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| Beginning tomorrow, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will display 13 colorful art quilts created to celebrate National Park Service's centennial anniversary. See more below. Image from NPS |
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS met with their state senator Tuesday night and expressed hopes and concerns for education and the community. Among issues discussed with Sen. Russell Ruderman, who represents Honu`apo through Pahala and Volcano into Puna, was shutdown of the carpentry and building program at Ka`u High School. At the meeting held at Pahala Plantation House, student Sheri Freitas said she was looking to a career in the building trades, and suddenly the program that prepared youth for jobs in this community was gone. She also talked about Advanced Placement classes being unavailable when the minimum number of students in the small high school is unavailable to take them. Ruderman commended the students for becoming vocal about such issues. Regarding AP classes, he encouraged students to organize as many students as possible to sign up for them. Regarding the building trades program, he said he wants to learn more.
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| Ka`u High students met with state Sen. Russell Ruderman Tuesday. Photo by Julia Neal |
The students revealed that they are well on their way to coming up with their own solutions for a number of their challenges. Chloe Gan and Tina Sanchez talked about working with the Boys & Girls Club to offer sports coach training. They are advocating for the return of music to the school, working on the soccer program and providing opportunities for art and dance.
Ruderman said, “If it was up to me, we would put twice as much money into education, and it wouldn’t go to people sitting in offices in Honolulu.” He encouraged the students to form or work with nonprofit organizations and get ready for next year’s Legislature where a grant-in-aid could be a possibility to help meet their objectives.
Regarding other topics, students weighed in on Ka`u Coffee farming and asked whether the land could be sold off, putting farmers at risk. They had questions on an initiative at the Legislature to grow hemp for livestock food, fiber, biofuel and other non-drug uses, asking whether science supports these uses.
They also talked about changing campaign spending laws. Ruderman said political action committees can put up large money and influence politicians more than constituents. He talked about the power of lobbyists at the state Legislature. “The whole game of money and politics has gone too far,” said the senator, calling for term limits like those already in place for mayor, County Council and governor.
Ruderman told the students that even if they are under the voting age, their opinions count. He urged them to use the Internet to testify on issues of their concern by logging onto capitol.hawaii.gov.
Regarding other topics, students weighed in on Ka`u Coffee farming and asked whether the land could be sold off, putting farmers at risk. They had questions on an initiative at the Legislature to grow hemp for livestock food, fiber, biofuel and other non-drug uses, asking whether science supports these uses.
They also talked about changing campaign spending laws. Ruderman said political action committees can put up large money and influence politicians more than constituents. He talked about the power of lobbyists at the state Legislature. “The whole game of money and politics has gone too far,” said the senator, calling for term limits like those already in place for mayor, County Council and governor.
Ruderman told the students that even if they are under the voting age, their opinions count. He urged them to use the Internet to testify on issues of their concern by logging onto capitol.hawaii.gov.
Among the other students participating were Jenny Mauricio and Kun Mongkeya. Their teacher Kevin Sun offers a participation in democracy class at the high school. Assisting in their efforts is Pahala Middle School teacher Sandy Tran.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira updates County Council about dengue fever. Image from Hawai`i County |
HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE hopes to organize a cleanup event to remove more than 1,000 tires from an Ocean View property in order to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. The resident told Hawai`i County Civil Defense that he is physically unable to remove the tires by himself. Chief Darryl Oliveira said the National Guard may be called in to help with the cleanup.
At a special Hawai`i County Council meeting yesterday for an update on the island’s dengue fever outbreak, Oliveira said the county has so far collected more than 9,000 tires through a program that allows residents to take tires to transfer stations.
Oliveira said that while state statutes allow tires to be landfilled as long as they’re cut up, county ordinance prohibits it. He said stockpiling tires could create a health hazard, and he wants to come up with options to prevent such a situation.
Oliveira said he is close to asking for help with projects to clean up more dump sites that could contribute to the spread of dengue fever, such as one Ka`u County Council member Maile David said she recently visited that is also on private property.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Oliveira said that while state statutes allow tires to be landfilled as long as they’re cut up, county ordinance prohibits it. He said stockpiling tires could create a health hazard, and he wants to come up with options to prevent such a situation.
