-in, when worldwide tea professionals gather with enthusiasts at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

As the passion for nurturing baby tea plants and producing all the different categories of tea increases around the world, this talk takes participants on a journey from the new Scottish growers in the northernmost parts of the United Kingdom to the French tea club in Nantes, the Japanese-style tea garden on Monte Verita in the Swiss Alps, into Bhutan in the Himalayas and on to South America, Australia and New Zealand and a few unusual African tea estates.
Preregistration fee before 12 p.m. on Friday is $20 per person and $18 for VAC and Hawai`i Tea Society members. Tickets may also be purchased at the door at $25 per person, $20 for active VAC and Hawai`i Tea Society Members.
See volcanoartcenter.org.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Miloli`i Fall Ocean Festival this Saturday is a fundraiser to restore Keahonui, which was destroyed in a car accident in July. See story below. Photos from Pa`a Pono Miloli`i and Miloli`i Canoe Club

COFFEE BERRY BORER on the Big Island is the worst he’s seen after traveling to many coffee growing areas in the world, said coffee expert Fernando Augusto Vicentini. He spoke to Ka`u Coffee farmers last night at Pahala Community Center and encouraged everyone to keep the floors of their orchards clean and strip all coffee berries between seasons to avoid providing an incubator site for the pest.

The Big Island's coffee berry borer infestation is the worst a worldwide coffee
expert has ever seen.

Agronomists explained that farmers in other places have also experienced the sometimes overwhelming presence of the borer as they got their footing to control the pest. Ka`u farmers are learning to control it as well, they said.
A mechanical engineer by training, Vicentini also showed films of machines that sweep the ground around coffee trees, machines that pick up rubbish and even small hand-held machines that help to pick coffee. A Brazilian, from a country of giant coffee plantations with mechanical harvesting and inexpensive coffee, much of it grown on flatlands, he also showed industrialized coffee picking and processing.
Vicentini explained that labor-saving mechanization is also available to cooperative groups and can be designed to fit each situation. He talked about sprayers for coffee berry borer that ionize the spray and use less chemicals since they focus the spray on the trees rather than distributing to the air and ground. He also showed a hand-harvest machine with batteries that strips beans but not the leaves. Another innovation is a UV-light sorter that separates high- and poor-quality coffee beans.
Vicentini helped researchers who traveled from Hawai`i to Brazil to study coffee berry borer strategies in his country. His trip to Hawai`i was partially funded by Hawai`i Coffee Association. The presentation was co-sponsored by the USDA and University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
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Sen. Josh Green, M.D.

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN said Hawai`i Department of Health has mobilized resources to limit spread of dengue fever. “In the coming days, we should have a good idea if they are clustered geographically on our island,” Green said. As of today, DOH has confirmed 11 cases of the disease on Hawai`i Island.

“In the meantime, know the following about dengue: it is a virus, and it causes high fevers, severe aches and muscle pains and often eye pain in those who get it. It is not usually fatal in the U.S. but can be serious. There is no treatment for the virus per se (antibiotics don’t help), but it is helpful to see your doctor to receive fluids and treatment for high fevers. A blood test confirms it. The most severe symptoms usually last only a few days, then recovery occurs.”
Green urged residents to eliminate breeding areas. “The mosquito spreads the disease, so please make sure there is no stagnant water on your property that would allow mosquitoes to breed,” he said. “If you are concerned you might have this virus, call your health provider or write me anytime.”
Green will be hosting a live TV update on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at thinktechhawaii.com.
See facebook.com/SenatorJoshGreen.
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A NEW RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION on public health data about communities in Hawai`i is now available from the state Department of Health. The department’s Hawai`i Health Data Warehouse has introduced a new easy-to-use interactive query/reporting tool – the Indicator-Based Information System – that provides users more control to find and access the data they want. An online step-by-step guide walks users through the user-friendly query process.

“The new HHDW platform puts Hawai`i’s health data at the public’s fingertips,” said Health Director Virginia Pressler. “Giving Hawai`i residents easy access to this information, including the ability to track our progress toward meeting state and national health goals and objectives, is an important priority for the Department of Health.” Hawai`i joins nine other states and two federal agencies that already use the IBIS system for public health data.

Health data is at the public's fingertips at HHDW.org.

HHDW has served as an online clearinghouse for state health data since its establishment in 2004, providing access to hundreds of statistics about the health of Hawaii’s people from five public health survey datasets including data related to births, deaths and marriages in the state. Based on feedback from current users, the new site now gives users the ability to pinpoint the data they need and select how they would like it displayed. Even with no prior data experience, the IBIS system makes it easy to find data and create custom reports. The default report includes a chart, data table and a map, and users have the ability to modify reports by applying filters or changing how the results are displayed.
Besides the addition of IBIS, HHDW’s Healthy People 2020 Tracker tracks Hawai`i’s progress towards national Healthy People 2020 targets. Objectives listed in Hawai`i state health plans are also measured; for example, the Physical Activity and Nutrition Tracker displays the state’s progress toward achieving the objectives of the Hawai`i Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan. HHDW also houses more than 600 pre-loaded standardized health indicator reports on a variety of topics that are searchable by category, by data source and by Healthy People 2020 objective.

“Providing multiple ways to access and share data increases the likelihood that the public will use the information,” said Ranjani Starr, epidemiologist for the Department of Health Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division. “Hawai`i students, researchers, concerned citizens and policy makers now have a variety of tools available to them to generate data for their diverse needs.” For more information about HHDW, the IBIS system or Hawai`i Health Matters, see www.HHDW.org.

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UNIVERSITY CENTER AT PALAMANUI hosts a Degree Preparation Workshop at the new Hawai`i Community College Palamanui campus on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The University Center delivers over 40 degree and certificate programs from across the 10-campus University of Hawai`i system. Residents can obtain degrees from UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo and UH-West O`ahu while living on Hawai`i Island. The University Center provides local students support for the distance learning degrees offered there.
At the workshop, students can learn what degrees are offered in West Hawai`i; the necessary steps to move forward; key deadlines; methods of program delivery; what it takes to be a successful distance learning student; and more.
To attend, contact Carrie Kuwada Phipps, Educational Specialist, at carriekp@hawaii.edu.
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Ka`u residents can vote for their favorite from a variety of art through tomorrow.

THE BEAUTY OF KA`U continues through tomorrow at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. Hours for public viewing and voting are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public may sign in and receive a ballot for their favorite entry. Each ballot, a numbered ticket, will also be entered into a drawing for door prizes to be held each hour, and the winner does not need to be present. Prizes are being donated by various Ka`u merchants.

The winner of the popular vote will be featured on the cover of The Directory 2016 and receive $100 and an article inside The Directory.

PAHALA PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY hosts Janice Morimoto on Friday at 1:30 p.m. During Island Kine Stories with Auntie Jan, Morimoto shares humorous folktales, poetry and participatory games from around the world adapted to local style. She has performed with the Honolulu Theatre for Youths, Kumu Kahua Theatre, and the Los Angeles West Players.
The program is suitable for ages 5 and older, and parents or caregivers must accompany young children.
Call 928-2015 for more information.

Paddlers from throughout the state close the official 2015 season
in Miloli`i Saturday.

SOUTH KONA MILOLI`I FISHING VILLAGE holds the second annual Miloli`i Fall Ocean Festival this Saturday. Hosted by Pa`a Pono Miloli`i and Miloli`i Canoe Club, the event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a traditional Hawaiian protocol welcoming ceremony.
Paddlers from all over the island and state have been invited to compete in the last official regatta event of the 2015 paddling season. Participants can compete in OC1, V1 and OC2 individual races as well as OC6 kane, wahine and mixed races. There will also be a keiki competition, and the regatta will culminate with a kupuna race in the afternoon. Top finishers will compete for prizes and medals.
Booths will feature `opelu lunch plates with fish caught in Miloli`i as well as a craft fair.
The event will also serve as a fundraiser to restore the club’s koa canoe, the Keahonui, which was destroyed in a car accident in July.

DRAKE WEINERT SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE of Korean Natural Farming at a free workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event takes place at 96-2384 Wood Valley Road above Pahala. Go past Ka`u Coffee Mill. About five minutes later on the left there is a small gravel road. Go past the gravel road until on the left appear a big pasture with some little green and gray buildings at the bottom and a small blue house with white roof at the top of the hill.
For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Hawai`i Island Energy Cooperative advocates for public ownership of electric utilities. Image from HIEC's Facebook page

“IF THE NEXTERA MERGER (with Hawaiian Electric Co.) does not go through, a utility co-op system for Hawai`i Island could be part of the solution to prepare us for coming changes,” Richard Ha wrote in a letter to the editor of The Ka`u Calendar. Ha owns Hamakua Springs Country Farms and is a founding member of Hawai`i Island Energy Cooperative.

Richard Ha

“The Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative has been operating for 12 years, and its results have been impressive. KIUC was 100 percent debt-financed through a co-op financing system, and millions of dollars have gone into equity since then and have been refunded to its ratepayers.
“There are 900 utility co-ops nationwide, which have gotten together and formed co-op banks to help finance utility co-ops. These banks have excellent credit ratings. The Cooperative Financing Corporation has assets of $26 billion, and Co Bank has $100 billion.
“KIUC’s electricity costs were the highest of all the Hawai`i counties when it started. But in 12 years, its costs have risen the least. This is despite its not having geothermal and not being able to use wind because of bird kills.
“This coming weekend, KIUC is having a blessing of its new Anahola photovoltaic system. That system is significant because it is using daytime sun for nighttime use, and it’s one of the first such systems in the nation.
“The co-op system, with its locally managed board of directors, is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. It’s nimble and practical.

Michael Titterton with KAHU-FM founder
Wendell Kaehuaea.

“A hybrid electricity system for our state might be just what we need to prepare for the future.”
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HAWAI`I PUBLIC RADIO chief Michael Titterton, who came to Pahala to purchase the license from the community radio station and succeeded, is leaving HPR in 2016. The purchase of the KAHU-FM license was the final piece of the pie, obtaining the license which will eventually allow HPR to have statewide coverage. The sale, however, ended the locally broadcast of community radio shows by such favorites as Bobbie and Phoebe Gomes, Demetrius Oliveira, Nadine Ebert and the late Auntie Ba, Bobbie Tucker. The Ka`u Calendar also provided daily news to the station for years.

“HPR has been a large part of my life for over a decade and a half now, and will be a part of me always,” Titterton said. “These years have been high among the most rewarding of my life. While I have no immediate professional plans following my departure, I feel strongly that it is time for me to move on. I do so with optimism and a great deal of gratitude to the many people who have helped with the growth and maturation of HPR into an important resource to this wonderful community.”

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REP. TULSI GABBARD CO-INTRODUCED the Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act of 2015 to support long-term and sustainable solutions to fighting invasive species. The legislation will support farmers, ranchers and land managers by reducing the impact of harmful invasive species on crops, livestock and forest areas.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

In a speech on the House floor, Gabbard said, “In Hawai`i, invasive species like the coffee berry borer, fruit flies, macadamia nut felted coccid and others have cost our local farmers and agriculture industry millions in lost revenue. Across the United States, these pests, along with other invasive insects, diseases and weeds cause serious and harmful damage to our farmlands, agricultural production, food supply, environment and public health. In Hawai`i, AIPMs have helped increase the number of commercial farms and have helped local farmers increase their crop diversity, decrease the use of harmful pesticides and manage the pests in a sustainable and cost-effective way. This legislation will help farmers, ranchers and land managers all across the country reduce the impact of these harmful invasive species.”

The AIPM Program Act of 2015: 1) maximizes the efficient use of resources on AIPM projects when addressing pest management; 2) protects the health and safety of humans and the environment through biocontrol applications; 3) ensures AIPM projects are largely influenced by farmers, ranchers and pest management experts most familiar with local needs with the assistance of federal agencies, universities and private individuals important for specific projects; and 4) ensures ongoing positive AIPM project outcomes by requiring a comprehensive business plan showing how the project will continue once federal funding ends.

Camp `IMI-Possible participants explore Hawai`i
Island's diverse life. Photo from `Imiloa

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KA`U STUDENTS CAN JOIN `Imiloa Astronomy Center’s popular intersession program next month, when junior explorers and innovators in grades K-3 take part in Camp `IMI-Possible Winter intersession program, scheduled for Dec. 21-24.
The camp runs Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Drop-off is available as early as 7:30 a.m. with pick up by 4:15 p.m. Students will be immersed in a four-day adventure of exciting science experiments, hands-on activities and art projects, all focused on exploring the diversity of life on Hawai`i Island.
Enrollment for the intersession program is open to public beginning today. Tuition is $175 for members and $200 for non-members. Partial scholarships are available for families demonstrating financial need.
Application and information can be found at www.imiloahawaii.org/183. Space is limited, and previous programs have filled up.

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Fred Koehnen holds a talk story next month.
Image from VCA

FRED KOEHNEN, WHO HAS CLOSE TIES to Ka`u and Volcano, promises to bring some of his most memorable and colorful stories off of the page of his new book and back to life in a talk-story on Thursday, Dec. 3. Koehnen has transformed a lifetime of memories into a memoir entitled Been There Done That Back to Hilo: a Nine Decade Odyssey.

Koehnen’s family summered in Volcano to escape the heat and humidity of Hilo. He signed on as a cowboy at Kapapala Ranch, where his duties included everything from rounding up stray cattle to maintaining the water flumes above Wood Valley. His extensive community volunteerism included serving on the Board of Volcano Art Center and being race director for the Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Runs. He still visits Volcano at least once a week to play golf.

Along with many accomplishments worldwide, Koehnen served on the first Charter Commission for the County of Hawai`i. He has always taken advantage of opportunities, traveling all over the world, but always returning to Hilo. Over the past ninety years, these opportunities have led him to try everything from cowboying to woodworking, retail business to government service, being a securities broker to military service during two wars. He has hunted, hiked, fished and ridden horseback over nearly all of the Big Island and been a keen observer of changes over the decades.
Volcano Community Foundation and Volcano Art Center host the free event at VAC’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village at 7 p.m.

The Beauty of Ka`u
closes today.

Books will be available for sale for $20, with the author available to sign them after the program.
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KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP REQUESTS that eligible veterans register by tomorrow to be guests at Crater Rim Café’s Veterans Day buffet. The meal follows a ceremony that begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Call 967-8371 to sign up.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to vote for your favorite work in The Beauty of Ka`u art show. CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu hosts the show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winners are announced at a reception Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Janice Morimoto

JANICE MORIMOTO TRAVELS to Pahala Public & School Library for Island Kine Stories with Auntie Jan tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Morimoto shares humorous folktales, poetry and participatory games from around the world adapted to local style.

The program is suitable for ages 5 and older, and parents or caregivers must accompany young children.
Call 928-2015 for more information.

THE SECOND ANNUAL MILOLI`I FALL Ocean Festival takes place Saturday. The last official canoe regatta event of the 2015 paddling season begins at 8:30 a.m. with a traditional Hawaiian protocol welcoming ceremony.
Booths will feature `opelu lunch plates with fish caught in Miloli`i as well as a craft fair.
The event is a fundraiser to restore the club’s koa canoe, the Keahonui, which was destroyed in a car accident in July.

KOREAN NATURAL FARMING is the topic at a free workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event takes place at 96-2384 Wood Valley Road above Pahala.
For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

Discovery Harbour Community Hall is the site of a holiday bazaar
this weekend. Photo from DHCA

HOLIDAY BAZAAR FUNDRAISER Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall features handmade crafts and foods. Pit ham and beef sandwiches are on sale Saturday. For more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

The Directory 2016 will feature a photograph by Peter Anderson on the cover. Anderson's photo won the popular vote at The Beauty of Ka`u art show held this week. A meet-and-greet takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at CU Hawai`i in Na`alehu.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER ANDERSON will once again grace the cover of The Directory, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s annual guide to businesses and the local community. Anderson’s photo of a tree on the rim of Halema`uma`u, silhouetted by Kilauea erupting in the background, won the popular vote at this year’s art contest held this week at CU Hawai`i Credit Union in Na`alehu.

A panel of judges chose Best of Show, first- through third-place, and honorable mention in several categories.

Suzanne Dix Kaliko's Aunty Shows Her Quilt won
Best in Show and first place in Painting.

