Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Wednesday, August 3, 2016

First day of school for Ka`u High, Pahala Elementary and Na`alehu Schools brought Ioni Andrade back to the crosswalk today in Pahala. Andrade,
daughter of the late Clarence Andrade, works the crosswalk 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on school days. She also makes the drive to
Hilo to hod a job at Walmart, mostly at night, she says. Hard work is a hallmark of the Andrade family. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I STATE BOARD of Education and Department of Education are hosting community meetings to share draft updates of their Strategic Plan to better support student success. The Governor’s ESSA Team is also sharing information about new opportunities under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Hawai`i’s state plan for ESSA will be informed by the Strategic Plan. Anyone interested in public education is encouraged to attend and learn more.

Kathryn Matayoshi

BOE and DOE members update communities on progress toward supporting greater student success in public schools with an updated Strategic Plan. They sharing feedback from the spring 2016 outreach effort, culminating in draft themes: a desire to have a well-rounded curriculum that integrates subject matter and goes well beyond reading and math; a need to embrace the arts, music, history, social studies and more; the importance of a caring and supported teacher; the importance of Hawaiian culture and language; and the importance of supporting not only the academic growth of students but their socio-emotional and physical well-being as well.

Members also gather community members’ perspectives on draft themes and discuss how community members can contribute to final implementation.
The purpose of the Govenor’s ESSA Team town hall meetings is to create a shared vision for public education in Hawai`i, learn about opportunities provided by the Every Student Succeeds Act, discuss a future-focused education system for Hawai`i and collect input, feedback and advice for a new blueprint for public education in Hawai`i.
A BOE meeting takes place today at 5:30 p.m. at Kanu o ka `Aina Learning `Ohnan in Waimea.
Governor’s ESSA Team Town Hall meetings are scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Kealakehe High School and Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Waiakea High School.
“From leadership conferences to continued work on updating our Strategic Plan, the Hawai`i State Department of Education remains committed to positively impacting the direction of education for all students,” Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said.

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Deisha Davis, second from left, is the new vice-principal
at Pahala's school campus. Photo by Lawrence Lucero

KA`U HIGH, MIDDLE SCHOOL and Pahala Elementary welcome Deisha Davis as the new active vice-principal. Davis has served as high school and middle school counselor at the Pahala campus. Wilma Roddy, who served as vice-principal in Pahala, has transferred from Ka`u for a promotion, taking the post as new principal of Mountain View Elementary School. Principal at Ka`u High, Elementary and Middle School is Sharon Beck. The student enrollment on opening day, today, is 520.

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Fall sports begin soon for the Trojans.

THE KA`U HIGH TROJAN eight-man football schedule is finalized. The kick-off will be at home at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, facing Kohala. Another home game is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, against Pahoa. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, the Trojans travel north to face Kohala. On Saturday, Oct. Oct. 8, Trojans host Kohala at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 15th the Trojans travel to Pahoa for a 2 p.m. game. Coaches are Duane Ke and Greg Rush, and fans can follow the action on https://mobile.twitter.com/KauAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw.

Ka`u High, under athletic director D. Kalei Namohala, founded eight-man football competition in order for smaller high schools to have equity in competition.

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Ka`u High athletic director D. Kalei
Namohala announced fall sports
schedules. Photo from KHPES

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL is ramping up and ready to compete for Ka`u High under Coach Joshua Ortega. The first competition is at home on Tuesday, Aug. 16 against Waiakea at 6 p.m., followed by Thursday, Aug. 18 at home at 6 p.m. against Hawai`i Prep – varsity only. On Saturday, Aug. 20, Trojans travel to Ehunui in Kona for competition beginning at 10 a.m. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Ka`u heads east to Kea`au for a 6 p.m. start time. On Saturday, Aug. 27, Trojans face Makua Lani in Waikoloa at 2 p.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 30 Ka`u hosts Kealakehe at 6 p.m. On Sept. 2, HAAS heads to Ka`u for a match at 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the Trojans travel to Kamehameha School in Kea`au to start at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 10, Ka`u stages the home court for Christian Liberty at 10 a.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Ka`u hosts Hilo at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 15, Trojans travel north to take on Kohala at 6 p.m. On Saturday Sept. 17, Trojans travel to Parker School in Waimea, with 10 a.m. start. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Ka`u travels west for a 6 p.m. start at Konawaena. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Trojans face St. Joseph at home, 6 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 7, Ka`u has a home game against Honoka`a at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, Trojans trek to Pahoa and start at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 15 Ka`u heads up the Hamakua Coast to face Laupahoehoe at 10 a.m.
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Brian Schatz participated
in a panel on Ethics in Politics yesterday.
Photo from Rep. Gabbard's Office

YESTERDAY EVENING, KA`U’S U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Brian Schatz participated in a panel on Ethics in Politics sponsored by the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law and Shidler College of Business. The panel explored various topics related to campaign finance reform, government ethics, money in politics and more. They discussed how legislation like the Government By the People Act (H.R.20), which Gabbard has co-sponsored, would begin to provide much needed campaign finance reform. They also discussed political gridlock in Hawai`i and Washington, and the importance of voting and staying engaged in the democratic process. The panel is part of an eight-part lecture series examining business and legal ethical dilemmas in the U.S. and beyond.

Following the public event, Gabbard and other panelists met with students to further answer questions on ethics and government reform, and how the topics discussed earlier in the evening applied to their coursework on ethics in business and law.

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Tropical Storm Ivette, at far right, is expected to become
a hurricane. Map from University of Hawai`i

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER has issues its last advisory on one tropical storm and given a name to another.

Howard’s deep convection has now been gone long enough to designate the system as post-tropical.

At 11 a.m. today, the center of Tropical Storm Ivette was in the East Pacific and moving toward the west-northwest at near 17 mph. A westward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected to begin tonight and continue through Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Ivette could become a hurricane by tomorrow night, with a peak intensity likely occurring in about three days.
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A Zero Mile event celebrates the park's centennial.

CELEBRATE HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park's Centennial by participating in an Instant Gratification Zero Mile event. The fundraiser for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Cooper Center in Volcano Village, after Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Every participant who steps, rolls or crawls across the finish line will receive a Commemorative Centennial Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Medal.

Fees are $20 for adults and $10 for youth 14 and under. Children in strollers are free.
Register on-line at volcanorainforestruns.com, call 967-8240, or email raceinfo@volcanorainforestruns.com.
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EARLY WALK-IN VOTING for the Aug. 13 primary election continues weekdays through Thursday, Aug. 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.

For election information, call 961-8277.

Haleakala National Park is the subject of a film and discussion
Friday. Photo from NPS

EXPLORE HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK during NPS Movie Night, Friday at 7 p.m. when Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park screens the 51-minute film, Haleakala: House of the Sun at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

Haleakala, Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes were once the same park: Hawai`i National Park. Meet dedicated rangers who share their knowledge and respect for Haleakala National Park (established in 1961), its natural treasures and the deep connection to Hawaiian culture perpetuated here.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

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