Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, June 13, 2016

Flags are at half-staff until Thursday evening.

FLAGS ARE FLYING AT HALF-STAFF to honor victims of the attack in Orlando, FL. By order of Gov. David Ige, the United States flag and the Hawai`i state flag will be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai`i National Guard until sunset on Thursday, June 16.
      “We see on the news today yet another horrific instance of man’s inhumanity to man, triggered by the fear of differences,” Gov. Ige said. “Let us reject fear and hostility. Let us embrace diversity. Let us affirm life.
      “Hawai`i has some of the toughest laws regulating gun ownership in the nation. This presumed act of terror is a reminder that we cannot become complacent. We must do all that we can to ensure the public’s safety.”
      President Obama also ordered flags at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions. He also directed that flags to be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all U.S. embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD, who represents Ka`u and the rest of the state that is rurual, joined others in decrying the Orlando hate crime and terrorist attack.
      “I’m heartbroken over the tragic terrorist attack in Orlando that was specifically targeted at our friends in the LGBTQ+ community,” Gabbard said. “This was an attack on all of us. We must choose to reject the politics of hate and instead embrace a culture of love, strength, peace, and tolerance in this difficult time.
      “I am a very firm believer in the Aloha spirit — respect and love for everyone, irrespective of their religion, race, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.

      “It can be difficult after a tragic event like this to stay true to those virtues. Like many, I am angry, but we cannot be a part of the cycle of violence and bigotry that breeds these mass shootings and terror attacks. We must break the cycle and choose love. That is how we make a difference in the world around us.

      “Today, take a moment to tell the people you care about that you love them. Yesterday was a reminder that life is short and we should never leave those things unsaid.

      “Please, if you can, consider making a contribution to the GoFundMe that has been setup to help the victims of the shooting in Orlando. You can make a donation here: https://www.gofundme.com/pulsevictimsfund.

      “Rather than pour fuel on the fire of darkness, divisiveness and hatred, let us come together as a country to help the people of Orlando. We will not forget. We will stand with you.”

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THE LGBT CAUCUS OF THE DEMOCRATIC Party of Hawai`i responded to Orlando’s hate crime and the largest gun shooting in America’s history.

      “We stand united with our LGBT `ohana members and their family and friends in Orlando that are the victims and survivors of this horrific hate crime,” said Michael Golojuch, Jr., chair of the caucus.

      “We will not let this hate crime stop us from living our lives as out and proud members of society. These acts of violence seek to silence us, but they will not deter us from fighting for justice and equality for the LGBTQ community, for immigrants, for women, for the poor or any other minority – for we are not equal until all are equal.”
      The caucus, along with Rainbow Family 808 and MoveOn.org and Honolulu Council with the support of the Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Office, sponsored a vigil at Honolulu Hale to honor and remember the victims and the survivors of Orlando’s hate crime.
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A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL to remember the victims of the attack in Orlando, FL also took place at the Gandhi Statue in Kapi`olani Park on O`ahu yesterday evening. LGBT Hawai`i organized the event.

LGBT Hawai`i organized a candlelight vigil following a mass shooting in Orlando, FL. Photo from LGBT Hawai`i

      “LGBT Hawai`i sends our heartfelt condolences and aloha to our many friends in Orlando and to all those who have been somehow touched by this latest violent attack on our community and on our nation. Terror has no borders,” organizers said in a statement. “Such attacks of terrorism have happened in Paris, in Brussels, in Bali, Tunisia, Kenya, in Boston and New York and now in Orlando.”

      LGBT Hawai`i co-founder Scott Foster said, “With LGBT Pride events now taking place around the world, this is a heartbreaking day for us, the LGBT community in Hawai`i and worldwide. We call on LGBTs everywhere to once again stand together to help fight this latest evil and to urge authorities worldwide to implement appropriate security measures.”
      Co-founder Juergen T. Steinmetz said, “Implementing appropriate security cannot wait. We must realize this here at home – in Hawai`i and nationally – we must begin to implement security measures everywhere that should include protecting our hotels, our shopping malls and our entertainment facilities; anywhere crowds routinely gather. As one of the world centers of international tourism, Hawai`i is particularly vulnerable. Orlando and Hawai`i are both major travel and tourism destinations. We must tell those who want to harm us to not underestimate the power of freedom and solidarity and the power of the United States of America. The entire civilized world is fighting you.”
      LGBT Hawai`i serves the LGBT Community in Hawai`i with a special focus on global outreach for the travel and tourism industry. More information can be found at www.lgbthawaii.com.
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A Hawai`i Island student helps develop a test for Zika. Image from Collins Lab

A HAWAI`I ISLAND STUDENT is a member of a team that is working to control spread of the Zika virus. Gary Kubota, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reported that Melissa Takahashi, a Waiakea High School Class of 2000 graduate, worked with Termeer Professor James Collins to develop a “rapid, low-cost, paper-based test” to detect the virus.

      Kubota said Takahashi had been interested in chemistry and engineering in high school and biochemical and biomolecular engineering in college. She is currently a postdoctoral associate in Collins’ laboratory.
      “It’s pretty incredible,” Takahashi told Kubota. “I never imagined that I would be working on a technology that would get worldwide attention.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
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Learn about native dryland plants tomorrow.

FORMER PAHALA RESIDENT Marion Kittelson-Villanueva reads her recently published book Mr. Kiko Searches For Aloha tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library.
      The library offers a simple craft for children after the program.

      For more information, call Library Manager Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-2015.

HO`OMALU KA`U PRESENTS a Native Dryland Plants Workshop tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library.

      Call 928-2015 for more information.

TOMORROW’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK presentation of Lili`uokalani at Washington Place has been rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances. Jackie Pualani Johnson will perform the one-woman show taken directly from the writings of Queen Lili`uokalani, the queen’s family and other historical sources on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

HALAU NA PUA O ULUHAIMALAMA presents a hula performance Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea
Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Led by kumu hula Emery Aceret, a student of Ray Fonseca, the halau has participated in many notable hula competitions, including the Merrie Monarch Festival.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

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