Suzanne Dix Kaliko won Best of Show and first place in Paintings with Auntie Shows Her Quilt.
More first-place winners were Ka`u Landing, a Sculpture by Susan Condie Jennings; The Reef, a Quilt by Teri Jensen Phillips; a Graphic entitled Honu with Honu, by Dave Golston; Milo Love Seat, Tom King’s entry in the Woodworking category; and a Weaving by Jeannette Howard.
See winners in more categories and other results in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.
Ka`u residents can join the artists and see the winning art at a meet-and-greet tomorrow morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE HAVE ARRESTED and charged a man in connection with the theft of a Jeep Wrangler stolen on Keaka Parkway in Ocean View on Aug. 24. The following day, a Ka`u police officer observed the Jeep being driven by 37-year-old Lawrence K. Baldonado, who was wanted on two bench warrants for contempt of court. When the officer attempted to stop Baldonado, he fled in a reckless manner, crashed into a metal gate and abandoned the vehicle.
Baldonado was located at 5:45 p.m. yesterday in Pahala. He was arrested and charged with two counts of contempt of court with bail set at $4,000. He was also arrested on suspicion of other offenses connected to the stolen vehicle and taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued their investigation.
At 9 a.m. today, Baldonado was charged with second-degree theft, resisting an order to stop, reckless driving and driving without a license. His bail on those offenses was set at $26,000. He remains in the cellblock pending a court appearance on Monday.
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The Reef, by Teri Jensen Phillips, won first in Quilting.

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH has confirmed 23 cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island as of 1 p.m. today. Of the confirmed cases, 15 are Hawai`i residents, and eight are visitors. Twenty-one cases have been in adults; two have been pediatric. All are recovering.  Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 15 and Oct. 30.

According to DOH, mosquito control efforts are currently underway, and its investigation is proceeding.
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LAST NIGHT, SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ, a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, spoke on the Senate floor to discuss solutions to climate change, including addressing deforestation and the Administration’s Clean Power Plan.
“The Clean Power Plan has sent a signal to the rest of the world that the United States is serious about preventing catastrophic changes to our climate,” Schatz said. “This is the challenge of our generation. This is our obligation as the indispensable nation. The United States has to lead, and the United States Senate has to have a real debate on climate and energy policy.
“We have at our disposal a wide range of solutions for reining in our emissions of carbon pollution. Addressing deforestation is one of the most effective, and cost-effective, ways to slow global warming, while enhancing the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people that rely on forests and the services they provide.”

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Oct. 30 last year, active lava stalled about 170 yards from Pahoa Village Road.
Today, active breakouts are about 9.5 miles upslope. Photo from USGS

“WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PU`U `O`O?” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists ask and answer in the current issue of Volcano Watch.

  “A lot has changed over the past year on Kilauea Volcano. One year ago, the June 27th flow was threatening to cross Pahoa Village Road and, potentially, Highway 130. Lava destroyed one house on Nov. 10, 2014 and was moving downslope toward many others.
  “Now, there is no imminent threat to Pahoa, and life in the lower Puna District of Hawai`i Island has largely returned to normal.
  “So, what exactly happened to the Pu`u `O`o eruption over the past year? In a word: disruption. Pu`u `O`o has been erupting nearly continuously for over 32 years, but continuous does not imply steady. Instead, fluctuations in lava supply rate have been common, and these disruptions have changed the vigor and reach of the flow field activity over the past year.
  “Let’s use a car as an analogy. A drop in the lava supply rate is like easing your foot off the gas pedal. The lava flow, like the car, will slow down. If the lava supply rate drops enough, the flow can stall, similar to a car without enough gas.

“An increase in the lava supply rate is analogous to pressing down on the car’s gas pedal. The lava flow, like the car, will speed up. But, if the lava supply rate (or a car engine’s RPM – revolutions per minute) gets too high, their respective systems can rupture or fail. Very high lava supply rates can trigger breakouts of lava from the tube system, which rob lava from the flow front, causing it to stall – just as running an engine too high can trigger mechanical failure and cause the car to stop.

“As with a car, a lava flow needs to operate within a certain ‘envelope’ of efficiency to continue advancing. Lava activity outside this envelope – too little or too much – causes the flow front to stall. Over the past year, major fluctuations in the lava supply rate have pushed the flow out of this envelope several times, disrupting the flow front advance.

Thomas King's Milo Love Seat won first place in Woodworking.

  “A simple way to track lava supply rate is to look at Kilauea’s summit tilt. Deflation of the summit magma reservoir is normally associated with a drop in lava supply rate, while inflation means an increase.
  “The day before Halloween in 2014, a rapid drop in the lava supply rate occurred, causing the tip of the June 27th flow to stall about 155 meters (170 yards) from Pahoa Village Road. About two weeks later, a major increase in lava supply rate triggered upslope breakouts from the tube, completely shutting off the flow front near Pahoa Village Road.
  “The lava supply rate held steady enough for the next two months that a new lobe of lava advanced downslope once again, this time toward the Pahoa Marketplace, in late December. Fortunately, the lava supply rate was low, and the flow front essentially stalled in January 2015.
  “Another increase in lava supply rate triggered breakouts upslope of Pahoa in mid-March. As in November 2014, these upslope breakouts robbed supply from the flow front near Pahoa Marketplace, causing it to shut down.
  “Since March 2015, surface flows have remained active but haven’t strayed too far from Pu`u `O`o, staying within about eight kilometers (five miles) of the vent. In fact, the farthest reach of Kilauea’s active breakouts has retreated slightly the past couple months, and, as of this week, was 6.4 km (four mi) northeast of Pu`u `O`o.
  “This is good news, of course. But why haven’t the flows advanced very far over the past six months? It is most likely due to a relatively low lava supply rate – or, in car terms, the gas pedal simply isn’t being pushed very hard at the moment.
  “With flows now closer to Pu`u `O`o and farther upslope from residential areas, there is no immediate threat to homes or roadways, as there was a year ago. But, as we’ve seen throughout this eruption, lava supply rates fluctuate, and future increases in lava supply could restart slow advancement of the flow front toward communities.
  “Changes in lava flow activity can occur abruptly and with little warning, so the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor the June 27th flow with on-site field visits, helicopter overflights, webcam imagery and satellite data.”

See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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Workshop is a week next Saturday instead
of tomorrow as originally announced.

KOREAN NATURAL FARMING Workshop is on Saturday, Nov. 14, rather than tomorrow, Nov. 7 as originally announced. Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 96-2384 Wood Valley Road above Pahala.

Ka`u News Briefs regrets the error.
For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

TOTUS Awards & Community Tea-In take place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The day features awards for Teas of the United States, the first national tea competition for U.S.-grown teas, as well as enlightening talks and presentations by professionals and an exhibition of TOTUS Award Competition.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR FUNDRAISER tomorrow and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall features handmade crafts and foods. Pit ham and beef sandwiches are on sale Saturday.

For more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Miloli`i holds its second annual Fall Ocean Festival today. See more below. Photo from Pa`a Pono Miloli`i and Miloli`i Canoe Club

HAWAI`I COUNTY HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT regarding a drowning at Punalu`u in 2008, Nancy Cook Lauer reported in West Hawai`i Today. Catherine Snevers will receive $20,000. Snevers sued the county for negligence, wrongful death and loss of spousal and parental consortium after her husband drowned in rough waters. Unspecified damages could have reached $1 million or more, according to Cook Lauer.
At the time, no warning signs were posted at the private property where the newlywed couple entered the water. Third Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara ruled that it was not the county’s duty to post signs on private property, but Snevers appealed the decision.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Laureen Martin told Cook Lauer that the settlement avoided significant risks and uncertainty. “The amount is also far less than the costs the county would have incurred in order to defend the action,” Martin said.

See westhawaiitoday.com.
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Eliminating mosquito breeding sites can help control the spread of dengue fever.
Image from Hawai`i DOH

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH urges residents to help control the spread of dengue fever by eliminating possible mosquito breeding sites. Change standing water at least twice a week in birdbaths, potted plants, fountains and animal troughs. Clear storm drains and other outdoor drains of leaves and lawn cuttings. Do not overwater plants and yards, and do not leave standing water in yards or paved areas. Clean clogged gutters to allow proper drainage. Spread mulch so water does not collect in fallen leaves. Use larvicide to kill mosquitoes in ponds and water-filled ditches. Repair torn window and door screens, and keep attic vents closed. Empty pool covers and tarps. Place toys and open containers under cover. Empty anything that holds standing water, like tires, wheelbarrows and trash cans. Fix leaky faucets and sprinklers.

For more information, see health.hawaii.gov.

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THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR is looking for qualified and dedicated volunteers to fill vacancies on boards on Hawai`i Island.
The governor makes appointments and nominations to more than 185 boards and commissions established by the state Constitution, state statutes and executive orders. Boards and commissions provide Hawai`i’s citizens with an opportunity to have a voice in their government and to influence decisions that shape the quality of life for Hawai`i’s residents.
Vacancies must be filled on a wide range of boards, commissions and committees including Board of Taxation Review, Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, Contractors Licensed Board, Defender Council, Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee and Island Burial Council.
For a complete list of vacancies and more information, see boards.hawaii.gov.
Those interested in helping to continue Hawai`i’s momentum toward a strong and sustainable future may apply online at boards.hawaii.gov.
For more information, email Sharon Ibarra, director of Boards and Commissions, at sharon.s.ibarra@hawaii.gov.
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Sen. Brian Schatz spoke in favor of the Restore Honor to Service Members Act.
Photo from Office of the Senator

AS VETERANS DAY APPROACHES, Sen. Brian Schatz and members of the LGBT Equality Caucus urge passage of the Restore Honor to Service Members Act. The legislation would help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned.

Since World War II, more than 100,000 Americans are estimated to have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Those forced out of the military may have left with discharge statuses of other than honorable, general discharge or dishonorable, depending on the circumstances. As a consequence, many of these service members may be disqualified from accessing certain benefits that they earned and are entitled to and may not be able to claim veteran status. The consequences of a negative discharge also include preventing some veterans from voting or making it more difficult for them to acquire civilian employment.
“We have a sacred commitment to every American who serves in our military. But for the 100,000 brave Americans who were forced out for being gay, we have failed to honor that commitment,” Schatz said. “The Restore Honor to Service Members Act would give these veterans a chance to correct their military records – to remove an unwarranted discharge that was given to them for no other reason than being gay. It would remove the mark of shame they carry, give them access to benefits and finally give them the respect and honor they rightly deserve.”
Supporters of the legislation include Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, VoteVets.org, OutServe-SLDN, the Human Rights Campaign, American Veterans for Equal Rights, Lambda Legal, Swords to Plowshares, the American Bar Association, Universal Unitarian Association and the American Humanist Association.
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Star chart show's objects visible in Ka`u's November skies.
Chart from Lew Cook and Jerome Hudson

ASTRONOMER LEW COOK discusses Deep Sky objects in the current issue of Stars Over Ka`u, which he writes monthly for The Ka`u Calendar.
“By ‘Deep Sky,’ we mean ‘outside the sun’s neighborhood,’ Cook explains. “Rising in the east is the Great Orion Nebula, shown on the chart as M42, a vast cloud of newly forming stars. Very young stars are there, too.
“To get an understanding of what this area will look like in 100 million years, look at a neighboring cluster, the Pleiades (M45). The Pleiades are 1,300 light years away, and the Orion Nebula is around 320 light years distant. This means that the Pleiades are four times farther than the Orion Nebula. Any light the stars emit will be reduced by a factor of 16. Now, imagine the stars in the Pleiades appear 16 times brighter than at present, three magnitudes brighter than they appear now. This is how the stars in the Orion nebula will look in 100 million years. It is also how the Pleiades would look if it were at the distance of the Orion nebula.
“Another interesting object is the double cluster that lies between Perseus and Cassiopeia. If you have a good pair of binoculars, this is a nice sight to behold! It is fainter than the Pleiades because it is 12 times further away. The double cluster formed from a gas and dust cloud that happened to be a twin cloud.
“Every open cluster of stars had the same origin; they developed from a cloud of gas and dust similar to the Orion Nebula. There are several such areas in our galaxy. Many of them are in the direction of the galactic center because that is where we can find more stars in the galaxy than elsewhere. If we look at other galaxies, we find them distributed all over their spiral arms. M33 in Triangulum is a fine example. This galaxy is going through a period of intensive star formation, which is clearly visible on photographs. M33 is three million light years distant.
“The last object we will discuss is our nearest large neighbor galaxy, the Andromeda Nebula. Except for the Magellanic clouds and several dwarf galaxies, this giant is our nearest sizable neighbor. It is about 2.6 million light years distant. And is it big! It contains about a trillion stars, nearly twice what our puny Milky Way has. And that’s not the end of the bad news. It is headed for us and will collide with us. There is no need to worry about it, though. Galaxies collide all the time with very few, if any, stellar collisions. There is time to prepare for the event; we’ve got four billion years.”
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A BACKPACK FOUND BY TOURISTS at Punalu`u Beach has been turned in to the office of The Ka`u Calendar. Contents include notebooks and a calculator. Call 928-6471.

Funds raised at the Ocean Festival go toward
repairing the Keahonui.

MILOLI`I’S SECOND ANNUAL Fall Ocean Festival takes place today. The event is the last official regatta of the 2015 paddling season.
Booths feature `opelu lunch plates with fish caught in Miloli`i as well as a craft fair.
The event will serves as a fundraiser to restore the club’s koa canoe, the Keahonui, which was destroyed in a car accident in July.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR FUNDRAISER today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall features handmade crafts and foods. Pit ham and beef sandwiches are on sale today.
For more information, call Dina Shisler at 410-935-8087.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers Mongolian BBQ today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open to authorized patrons or sponsored guests. Park Entrance fees apply.

CHERYL GANSECKI LEADS AN EASY and accessible roundtrip walk exploring Keanakako`i Crater tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; non-members can join in order to attend. Registration required at admin@fhvnp.org or 985-7373.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Ka`u's state Sen. Russell Ruderman supports imposing a rule to limit movement of `ohi`a material on Hawai`i Island to control the spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death. Photo from UH-CTAHR

LANI CRAN PETRIE, OF KAPAPALA RANCH, is a Paniolo Hall of Fame inductee. The induction ceremony takes place at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay on Saturday, Nov. 14. According to her Hall of Fame biography, Petrie, the second child of Gordon and Genevieve Cran, gained a wide perspective on raising livestock while growing up riding O`ahu’s Wai`anae mountain range, where the commercial cow herd grazed. By the time she attended high school, she had decided to pursue a career in animal husbandry.

Lani Cran Petrie

When her father bought out Parker Ranch’s interest at Kapapala Ranch, Petrie had the opportunity to ride the ranch and take inventory of the cattle to be purchased from Parker. This gave her time to make lifelong friends with Parker Ranch cowboys and their families.
During her years studying and working at Washington State University, Petrie competed on the school’s rodeo team and traveled the Pacific Northwest with team members competing in rodeos.
After returning to Kapapala, Petrie organized the Hawai`i Cattle Producer’s Cooperative transportation division to assist ranchers transporting cattle to West Coast ports.
Petrie’s father handed the ranch management reins over to her in 2004.
See hicattle.org/2015inductees.aspx.

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TOTUS AWARD WINNERS include farms and processors from Hawai`i, California and Mississippi. The Tea of the United States competition took place on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Hawai`i-grown teas dominated the commercial division. First and third places for white tea went to Volcano Winery and grower Alex Wood. Hawai`i Rainforest Tea grown and processed by Bob Jacobson won second place. For green tea, grower/processor Longo Nunally, of Onomea Tea Co., took first and third places. Chiu Leong, of Tea Hawai`i in Volcano, won second place. Volcano Tea Garden and Mike Riley placed first in oolong tea. Second and third places in oolong and black categories went to Onomea Tea Co. First place in Black went to Tea Hawai`i and Chiu Leong.

TOTUS award winners included farms, growers and processors from California
and Mississippi as well as Hawai`i. Photo from TOTUS

In the non-commercial division, Bai-Alla Finley took first and third for white tea. Tea from University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resource’s Volcano Experiment Station and processed by Tea Hawai`i won second place in white as well as third place for green tea. The Great Mississippi Tea Co. won first and second place, as well as first in oolong and black tea categories. Golden Feather Tea, from California, placed second in oolong, and Hawai`i’s Second Alarm Farm with Jim Chestnut place third. In the black tea category, Bai-Alla Finley took second and third places.
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HAWAI`I PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION is not satisfied with Hawaiian Electric companies’ power supply improvement plans. HECO filed the plans in August 2014.

“Several shortcomings need to be addressed, including changes in modeling methods, assumptions and constraints; several aspects of the PSIPs require further analytical support; and several assumptions and objectives need to be updated to reflect recent’ changes in laws and other circumstances,” the PUC concluded.

According to the PUC, HECO’s “PSIP cost impacts and risks have not been demonstrated to be reasonable. PSIPs do not appear to aggressively seek lower-cost, new utility-scale renewable resources. PSIPs do not adequately address utilization and integration of distributed energy resources. Proposed plans for fossil-fueled power plants are not sufficiently justified. System security requirements appear costly and are not sufficiently justified. The proposed plan for provision of ancillary services lacks transparency and may not be the most cost-effective option. Analysis on inter-island transmission lacks sufficient detail. Customer and implementation risks are not adequately addressed.”
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IN A UNANIMOUS FLOOR VOTE, members of the Hawai`i State Senate on Friday confirmed District Family Court judge Melvin H. Fujino to the Third Circuit on Hawai`i Island.
Fujino has served as a presiding judge with the District Family Court of the Third Circuit since 2008. Since April 2015, he has been assigned to sit as a temporary Circuit Court Judge in Kona. Prior to his appointment to the District Family Court Bench, Fujino worked as Deputy Attorney General where he was a team leader responsible for the statewide Wiretap Review Unit and Asset Forfeiture program. Fujino was also a District Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai`i County. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Washington and 1985 graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law. Fujino will serve for a term of 10 years.

