Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, July 25, 2016

As lava continues to flow near Kalapana, it has nearly reached the emergency road and coast.
See more below. Photo from USGS/HVO

RAINA WHITING IS ONE of several Hawai`i Congressional District II delegates at the Democratic National Convention that opened today in Philadelphia. Whiting, a resident of Ocean View, is a candidate for the non-partisan office for Hawai`i County District VI. She serves as first vice chairperson for the county District V Democratic committee. At the DNC, Whiting is a committed delegate for Bernie Sanders.

Hawai`i Island Democrats participating in the Democratic National
Convention include Richard Harris, Dolly Strazar, Raina Whiting
and Joy San Buenaventura. Photo from Raina Whiting

“Bernie’s delegates are holding strong for a roll call vote and to make progressive change happen in our party,” Whiting said. “Unfortunately, the DNC has chosen Hillary Clinton before the delegates have voted, and naturally, Bernie delegates feel disenfranchised in this process.

“The message here from the party is to unify in order to have the numbers to defeat Trump.” Hawai`i County Democratic Party vice chair Dolly Strazar said, “I am thankful to be here: we have a great delegation this year.”
Joy San Buenaventura, who represents Puna in the state House of Representatives, said, “We are feeling the Bern.”
Hawai`i Democratic Party chair Timothy Vandeveer, who is also a delegate, is committed to Sanders, as well. Whiting nominated him for the post during the party’s state convention on O`ahu in May.
Members of Hawai`i’s U.S. Congressional delegation are also attending the DNC. Tulsi Gabbard is a delegate committed to Sanders, while Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Brian Schatz are committed to Hillary Clinton.
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Gov. and Mrs. Ige Photo from
Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE AND FIRST LADY Dawn Amano-Ige are also participating in the Democratic National Convention.

As governor, Ige is a superdelegate with Hawai`i’s Democratic Party. Elected delegates and superdelegates from Hawai`i and across the country are attending the convention today through Thursday, July 28.
Ige is currently scheduled to return to Hawai`i on Friday, July 29. No state funds are being used for this trip.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui serves as acting governor while Ige is out of state.
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THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY accepted major reforms to the superdelegate process in advance of the opening of the party’s convention today. Now, the vast majority of superdelegates will be required to cast their votes at the convention based on how their state voted.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

“Bernie Sanders always said his campaign was about more than him — it was about millions of people coming together to challenge an establishment that was more interested in serving the interests of corporations and lobbyists,” Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said.

“This compromise helps to make our presidential nominating contest more democratic. In addition, the party will be actively encouraging open primaries and same-day party registration, like what we have in Hawai`i.
“It was a long, hard fight, but we can be proud that the grassroots have won a qualified victory in the fight to create a Democratic Party that is stronger and fairer.”
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RIMPAC, THE WORLD’S LARGEST international maritime exercise held in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California, continues. The event began on June 30 and ends on Aug. 4.
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly L. Herline reported that sailors assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) conducted a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise with sailors from Chilean Navy Frigate CNS Almirante Cochrane (FF 05) and sailors from Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth frigate INS Satpura (F48) on July 14.

Herline described VBSS as “a maritime boarding tactic used by the military to counter terrorism, piracy and smuggling to maintain safety on the world’s oceans. Teams are either invited to board a ship by the ship’s master, or they board the ship without consent to search the ship for illegal cargo or narcotics and to verify that the vessel is involved in the activities they say they are conducting.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup

steams into formation during RIMPAC.

U.S. Navy Photo by Siobhana R. McEwen

“Sailors from the Shoup’s VBSS teams conducted a compliant boarding on Satpura while sailors from Cochrane VBSS team boarded Shoup. The teams were invited to board each other’s vessels via bridge-to-bridge communication.” She said that once on board, sailors meet with crew, search the ship, verify documents and logs and interview the ship’s master and engineer.

“It is very important to work closely like this with other countries because you never know what Navy you will be working with in the future,” Lt. j.g. Zachary Bessette, Shoup’s VBSS boarding officer, told Herline. “It’s good to build this good working relationship and rapport with them now.”
“Boarding a foreign vessel was very interesting and exciting,” Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Brett Viney, a member of Shoup’s VBSS team, told Herline. “The Indian sailors were extremely nice and hospitable.
“We got the chance to experience what it’s like to really have to work on asking the right questions to overcome the barriers and know how an actual boarding of a vessel would likely happen.”
Bessette told Herline, “Our normal training is done with in a classroom; it is rare that we get the opportunity to go out and actually board other ships, so it was great to gain this experience.”
“I think we all performed very well today, everyone remained professional and courteous, Viney said. “I think we left a lasting positive influence on the way the other navies see us.”
For more information, see http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy/, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/.
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Gov. Ige met with sailors from Hawai`i aboard the USS John C. Stennis.
Photo from Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE TOURED the USS John C. Stennis last week. The aircraft carrier is taking part in RIMPAC maritime exercises.

“It’s remarkable when you think about an aircraft carrier that has 5,000 people living on it,” Ige said. “The USS John C. Stennis is a floating city, and it is tremendous to see the men and women who dedicate their lives to public service, protecting the freedom and the rights that we all enjoy. It was really inspiring and informative, to me, to see all the activities that are involved in these sailors’ daily lives.”
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AFTER SEVERAL DAYS of no forward motion, the 61G lava flow front near Kalapana advanced toward the emergency road and ocean yesterday. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that lava was 0.15 miles from the road and 0.2 miles from the ocean.
Daily updates of ongoing volcanic activity at the coast and Kilauea’s summit are available at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

Learn about salt production tomorrow. Image from NPS

SALT PRODUCTION SITES are discussed during After Dark in the Park Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Archaeologist Summer Roper reveals the importance and history of pa`akai along the park’s rugged coastline. Free; park entrance fees apply.

KU`I KALO – POUND POI, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Experience this nutritious and special food, the traditional staple of the Hawaiian diet.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

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