Oliveira said he is close to asking for help with projects to clean up more dump sites that could contribute to the spread of dengue fever, such as one Ka`u County Council member Maile David said she recently visited that is also on private property.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HO`OMALU KA`U’S DRYLAND PLANTS workshop held last Saturday in Discovery Harbour attracted 36 people. Lehua Lopez Mau said the audience was interested in Rapid `Ohi`a Death, which is killing thousands of trees on Hawai`i Island, and that workshop organizers were able to let people know not to do burn the wood or take to the dump.
The last dryland plants workshop is scheduled for Sunday, June 5 in Pahala.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
The last dryland plants workshop is scheduled for Sunday, June 5 in Pahala.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
TUTU & ME BRINGS FREE vision screening to Ka`u this month. Keiki and adults can have their eyes checked Monday, March 14 at Na`alehu Community Center and Tuesday, March 15 at Pahala Community Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Free sunglasses will be offered to keiki, and free reading glasses will be offered to adults if needed.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE WARNING the public about an ongoing lottery scam involving a letter that claims the recipient has won a substantial amount of money but must pay a processing fee before the prize is dispersed. Included in the mailing is an authentic-looking check, which typically exceeds the stated processing fee. The letter instructs recipients to call a number on the letter and directs them to mail the sender a personal check. Victims of this scam later discover that the check they received for processing fees is bogus.
Efforts to contact the supposed lottery company usually result in discovering that the phone number has been disconnected.
The public is advised not to respond to any claim of lottery winnings in contests they never entered. Furthermore, legitimate lotteries do not ask winners to pay a processing fee before they can collect a prize.
Efforts to contact the supposed lottery company usually result in discovering that the phone number has been disconnected.
The public is advised not to respond to any claim of lottery winnings in contests they never entered. Furthermore, legitimate lotteries do not ask winners to pay a processing fee before they can collect a prize.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY Association offers workshops this month. Free Grant Writing I & II workshops are filling up fast. Seats are limited for the classes on Saturday, March 12.
CPR and First Aide Certification Training is scheduled for Saturday, March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Ka`u Resource & Distance Learning Center in Pahala. Registration is limited to eight participants on a first come, first served basis. Fee is $90, or $75 for KRHCAI members.
For more information, call 928-0101.
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| Midway by Caren Loebel-Fried Image from VAC |
THE MAGIC OF MIDWAY takes place today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Artist Caren Loebel-Fried shares her Midway experience, and Rob Shallenberger, former Refuge Manager, presents photos of historical Midway and a year in the life of an albatross. Free; $5 donations are appreciated.
Loebel-Fried offers a free block printing demonstration on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Park entrance fees apply.
Call 967-8222 for more information.
Call 967-8222 for more information.
NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELING QUILT Exhibit opens tomorrow at Volcano House Great Room in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Quilts created by Fiber Works, a group of textile artists from the Lincoln-Omaha, Nebraska area will be on display through Sunday, March 27.
One quilt celebrating Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will be gifted to park after the traveling exhibits final stop.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
See nps.gov/havo.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
See nps.gov/havo.
WES AWANA SHARES HIS LOVE of Hawaiian music by giving family-friendly `ukulele lessons tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
ZEKE ISRAEL DEMONSTRATES hand building with clay on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The demo is in association with the gallery’s current Sightlines exhibit of works by members of Volcano Village Artists Hui.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
PARTICIPANTS DISCOVER HAWAIIAN goddesses Hi`iaka and Pele and the natural phenomena they represent on a moderate, one-mile walk. Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers the free program Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
ALTOGETHER: WE ARE ONE holds its inaugural event on Tuesday, March 8 at Hawai`i Nature Retreat in Wood Valley. Its website describes the event as “a journey of exploration, expansion and focus of the energy that flows through us all, creating a golden grid of love and light across the island of Hawai`i to usher in a new age of civilization.”
This first event will deal with exercises, meditation, education and the clearing and opening of Root and Sacral chakras. Participants join their collective consciousness and powers of manifestation to work through their bodies’ chakras, ending in celebration with dancing and music into the night.
For more information, see altogetherweareone.com or facebook.com/events/142146472838551.
For more information, see altogetherweareone.com or facebook.com/events/142146472838551.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_March2016.pdf. |