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Sen. Josh Green, M.D.

DENGUE FEVER IS THE TOPIC at a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov.10 at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green, M.D. said he is concerned not only about the immediate well-being and safety of residents and visitors, but also the real long-term health and economic impacts an outbreak like this can have on the state. “Unless people become aware of the seriousness of this virus and take action, I’m worried the infection will spread and impact will grow,” he said. “There may likely be more confirmed, as well as real but unconfirmed, clinical cases in the coming weeks. However, Dengue can be stopped if we all do our part to reverse the outbreak.”
Green said anyone who believes they may have contracted Dengue should see a doctor immediately. He said people should take Tylenol for high fevers that may stem from dengue fever instead of aspirin or ibuprofen, which can add to complications of this disease.
“Preventing dengue fever from becoming endemic in Hawai`i will require a prolonged response from Department of Health, the county and state, but most importantly, take good care now and call a healthcare provider if you feel sick,” Green said.
He said anyone worried they may have contracted dengue fever should also contact DOH’s Disease Investigation Branch at 974-4000, extension 68362.
For additional information on dengue fever and preventing its spread, see health.hawaii.gov.

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KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN supports limiting movement of `ohi`a material on Hawai`i Island. He spoke last week at a community meeting in Pahoa recorded by Big Island Video News. Responding to a question from an audience member, he said that having the state Department of Agriculture impose an administrative rule forbidding intra-island transportation of `ohi`a products “is a great idea” that would not require legislative action.
The discussion comes in the wake of Rapid `Ohia` Death, a fungal infection that is wreaking havoc on `ohi`a forests in Puna and other areas of Hawai`i Island. In 2012, it had killed `ohi`a trees across about 1,000 hectares (nearly 2,500 acres). By the summer of 2014, that number had swollen to over 6,000 hectares.
Hawai`i Board of Agriculture imposed a quarantine on intrastate movement of `ohi`a products in August as an attempt to keep the disease from spreading to other islands. Interim rules are valid for only one year and are meant to address emergency situations, which gives the department time to develop more permanent rules.

See bigislandvideonews.com.

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From the Ground, Up closes next Sunday. Image from VAC

FROM THE GROUND, UP is on display for one more week. Robert Weiss’ solo exhibit features a new collection of plein air oil paintings of landscapes within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Volcano Art Center Gallery in the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SENIOR ID CARDS ARE AVAILABLE tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pahala Housing Center and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Call 928-3100 for more information.

A WALK INTO THE PAST takes place this and every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Vog Measurement and Prediction Project, out of University of Hawai`i, successfully predicts the path of vog.
Photo by M. Poland from UH

VOG MEASUREMENT AND PREDICTION PROJECT successfully predicts where vog is going, according to a report in the October Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

UH-Manoa forecasts movement of vog.

Forecasting the presence or absence of the vog plume over locations within the state is one of the primary goals of VMAP.

“Results produced by the VMAP project demonstrate for the first time that by using SO2 emissions observations for Kilauea volcano and wind-field output as input to a vog gas and particle dispersion model, it is possible to provide an operational forecast product that can help mitigate the effects of volcanic pollution for Hawai`i residents, statewide,” wrote University of Hawai`i professor and project manager Steven Businger. The public website that disseminates the VMAP vog forecast at weather.hawaii.edu has experienced growing and widespread use, and is currently accessed between 200 and 1,000 times daily, depending on vog exposure.
Image comparisons show that the extent of the vog plume is qualitatively well forecast over Hawai`i Island and that even the areas of higher observed concentration are qualitatively well captured by the model. The timing of the plume passage over downwind islands under southeast flow conditions is also well captured by the vog model. By extension, when the vog model predicts that the plume position will be over a particular region, as highlighted by the model graphical output of the forecast vog concentration, a user can plan on the likelihood of elevated sulfate aerosols and/or SO2.
Using VMAP, National Weather Service forecasters are able to advise residents when vog will become present in the air and when the vog will likely retreat.
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MINA MORITA, FORMER CHAIR of Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission, uses the analogy of a tsunami to describe proceeding in the proposed Hawaiian Electric Co./NextEra Energy merger.

On her blog at minamoritaenergydynamics.com, Morita posted a photo of the April 1, 1946 tsunami with a man standing at the end of Pier 1 in Hilo Bay facing the wave. “He was on the pier to cut the mooring lines so that the captain could maneuver the SS Brigham Victory out of Hilo Bay as the tsunami approached because it had a cargo of over 50 tons of dynamite and volatile blasting caps,” Morita wrote. “After cutting the lines, he had no time to escape although the ship made it out of the harbor.

Mina Morita uses tsunami as an analogy for the proposed HECO/NextEra merger.
Photo from Mina Morita

“Sometimes I do feel like the man on the pier, facing a tsunami of negative and uninformed comments that overwhelms Hawai`i’s energy discussion with tangential debates, be it coop and munis, NextEra not a local company, no fossil fuels, rooftop solar cutting into HECO’s profits and, of course, Connie Lau’s compensation. Like the man on the pier, I hope I can prove to be helpful and useful to the very end by dispelling myths and to provide a counterbalance in a noisy debate.
“However, the tsunami analogy does provide two ways to look at our situation. Prior to the tsunami early warning system people had to notice local aberrations to give them enough time to seek higher ground. Then it was just a matter of coping in the aftermath of destruction. I don’t think we want to nor can we risk handling our clean energy transformation in that way – waiting to notice local aberrations then reacting to it.
“Today with good planning, detection, monitoring and an early warning system – and using data effectively we can minimize casualties and property loss and seek resiliency faster.
“Our clean energy future with the many technological advances to come and changing customer preferences is much like planning for a tsunami. Our challenge is how to manage future uncertainty by ensuring Hawaii electric system is flexible, adaptable and resilient because we don’t know if this wave of change is going to come as a manageable several inches or a gigantic upheaval in our task to balance supply and demand efficiently and cost-effectively while being mindful of advancing technology and anticipating customer preferences and behavior.
“As we delve deeper into Hawai`i’s energy transformation, every aspect of it will challenge our conventional wisdom. Even our long accepted strategies on how to cope with disruption will have to evolve.”
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Sen. Mazie Hirono supports the SAVE Benefits Act.
Photo from Office of the Senator

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO JOINED a coalition of 16 other U.S. senators to introduce the SAVE Benefits Act, legislation that would provide Social Security beneficiaries with a modest Cost of Living Adjustment starting in 2016. For only the third time in more than 40 years, seniors will not receive a COLA increase in 2016.

“In Hawai`i, one out of four seniors relies on Social Security as their only source of income,” Hirono said. “Many Hawai`i seniors have told me their costs for essential goods keep rising, and yet there will be no Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment come January. This is why I support Senator Warren’s SAVE Benefits Act – to provide our seniors with a modest Cost of Living increase next year. This bill is fully paid for by closing loopholes that currently give taxpayer benefits to millionaires and billionaires.”
Hirono also took to the Senate floor to highlight the need for the SAVE Benefits Act’s average $580 increase, especially as seniors face higher costs for medication and basic necessities.
The SAVE Benefits Act is supported by AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance for Retired Americans, The ARC of the United States, B’nai B’rith International, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for Community Change, Center for Effective Government, CREDO, Daily Kos, Democracy for America, Economic Opportunity Institute, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Justice in Aging, MoveOn.org, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of La Raza, National Organization for Women, OWL-the Voice of Women 40+, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, Social Security Works, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, UltraViolet and VoteVets.
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Honolulu Brass Quintet is coming to Ka`u.
Photo from Chamber Music Hawai`i

THE HONOLULU BRASS QUINTET of Chamber Music Hawai`i will be coming to Na`alehu library on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. The performance will be held outside unless weather is inclement. Library manager Sara Kamibayashi encourages everyone to bring their own seating or a blanket and non-alcoholic beverages.

The quintet will perform a sampling of musical selections followed by a discussion about music and the various brass instruments that they play. The program will also include a question-and-answer session.
This one-hour program is suitable for all ages; a parent or adult caregiver must accompany young children.

A WALK INTO THE PAST takes place tomorrow and every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK recognizes Veterans Day by waiving entry fees on Wednesday.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO JOIN Kilauea Military Camp in honoring those who served. Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday begins at 3 p.m. Keynote speaker is retired Col. Debra Lewis, and guest speaker is William Tehero. Call 967-8371 for more information.

VETERANS DAY BUFFET BEGINS at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, baked ono and spinach and mushroom Alfredo. $26.95 adults; $13.50 children 6 – 11 years old. Call 967-8371 for more information.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Eight persons with dengue fever have visited Ka`u. as of Friday, Nov. 6. Officials hold a meeting about the disease today at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Map from Hawai`i Department of Health

AREAS OF NA`ALEHU ARE BEING sprayed or treated today by Hawai`i Department of Health’s Vector Control division, reducing the mosquito population in an attempt to limit the spread of dengue fever. Mosquitoes pass the disease from person to person through bites.

Click to enlarge information about the state's
Fight the Bite campaign.

As of Friday, Nov. 6, eight of 23 people with confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island visited Ka`u, from north of Na`alehu to Kahuku. Of 33 cases confirmed on the island as of today, 25 are Hawai`i residents, and eight are visitors.  Twenty-nine cases have been in adults; four have been pediatric. Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 15 to Nov. 2.
Hawai`i Department of Health continues to routinely monitor for cases of imported dengue infection on all islands and will continue to have Vector Control perform mosquito site assessments and abatement as needed. Since the beginning of DOH’s current investigation on Hawai`i island, one imported dengue fever case has been confirmed on O`ahu. This case is not associated with the Hawai`i Island investigation.
Hawai`i County and state officials hold a public meeting about the outbreak today at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

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A SMALL CREW OF LOCAL WORKERS will conduct site preparation activities at the Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea this month, starting with equipment maintenance and repairs, according to Henry Yang, chair of the TMT International Observatory Board of Governors. An exact date has not been announced.
“We would like to thank our many supporters in the community,” Yang said. “Each of our partners remains committed to building the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawai`i. In California, Canada, China, Japan and India, work is being conducted to develop and build various components for the observatory, and we look forward to the day when it will come together.
“We are deeply committed to respectful stewardship of the mountain and to the vision that integrates science and culture in Hawai`i and enriches the educational opportunities and local economy. We will continue to follow the state’s laws, procedures and processes, as we have done for more than eight years, while respectfully awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision.”
While workers associated with TMT begin maintenance and repair activities, hunting and other recreational activities and research also continue on the mountain.

“Mauna Kea is very much a multiple-use area for a wide array of cultural, recreational and research activities,” said Suzanne Case, Chair of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. “Our goal is to ensure that people on the mountain conduct themselves responsibly and with respect for other users. As local workers prepare to begin work at the TMT site, we want to remind people of other simultaneous activities that may be occurring on the mountain.”
DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybirds, as well as staff hunting and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, sheep, mouflon and mouflon/sheep hybrids on Nov. 16-17 and Dec. 14-15. These activities will occur within critical palila habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K) and the Ka`ohe Game Management Area (Unit G). Aerial shooting is required by federal court order to improve and maintain critical habitat for the palila, a bird endemic to Hawai`i. See  http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2015/09/28/nr15-149/
Also, the 2015-2016 game bird hunting season continues through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 on private and public lands. This includes multiple game management units, forest reserves and other public lands on Mauna Kea. For specific information on game bird hunting rules and specific hunting areas, see http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/announcements/nr15-160f/.
“We want everyone conducting customary and traditional practices, enjoying recreational activities, or exercising their free speech rights on Mauna Kea to understand that they are sharing the mountain with many others, and we want an atmosphere where kama`aina and visitors can all enjoy their activities, safely,” Case said.

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THIS IS NATIONAL DROWSY Driving Prevention Week by the National Highway Safety Administration. Hawai`i Police Department reminds motorist to be adequately rested before traveling on roadways.
Loss of sleep can disrupt an individual’s biological clock and impair performance. NHTSA data shows that fatigue degrades a driver’s reaction time, memory, communication, situational awareness, judgment, attention and mood by 20-50 percent. Drowsy drivers suffer from irritability, attention lapses and micro-naps. Operating a vehicle while drowsy delays your reaction to stopping and can have serious consequences.
In 2013, Drowsy Driving accounted for 72,000 crashes, 800 fatalities and 44,000 injuries in the United States. A national poll indicated that 60 percent of drivers reported driving while drowsy, and 37 percent reported nodding off while driving. NHTSA estimates that each year drowsy driving crashes result in 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary loses. Drowsy Driving is very under-reported but can be prevented by taking measures to get enough sleep.
National Sleep Foundation offers a few suggestions. Get a good night’s sleep before a long drive (seven to nine hours for adults and 8.5-9.5 hours for teens). If you notice any warning signs of fatigue, find a safe place to get off the road and take a 15-20 minute nap. Schedule proper breaks about every 100 miles. Drive with a friend who will stay awake and watch for signs of fatigue. Avoid alcohol. Always wear your seat belt.

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Sen. Brian Schatz

Sen. Mazie Hirono

TODAY, THE U.S. SENATE PASSED a revised 2016 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 91-3. The updated bill will authorize funding for programs important to Hawai`i’s economy and military community. Hawai`i’s senators voted in favor of the bill, as well as for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Approval of the acts was made possible after Congress reached a bipartisan compromise that lifted sequester caps on both military and domestic spending.
The Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act includes $444 million for Hawai`i military construction projects, an increase in funding for veterans’ health care and a provision co-authored by Hirono to protect benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.
“Hawai`i’s key role in the Asia-Pacific continues to be reflected in the NDAA and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act,” Hirono said. “The bills passed by the Senate today are the product of bipartisan compromise. The NDAA provides the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces the resources, equipment and training necessary to complete their missions.”
Sen. Brian Schatz said, “The defense authorization bill includes many provisions that strengthen our national defense, reinforce the need to rebalance to the Asia Pacific – through which Hawai`i is central – and provide our service members with the equipment and training they need to protect America. Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to find a way to authorize funding for the military’s core operations and ensure that we can continue to provide for our service members and their families.”

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HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK recognizes Veterans Day by waiving entry fees tomorrow.

Col. Debra Lewis Photo from Women in the U.S. Army

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, Kilauea Military Camp’s Veterans Day Ceremony tomorrow begins at 3 p.m. Keynote speaker is retired Col. Debra Lewis, and guest speaker is William Tehero.

Lewis’ career has been marked by many firsts, including being the first female captain of West Point’s highly successful intercollegiate equestrian team, the 1980 Academy Equestrian of the Year, and the first female soldier to command a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District in Iraq, where she was responsible for overseeing the rebuilding efforts in the region. In total, she has commanded three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts.

Call 967-8371 for more information.

VETERANS DAY BUFFET BEGINS at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, baked ono and spinach and mushroom Alfredo. $26.95 adults; $13.50 children 6 – 11 years old. Call 967-8371 for more information.

RECYCLE HAWAI`I PRESENTS Hawai`i Recycles Day displays tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KTA Puainako store in Hilo.

America Recycles Day on Sunday, Nov. 15 is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful. The nationally recognized day is dedicated to recycling across the United States.
Recycle Hawai`i urges Ka`u residents to get involved. Take the “I Recycle Pledge,” view The Journey video, and celebrate with others at www.americarecyclesday.org.
Call 969-2012 or visit www.recyclehawaii.org

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this month features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her recent book Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The event on Nov. 12 begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

Call 967-8222 for more information.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.

On this Veterans Day, Ka`u veteran Peter Anderson shared memories of his service in Korea.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Veterans Day Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. today. Keynote speaker is retired Col. Debra Lewis, and guest speaker is William Tehero. The event is open to the public. Call 967-8371 for more information. A Veterans Day Buffet begins at 4 p.m. today at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, baked ono and spinach and mushroom Alfredo. $26.95 adults; $13.50 children six to 11 years old. Call 967-8371 for more information.

HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS released statements in honor of Veterans Day. “On Veterans Day, Americans remember and give thanks to veterans past and present,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Every gesture matters today, whether it is laying a wreath at Punchbowl Cemetery, marching in the Waianae Veterans Day Parade or simply saying ‘thank you for your service.’ But our commitment to the more than 120,000 veterans who call Hawai`i home requires more than a gesture. These veterans and their families have real needs, and we have a moral, social and financial obligation to be there for them – an obligation we must honor today and every day.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “Today, we take the time to express our appreciation to the men, women and families who have so honorably served our nation. Every time our country considers military engagement around the world, we must be prepared to keep our promise to these service members by providing them with the care that they need and the benefits that they have earned when they return home as veterans.” See more on protecting communities from dengue fever at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd.

