Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, April 3, 2016

Lava flows on Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's Merrie Monarch Parade float as rangers and native species look on.
Photo from NPS

MERRIE MONARCH hula results were announced overnight, wrapping up the annual week of festivities in Hilo. They included presentation by hula groups and musicians with Ka`u roots and offerings of Ka`u crafts, arts and Ka`u Coffee, as well as Ka`u participation in yesterday’s Merrie Monarch Parade.

Hawaiian chess sets with Hawaiian warriors, chiefs, sharks
and Father Damien were featured at Merrie Monarch art sales
this week. These were made by Jeffrey Gomes, son of Phoebe
and Bobby Gomes, of Pahala. See more at Hawaii Bookmark
on Facebook. Photo from Jeffrey Gomes

Overall Champion in the hula competition is Halau Na Mamo o Pu`uanahula, under Kumu Hula Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, They were followed by Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, led by Johnny Lum Ho, and Halau Hula `O Kahikilaulani, under Nahokuokalani Gaspang.

The Wahine Overall winner is Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, with Kumu Johnny Lum Ho; followed by Ka La `Onohi Mai O Ha`eha`e, led by Tracie and Keawe Lopes; and Halau Manaola, under Nani Lim Yap.
The men’s Kane Overall winner Is Halau Na Mamo o Pu`uanahulu, under Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera; followed by Halau Hula `O Kahikilaulani, led by Nahokuokalani Gaspang and Ke Kai O Kahiki, under La`akea Perry.

The traditional hula Kane Kahiko top prize goes to the men of Halau Hula `O Kahikilaulani, led by Nahokuokalani Gaspang. Second is Ke Kai O Kahiki, with Kumu La`akea Perry, followed by Halau Na Mamo O Pu`uanahulu, under Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, and Kawaili`ula, led by Chinky Mahoe.

Lori Lei Shirakawa's hula keiki tried out
the Merrie Monarch stage. Photo from
Lori Lei Shirakawa

The traditional hula Wahine Kahiko winners are the women of Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, with Kumu Johnny Lum Ho. Second is Halau Manaola, under Nani Lim Yap and third is Halau Hi`iakainamakalehua, with Kumu Robert Ke`ano Ka`upu IV and Lono Padilla. They are followed by Halau Na Mamo o Pu`uanahulu, under Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, and Ka La `Onohi Mai O Ha`eha`e, led by Tracie and Keawe Lopes,

The modern Kane `Auana hula winners are the men of Halau Na Mamo o Pu`uanahulu, led by Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, Second is Halau Hula `O Kahikilaulani, under Nahokuokalani Gaspang; followed by Ke Kai O Kahiki, led by La`akea Perry, and Kawaili`ula, under Chinky Mahoe.
The modern day hula Wahine `Auana top prize goes to the women of Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua led by Johnny Lum Ho. His halau is followed by Halau Mohala `Ilima with Mapuana de Silva; Ka La `Onohi Mai O Ha`eha`e under Tracie and Keawe Lopes; Hula Halau `O Kamuela, led by Kau`ionalani Kamana`o and Kunewa Mook; and Halau Na Mamo o Pu`uanahulu, led by Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera.
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ROBERT LINDSEY, trustee chair for Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the elected Hawai`i Island trustee, is recovering from a stoke. His return to work and a “fast and full recovery” are expected, according to an OHA statement.

Robert Lindsey

In addition to OHA duties, Lindsey is known in Ka`u for his former position as an islandwide Kamehameha Schools land manager, his former ownership stake in the old Pahala sugar mill site, and his work with Kohala Center programs here.

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APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS Month, as proclaimed by Gov. David Ige.
Ige encourages all people of the Aloha State to unite in working toward a future where all women, men and children can live free from sexual violence and exploitation.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an opportunity to recommit to ending sexual assault, giving survivors the support they need to heal, and building a culture that never tolerates sexual violence.

The month also highlight Hawai`i’s efforts to prevent and stop sexual violence and to enhance community safety. Hawai`i’s Department of Health, in partnership with the state Department of the Attorney General and the Hawai`i Coalition Against Sexual Assault, utilized its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Rape Prevention and Education Federal Grant to develop and nurture twelve Community Action Teams around prevention of sexual violence, including one at Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. The state recognizes and honors these teams who are committed to creating “a Hawai`i where people are free from sexual violence and where sexual respect and healthy relationships flourish.” On March 18, KRHCAI held its Better Choices, Better Health Family Support Ladies Nite. For more information about the Ka`u program, call 928-0101.

