Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, March 25, 2016

HAWAI`I’S DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL Preference Poll takes place tomorrow during the party’s precinct meetings beginning at 1 p.m. Ka`u Democrats in precincts 03-07 and 05-01 cast ballots at Pahala Community Center, and those in precincts 05-02, 05-03 and 05-04 vote at Ocean View Community Center. Volcano Democrats vote at Kea`au Community Center. Doors at each open at 12 p.m.

      Voting wraps up when the meeting ends. To be included, Democrats and those wishing to register and join the party are advised to arrive before the meetings begin.
      See hawaiidemocrats.org for more information.
      See below for information about the two major candidates.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

VOLCANO AUTHOR TOM PEEK, who wrote the award-winning Daughters of Fire novel about Hawai`i, has released an opinion piece comparing the major Democratic presidential candidates that was published recently in the online news service Civil Beat.

      Civil Beat summarizes Peek’s view that “Sanders in many ways represents the Democratic Party’s historic commitment to liberal economic policies, and Clinton, right-leaning party policies of the past 30 years.”
      “U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont carries the torch for restoring the party’s traditional liberal economic policies,” Peek wrote. “That he’s battling longtime party icon and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton couldn’t be more appropriate.
      “Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his comrades in the Democratic Leadership Council spearheaded the move away from the economic populism Democrats had championed for 50 years following the Great Depression. …
      “The fruits of 30 years of almost unfettered corporate power and an imminent threat of oligarchy set the stage for Sanders, who is old enough to remember what the Democratic Party once stood for and who has given Democrats an opportunity to resurrect something they lost long ago. ...

      “Even if Sanders fails to wrestle the presidential nomination from the party establishment’s favored candidate, his call for economic and social justice likely will persist, carried forward by the young people he's drawn into his campaign.”

      See civilbeat.com.

      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

EXPANDING RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES of Native Hawaiians is part of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign platform. Release of the platform followed a visit to Hawai`i by his wife Jane Sanders earlier this week, during which she met with Native Hawaiian community members.

       “I am proud to stand with Native Hawaiians as they fight to protect their rights and improve their quality of life,” the candidate said. “The overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai`i was a shameful act, rooted in the type of corporate greed with which we are still too familiar. Its devastating effects on the community are still being felt to this day. If I am elected President, the right to self-determination and self-governance will rest in the hands of Native Hawaiians, without interference from the federal government. Native Hawaiians have been lied to and cheated, and the United States government must do everything it can to right these grave injustices.”
      See more at berniesanders.com/issues/native-hawaiians.

      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

RAISING MIDDLE-CLASS INCOMES is part of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign platform. In order to accomplish that goal, Clinton calls for “strong growth, fair growth and long-term growth.”

      Her plan for strong growth calls for expanding employment opportunities, provide tax relief for small businesses and the middle class, enacting comprehensive immigration reform, making America the world’s clean energy leader, increasing private and public investment, funding scientific and medical research, establishing an infrastructure bank, breaking down barriers to joining the workforce and guaranteeing college affordability and expanding job training opportunities.

      Clinton has put forward a small-business agenda to expand access to capital, provide tax relief, cut red tape and help small businesses bring their goods to new markets. Her New College Compact would invest $350 billion so that students do not have to borrow to pay tuition at a public college in their state. Her plan would also significantly cut interest rates on student loans.
      Fair growth planks include encouraging companies to share profits with employees, expanding overtime, raising the minimum wage, fighting wage theft, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, supporting unions and collective bargaining, reforming tax codes to increase amounts from the wealthiest, expanding early learning, investing in students and teachers and providing pathways into the middle class.
      Clinton said she believes workers are long overdue for a raise of the minimum wage. She has supported raising the federal minimum wage to $12 and believes that the country should go further than the federal minimum through state and local efforts, and organizing and bargaining for higher wages.
      Long-term growth includes reforming capital taxes to encourage investing for the long-term instead of the short-term, increasing workers’ pay along with benefits and training, focusing on long-term instead of short-term investments, imposing accountability on Wall Street and lowering health care costs.
      “We need an economy where companies plan for the long run and invest in their workers through increased wages and better training – leading to higher productivity, better service and larger profits,” Clinton said. She would revamp the capital gains tax to reward farsighted investments that create jobs. She would address the rising influence of the kinds of so-called “activist” shareholders that focus on short-term profits at the expense of long-term growth, and reform executive compensation to better align the interests of executives with long-term value.

      See hillaryclinton.com for more information.

      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY Association raises funds for its Volunteer Fire Department with a rummage sale today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

      For more information, call 929-9576.

KILAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT Network presents The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) over the next two weekends. Curtain time at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Fridays and Saturdays is 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
      Reservations can be made at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U invites residents to enjoy Prince Kuhio Day at Na`alehu Park tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
      For more information, contact Darlyne at 640-8407 or dvierra22@gmail.com or Liz at 339-0289 or konawaileo@yahoo.com.

GUIDED HIKES AT HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park take place this weekend at the summit and at Kahuku.

      A centennial hike to protect nene and Devastation Trail begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow at Devastation Trail parking lot. Participants remove knotweed and other invasive plants. Park entrance fees apply.
      Participants discover the Hawaiian goddesses Hi`iaka and Pele and the natural phenomena they represent on a moderate one-mile walk tomorrow at the Kahuku Unit from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
      On Sunday at 9:30 a.m., also at Kahuku, participants learn about the formation and various uses of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka`u. The one-hour, free program is a moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top. Entry to Kahuku is free

GARAGE SALE IN VOLCANO, sponsored by Halau Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu, is tomorrow, Saturday, March 26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pukeawe Circle in Volcano Golf Course Subdivision. From Hwy 11, turn at Piimauna Dr. & follow the signs. There will be bargains, treasures, knick-knacks, clothing, books, household items, plants and many other "good kine stuffs" for sale. For sale will be baked goodies from talented halau members and Aunty Puaʻs Na Mea Ono. Call 967-8299 for information.

JAZZ IN THE FOREST CONTINUES Saturday, featuring vocalist Ron Murphy with Volcano Art Center’s Jazz Ensemble.
      Two shows are offered, with a matinee at 4:30 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m.

      See volcanoartcenter.org.

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