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Dr. Christian Whelen

AS THE NUMBER OF DENGUE FEVER CASES climbs to 33 recently confirmed on the Big Island as of yesterday and the state Department of Health conducts its Don't Get It, Don't Spread It and Fight the Bite campaigns, a volcano resident awaits results of tests. Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Melissa Fletcher said she was “eaten alive” on Monday, Oct. 26 by mosquitoes at a Honaunau property and at a roadside fruit stand in Ho`okena. The areas of South Kona are hot spots for dengue fever exposure. Fletcher told reporter Leila Fujimori that she developed a high fever, rash and back pain after visiting South Kona.

According to Fujimori, Fletcher had blood drawn at a hospital on Thursday, and results take two or three business days. State Department of Health Laboratory director Dr. Christian Whelen told Fujimori cases are expedited if the specimen is from an early-onset case and the person might still be infectious.

See staradvertiser.com.

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TMT sanctioned a survey 93 Hawai`i Island residents and 613 statewide for their
thoughts about the project. Image from TMT

FIFTY-NINE PERCENT OF 93 HAWAI`I Island residents support the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, according to a survey sanctioned by TMT International Observatory. Thirty-nine percent oppose the project, and two percent don’t know or did not provide and answer.

Ward Research, Inc., an independent research firm based in Honolulu, conducted the survey in October.

Statewide, 88 percent of 613 respondents agreed with the survey statement, “There should be a way for sciene and Hawaiian culture both to exist on Mauna Kea.”
The poll quota sampled for key demographic characteristics such as age, ethnicity, gender and island of residence. The demographics of the sample match the demographics of Hawai`i based on Census data.
According to the survey, 74 percent of state residents agree that TMT will help create good paying jobs and economic benefits for those living on Hawai`i Island.
Sixty-two percent of state residents support moving ahead with construction.
Support for TMT’s construction is split among Hawaiians/part Hawaiians, with 49 percent of those polled opposing the project and 44 percent supporting the project.

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Mina Morita

FORMER PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAIR Mina Morita discussed her views of rooftop solar on her Energy Dynamics blog.

“The ongoing electric utility versus solar debate puts forth a false argument and a premise that one must choose sides,” Morita wrote. “Renewable energy advocates have been very successful in promoting and gathering support for and addressing mainly one side of the electric system equation, the supply side.
  “Buzzwords like ‘100 percent renewable’ and aspirational concepts like ‘energy democracy’ may prompt near-term savings for some individuals but often lack detail to achieve an advanced electric system that is accessible and affordable for all electricity users. Even with Hawai`i’s high penetration of rooftop solar installations, over 80 percent of electric customers still lack access or funding, or have no desire to install a distributed generation system and must rely on the electric utility while shouldering more of the fixed-cost burden of the electric system with incorrect pricing signals like net energy metering.
  “We have finite island grids which have been filled with low capacity, high priced solar which may limit our future options making the Public Utilities Commission’s Phase Two investigation on distributed energy resources even more important to make the necessary market corrections.
  “While economists and others who study game theory may understand the strategic and methodical decision-making process that Hawai`i must employ to achieve optimal results in the design of an advanced electric system, the significance of this transformation and paradigm shift has not been adequately explained to the electricity customer, who must, inevitably, pay for all costs.
  “I fear that if rooftop solar continues to dominate the course of our energy decisions, Hawai`i will be focused on two superpowers duking it out, monolithic vertically integrated electric utilities versus monolithic vertically integrated solar companies vying for market share using political power to affect regulatory authority. I don’t foresee a promising future in that scenario.
  “Too much money, time and energy will be spent on politically charged decisions with nothing but uncertainty and unknown outcomes just to address what I call the tangible balancing act, issues that are more familiar to us in this discussion.”

See minamoritaenergydynamics.com.

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Pahala Dojo members participated in the Kona Tournament of Champions. Left to right, first row: Cheydon, Kaiden and Kailen Kaluahine-Salmo, Alajshae Barrios and Emerald Aurelio. Second row: Josiah Barrios, Ethan Biason, Maria Aurelio, Nishioka Shihan, Cheska Aurelio, Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy, Maiki Cofer and Jake Villa. Third row: Jack Minassian, Cliff Field, Susan Field, John Poetzel and Franciso Villa. Photo from Cliff Field

PAHALA KARATE DOJO PARTICIPATED in the 11th annual Kona Tournament of Champions held at Kekuaokalani Gym on Saturday, Nov. 7. Everyone in the dojo attended the tournament and either participated or helped with judging and refereeing.
Pahala Dojo is part of the International Karate League and is one of 28 dojos in the organizations. The tournament included dojos from Hawai`i Island, O`ahu and California, with 15 dojos represented and over 120 participants. The founder of IKL, Walter Nishioka, was present at the tournament and afterwards came to Pahala to conduct training with Pahala Dojo.
Pahala Dojo placed third in the Most Outstanding Dojo category, which is determined by a point system based on the number of wins dojo participants attain.
Jake Francisco (junior black belt) placed second in junior black belt division and second in junior advanced kobudo (weapons) division.
Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy (junior brown belt) placed first in advanced junior kumite (sparring) and third in intermediate junior kata.
Maiki Cofer (blue belt) placed first in Kata open blue belt, second in kobudo open colored belt and third in women’s kumite colored belt.
Josiah Barrios (junior blue belt) placed second in junior kubudo intermediate.
Cheydon Kaluahine-Salmo (junior green belt) placed first in junior kumite novice and first in junior beginner kata.
Etan Biason (junior green belt) placed second in junior beginner kata.

Thursday Nights at the Center features a new
book by a local artist. Image from VAC

Pahala Dojo trains every Tuesday and Friday at Pahala Community Center beginning at 5 p.m. There is a Keiki karate conditioning class for new students between the ages of five and 10, a beginner’s class and advanced class. The class is open year-round to new students.

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HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK recognizes Veterans Day by waiving entry fees today.

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this month features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The book is Wight’s memoir of her awakening in the 1980s when she bought a cottage near the erupting summit of Kilauea and lived there for five years. She found pu`uhonua – sanctuary, refuge – in the endangered Hawaiian rainforest ecosystem, and she shares the feeling of being in a landscape alive with ancestral voices singing through mist and fire, native birds and insects, plants and ferns.
The event on Nov. 12 begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.
Call 967-8222 for more information.

KA`U INSPIRED IS SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Proceeds from this show/fair featuring Ka`u artists benefit OVCA.
There will be a silent auction of artworks donated by participating artists.
For more information, email suzanne@dixstudios.com, or call 929-7113.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Director2015.pdf.

Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend. NPS Photo by Julia Espaniola

“COVER YOUR WATER TANK” was Hawai`i County Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira’s message at a dengue fever meeting in Na`alehu recorded by Big Island Video News. Oliveira urged Ka`u residents to cover water catchment tanks to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. At the meeting, officials distributed information about eliminating standing water in breeding places such as birdbaths, pool covers, leaky faucets, tires, wheelbarrows and other items. The meetings are being held around the island to educate the public in hopes of reducing the spread of dengue fever.

During the meeting’s question-and-answer session, Ka`u residents brought up the subject of water catchment systems.

Hawai`i Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira urges Ka`u residents to cover
their water tanks. Video still from Big Island Video News

One resident said she had in the past added a larvicide to her tank but hasn’t been able to find it in stores. Oliveira said the product is no longer made and that his department is researching other larvicides that may be added to potable water sources.
According to University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, mosquitoes have been a problem with stored water in Hawai`i since their introduction in the late 1800s, and they are a particular problem when tanks are covered with sagging mesh. A very hazardous old-time method to eliminate mosquitoes was to cover the water surface with a film of kerosene, assuming that it would kill the larvae and then evaporate. Kerosene is toxic to humans and should never be used in a water catchment system. Mineral oil has also been used in the same fashion to kill mosquito larvae, but the oil residue left on the tank will support the growth of undesirable microorganisms.
The best way to avoid mosquitoes “is to eliminate any opening large enough to admit them, filter the intake and eliminate exposed, ponded or standing water anywhere in the catchment system,” UH-CTAHR reported.

See bigislandvideonews.com.

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Ranchos is the site of proposed solar arrays on several
three-acre lots. Photo from Preserve Hawai`i's
Rural Communities

HAWAIIAN RANCHOS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION has sent ballots to its voting members asking them to approve a measure that would limit the amount of solar power that could be produced on any three-acre lots to 25 kilowatt-hours. This would allow rooftop solar, but not 250-kwh installations currently planned for the subdivision.

SPI Solar, a Chinese company, has permits in the names of about 18 limited-liability companies to build 16 installations in Ranchos. If built, they will have the capacity to generate 6,750 kwh. Hawaiian Electric Light Co. would also need to build a substation and overhead high voltage line for the project, subject to state Public Utilities Commission approval.
HRCA previously polled all property owners and received 374 responses against the solar installations, Ranchos resident Ann Bosted said. In addition, a petition against the installations, offered for signing in some Ocean View businesses, has received about 500 signatures.
Bosted said that, in general, Ranchos property owners are not against rooftop solar but prefer that the industrial installations, which would include six-foot high security fences and bright lights, be located on true agricultural land rather than neighborhoods that are on ag-zoned land.
According to Bosted, SPI’s property leasing partners have not yet signed a contract with HELCO.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD shared her Veterans Day thoughts with The Ka`u Calendar.
“Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, because it is their sacrifices that have secured the freedoms and security that we cherish,” Gabbard said. “Freedom is not free. I’ve seen first-hand the true cost of war and how that cost continues long after our veterans come home. Our troops and veterans, and their families, pay the price, and it takes a toll on the toughest among them. Coming home should offer them peace and a chance to heal.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a major in Hawai`i's Army National Guard.
Photo from Office of the Representative

“But the reality is that our veterans often come home bearing the scars of war, dealing with wounds that are both visible and invisible, and face great difficulty in gaining access to the care and benefits they need and have earned.
“Our country must honor our troops’ service and their willingness to sacrifice for our nation, by not sending them on missions with no clear objective, or to fight in wars that are unnecessary and counterproductive to our nation’s security.

“We must honor our veterans’ service by caring for them when they come home and empowering them to continue serving our community and our country.
“The Veterans Administration must begin to rebuild veterans’ trust by holding leaders accountable for their malpractice and focusing on its mission of serving veterans. …
“After serving and sacrificing for all of us, every single veteran should come home knowing that we are there for them and that we have their back.”
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Gov. David Ige speaking on Veterans Day.
Image from Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE MARKED Veterans Day with a recorded message on his Facebook page: “On this Veterans Day, let us pay tribute to the honorable men and women of our nation’s armed services, who have forsaken their own safety to ensure the safety and freedoms of all Americans. Let us always remember the ultimate sacrifices made by our service men and women and also the sacrifices made by countless military families. Our nation honors you, on this day and always.”

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WITH WARMEST WINTER WISHES and happiest holiday greetings, Volcano Art Center welcomes Ka`u residents to the 16th annual Christmas in the Country celebration starting Saturday, Nov. 21. Featuring the annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit that continues through Jan. 3, this year’s Christmas in the Country promises an abundance of art and aloha to kickstart the holiday season.

VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. In addition to the artwork Volcano Art Center has become known for showcasing year-round, visitors find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, crafts, ornaments and decorations made by Hawai`i Island artists, including some that are VAC exclusives.

The concurrent annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional. “You’ll be amazed at what some artists choose to include in their highly creative concepts of ‘wreath’,” Gallery Manager Emily Catey said. “Those looking for truly original wreaths will want to be among the first to see and choose from the exhibit.”

Volcano Art Center Gallery will be decorated for
Christmas in the Country. Photo from VAC

Christmas in the Country begins with an exclusive members-only preview party and features artists hosting special events throughout each weekend.
At the preview on Friday, Nov. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., VAC members are invited to be the first to view the full collection of unique wreaths and handcrafted decorations and gifts offered. Enjoy complimentary gourmet pupus, mulled cider and champagne, prize drawings and membership discount.
Joining is easy and secure at volcanoartcenter.org, or purchase a one-day membership upon arrival for $15.
Park entrance fees may apply.
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THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this evening features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her new book Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.
Call 967-8222 for more information.

KA`U INSPIRED IS SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Proceeds from this show/fair featuring Ka`u artists benefit OVCA.
There will be a silent auction of artworks donated by participating artists.
For more information, email suzanne@dixstudios.com, or call 929-7113.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend.
Participants learn about the formation and various uses of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A breathtaking view of lower Ka`u is visible on this moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top.
People & Land of Kahuku is a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain. The program on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. focuses on the area’s human history.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Kilauea Military Camp celebrated its 99th anniversary on Veterans Day, while Honoring Those Who Served.
Photo from Elene Rizzo-Kuhn/KMC

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP CELEBRATED Veterans Day and its 99th anniversary with an outdoor ceremony on Wednesday. Under partly cloudy skies, 295 veterans and guests from local communities paid their respects in Honoring Those Who Served. As in the past, veterans were treated with a free Prime Rib Buffet meal following the ceremony.

This year’s keynote speaker was retired Col. Debra Lewis, from Hilo, and guest speaker was William Tehero, Jr., Veteran Outreach Coordinator for Hawai`i Community College, from Kea`au. Kahu Gaymond Apaka led the Invocation and Benediction, Hilo Civil Air Patrol Cadets presented Colors, American Legion Post Three presented a 21-Gun Salute, and Hilo Community Chorus shared patriotic music. Raymond Gandy, of Volcano, played Taps, and Raymond Dustin, of Mountain View, played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. Charles Mapa, of Mountain View, who has volunteered as emcee for several years, was again this year’s emcee.
Next year, KMC celebrates its centennial and is planning various events throughout the year, which culminate on Veterans Day.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION seeks feedback on a waiver for 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. Funds would support afterschool programs that deliver high-quality services to support student learning and development.

This Tydings Waiver would allow DOE to continue using these funds for afterschool programs to support student learning and development and to support the continued efforts of DOE’s approved Elementary and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver. DOE will host additional grant competitions for these funds to current sub-grantees now serving the children and families of Hawai`i, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programs, summer bridge programs and College/Career Readiness programs.
In addition, DOE would use these funds to continue its process to establish consistent and uniform program standards, a more effective program evaluation tool and to support Hawai`i Afterschool Alliance allowable activities, as allowed per the approved ESEA Flexibility Waiver.
According to DOE, extended authority to obligate these funds will improve academic achievement of students in the state. The additional grant competitions will afford current sub-grantees the opportunity to offer needed additional services for the programs and support enhanced educational experiences and opportunities for thousands of children and families in Hawai`i. These programs help working parents by providing a safe environment for students outside of school hours.
Send comments supporting or not supporting to daniel_williams@notes.k12.hi.us. Responses are due on Nov. 30 at 3 p.m.
For more information, contact Daniel Williams at daniel_williams@notes.k12.hi.us or 808-305-9863.
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A FATAL DISEASE IS THREATENING Hawai`i Island's `ohi`a trees, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists share their concerns in the current issue of Volcano Watch.

“One of the wondrous things about visiting a young lava flow on the Island of Hawai`i is encountering the tenacious plant life that emerges from a barren and rough volcanic environment,” the article states. “Volcanophile hikers know that taking a tumble on the sharp, glassy lava surface can leave a lasting impression. Yet, within a few years, a recent lava flow can host a community of plants that includes `ohi`a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) – one of the most common trees in Hawai`i and the first native tree to colonize young lava.

“From its humble beginnings on a barren flow, `ohi`a lehua, or `ohi`a, becomes the dominant tree of the Hawaiian rain forest. This keystone species, which holds the entire forest ecosystem together, evolved in complete isolation and occurs nowhere else in the world. The tree's original relatives are likely from New Zealand, with the wind-borne seeds making their way to Hawai`i by way of the Marquesas Islands.

