Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, March 20, 2016

      Olson Trust has welcomed the Kanaka`ole Foundation to help steward `Imakakoloa Heiau. At yesterday’s meeting, Keoni Fox, who advocates for historic site and cultural preservation in Ka`u, asked about the timeline for involving the community. He also talked about numerous other cultural sites that would benefit from conservation easements.

      Huihui Kanahele-Mossman explained that kupuna at the Kanaka`ole Foundation visited the hula heiau on Kaua`i, and they decided to come to `Imakakoloa to see it with their own eyes and validate its significance. The planning began last August with consultation with these kupuna, including Nalani Kanaka`ole, Pua Kanaka`ole Kanahele and Kekuhi Kanaka`ole, all experts in hula and Hawaiian culture.

      On the ground has been the removal of cat’s claw and other invasive plants. The heiau location and condition is being mapped and documented ahead of any restoration and plans for ongoing stewardship. The foundation is looking at the old chants, in which lie explanations of the significance of the heiau and its relationship to the chief `Imakakoloa, who shares its name.
      Nohea Ka`awa asked whether the Kanaka`ole Foundation would be willing to teach and share with the Ka`u community the protocol for going to the heiau. Representatives of the foundation agreed.
      Yesterday’s gathering drew suggestions, including the Kanaka`ole Foundation offering language and cultural classes in Ka`u and drawing on local experts. It was mentioned that unlike other areas with Hawaiian populations, Ka`u is without an immersion school where the Hawaiian language is spoken. Local kupuna noted that cultural knowledge is diminishing as kupuna pass on.
      Charmaine Keanu said the community would welcome more keiki learning their culture, language and the history of their home area.
      Darlyne Vierra, of Ka`u Multicultural Society, said she wanted to make sure Ka`u people are involved.
      The foundation asked for the community to answer four questions: What would you like to learn from a study on the heiau? What can the study do for the Ka`u community? How can you contribute to the study? Who would know old stories of this area?
      Anna Cariaga, of Pahala, whose father grew dryland taro in Wood Valley, urged an agreement that would put the heiau area in conservation forever. She called for any arrangement to be in “black and white” so any future owners of the property could not take it away. “We are not going to let nobody come and take that mountain,” proclaimed Cariaga. She asked for more than an “access agreement.” Representatives of the Kanaka`ole Foundation said they are just in the beginning stages of planning and working with Olson Trust and the community. Also mentioned in the talk of preserving historic sites was Makanau, the flat-topped lookout mountain with its own heiau.
      Community members pointed to Ka`u having land and cultural sites like no other place in the Hawaiian Islands. `Imakakoloa Heiau is one of them.
      For more information, email huihui@edithkanakaolefoundation.org or kala@edithkanakaolefoundation.org.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

“DOG RESCUED FROM LAVA TUBE” is the headline circulating through media following the late night search and the howling of a spaniel named Kula who fell into a 20-foot-deep shaft connected to a lava tube in Volcano. The three year old Brittany spaniel belongs to Terence Moniz, who was long a popular agriculture teacher in Ka`u, selling fresh produce alongside the road with his students. 

      According to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, Kula went missing Tuesday evening, and Moniz gave up searching until dawn. At 1 a.m., Kula was able to call out. Moniz heard her from his house and found the deep hole where Kula was crying in the night. At daybreak, he called in help from the Humane Society in Kea`au. They borrowed a rappel rope from the National Park Service, fashioned a harness, and Marie Kuahiwinui Eggers scaled down the wall of the lava tube and rescued the dog. Both Kuahiwinui Eggers and Starr Yamada are employees of the Kea`au shelter.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A large red dot locates this morning's earthquake. Map from USGS

A MAGNITUDE-4.5 EARTHQUAKE at 6:44 a.m. sent a sharp shake to Ka`u, with its epicenter close to Waikoloa and Waiki`i ranch on the other side of Mauna Kea. It was located 3.4 miles west of Waiki`i, 8.7 miles south-southeast of Waikoloa and 12.3 miles south-southwest of Waimea. See the shake map at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earth-quakes/eventpage/hv61207881-#impact_shakemap:us_hv6120788.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

IT’S OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME to receive fresh-grown Ka`u food from from Earth Matters Farm on South Point Road. The Community Supported Agriculture program offers a $20 per week program for feeding a family of two to four persons. What comes with the weekly harvest depends on the season but includes such foods as carrots, kale, salad greens, green onions, a root crop like beets, and green beans or eggplant and herbs. Double orders, half orders and a stop when families are away are also available plans. Earth Matters is also working with other growers and plans to add in fruit.

Earth Matters Farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture program in Ka`u. Photo from Earth Matters Farm

      Joining in Community Supported Agriculture “gives families and individuals a direct connection to the farm, and you will eat the freshest, most nutritional greens and vegetables available year-round. By joining us, you will be supporting organic farming practices that are healthful to people and the environment,” said a statement from Earth Matters.
      Earth Matters is one of the sponsors of the kick-off event for the Ka`u Coffee Festival on Friday, May 13 at Pahala Plantation House. It also offers on-site farming workshops. To learn more and to sign up for the CSA program, call Gail or Greg Smith at 443-8281.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED asked Ka`u residents to testify on bills being heard at the state Legislature this week.

HFUU Vice President Simon Russell

      “We ask you oppose HB 2501 HD2 and support farmers, fishermen and the `aina,” HFUU Vice President Simon Russell said. “This new law will have long-term effects on our watersheds statewide, and Hawai`i needs more time to make decisions about its implications. This measure creates a holdover permit process for over a year (unspecified amount of time actually) for water to be removed from the public trust without an environmental assessment. HFUU does not support this concept, and neither does the spirit of the state Constitution with regards to the ‘Public Trust’ doctrine or our Hawai`i state motto, `Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Aina i ka Pono.’”

      Several Ka`u farmers and ranchers have testified in favor of the bill, which they see as extending time on their revokable water use permits until long-term lease applications are approved.
      The Senate Water, Land & Agriculture Committee considers the bill tomorrow afternoon. To be included, testimony is due today by 2:55 p.m.
      SB 2659 would allow cultivation of industrial hemp and distribution of its seed throughout the state. It is scheduled for a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday, and testimony is due tomorrow at 2 p.m. “Please let House Judiciary Chairman Rhoads know you support hemp production statewide for research purposes,” Russell said.

      Residents can provide testimony at capitol.hawaii.gov.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR ENDANGERED Native Birds is the topic Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to numerous endangered plants and animals. Wildlife Biologist Kathleen Misajon highlights two critically endangered bird species, the iconic nene (Hawaiian goose) and the mysterious `ua`u (Hawaiian petrel). Attendees learn about the park’s current and future monitoring programs and how these species are faring in the park and throughout Hawai`i.

      $2 donations support After Dark in the Park programs.

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