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| Punalu`u, where junior lifeguard training is taking place this month, is closed today due to Tropical Storm Darby approaching Ka`u and Hawai`i Island. Photo from Brenda Iokepa-Moses |
TROPICAL STORM DARBY continues to threaten Ka`u. At 11 a.m., the storm was 60 miles east of South Point and moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour.
As Darby approaches, some parts of Hawai`i Island will see sustained winds over 39 mph with gusts over 60 mph. Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported that north-northeast winds were gusting over 50 mph in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park late this morning. Winds are forecast to reach 45 miles per hour today and fall below tropical storm force by early tomorrow afternoon.
Increasing shear and gradually cooling water temperatures will lead to a slow but steady weakening. CPHC’s intensity forecast assumes that Darby will be able to maintain some organization as it interacts with the terrain of Hawai`i Island and no longer considers an alternative track scenario.
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| Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Darby will cross Hawai`i Island today. Map from NOAA |
National Weather Service’s tropical storm warning for South Hawai`i continues until further notice. A flash flood advisory expires tomorrow at 6 p.m.
Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported that Hele-On bus service is suspended, and solid waste transfer stations and landfills are closed today. Also closed are all county and state parks.
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GOV. DAVID IGE SIGNED a pre-landfall emergency proclamation as the state prepares for Tropical Storm Darby. The proclamation authorizes expenditure of state monies for quick, easy and efficient relief of disaster-related damages, losses and suffering resulting from the storm.
“Our top priority is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Hawai`i’s residents and visitors,” Ige said. “I urge residents and businesses to follow emergency instructions, prepare for the storm and take steps to protect your families, employees and property. The state is standing by to assist the counties — particularly Hawai`i and Maui Counties — which are expected to be the first to feel the impact of Tropical Storm Darby.”
The disaster emergency relief period began yesterday and continues through July 29.
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GOV. DAVID IGE SIGNED a pre-landfall emergency proclamation as the state prepares for Tropical Storm Darby. The proclamation authorizes expenditure of state monies for quick, easy and efficient relief of disaster-related damages, losses and suffering resulting from the storm.
“Our top priority is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Hawai`i’s residents and visitors,” Ige said. “I urge residents and businesses to follow emergency instructions, prepare for the storm and take steps to protect your families, employees and property. The state is standing by to assist the counties — particularly Hawai`i and Maui Counties — which are expected to be the first to feel the impact of Tropical Storm Darby.”
The disaster emergency relief period began yesterday and continues through July 29.
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MAYOR BILLY KENOI ALSO SIGNED an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the Tropical Storm Darby's arrival. The proclamation allows easier access to county emergency resources, along with suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.
“We want to make sure we are doing everything possible to protect the public,” Kenoi said. “This proclamation improves the county’s ability to respond quickly to any potential impacts from the impending storm.”
The disaster emergency relief period for the proclamation began at noon yesterday and will continue for 60 days.
The latest Hawai`i County Civil Defense message can be found at HawaiiCounty.gov. Recommended preparedness actions may be found on the Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency website at scd.hawaii.gov. Residents are also encouraged to enroll in local notification systems and monitor local radio and television broadcasts.
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The disaster emergency relief period for the proclamation began at noon yesterday and will continue for 60 days.
The latest Hawai`i County Civil Defense message can be found at HawaiiCounty.gov. Recommended preparedness actions may be found on the Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency website at scd.hawaii.gov. Residents are also encouraged to enroll in local notification systems and monitor local radio and television broadcasts.
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| Archaeologist Roland Reed, center, discusses the proposed wastewater treatment site with community members, including Raina Whiting, at left, and Keoni Fox, at right. Photo from Raina Whiting |
HAWAI`I COUNTY HELD A MEETING about and site visit of the property proposed for Na`alehu’s wastewater treatment plant Friday. Among those attending were County Council District Six candidate Raina Whiting.
“There are many reasons to take a step back and have more community input on the type of wastewater treatment plant, location and environmental and cultural impact we are willing to allow in our community,” Whiting said. “The proposed location is not only encroaching on Na`alehu town and our elementary school but also could have a significant impact on the makahiki grounds and iwi kupuna directly in this area. “This project needs to be done correctly the first time. The county has made no progress since 2006 (the last public meeting) and has renewed its grant funding six times, said Dora Beck, of Department of Environmental Management’s wastewater division. It is not acceptable to now come down to the line and the community be forced to swallow a less than stellar project with only a slightly better environmental impact than we currently have with the gang cesspools and with great impact on makahiki and burial grounds.”
Dates and times for a future public meeting are to be announced, according to department director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd.