`Ohi`a trees, pioneer plants on new lava flows, are threatened
threatened by a fungal disease. Photo by Nate Yuen
from hawaiianforest.com

“The `ohi`a tree is adapted to colonize lava flows in an unpredictable volcanic environment. Mature `ohi`a forests always have some flowering trees, so the tiny, light-weight seeds are available year round to be dispersed to recent flows. The tree has a superior capacity for extending its roots vertically and can grow efficiently in cracks and fissures, taking advantage of residual moisture after rainfall. `Ohi`a also have the capability to close their stomata, or breathing pores, so the trees can ‘hold their breath’ when toxic volcanic gases are blown their way.
“`Ohi`a is a tree with immense cultural significance, symbolizing strength, beauty and sanctity. It is considered the physical manifestation of Ku, one of the four principal Hawaiian deities. The wood was used in sacred structures for heiau (temples) and for weapons and tools. The red, orange and yellow lehua blossoms are a symbol of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. The `ohi`a is entwined with the art of hula, with its flowers and foliage frequently adorning the dancers and presented as offerings by traditional halau (hula schools).
“Unfortunately, there is a new menace threatening this important tree: a fungus, Ceratocystis fimbriata, that is causing a lethal disease in `ohi`a. Known as `ohi`a wilt, or Rapid `Ohi`a Death, a diseased tree exhibits rapid browning of the leaves on a single limb and/or in the entire tree crown and typically dies within a matter of weeks. Researchers report that nearly all of the trees in an affected stand will succumb to the disease within two to three years. This has the potential to change the evolution of the volcanic landscape and forest ecosystems in Hawai`i, putting our unique Hawaiian birds, invertebrates, plant communities and, potentially, entire watersheds at risk.
“Currently, the disease is confined to the Island of Hawai`i. However, it is spreading from the island’s lower Puna and Hilo Districts (East Hawai`i), where it was originally identified, to West Hawai`i and Volcano, and has the potential to kill `ohi`a trees statewide.
“Since there is no treatment or cure for the disease at this time, the main tactic for managing ROD is to prevent the disease from spreading. In August, the Hawai`i Board of Agriculture imposed a quarantine on the intrastate movement of `ohi`a wood and plant parts without a special permit (http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/ohiaquarantine/). When visiting or working in Hawai`i Island forests, you should treat shoes, gear, tools, vehicles and clothing with a fresh 10 percent bleach solution, or greater than 70 percent rubbing alcohol, before moving to another forested area (http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/downloads/ROD-trifold-10.2015.pdf). Most importantly, `ohi`a wood, vegetation or soil should not be moved from its original location.
“This winter and holiday season is different than previous ones because of ROD. Residents who use wood to heat their homes should consider that buying `ohi`a firewood may spread ROD to trees in their areas. This year, wreath-making workshops include topics on preventing the spread of ROD, and wreath and lei makers are being encouraged to explore foliage alternatives to `ohi`a.
“Next time you pass by an `ohi`a, take a moment to appreciate the pioneer tree that shapes the volcanic landscape in Hawai`i. More information and details on preventing the spread of Rapid `Ohi`a Death is available on the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources website (www.rapidohiadeath.org) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RapidOhiaDeath).”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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KOREAN NATURAL FARMING comes to Ka`u tomorrow. Drake Weinert shares his knowledge during a free workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to Weinert, the method improves soil quality and boosts nutrients using non-toxic materials farmers can find in their own homes. It can also help reduce costs while increasing long-term health of farms.

Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event takes place at 96-2384 Wood Valley Road above Pahala. Go past Ka`u Coffee Mill. About five minutes later on the left there is a small gravel road. Go past the gravel road until on the left appear a big pasture with some little green and gray buildings at the bottom and a small blue house with white roof at the top of the hill.
For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER presents Ka`u Inspired tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds from this show/fair featuring Ka`u artists benefit OVCA.
There will be a silent auction of artworks donated by participating artists.

See ad below. For more information, email suzanne@dixstudios.com, or call 929-7113.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend.
Participants learn about the formation and various uses of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A breathtaking view of lower Ka`u is visible on this moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top.
People & Land of Kahuku is a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain. The program on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. focuses on the area’s human history.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Tropical cyclones swirled around the Hawaiian Islands, but none made direct hits so far this hurricane season, which officially ends on Nov. 30. Image from Central Pacific Hurricane Center

MAKAHIKI PULE `AINA HOLO traveled through Ka`u on Friday. The ceremonial run takes Lono around the island in three days. Lono is carried and handed from one runner or walker to the other around the entire island. From Miloli`i to Honaunau, it goes by wa`a (canoe).

Ka`u keiki pass Lono one to the other during Makahiki Pule `Aina Holo.
Photos from Nohea Ka`awa

It left Honoka`a and traveled clockwise around the island to Hilo, upper Puna, Ka`u and continues into Kona and Kohala, over the mountain road to Waimea and down to Waipi`io Lookout, ending in Honoka`a tomorrow.
According to Lanakila Manquail’s Facebook page, the run follows the practice of the Ali`i procession that went around the island in the days of Hawaiian ancestors. “With deep humbleness and respect to the traditions of our kupuna, this walk or run is to give our time, energy, sweat, body, and ha (breath) to feed the pule and consciousness of all to heal and malama our `ohana, our lahui (nation) and our `aina,” Manquail said.
Manquail’s intent is to bring this tradition into the 21st century. He was inspired by the revival of traditions observed with the Pitt River Nation of Northern California, where the idea of a ceremonial run was born. Manquail has participated a few times in their run.

Last year, some Pitt River Native Americans flew in to participate in the Hawai`i run. “Where we don’t have people to run, they will run,” Manquail said of last year’s event. “We are in the season of Makahiki, therefore the runners will carry the Lono staff around the island.”

Verna Ka`awa and `Ohana, Jesse Ke and `Ohana, James McCabe, Lehua Lopez, Allison Yahna, her friend Laura and Jaime Kawauchi provided food, paper goods and drink donations for the runners and supporters during the Ka`u portion of the run.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE SEARCHING for a man who frequents the Ka`u area for questioning in an abuse case. Daniel Lemaire, 34 years old, is described as five-foot-10-inches tall, 185 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Lono passed through Ka`u Friday on the way around the island.

Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers calls are kept confidential.
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THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island has risen to 38 as of yesterday, Hawai`i Department of Health reported. Thirty are residents, and eight are visitors. Thirty-two cases are adults, and six are under 18 years of age.
Melissa Fletcher, of Volcano, told Leila Fujimore, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that mosquitoes may have transmitted dengue from her to a friend and her friend’s three-year-old daughter. Fletcher is still waiting for test results to confirm dengue.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park told Fujimori that even healthy people can get severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. “Some first-time dengue patients can get severe dengue,” she said. “They can die within several days. People have trouble clotting blood, losing blood into their tissues. Blood pressure drops. They need aggressive support in the ICU.”
See staradvertiser.com.
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THE U.S. NAVY PLANS TO PREPARE a new environmental impact statement for training and testing exercises in the Pacific Ocean from December 2018 onward, including the use of sonar and explosives that threaten widespread harm to whales, dolphins, other marine mammals and imperiled sea turtles. The move follows a March 31 federal court ruling that the Navy illegally failed to consider restricting military exercises in biologically important areas within the Hawai`i-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area to reduce harm to marine mammals.

A Ka`u resident carries Lono through Wai`ohinu.

“We urge the public to get involved and tell the Navy its new study needs to examine ways to keep destructive training out of vital marine mammal habitat,” said Marjorie Ziegler, executive director of Conservation Council for Hawai`i.

The public comment period on the new environmental impact statement ends Jan. 12, 2016. Submit comments online at http://www.hstteis.com.

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WITH A RECORD 15 TROPICAL CYCLONES in the Central Pacific this year, “We were extremely lucky this season,” Bob Ballard, science and operations officer at Central Pacific Hurricane Center, told Craig Gima, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, but Ballard warned that because of El Nino conditions, there is a higher-than-normal chance of storms developing in the Central Pacific beyond the season. El Nino reduces wind shear, the difference in wind speed and/or direction with height, Dr. Phil Klotzbach said on The Weather Channel. Wind shear often weakens storms.
Klotzbach also said there have been more days with multiple hurricanes in the central Pacific basin this season than all other years combined since 1970.
The tropical cyclones also disrupted Hawai`i’s usual trade wind flow. That, coupled with the warm ocean surface warming the air, create hotter than usual conditions in the state.
While Hawai`i has been lucky, Ballard said, “We’re a small target in a big ocean, but it’s just a matter of time. There’s no particular reason why hurricanes can’t reach the islands if conditions are right.”
See staradvertiser.com.
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SIERRA CLUB, BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION and other groups want the state Public Utilities Commission to post transcripts of the evidentiary hearing on the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Industries and NextEra Energy, according to Nathan Eagle, of Civil Beat. The 12-day hearing begins on Monday, Nov. 30 at Blaisdell Center on O`ahu.

Makahiki Pule `Aina Holo participants gathered at Wai`ohinu Park.

The PUC last week announced that any party in the case that wants transcripts must make arrangements directly with the court reporter.
“Making the hearing transcript publicly accessible (including a rough daily transcript) will: (i) promote transparency and accessibility for the public at large, including neighbor island residents and parties; and (ii) help avoid “repetitive, or cumulative cross-examination,” Blue Planet Foudation’s Program Director Richard Wallsgrove said.

Other groups said not issuing transcripts puts small nonprofits that can’t afford to fly from the neighbor islands to attend the hearing at a disadvantage.
See civilbeat.com.
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“COULD IT BE PELE’S REVENGE?” asks a story in Honolulu Star-Advertiser regarding Rapid `Ohi`a Death, which is threatening native forests as it spreads on Hawai`i Island. The story says that “according to Hawaiian legend, the goddess turned `Ohi`a, a warrior, into a tree after he rebuffed her marriage proposal. The gods took pity on `Ohi`a’s real love, Lehua, and turned her into a flower on the `ohi`a tree so they could be joined forever.”
The story suggests that `ohi`a lehua may be in short supply for hula adornments during next year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
See staradvertiser.com.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO WILL HOST a federal grants webinar in partnership with National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Individuals and nonprofit organizations interested in learning about federal funding opportunities for their respective arts, culture or linguistics programs are invited to join the free webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
“I have long been and continue to be a proud supporter of the arts,” Hirono said. Whether it’s music, literature, visual arts or other performing arts, these endeavors enrich our lives and fill our spirit. I strongly urge art-focused organizations or anyone who has a passion for the arts and culture to participate in this federal grants webinar.”
“Arts and cultural organizations are the lifeblood of the Hawai`i community,” said volunteer arts advocate Melissa Pavlicek. “Helping arts and cultural organizations connect with governmental grant funders will strengthen the local community.”
The webinar will feature presentations that include examples of how grants are implemented in other communities; upcoming grant opportunities; tips for applying for grants; eligibility, application criteria and the review process; and how to connect with these federal agencies.

Interested organizations can register at http://bit.ly/1kg9jL8.

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Participants learn about the People & Land of Kahuku tomorrow.
NPS Photo by Julia Espaniola

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers a free, guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain tomorrow. People & Land of Kahuku, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., focuses on the area’s human history.

MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Forest Restoration Project. Volunteers plant native seedlings in the Mauna Loa section of the park on Friday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register at forest@fhvnp.org or 352-1402.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Ka`u residents learned about Korean Natural Farming at a workshop yesterday. Photos from Malian Lahey

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN and state Rep. Richard Creagan want the Department of Health to step up its actions to stem the outbreak of dengue fever. According to Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, they asked DOH Director Virginia Pressler for free testing of those without doctors or health insurance, DOH employees to travel into communities to test blood and a dengue hotline.

Dr. Virginia Pressler

Yager reported that the lawmakers, both doctors, sent a letter to DOH Director Virginia Pressler saying that a dengue hotline would help the uninsured and those on poor or modest wages living in mosquito-infested homes.

“We need the Department of Health to get deep into the community,” Green told Yager. “They could contract with clinical labs and use the mobile van that the Legislature funded. They just need the will to do it.”
State epidemiologist Sarah Park told Yager that it isn’t the role of DOH to go out and draw blood and do testing itself. “We facilitate access to health care but don’t provide it ourselves,” Park said. “We’re better off leaving that to the health care providers.”
Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira said emergency services were made available at fire stations in an effort to provide some access to those who have no other means to get into the system, but the legislators told Yager this is inefficient and ineffective. Green said DOH has many personnel who could be equipped to interview, assess and test. “Simply telling people to go to their doctor will not completely solve the problem,” the letter reads. “Many do not have doctors or are being given appointments a week or more out. … Many in the community are afraid of the costs of seeking and receiving medical care and what they really need is to have their blood drawn and tested for dengue.”
Lorrin Pang, Maui’s public health officer who participated in Hawai`i Island community meetings on dengue, told Yager that coffee pickers who don’t access to health care may ignore symptoms and keep working. They move to many different areas and expose themselves to mosquitoes. According to Pang, reaching these workers is top priority.
See westhawaiitoday.com.

ELEVEN MORE CASES of denger fever were confirmed yesterday, raising the number on Hawai`i Island from 38 as of Thursday to 49 as of yesterday, Hawai`i Department of Health reported. Thirty-nine are residents, and ten are visitors. Thirty-nine cases are adults, and ten are under 18 years of age. Onset of illness ranged from Sept.11 to Nov. 7, previously Nov. 2.

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Wood Valley was the site of yesterday's Ka`u Natural Farming workshop.

KA`U RESIDENTS LEARNED about Korean Natural Farming yesterday. Drake Weinert shared his knowledge during a free workshop. According to Weinert, the method improves soil quality and boosts nutrients using non-toxic materials farmers can find in their own homes. It can also help reduce costs while increasing long-term health of farms.

Sponsored by Ka`u Specialty Coffee, the event took place in Wood Valley above Pahala.

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A HERO OF FRANCE AND THE U.S., Tokuichi Nakano, of Na`alehu, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Ka`u Hospital. Born on June 6, 1919 at Honu`apo, Nakano was Ka`u’s eldest living Nisei World War II 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran.
He served in France during World War II, and this year the French Republic sent an emissary to the Big Island to name Nakano, at the age of 95, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

During a ceremony on Jan. 21 at West Hawai`i Veterans Cemetery, French Consul General Pauline Carmona said her country owes the Nisei soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team a debt of eternal gratitude for the role they played in liberating France from Nazi occupation.

Tokuichi Nakano, right, with fellow Ka`u veteran
Iwao Yonemitsu. Photo by Julia Neal

“The people of France have not forgotten,” she said during her address. “Their children and grandchildren have not forgotten. They will never forget.”
Retired Army Col. Debra Lewis, of Hilo, said soldiers in the 442nd and 100th Battalion overcame a 314 percent casualty rate and were the most decorated for their size and duration of time they fought.
“This devotion to duty and to each other have inspired generations long after the last weapon was fired,” Lewis said. “They understood that anger against our country for unfair treatment (of Japanese Americans) was a luxury they could not afford. These brave men decided failure was not an option.”
During the ceremony, Nakano also remembered his unit rescuing a Texas battalion in WWII in Europe.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour award represents France’s highest decoration of valor.
Both Nakano and Iwao Yonemitsu also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 in Washington, D.C. The late Sen. Dan Inouye, who also received the Congressional Gold Medal, said during those ceremonies, “We, gathered here, were designated ‘enemy aliens’ of the United States. However, we did not sit by and do nothing. We petitioned the government to give us the opportunity to demonstrate our love of country and our patriotism. That opportunity was granted, and thousands of men rushed to the draft boards to volunteer for military service.”
When Nakano, Yonemitsu, Inouye and other members of the 442nd returned to Hawai`i, they “found themselves declared to be members of the most decorated military unit in the history of the United States. Seventy years ago we were enemy aliens, but today, this great nation honors us in this special ceremony,” Inouye said during the Gold Medal ceremonies.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Inurnment follows at 12 p.m. at Hilo Veterans Cemetery Two.
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HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES have proposed to expand their time-of-use rate options to help customers gain more control over their electric bills, support increased use of renewable energy and promote the adoption of new technologies such as energy storage and electric vehicles.
Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai`i Electric Light Company proposed new voluntary time-of-use rates for residential customers that encourage use of power during times when solar and wind resources are most productive. In addition, the companies proposed revised time-of-use rates for electric vehicle charging aimed at continuing to support the growing EV market.

Jim Alberts, of HECO

“We want to give our customers options to help them manage their bills and encourage the use of more low-cost renewable energy,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service. “Rate options like these can give customers choices and help us collectively achieve our state’s 100 percent renewable portfolio standards goal.”
Residential time-of-use rates would be most beneficial for customers who are able to use more electricity during the middle of the day until 4 p.m., for example, to wash and dry clothes, wash dishes, charge an electric vehicle, cook or cool the house. Next best would be to move some energy usage to after midnight by using timers to do laundry, run dishwashers or charge an electric vehicle, for example.
Actual savings will depend on how much customers are able to change their use patterns to the middle of the day when the amount of solar power is greatest or to overnight hours when wind farms are typically productive and to help avoid the need to run additional utility generators to meet the evening peak demand. This will help reduce the state’s reliance on oil and make the most efficient use of renewable resources.
In addition, customers with energy storage systems can store lower-cost energy generated by their rooftop PV systems during the day and then use some of that stored power to meet some of their needs during the evening peak period. This can help customers better manage their bills and maximize their investment in their rooftop PV and energy storage systems.
Based on current fuel prices and other surcharges, if the proposed rates were effective on Hawai`i Island today, they would be as follows: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 17.2 cents per kilowatt hour; 12 a.m. to 9 a.m., 19.3 center per kWh; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., 46.9 cents per kWh.
The rate for non-TOU residential customers would be 30.3 cents per kWh.