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WITH THE FEDERAL TAX FILING DEADLINE less than three weeks away, advocates joined Sen. Mazie Hirono in urging Hawai`i seniors to be aware of tax-related scams, such as con artists pretending to be Internal Revenue Service agents by phone.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's hoary bats and Kamehameha
butterflies joined the Merrie Monarch Parade. Photo from NPS

“Scam artists and predators are clever in their attempts to swindle taxpayers out of their refunds. Kupuna and their families need to remain vigilant and protect themselves as we approach the tax filing deadline,” Hirono said. “Mahalo to the IRS, AARP Foundation Tax Aide program, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service for joining me in this effort to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to fight for a level playing field for all taxpayers. Whether it is defending victims from would-be identity thieves, or assisting our law enforcement partners in the battle against scams and frauds, we will lend our unique financial investigation expertise to bring to justice the unscrupulous and felonious,” said Special Agent in Charge Teri Alexander. “We are proud to stand with Sen. Hirono to warn taxpayers about IRS imposters. Education is the best weapon we have against these phone scam fraudsters.”
“Seniors deserve better in their golden years than to become victims of scammers,” said Barbara Kim Stanton, state Director of AARP Hawai`i. “If you suspect that you or a loved one is being scammed, contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network to report suspicious activity, receive updates on the latest scams or talk to a live person for assistance.”
The IRS has seen a surge of phone scams as con artists threaten police arrest, license revocation and even deportation. The IRS recently released its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for the 2016 filing season at https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Wraps-Up-the-Dirty-Dozen-List-of-Tax-Scams-for-2016.
To report suspected tax scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, see https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL’S Committee on Human Services and Social Services this week considers recommendations for grant appropriations to nonprofit organizations. If approved, funding would be included in the County of Hawai`i Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017.

A total of 144 eligible applications were received, with requests totaling $5,580,865. The total recommended is $1,500,000. According to David, “although amounts requested by organizations far exceeded recommended award amounts, all applicants expressed their understanding and conveyed their determination to continue providing services to supplement the needs of our island communities and increasing population.”
Recommendations were developed through a review of all applications with each applicant. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee were Chair Maile David, Vice Chair Karen Eoff and Council members Margaret Wille and Daniel Paleka.
Recommendations for nonprofits with programs in Ka`u include $8,750 for Boys & Girls Club’s Out-of-School Fitness for Life program in Pahala; $3,000 for `O Ka`u Kakou’s Family Fun Fest, $3,750 for its Ka`u Coffee Trail Run, $5,500 for its Ka`u Sanitation Program and $2,125 for its annual Punalu`u Keiki Fishing Tournament. Uhane Pohaku No Moku O Hawai`i would receive $8,250 for its Dry Opelu Project, $9,500 for its Palehua Farm Project and $7,000 for restoration of Punalu`u Ahupua`a.

The meeting on Tuesday begins at 1:30 p.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo.
Other committees meeting on Tuesday are Planning, 9:30 a.m.; Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 1 p.m.; Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability, 1:15 p.m.; Public Works and Parks & Recreation, 1:45 p.m.; and Finance, 2 p.m.
A public hearing on the county budget begins at 5 p.m.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meetings are also streamed live, and agendas are available at hawaiicounty.gov.
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Ka`u actor Dick Hershberger presents A Walk into the Past
each Tuesday this month. Photo from KDEN

KA`U ACTOR DICK HERSHBERGER presents Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network’s A Walk into the Past this and each Tuesday this month in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

The time is April 1912, when travel was by ship, train, horse and carriage. There were only four airplanes in America. Teddy Roosevelt was running for president, and the Red Sox won the World Series.
Thomas Jaggar moved to Hawai`i from his offices at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was head of the Geology Department, in order to study firsthand activity of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, thereby gaining valuable knowledge about the inner workings of earth systems. He founded the first geologic observatory dedicated to saving lives and co-founded the park itself. It was Jaggar’s vision that inspired the idea of predicting geologic hazards worldwide.

Performances are at 10 a.m., 12 pm.m and 2 p.m., and each one lasts approximately one hour. Meet at the Kilauea Visitor Center. There is no charge for the performance; park entrance fees apply.

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