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Sen. Hirono, second from left, observes U.S. Navy jet fighter landing aboard U.S.S. John C. Stennis. Photo from U.S.S. John C. Stennis |
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO JOINED international partners and Hawai`i community leaders aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier U.S.S. John C. Stennis to observe the ongoing Rim of the Pacific Exercise – the world’s largest naval exercise. Hirono met with the U.S.S. Stennis Strike Group leadership about the U.S. Navy’s vital role to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance, the unmatched capability of U.S. aircraft carriers and observed air operations below and from the deck of the supercarrier.
Hirono also met with U.S. Ambassador to China and former Sen. Max Baucus, where they discussed China’s participation in this year’s RIMPAC and recent events involving China in the Pacific region.
“The Rim of the Pacific Exercise is a critical opportunity for the United States and our partners to simulate real-world scenarios in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” Hirono said. “While on board the Stennis, I interacted with sailors, many of whom were young men and women, but they were all highly trained and skilled. I was impressed with the level of discipline and professionalism of all the sailors. Today’s experience helps me in my role as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower.”
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“The Rim of the Pacific Exercise is a critical opportunity for the United States and our partners to simulate real-world scenarios in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” Hirono said. “While on board the Stennis, I interacted with sailors, many of whom were young men and women, but they were all highly trained and skilled. I was impressed with the level of discipline and professionalism of all the sailors. Today’s experience helps me in my role as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower.”
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PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER received an $8.8 million federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families to fund its Early Head Start and Head Start programs on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island.
“Research shows the many short and long-term benefits of early education, including increased academic development and achievement, reduced child abuse, neglect, and crime rates, increased income equality, and more,” Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said. “I've visited preschools and Head Start classrooms across Hawai`i and have seen how these early childhood education programs have an incredible impact on our keiki and our communities. PACT has a decades-long history of strengthening our local families and communities and creating opportunities for those most vulnerable. This grant will enable PACT to expand access and opportunity to those who need it the most.”
“We are excited and grateful to continue to provide these important services to communities on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island,” said Ben Naki, PACT’s vice president of early education. “We will be able to serve over 800 children and their families with high quality, comprehensive, early childhood services that are so needed by our community.”
Founded in 1968, PACT provides a wide array of educational social services to families in need. Assisting more than 18,000 people across the state annually, PACT helps families identify, address and successfully resolve challenges through its 16 programs. Among its services are developmental screening, early childhood education, child abuse/neglect and domestic violence prevention and intervention, mental health support, youth activities, and community and economic development.
For more information, see http://www.pacthawaii.org/.
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“We are excited and grateful to continue to provide these important services to communities on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island,” said Ben Naki, PACT’s vice president of early education. “We will be able to serve over 800 children and their families with high quality, comprehensive, early childhood services that are so needed by our community.”
Founded in 1968, PACT provides a wide array of educational social services to families in need. Assisting more than 18,000 people across the state annually, PACT helps families identify, address and successfully resolve challenges through its 16 programs. Among its services are developmental screening, early childhood education, child abuse/neglect and domestic violence prevention and intervention, mental health support, youth activities, and community and economic development.
For more information, see http://www.pacthawaii.org/.
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| Margaret Barnaby's woodblock print is part of of Endemic Understanding. Image from VAC |
LOCAL ARTISTS ARE FEATURED in Endemic Understanding, which opens today at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The multi-media exhibit, which showcases the extraordinary biodiversity found within Hawai`i Island’s five national parks, will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Aug. 28.
The artists, including Margaret Barnaby, Heide Cumes, Lanaya Deily, Jack Jeffrey, Susan Litteral, Liz Miller and Karen Schuster were selected from the 2015 Hawai`i Nei exhibition celebrating native species and asked to further investigate the plants, animals and environments found within Hawai`i Island’s national parks yet found nowhere else. Through a series of educational events, the artists gathered information that helped them craft three to five works each, based on their unique artistic perspective.
“The exhibition title Endemic Understanding refers to the ecological state of the species being unique to a defined geographic location, in this case Hawai‘i Island’s national parks,” gallery manager Emily Weiss said. “Through the exhibit, we hope to honor the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and its role in helping to protect and understand our natural resources.”
The exhibit is open to the public and free of charge. Park entrance fees apply, with the exception of Aug. 25-28 when fees are waived to celebrate National Park Service’s Birthday Weekend.
“The exhibition title Endemic Understanding refers to the ecological state of the species being unique to a defined geographic location, in this case Hawai‘i Island’s national parks,” gallery manager Emily Weiss said. “Through the exhibit, we hope to honor the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and its role in helping to protect and understand our natural resources.”
The exhibit is open to the public and free of charge. Park entrance fees apply, with the exception of Aug. 25-28 when fees are waived to celebrate National Park Service’s Birthday Weekend.
EVERYONE IS INVITED to Bon Dance practices beginning tomorrow at Pahala Community Center. They are scheduled from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the next four Sundays leading up to Pahala Hongwanji’s first Bon Dance since 1999, set for Sunday, Aug. 21.
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/news/news.html. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