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Interested Ka`u residents can register by tomorrow to participate
in Friday's forest restoration project. Photo from FHVNP

KA`U RESIDENTS WHO WANT to participate in Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Forest Restoration Project on Friday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. should register by tomorrow. Email forest@fhvnp.org or call 352-1402.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings in Kona this week via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
Committees meet on Tuesday in Kona. Human Services & Social Services Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Public Works & Parks & Recreation, 9:15 a.m.; Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 9:30 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 1:30 p.m.; Planning, 3 p.m.; and Finance, 4:15 p.m.
The full Council meets on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and to view live streams of the meetings.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2105.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Ka`u High's cheeleading squad is in its second year after a near 10-year hiatus. Photos from cheerleading Coach Jessica Carroll

REP. TULSI GABBARD AND HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED are offering to help Ka`u Coffee farmers with land security issues. Miss Ka `u Coffee Maria Miranda, Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba and Ka`u Coffee Growers land security chair Trini Marques attended the annual statewide meeting of the Farmers Union over the weekend on Maui. They met with Congresswoman Gabbard, who said she would study the issue and further meet with farmers.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with Gloria Camba and Trini Marques about Ka`u
Coffee growers' lack of land security.

Greg Smith, President of the Ka`u chapter of Hawai`i Farmers Union United, said Miranda served Ka`u well, giving a speech to the meeting of Farmers Union presidents. “Maria Miranda did a great job representing the Ka`u Coffee family of farmers,” Smith said. He said the Farmers Union will make every effort to help them with land security.
Miranda gave a speech about her family history of fleeing Central America for freedoms offered by the United States of America, winding up on California and Kona farms and eventually in Ka`u, where she grew up and her family has a successful Ka`u Coffee business.
She said the farmers are seeking land security. A new owner, Resource Land Holdings, is expected to close on the property on Nov. 19 and is offering 15-year licenses that transfer ownership of the coffee trees to the new landowners and require the farmers to cooperate with subdividing the land and withdrawing land to put in infrastructure for development. The proposed licenses also give landowners oversight on farm practices and what can be grown on each farm. Under previous ownership, approvals were gained from the county planning director to subdivide the farms into smaller lots than zoning allows. Farmers say they fear they will be unable to afford to buy their farms if they are turned into coffee estates where houses would be allowed. Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative voted recently to ask the new owners for an option to buy the land ahead of infrastructure development.
A statement from Ka`u Coffee Growers Co-op Pres. Gloria Camba read by Miranda during the convention reviewed the success of the farmers in creating successful economic development and entrepreneurship through their coffee farms following the shutdown of the Ka`u sugar industry almost 20 years ago.

Scott Enright, head of the state Department of Agriculture, also attended the convention and said he plans to come to Ka`u soon.

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Purchase of Kahua `Olohu is on Hawai`i County Council's meeting agenda.

COUNTY PURCHASE OF KAHUA `OLOHU is again on the agenda of Hawai`i County Council’s meeting on Wednesday.

Ka`u Council member Maile David’s resolution authorizes the county to negotiate the purchase of the Makahiki grounds in Na`alehu. During an October council meeting, David postponed the resolution after Council member Aaron Chung asked her to investigate property owner James Weatherford’s interests in the property.
According to the resolution, the property is listed as a key priority for purchase in Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Committee’s 2014 Annual Report for its historical significance and cultural importance.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting in Kona begins at 9 a.m.
See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and to view the meeting streamed live.
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Sen. Josh Green

FOLLOWING FRIDAY’S REPORT of 11 more confirmed cases of dengue fever, Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green asked Hawai`i Island residents to be vigilant. “I suspect due to delayed and incomplete testing the number will climb before this outbreak is eradicated,” Green said. “Please take all precautions to avoid mosquito bites on the island, especially where the larger clusters of cases have been (South Kona Region). Wear insect repellent (large new supplies have been ordered and donated), and remove standing water from your property at all times. ...

“Call or see your doctor, or go to the ER if you have a high fever or other classic Dengue symptoms such as severe headache (especially behind the eyes) or terrible muscle and bone pains.
Green said that symptoms start five to seven days after exposure and last about a week. Take Tylenol for high fevers.”

Green will update the community on his THINKTECH TV show at 2 p.m. tomorrow. See thinktechhawaii.com.
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GOV. DAVID IGE HAS RETURNED from a nine-day trip to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan, where he participated in a series of business, government, educational and cultural discussions and exchanges.

“The relationships between Hawai`i and South Korea and Hawai`i and Japan are very important to our state, and we must continue to explore options for partnerships and exchanges as we continually seek new and innovative solutions to critical issues facing our state,” Ige said.

In both Japan and Korea, the governor shared his 100 percent renewable energy goal and discussed ways in which the countries could collaborate in achieving those goals – where government and business can participate.

This was Ige’s first trip to South Korea at the invitation of the South Korean government. Gov. and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige visited the Korean Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, which is looking to transition South Korea’s economies to clean energy. “They are much aware of our 100 percent renewable goal that we have set for ourselves and they want to participate in the research and development side, as well as help solve the energy storage challenges that we must respond to,” Ige said.

Gov. and Mrs. Ige presented a wreath at the War Memorial of Korea.
Photo from Office of the Governor

The governor and Mrs. Ige also presented a wreath at the War Memorial of Korea to honor Hawai`i residents who for their sacrifices in the war.
At Seoul National University, the Iges discussed international student and faculty exchanges with Hawai`i. “They see the globalization of communities and see the significant value in sending faculty and students abroad. Hawai`i is the obvious choice,” Ige said.
Ige attended the U.S.-Japan Council conference, where he met with a number of government and business leaders and took part in a panel discussion with five governors from various provinces in Japan. The discussion focused on expanding educational, economic and cultural exchanges between our communities.
“As governors, we realize that many of the challenges that face our country can be improved by our relationships at sub-regional levels,” Ige said. “Working together, we can greatly enhance the relationship between Japan and the United States.”
Ige applauded the increase in accessibility to Hawai`i from Japan and South Korea. Korean airliner Jin Air announced that it is adding one flight from South Korea to Hawai`i five times a week. All Nippon Airlines announced that it is adding more seat capacity from Japan to Hawai`i, demonstrating continued growth in Japanese visitors to the islands.
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Ka`u residents can support Trojan cheerleaders
at gofundme.com/kaucheer.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL’S CHEERLEADING squad is in its second year after a near 10-year hiatus. Jessica Carroll, who works full-time at the high school as a behavioral health specialist, has coached the squad each year.

This year, the squad cheered at almost all of the football games, participated in Big Island Cheer’s Cheer-Fest in Hilo on Oct. 17 and competed on Oct. 21. The squad also performed an exhibition routine at BIIF Cheer Finals on Nov. 4. A smaller portion of the squad (because some squad members have left to play basketball and soccer this winter sports season) will be cheering the home basketball games.
Squad members this year include (those with an asterisk are in their second year with the squad) Dacy Davis-Andrade, Destiny Beck*, Aislinn Carroll*, Sheena Flores, Layna Haina*, Malie Ibarra, Zyra Kailiawa, Cherish Kaliawa*, Taylor Kekoa-Burgos, Cassidy Louis, Jenny Mauricio*, Maria Miranda, Brittney Perry*, Kanani Petril-Abrojin and Jennifer Sanchez.
The squad has also held a few fundraisers this fall. They sold Pahala Pops in September and have an ongoing GoFundMe campaign at www.gofundme.com/kaucheer. These funds have been used to purchase uniforms, pompoms, shoes and other supplies. The squad would also like to attend camp this summer to continue to develop their skills and prepare for next fall’s competition season.
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ADVOCATS SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC is Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more information.

MANAIAKALANI KALUA AND HALAU o Akaunu perpetuate the `aiha`a style, which Kalua said “was born of this landscape,” Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kumu received his `uniki (training) from Taupouri Tangao, kumu hula for Unukupukupu, whose foundation comes from the traditions of Halau o Kekuhi. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Manaiakalani Kalua and Halau o Akaunu perform tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Photo from NPS

A MORATORIUM ON COLLECTING FISH for the aquarium trade will not be part of Hawai`i Department of Land & Natural Resources’ management plan for near-shore waters in the main Hawaiian Islands. Extensive, mass coral bleaching across the entire Hawaiian archipelago is prompting the development of a comprehensive coral reef management plan for near-shore waters.

Hawai`i DLNR has determined that collecting fish for aquariums does not
contribute to coral bleaching. Photo from DLNR

Dr. Bruce Anderson, administrator for the state Department of Land & Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources, said, “Aquarium fish collecting is not thought to contribute significantly to the problem, while declines in populations of large-scale coral scraping herbivores such as parrot fish (uhu) are a significant issue for our reef health.”

In October, the head of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control asked DLNR to consider a temporary moratorium on commercial aquarium fish extraction in response to Hawai`i’s significant coral bleaching event. In a response, DLNR Chair Suzanne Case wrote, “Commercial aquarium fish collecting, in fact, does not occur to any great extent off most of the Hawaiian Islands. The fishery is primarily centered in West Hawai`i. Fifteen years of data show that the herbivores making up most (92 percent) of the catch have increased over the years and are now more numerous there than any other place in the Hawaiian archipelago. Significantly, no parrotfish are taken by West Hawai`i aquarium collectors. On O`ahu, less the 20 percent of all the aquarium animals collected are herbivorous fishes. Again, parrotfish are essentially not taken by collectors, averaging only five per year recently.”

Dr. Bruce Anderson

“Coral bleaching in some parts of Hawai`i is unprecedented in recorded history, placing our corals at much greater risk of dying,” Anderson said. “We need to ensure our reefs are as healthy and resilient as possible to maximize the chances of recovery. The development of a statewide coral reef management plan is a top priority for DAR, given the extent and severity of coral bleaching across Hawai`i the last two years. Coral reef resilience and recovery is very complex, so the plan will have to address site-specific stressors; this can’t be a one size fits all approach.”
Dr. William Walsh, DAR’s Aquatic Biologist on Hawai`i Island, has a long history of collecting data on coral reefs on the Big Island. He explained that herbivores are not created equally, and ocean scientists categorize them based on what they feed on, their role on a reef and their role in coral health and recovery. “Grazers are the main fish collected by the aquarium industry,” Walsh said. “They crop the low-lying turf algae and include many species of surgeonfish like yellow tang. The other two categories are browsers and scrapers/excavators. It’s this last category that current global scientific research suggests are the key players in overall coral reef health, by regenerating coral reefs and controlling invasive algae. These include parrotfish. We anticipate Hawai`i’s management plan might address protection of grazers/excavators as well as certain species of sea urchin.”
“Addressing large-scale stressors like land pollution is a tough but important challenge,” Case said. “In the management plan, we hope to reiterate steps that every Hawai`i resident and visitor can take to help our coral reefs.”
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DR. JEAN-RENÉ LEBLANC is Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s artist-in-residence for December 2015. Leblanc, a professor of fine arts at University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, incorporates infrared spectrum photography into his digital tableaux to “make the invisible visible.” He will be in the park from Dec. 4, 2015 through Jan. 4, 2016.

Dr. Jean-Renee Leblanc Photo from HVNP

Hawai`i has long been an inspiration to Leblanc, who was married on Hawai`i Island and has done several Hawai`i-based art projects. “Hawai`i is a powerful cultural and geographical place that is quite striking both visually and emotionally,” Leblanc said. “As an artist, I love to connect with the people and places where I am working creatively, and Hawai`i has moved me by its visual and cultural beauty. Both the local residents and tourists who flock to experience the popular connotation of Hawai`i as ‘Paradise’ may often miss some of the beautiful nuance. In my work and in these workshops, I hope to offer a fresh perspective for what the eye of habit might no longer see, and ideally, a different understanding.”
Toward the end of his month-long residency, Leblanc will present a piece of his art to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
“We are looking forward to the arrival of Dr. Jean-René Leblanc as our second artist in residence,” Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. “Artists are an important part of the National Park Service and have had a long-standing impact on the establishment and preservation of our parks. Continuing this historic tradition by providing artists the opportunity to draw on inspiration from the park’s volcanic landscapes and cultural resources has long been a goal for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Translating that inspiration into art brings new insights, beauty and a more thorough understanding of the park.”
Originally from Montréal, Leblanc is the co-founder of the Sensorium Lab, a research group that focuses on technology that enhances and transforms kinesthetic perceptions. He was educated at Concordia University and the University of Windsor and has a PhD in Gender and Technology from the Université de Quebec, Montréal.
Leblanc will present an After Dark in the Park program, Presentification: Making the Invisible Visible, on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Leblanc will share a series of images that explore the photographic act as an investigative process and will share insight on the interrelation between his creative impulse and the creation of photographic artifacts.
The artist will also offer two public workshops limited to 10 people on consecutive Fridays, Dec. 11 and 18, at 11 a.m. Call 985-6130, or email laura_c_schuster@nps.gov for more information and to reserve a spot.

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Gov. David Ige

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH confirmed seven more cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island yesterday. Of the 56 cases, 46 are Hawai`i residents, and 10 are visitors.  Forty-one cases have been adults, and 15 have been under 18 years of age.
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GOV. DAVID IGE SUPPORTS President Obama’s acceptance of Syrian refugees into the United States and Hawai`i. His remarks follow concern expressed by governors of several states that some refugees may be dangerous and may have contributed to terrorist attacks in Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13.

“Our first priority is the safety of the American people, including the people of the State of Hawai`i” Ige said. “The U.S. accepts refugees, including Syrians, only after they are subjected to the most vigorous and highest level of screening and security vetting.
“As President Obama has said – slamming the door in their face would be a betrayal of our values. Hawai`i and our nation have a long history of welcoming refugees impacted by war and oppression. Hawai`i is the Aloha State, known for its tradition of welcoming all people with tolerance and mutual respect. I am confident that our state will work closely with the federal government to ensure that appropriate resources and support are available before any refugees arrive in Hawai`i.”

Pres. Obama ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through sundown on Thursday, Nov. 19 as a mark of respect for victims in Paris.

U.S. flags are at half-staff through Thursday.

In his proclamation, President Obama said, “The American people stand with the people of France. Friday’s terror attacks were not just an attack on Paris; they were an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share, including the bonds of liberté, égalité and fraternité. These values will endure far beyond any terrorists or their hateful vision. The United States and our allies do not give in to fear, nor will we be divided, nor will anyone change our way of life. We will do whatever it takes, working with nations and peoples around the world, to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, and to go after terrorists who threaten our people.”
Gov. David Ige said, “I know the people of Hawai`i join me in sending our Aloha to the people of France as they respond to this senseless act of violence.”

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OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER hosts Advocats’ spay & neuter clinic tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at. Call 939-7033 for more information.

COUNTY PURCHASE OF KAHUA `OLOHU Makahiki Grounds in Na`alehu is on the agenda of Hawai`i County Council’s meeting tomorrow.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting in Kona begins at 9 a.m.

MANAIAKALANI KALUA AND HALAU o Akaunu perpetuate the `aiha`a style of hula tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Director2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Volcano Art Center's 16th annual Christmas in the County celebration begins with a members-only preview party Friday evening.
Photo from VAC

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN yesterday hosted Department of Health epidemiologist Sarah Park on Health Care in Hawai`i, his weekly program on Think Tech Hawai`i. They, along with Lynn Nakasone and Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan, discussed Hawai`i Island’s current dengue fever outbreak. Green and Creagan, both doctors, previously called for DOH to step up its actions to stem the outbreak. As of this morning, confirmed cases number 72, with 62 being residents and 10 visitors.

Sen. Josh Green, Dr. Sarah Park, Lynn Nakasone and Rep. Richard Creagan
discuss dengue fever. Image from Think Tech Hawai`i

“We are working with the county very, very closely,” Park told Green. “Actually, we’re letting them take the lead because they know their island best. We’re letting them tell us where the areas are and how we can support them best in reaching those areas.”

Park said that all health care providers she has reached out to assured her that all persons who enter their facilities would receive appropriate care regardless of their ability to pay.

“Public health’s role is really to facilitate access to health care, and this outbreak has really served to shine a beacon light on the bigger root cause issue in Hawai`i as a whole, which is the health care crisis. Especially on the Big Island, we have a shortage of primary care physicians and nurses and physician assistants, so this is a definite concern on the part of our director, on the part of the governor, and we’re working together. Our solution right now is in the future to try to reach out to all our partners to try to address this issue.”

Green said, “There are these real fundamental impediments that we’ve been working on for years.”
A link to the archived program is available at facebook.com/SenatorJoshGreen.
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Henry Yang, of TMT

HAWAI`I SUPREME COURT HAS GRANTED a stay on the Conservation District Use Permit for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. The stay is effective until Wednesday, Dec. 2 or until further order of the Court.

TMT opponents on Tuesday filed a motion asking the court to prevent TMT crews from accessing the summit. Their request followed a Nov. 10 announcement by Henry Yang, chair of the TMT International Observatory Board of Governors, that a small crew of local workers will conduct site preparation activities at the site this month, starting with equipment maintenance and repairs. On Monday, Hawai`i News Now reported that work crews were expected to ascend the mountain this morning.
Opponents’ motion for a stay reads in part, “This Honorable Court has not yet entered its decision, and TMT is doing anything but being respectful to this Honorable Court with its decision at this point to go forward with construction when a decision has not yet been rendered. Further, TMT has no respect, nor conscience to the Conservation District and Mauna Kea, and, of tremendous significance, no respect, nor conscience to the public safety of the large number of protectors, who will undoubtedly be responding to the TMT announcement, law enforcement personnel and others, in a potential faceoff on Wednesday, because of TMT’s blatant disregard for the legal process and the major decision that is still pending before this Honorable Court. It is because of this blatant disregard and disrespect of the legal process by TMT, and this Court’s decision that is still pending following the oral argument that was held on Aug. 27, 2015, that this Emergency Motion for a stay is being brought.”
Gov. David Ige said, “The maintenance and equipment repair work TMT plans to undertake will protect the environment and enhance public safety as we head into the winter season. This is not the start of construction of the telescope.
“As governor, I am committed to upholding the law and providing safe access for those who need to get to the summit of Mauna Kea, and that includes those involved with the TMT project. Our primary concern is for the safety of all.
“If this work is stopped, it is not a victory. It will harm the environment. If there is violence, as some have suggested, that is not a victory. We are one community, and we must continue to search for a resolution that will keep this community together.”
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KA`U LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM begins in January. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands brings the program to build leadership skills that may be used in community service, participants’ jobs and personal life. There is no cost to participants for the program that has a value of up to $2,000 per person.

The program consists of a series of four two-day sessions and one orientation in 2016: Jan. 9, Jan. 23–24, Feb. 27–28, March 19–20 and April 23–24. Participants must commit to attend all class sessions. In addition, participants are expected to volunteer for a total of 20 to 40 hours to complete a class project within six to nine months after the last class session.
Classes are held at Pahala Community Center.
Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries and other residents of Hawai`i Island are eligible. Eligible participants include high school students, kupuna, emerging beginner to experienced leaders, community/nonprofit members, private sector individuals, government workers, people in farming/agriculture, arts/culture, education, environment, health and human services and faith-based environments. Maximum class size is 30.
Topics include the practice of leadership, interpersonal communication, marketing, stakeholders, resource development and development of class projects.
For an application form, contact Gigi Cairel at 808-620-9461 or Gigi.O.Cairel@hawaii.gov.
DHHL expects the class to include diverse participants of all ages and levels of experience.
The sessions incorporate activities that apply to real projects. The format is a facilitated learning style that draws from the experiences in the group.
Participants gain skills that can be used in professional and personal settings. Skills learned are include how to run effective meetings, how to work with different personality types and public speaking.
They network with a diverse group of people in the community – making connections for potential collaborations and also have the opportunity to make a difference and give back to the community.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, A MEMBER of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted against two resolutions to overturn standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to reduce pollution that harms public health and contributes to climate change. President Obama announced his intention to veto both resolutions.
“President Obama has taken important steps to clean our air and help reduce the harmful effects of climate change,” Hirono said. “The Clean Power Plan will save thousands of lives nationwide annually. Instead of fighting Presidential actions that will have a huge benefit in the lives of so many, Congress should support efforts to address the environmental and national security consequences of continued dependence on fossil fuels and move forward with cleaner energy.”
The Clean Power Plan would reduce emissions from existing power plants. The EPA has deferred setting standards under the Clean Power Plan for Hawai`i, Alaska, and the U.S. territories until the agency is able to gather additional information. The President's Climate Action Plan also sets nationwide performance standards for new or modified power plants.
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THE ART EXPRESS COMES to Discovery Harbour Community Hall Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. At the painting workshop, participants can learn something new or work on forgotten projects. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic or watercolor.
Sign up with and receive instructions from Meliha at himeliha@yahoo.com.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY BEGINS with a Volcano Art Center members-only preview party at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. On Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., VAC members are invited to be the first to view the full collection of unique wreaths and handcrafted decorations and gifts offered. Enjoy complimentary gourmet pupus, mulled cider and champagne, prize drawings and membership discount.
Joining is easy and secure at volcanoartcenter.org, or purchase a one-day membership upon arrival for $15.
Park entrance fees apply.
For more information, call 967-8222.

LA KU`OKOA, HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, will be celebrated with potluck and music at Kahuku Park in Ocean View on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 12 noon until pau.
Call 896-9201 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Ka`u is one of two potential areas of Hawai`i Island now with a high risk of dengue fever infection. Map from Hawai`i Department of Health

KAHUA `OLOHU MAKAHIKI GROUNDS in Na`alehu are on their way to preservation. Hawai`i County Council yesterday unanimously approved Council member Maile David’s resolution authorizing the county to negotiate purchase of the 13 acres owned by James Weatherford, who initially intended to use the property for agriculture. His plans changed when the county did an archaeological survey and found artifacts related to makahiki practices, including a bowling field.

The property is listed for purchase in the county Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Committee’s 2014 Annual Report for its historical significance and cultural importance. PONC funds, which come from two percent of property taxes, will be used for transaction.

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Aedes aegypti is one of two mosquito species that can transmit dengue fever.
Photo from DOH

AREAS OF KA`U FROM NEAR Punalu`u to South Point hold a high risk for potential dengue fever infection, according to Hawai`i Department of Health. A new map released yesterday shows Ka`u as a second high-risk area for the disease. South Kona was recognized as Hawai`i Islands single high-risk area until yesterday. According to DOH, “risk levels of areas where confirmed cases may have contracted the disease are determined by factors including the number of confirmed cases who reported visiting those areas, as well as observed mosquito activity.”

Extra protection should be taken in areas of risk. Measures include applying insect repellent; wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks; avoiding activities in areas with a lot of mosquitoes; and staying indoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
DOH today reported that confirmed cases now number 79, seven more that yesterday. Sixty-eight are Hawai`i Island residents, and 11 are visitors. “A total of 120 reported potential cases have been excluded based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria,” DOH reported.
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KA`U LAWMAKERS WANT PROFESSIONALS from the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization to assess Hawai`i Island’s dengue fever outbreak. “A very modest investment now will pay dividends long-term,” Sen. Josh Green and Rep. Richard Creagan wrote in a letter to Gov. David Ige and Department of Health Director Virginia Pressler. “The dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island is at a point where it may likely take a very significant turn for the worse,” the legislators wrote. “There are huge groups of migrant workers that can and likely will move dengue throughout the Big Island if immediate action isn’t taken.”

Hawai`i Department of Health
Directory Virginia Pressler

Green and Creagan seek resources to communicate with Micronesian and Hispanic workers about the disease and how to protect themselves. They call for workers to have free mosquito repellent and free additional work gear to cover exposed skin. They also pursue support for workers who may lose wages because of the disease and farmers who experience decreased productivity.
The legislators also want more local testing capacity and access to healthcare to be immediately provided in certain targeted Big Island areas, “per the collaborative recommendations of our local healthcare personnel, the DOH team and CDC/WHO recommendations,” the letter stated.

Sen. Russell Ruderman told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, that the state’s response to the outbreak has been weak and slow. He compared it to how the state has dealt with rat lungworm disease. “Too often, the state ignores Big Island problems, but it’s a foolish approach,” Ruderman said. “Because once they are well established, they will spread to the other islands. Someone infected is going to get on a plane.”

Green and Creagan said their constituents have described the response they have received from DOH as “demeaning, dismissive or not in tune with the culture and expectations of the Big Island. This is not what we expect to hear from the community, and we know it is not what the department leadership means to convey. However, it is a reality. …
“Please act today to save tomorrow,” the letter concluded.

See westhawaiitoday.com.
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OUTREACH TO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS and farm owners about dengue fever is the goal of Comunidad Latina de Hawai`i, a nonprofit organization in Kailua-Kona. The hui and state Department of Health offer information in Spanish and English tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Konawaena High School cafeteria.
“We are seeing an increase in confirmed cases of dengue within our farm worker community,” said hui President Angela Dean, “and find it imperative that we reach out to you and this community so that together as a community we may effectively combat or decrease the exposure to dengue.”
For more information, email adean@comunidadlatinadehawaii.org.
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Gov. David Ige accepted an award on behalf of Hawai`i.
Photo from Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE ACCEPTED a $660,422 award on behalf of the state of Hawai`i from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Jesus Mendoza, administrator of the Western Regional Office of the Food and Nutrition Service. The award recognizes exceptional performance by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and acknowledges exemplary work of the Department of Human Services’ Benefits, Employment and Support Services Division over the last four years to improve efficiency and effectiveness in determination of SNAP eligibility for people in Hawai`i. In fiscal year 2014, BESSD achieved a 94.4 percent timeliness rate, placing Hawai`i in the top six states for highest timeliness rates.

The bonus award will help further transform SNAP processes and services. Ige said this achievement is integral to his administration’s promise to deliver efficient, effective and open government.
“This bonus award demonstrates that the state of Hawai`i SNAP eligibility team is a leader in service and performance nationwide,” Ige said. “The award is also a promise to reinvest in Hawai`i’s future, as the funds will further transform and improve the way the state of Hawai`i serves its people.”
BESSD plans to reinvest the money from the bonus award into their processes and services. Specific plans are forthcoming, but the monies will help the BESSD achieve the DHS goals of nurturing human potential by connecting Hawai`i residents to community resources.

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Sen. Sam Slom

HAWAI`I’S REPUBLICAN PARTY disagrees with Gov. David Ige’s plan to accept Syrian refugees into the state. Earlier this week and following terrorist attacks in Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13 which may have involved Syrian refugees, Ige said, “Hawai`i is the Aloha State, known for its tradition of welcoming all people with tolerance and mutual respect.”

State Sen. Sam Slom is calling for Ige to reconsider his position, according to Nathan Eagle, of Civil Beat. Slom, Hawai`i’s only Republican state senator, said, “I celebrate Hawai`i’s unique Aloha Spirit, openness and sense of welcome. However, there are limits and practical realities to every stated policy.”
Slom pointed to the state’s high cost of living and the burden the state carries in accepting Micronesian migrants. “We can be compassionate; we can extend the Aloha Spirit, but it is important to also be realistic and pragmatic with our state resources,” he said.
Hawai`i Republican Party Chair Fritz Rohlfing said, “We feel sympathy for the refugees coming from Syria and the Middle East, but Hawai`i is still grappling with a homeless crisis that has yet to be resolved by our local politicians.”
According to Eagle, Hawai`i GOP said it agrees with U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan’s statement that, “our nation has always been welcoming, but we cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion.”

See civilbeat.com.

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard supports labeling of GMO food products.

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD IS ASKING Ka`u residents to sign an online petition calling for the U.S. Senate to reject a bill pertaining to labeling GMO food products. “A challenge that exists for the people of Hawai`i and across the country is the fact that huge agribusiness corporations hide their use of GMOs and keep consumers in the dark about what’s in their food,” Gabbard said.

“Earlier this year, the House passed a bill that opponents call the DARK Act – Denying Americans the Right to Know. I opposed and spoke out against this bill because it would prevent states and counties from passing legislation to increase transparency. It would keep American consumers in the DARK about what’s in their food. If it becomes law, it’d be a huge win for agribusiness and a massive setback for consumers.
“Right now, the Senate is getting ready to vote on a similarly disastrous bill, and it’s up to us to put a stop to it before it’s too late. Will you join me and add your name to tell the Senate to vote “no” on keeping Americans in the dark about what’s in their food?”
The petition is available at go.democrataction.com/page/s/we-need-a-food-labeling-standard?source=gabbard&email.

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Handmade ornaments are available during
Christmas in the Country. Photo from VAC

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S 16th Annual Christmas in the Country opens to the public on Saturday at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Special holiday celebrations include art demonstrations, print and book signings by VAC Gallery artists, plus a selection of handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season.

Kathy Long will be signing her extensive collection of prints from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Long’s prints represent her many years of dedication to Hawai`i’s unique culture captured in paint and pastel. Her work is featured in Aloha Expressionism by Contemporary Hawai`i Artists, highlighting 50 of Hawai`i’s award-winning artists.
Vicki Penney-Rohner also signs books and offers a painting demonstration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Well-known for her love of color and light, Penney-Rohner will also sign copies of Aloha Expressionism by Contemporary Hawai`i Artists, in which she and her work is featured.

A members-only preview takes place tomorrow from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Joining is easy and secure at volcanoartcenter.org, or participants can purchase a one-day membership upon arrival for $15.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Christmas in the Country events and activities are free; park entrance fees apply.
For more information, call 967-8222.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

A wide variety of art will be available at Volcano Artist Hui's 29th annual Tour and Sale opening a week from today on Friday, Nov. 27. See more below. Image from VAC

FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED in Hawai`i Island’s current dengue fever outbreak, Gov. David Ige said during a press conference yesterday. The governor said the state has weekly conversations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has briefed the White House, as well. National Guard and Navy personnel are being deployed to support the county with additional resources as requested by Hawai`i County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and Mayor Billy Kenoi. “We are applying the resources necessary to contain and manage the situation,” Ige said.

Aedes albopictus is one of two species of mosquitoes on Hawai`i Island
that can transmit dengue fever. Photo from DOH

The state is also transferring Department of Health personnel from other islands to Hawai`i Island, he said.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, found only on Hawai`i Island in the state, has been found only on the west side so far, according to state Environmental Health Services Director Lynn Nakasone. Aedes albopictus, which also transmits dengue, is found on all islands.
This weekend, vector control crews plan to spray at 10 schools that are in hot spots, which DOH reported as Kona and Ka`u. The Ka`u Calendar was unable to contact DOH regarding possible spraying at Ka`u schools.
Director Virginia Pressler said DOH will be distributing free mosquito repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long pants in an effort to keep vulnerable people from being bitten.
Also, Hawai`i County Environment Management Department announced that all transfer stations will temporarily accept up to 10 tires (rims not accepted) per resident per day during business hours. Tires can be sources of standing water, where mosquitoes breed. If there is a community clean-up of tires, coordinate disposal with Solid Waste Division at 961-8270.
DOH added nine more confirmed cases of dengue fever today, bringing the total to 88. Seventy-five are Hawai`i Island residents, and 13 are visitors. Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 11 and Nov. 15.
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Luis P. Salaveria

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, Economic Development project that Hawai`i`’s economy will continue stable growth in the next few years.
Labor market conditions continue to improve though the first three quarters with civilian labor force, employment and payroll jobs setting historical high levels during the first nine months of 2015.
DBEDT’s report indicates a shift in the visitor market. Reflecting the strong U.S. dollar and weakening Japanese yen, Japanese arrivals declined by one percent through September this year, and spending by Japanese visitors declined by 10.1 percent. However, visitor arrivals from the U.S. West market increased 7.5 percent, and visitor expenditures from this market increased by 6.9 percent.
“We are pleased that Virgin America started a new daily flight from San Francisco to Honolulu on Nov. 2 and will start a new daily flight from San Francisco to Kahului on Dec. 3 this year,” DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria said. “This will bring more West Coast visitors to our state and offset the decline in Japanese visitors. This news and the continued growth in our local job market are positive trends in our state’s economy.”
DBEDT revised the economic growth rate for 2015 to two percent from 1.9 percent projected last quarter and keeps the economic growth rate the same as projected in August at 2.3 to 2.4 percent until 2018. These rates are slightly lower than the U.S. economic growth rates of 2.4 percent for 2015 and 2.6 percent for 2016. Hawai`i’s economic growth has been below the U.S. since 2012, and DBEDT expects that the trend will continue for the next few years.
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Image from Office of the Senator

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO SPOKE on the Senate floor against anti-immigrant sentiment and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling against President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs.
“Together, the expanded DACA and DAPA programs will mean that around five million more individuals will be able to work legally, pay their taxes and care for their families,” Hirono said.
“Today, politicians – from Presidential candidates to sitting governors – appeal to our nation’s fears in arguing against any meaningful reform of our broken immigration system. Conjuring up shadowy images fuels these fears. Violent gang members from South America. Terrorists from the Middle East,” Hirono said, referring to some politicians calling for the U.S. to reject Syrian refugees in the wake of terrorist attacks last Friday in which they may have involved.
“In their divisive rhetoric and in their rush to build walls and close our borders, they neglect the faces of those they demonize. And they forget the facts,” Hirono said.
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

REP. TULSI GABBARD AND A COLLEAGUE, both members of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced a bipartisan bill to end U.S. efforts to overthrow the Syrian Arab Republic led by President Bashar al-Assad.   Gabbard, a twice-deployed combat veteran, said the intent of the bill is to “bring an immediate end to the illegal, counter-productive war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad. The U.S. is waging two wars in Syria. The first is the war against ISIS and other Islamic extremists, which Congress authorized after the terrorist attack on 9/11. The second war is the illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad.
“The war to overthrow Assad is counter-productive because it actually helps ISIS and other Islamic extremists achieve their goal of overthrowing the Syrian government of Assad and taking control of all of Syria – which will simply increase human suffering in the region, exacerbate the refugee crisis and pose a greater threat to the world. Also, the war to overthrow Assad is illegal because Congress never authorized it.
“To destroy ISIS will take international alliances. If we are serious about defeating ISIS and solving the refugee problem, we’ll work in partnership with Russia, France and anyone else who is serious about destroying ISIS and affiliated Islamic extremist organizations worldwide.
“The problem is, because the U.S. is trying to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad and Russia is supporting the government of Assad, it is impossible for us to have an effective, cooperative relationship with Russia in our mutual fight against ISIS. Our focus on overthrowing Assad is interfering with our ability to destroy ISIS.
“We must immediately end the illegal, counter-productive war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad and ally ourselves with any countries willing to focus on destroying the Islamic extremists who pose a genuine threat to civilization,” Gabbard concluded.
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Harry McKee established a scholarship foundation
for Ka`u students. Photo from Harry McKee
Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors

THE HARRY MCKEE SCHOLARSHIP Foundation Board of Directors invites Ka`u’s college-bound high school seniors to apply for the 2016 McKee Foundation $1,000 scholarship.
To be eligible, students must be residents of Ka`u and plan to attend any accredited college, university, vocational school or training program. Students must enroll full-time as first-time freshmen in the fall of 2016. There is no specific major required, and selection is based on the comprehensive application.
McKee left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Ka`u. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education.
McKee was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman and an active civic leader. He was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate `ohana.
The McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors strives to carry on McKee’s work in Ka`u.
Applications are available online at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by Feb. 16,, 2016. For more information, see the foundation website.
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KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers free programs this weekend. Participants learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `oh`ia lehua tree and its flower tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
Palm Trail Hike on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail providing one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
See nps.gov/havo.

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Tour & Sale begins a week from today on Friday, Nov. 27 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Volcano Village. Meet artists in their studios throughout the village. Maps and more information are available at VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com, as well as at Volcano Village businesses.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S 13th annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit opens tomorrow and continues through Jan. 3 at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Artists working in a wide variety of media, materials and techniques present their highly creative concepts of “wreath.”
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free; park entrance fees may apply.
See volcanoartcenter.org.

KAHIKAHEALANI WIGHT SIGNS HER BOOK Rainforest Pu`uhonua Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Volcano Art Center’s Christmas in the Country celebration. Rainforest Pu`uhonua tells the story of five years spent living in a Hawaiian rainforest in the 1980s.
The event at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is free; park entrance fees may apply.
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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

Palm Trail hike tomorrow at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park crosses the 1868 lava flow. See more below. Photo from NPS

KA`U HAS THREE OF HAWAI`I COUNTY’S 88 confirmed cases of dengue fever as of yesterday, according to a map released by Hawai`i County Civil Defense. The map also shows four more cases in Ka`u that are under investigation. All seven cases on the map are makai of Hwy 11, with four in the Na`alehu area and three in Ocean View.

Three of Hawai`i County's 88 confirmed dengue fever cases
are in Ka`u. Map from Hawai`i County Civil Defense

At an informational meeting with Hawai`i lawmakers yesterday, state Department of Health Director Virginia Pressler said Lyle Petersen, the director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control, “verified that they would not send out a team. As far as boots on the ground, we’re better off with local folks who know the community than a team from the mainland.”
Hawai`i County Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira told legislators that schools are chosen for spraying based on proximity of confirmed and suspected dengue cases instead of whether or not they are in high-risk areas. “Ideally, we would like to treat all campuses,” Oliveira said.
Ocean View Community Association vice president Sandi Alexander told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, that several Ocean View residents have likely contracted the disease but have declined medical help. “We have offered money from the community center, if they can’t afford,” she said. “We’ve even offered to drive them to public health in Na`alehu — no takers. I believe they are afraid because they don’t really understand this issue and may be afraid to find out. We have had no one come back to the community center after our offers. We now have fliers and pamphlets also in Marshallese that we will be distributing.”
An informational meeting about dengue fever is scheduled at Ocean View Community Center on Friday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. There will be handouts, fliers and pamphlets available, including those in Marshallese.
“I think there is a very good chance we can stop this if we pull from our values,” state epidemiologist Sarah Park told lawmakers. “I’m asking everyone to try to get the word out to everyone.” She urged residents to discuss dengue with their neighbors and friends.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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Maile David

“THIS PROPERTY IS VERY SIGNIFICANT in our cultural history, and it is worth preserving,” Ka`u’s County Council member Maile David said in reference to Kahua `Olohu Makahiki Grounds in Na`alehu. The council on Wednesday unanimously approved David’s resolution for the county to negotiate the purchase from willing sellers James and Elizabeth Weatherford.

Responding to council member Aaron Chung’s request, David investigated the Weatherfords’ interests in the property and involvement in creating the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Committee, whose funds would be used in the transaction. David found that James Weatherford began working for then council member Bob Jacobson after the creation of PONC. “I think we have cleared up any concern, in my mind, that there is any perception of any special interest of the Weatherfords and this property,” David said.
James Weatherford testified that they bought the property in 2008 as an investment in agricultural land. Later, the county contacted them regarding purchasing the land as part of a wastewater treatment facility. Pipes would be run across the parcel to the facility.
Elizabeth Weatherford addressed concerns brought up by Na`alehu resident Jerry Warren. She said that county personnel told them pipes would go across the property, not contain a facility, as Warren suggested. She also said the ag tax exemption on the property that Warren mentioned has been rescinded as of this year.
“This is the beginning of the makahiki season, the perfect time to make makahiki observances possible in that area,” she said. “I would love to see that (property) become used for those sorts of purposes.”

Richard Abbett, of Ocean View, also testified in favor of preserving the parcel. “This piece of property is a key piece of property,” he said.
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Jeff Kissel

HAWAI`I HEALTH CONNECTOR’S Executive Committee voted on Thursday, Nov. 19 to recommend to its Board of Directors to accelerate the transition of remaining functions of the Connector to state authority. The Connector’s ongoing financial challenges forced the state to accelerate the transition beginning this Dec. 1. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services determined that Hawai`i was not in compliance with certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act. One of the provisions required the Connector to be financially self-sustaining beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

The governor and state cabinet officials, in consultation with Connector leadership, agreed that this transition was in the best interest of Hawai`i residents because the state has already transitioned to the federal marketplace – healthcare.gov– for enrollment of individuals during this current open enrollment. Open enrollment began on Nov. 1 and concludes on Jan. 31, 2016.
This open enrollment is for Hawai`i residents not eligible for health insurance through their employer or not enrolled in a government insurance program. Individuals seeking insurance are encouraged to enroll by Dec. 15 to ensure that their coverage begins on Jan 1. Individuals who are currently enrolled in ACA plans will need to re-enroll through healthcare.gov.
“Through the leadership of several members of my cabinet, the state has collaborated with federal officials to facilitate this transition so that we can work toward restoring compliance with ACA. I especially appreciate the diligence of the Connector’s volunteer board of directors … ,” Gov. David Ige said.
“Due to Hawai`i’s long history of health care coverage through the Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974, the rate of uninsured individuals has been amongst the lowest in the nation,” Hawai`i Health Connector Executive Director Jeff Kissel said. “The Connector was established to reach out to uninsured Hawai`i residents who were not covered under the Prepaid Health Care Act or government health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. We believe we were successful in reaching many of these previously uninsured individuals. Hawai`i residents will still be able to continue to access affordable health care coverage through healthcare.gov.”
The final board vote is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 25.
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Donna Masaniai hosts I Ola Na `Aina Momona's Holiday Open House at her
Pahala home. Photo by Julia Neal

I OLA NA `AINA MOMONA, based in Ka`u to create land security and economic stability for farmers, will host a public Holiday Open House on Friday, Dec. 11 at the home of Donna Masaniai, 96-3196 Maile St., Pahala from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Board members are Gail Kalani, Mike Klungless, Malian Lahe, and Masaniai.

The nonprofit was formed in response to the foreclosure of 5,880 acres of farmland in Ka`u, where many tenant farmers produce coffee and beef for market, according to a statement from the organization.
“While some industries, like the real estate industry, enjoy the high profits that come from expensive land in Hawai`i, the agricultural industry suffers. At the same time, Hawai`i is faced with the unsustainability of importing food, fertilizer and fuel from the mainland,” the statement from I Ola says.
“In order to make their businesses financially sustainable, farmers need to be able to charge more for their product, while improving their soil with inexpensive, locally available nutrients and reducing the money spent on fuel and land” according to I Ola Na `Aina Momona.
“Not only that, but Hawai`i needs to support its mahi`ai because we need local food security. I Ola Na `Aina Momona is a 501(c)3 corporation whose goal is to coalesce support for the talented farmers who live in Ka`u, and empower them to exert their talents on behalf of the entire State of Hawai`i."
All are welcome to attend the Holiday Open House. Coffee and holiday cookies will be served. Questions can be directed to Malian Lahey at 503-575-9098 or malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.
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KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers its Palm Trail Hike tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
See nps.gov/havo.

KAHIKAHEALANI WIGHT SIGNS HER BOOK Rainforest Pu`uhonua tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Volcano Art Center’s Christmas in the Country celebration. The memoir tells the story of five years spent living in a Hawaiian rainforest in the 1980s.
The event at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is free; park entrance fees apply.

KRHCAI's Floating Lantern Celebration is a week from today. Photo from KRHCAI

FLOATING LANTERN CELEBRATION is a week from today on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Punalu`u Beach Park. Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. sponsors the fifth annual event with taiko drummers, a qigong demonstration, hula halau, local musicians and a powerpoint presentation dedicated to loved ones, friends, family and caregivers.

Call 928-0101 Monday through Friday for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

After Dark in the Park offers a photo safari of Botswana's national parks and World Heritage Site on Tuesday. See more below.
Image from NPS

TO PREVENT DENGUE FEVER in the homeless, Longs Drugs is providing insect repellant and repellant wipes to community outreach groups, including Hope Services, according to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald. The county is also reaching out at community events.

Hawai`i County Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira

Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira told reporter Colin M. Stewart that the county is attempting to “reach every segment of the population. We know there are some segments that may not be aware or be privy to the information, including the homeless and migrant workers and immigrant populations. They may not have access to the info, and we’re trying to address that.”
Hawai`i County Fire Department personnel have attended community events to discuss with underserved people dengue prevention and symptoms. Batallion Chief Lance Uchida was quoted in the story as saying, “We’ve been tasked by the Department of Health and the Civil Defense office with doing these screenings for the vulnerable population. Many of them don’t have the means to protect themselves.”
Informational fliers about dengue have been translated, printed and distributed to firehouses and other community locations in Ilocano, Tagalog, Spanish, Chuukese and Marshallese.
Symptoms of dengue are two or more of the following: fever, severe headaches, pain behind eyes, body and bone pain, vomiting and rash.
For more on dengue, see http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dengue-outbreak.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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MORE THAN 300 TIRES landed in Wai`ohinu Transfer Station in a week, according to reports from the county. All transfer stations are accepting tires, at no charge, to help prevent dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes that breed in tires that collect water during rain. Tires can also be removed by private companies for a fee. The county collects tires from transfer stations and stores them in shipping containers, which will be shipped to a recycler.

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Duane Kurisu, at right, came to Ka`u for the opening of Punalu`u Bake Shop's
Cookie Kitchen. Photo by Pamela Taylor

DUANE KURISU, OWNER of Punalu`u Bakeshop and a product of growing up in a plantation community, is offering to create a plantation-style village for the homeless and women with children in need of housing.

“Those of us who grew up in plantation towns probably would have faced the same situation as a number of these homeless families do - if it wasn’t for the benevolent plantation owners who provided housing, water, sewer, built schools and churches,” Kurisu told Rui Kaneya, of Civil Beat. “So that’s what I hope to do. That’s what my heart tells me — to replicate it for those who are less fortunate.”
Kurisu told Kaneya that the project on 13 acres near Honolulu International Airport will not use public funds “because we don’t want to be pigeonholed into a position where we’re mandated to give free access to all the people in need. We want to be prejudiced in a good way — to make sure that the priority is to help children.”
See civilbeat.com.

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DEMOCRATIC U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD voted in favor of a bill that would require refugees from Iraq and Syria to receive background checks from the FBI. Republicans introduced the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, also known as the SAFE Act, following terrorist attacks in Paris, France that may have involved refugees. The House of Representatives approved the bill 289-137 on Thursday. One hundred and thirty-five of Gabbard’s Democratic colleagues voted against it.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard offered condolences and lei at a memorial in Paris
following terrorist attacks on Friday, Nov. 13.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

“True to our history and values as a nation, I believe we must offer refuge to the most vulnerable and those in need, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of the American people,” Gabbard said. “In this regard, this bill is not meant to keep Syrian refugees from entering into the United States. This was a vote to make sure the program to vet these refugees is sufficient to protect Americans.
“  In other words, voting for this bill was not a vote against refugees. Rather, it was a vote for bringing refugees into our country safely. …
“Originally, like many Democrats, I was going to vote against the bill because I was inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the Department of Homeland Security and the Administration – I was ready to accept their claims that the vetting process is thorough, and that this bill would be impossible to implement.  But on the morning of the vote, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough failed to answer simple questions about why they were opposed to the bill, which led me to change my mind. …
“If this bill comes before the House again (if the Senate passes it and the President vetoes it), and the Administration can come up with a better argument than, ‘We’ll have to increase staff,’ I will listen with an open mind and consider voting to uphold the President’s veto. But ‘lack of staff’ is not a legitimate reason for them to refuse certifying that the refugee vetting process is thorough and complete.”

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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientists discuss Rainbows on the Ground: How Satellite Radar Helps Us Monitor Volcano Deformation in the current issue of Volcano Watch.

“The surface of Kilauea Volcano is rarely stationary,” the article states. “There are a variety of processes that each move or change the shape of the volcano and, when active at the same time, create a complex pattern of ground deformation. Satellite-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar has become a key tool during the last two decades to illuminate this complexity.

“For example, InSAR recently proved important in understanding the various episodes of Kilauea’s south caldera intrusion this past spring. In April 2015, the shallow reservoir beneath Kilauea Caldera began to rapidly inflate, causing the lava lake within the Overlook crater to rise to the point where it overtopped its rim and spilled onto the floor of Halema`uma`u. It was during this time that scores of visitors crowded into the viewing area at the Jaggar Museum to catch the spectacular display of spattering.

A bullseye pattern of rainbow fringes resulted from about four inches
of ground deformation. Interferogram from USGS

“On May 11, tiltmeters began recording rapid deflation, the lava lake level dropped and earthquakes in the south caldera increased in rate and magnitude. Within a day, inflation in the south caldera was clear from our network of continuous GPS instruments and tiltmeters.
“InSAR images spanning the beginning of this event show the uplift associated with the initial inflation in great detail, revealing a complexity to the shape of the reservoir that we previously only suspected. The images also capture the transition to deflation at Halema`uma`u and south caldera inflation.
“As shown in the accompanying image, the rainbow pattern seen in the interferogram beautifully captured the shape and extent of ground uplift during this event. This image shows that the uplift coincides with the location of a known south caldera storage reservoir. This is the first evidence that we have ever had suggesting rapid magma transfer between storage reservoirs.
“So where do these rainbow patterns come from? The rainbow colors represent the change in distance between the ground and the satellite in the time between two orbits of the InSAR satellite. Each cycle of colors, from magenta to blue (analagous to the red to purple progression in a rainbow in the sky), indicates motion equal to half the satellite’s radar’s wavelength, or about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) for the interferogram in the figure. The pattern repeats and by counting up all the rainbows, called ‘fringes,’ you get the total amount of motion.
“Over the past two decades, the increasing number of available satellites has improved our InSAR capabilities by providing a variety of wavelengths that allow for improved resolution at short wavelengths and better penetration through vegetation at longer wavelengths. HVO has used data from many different InSAR satellites to investigate motion on Hawai`i’s volcanoes, including satellites launched by the European Space Agency, Canada, Germany and Japan.

“The United States is working toward launching its first InSAR satellite. In 2014, NASA announced a joint project with the Indian Space Research Organization to build and launch a multi-wavelength InSAR satellite, dubbed the NISAR satellite, specifically designed for studying natural hazards. The groundbreaking project is currently scheduled for a 2020 launch. This and other upcoming satellites promise to provide even better and more frequent views of Kilauea and Mauna Loa’s deformation field, and we expect even more new insights to come.”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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AMAZING BIRDS AND MEGAFAUNA Adventures in Botswana is the title of Tuesday’s After Dark in the Park program. Park Ranger Jay Robinson and Biologist Jack Jeffrey offer a fun-filled photo safari through the national parks and World Heritage Site, ending at Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe.
The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

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