Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE WILL INCREASE enforcement of drunk driving as part of a national campaign called Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which starts tomorrow and runs through the Labor Day (Sept. 5). During the campaign, police will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols islandwide using federal grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
      Impaired driving while intoxicated on alcohol, drugs or both continues to be a concern in Hawai`i County. So far this year, there have been 482 DUI arrests for alcohol impairment, 43 related to drugs and 13 related to a combination of both alcohol and drugs.
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KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD and Sen. Mazie Hirono joined a coalition of federal and state officials in recognizing the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Radiological Security with the first-ever Homeland Security Award. The ceremony recognized Maegan Barlow, the Director of the Office of Radiological Services at DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, for OSR’s work to enhance the security of high-risk radioactive materials in Hawai`i over the past decade. Gabbard also presented a certificate recognizing Sen. Daniel K. Akaka for his leadership in highlighting the vulnerability of radiological materials in Hawai`i and across the United States.

      At Akaka’s request, the U.S. Government Accountability Office published a report revealing the high vulnerability of radiological materials across the United States. As a result, Akaka worked with ORS to initiate a pilot counterterrorism exercise program in Hawai`i focused on giving federal, state and local officials and first responders critical, hands-on experience in prioritized alarm assessment and response, crisis management, threat assessment, emergency response, consequence management and post-contingency procedures to prepare them in the event of a terrorist incident involving radiological materials.

      “Sen. Akaka was instrumental in shedding light on the vulnerabilities of domestic radiological materials, and his work with NNSA and partners at every level of government to initiate the first counterterrorism exercise pilot program in Hawai`i has made our state a model for similar programs across the country,” Gabbard said. “The threat of radiological terrorism is a constantly evolving and ever-growing threat, and we must continue to build off the progress we’ve made over the past decade to keep our radiological materials secure. Mahalo nui loa to Sen. Akaka, to Director Barlow and the NNSA, and our federal, state and local partners who are continuously working to enhance the security of Hawai`i’s radiological materials, improve our ability to respond to radiological security threats, and strengthen the safety and security of the people of Hawai`i.”
      U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “By enhancing the security of Hawai`i’s radiological materials, we not only keep our state safe, but also ensure these materials support the needs of our healthcare system and our agriculture industry. I was proud to present U.S. Department of Energy Office of Radiological Security Director Maegon Barlow with the Homeland Security Excellence Award with City & County of Honolulu Managing Director Roy Amemiya, and hope that the collaboration between the Office of Radiological Security and City and County of Honolulu will continue to serve as a successful example for other states and communities across the United States.”
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IT’S TIME TO PREPARE YOUR POTLUCK dish for Ka`u High Alumni & Friends’ 15th annual community luncheon on Sunday at Pahala Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All alumni and interested people are invited to attend and enjoy a day of fun, good food and live music.

      The purpose of the reunion is to bring alumni and residents back to Ka`u to reconnect with their roots and meet classmates and other Ka`u alumni, neighbors and friends.
      The reunion is held annually on the Sunday of Statehood holiday weekend in August. The set day on Sunday allows individual classes to make plans for their own reunions to coincide with the all-alumni potluck. Class of 1966 alumni, who hosted the all-alumni reunion held in Las Vegas in June, celebrate their 50th reunion on Saturday evening at Kilauea Lodge. Class of 1973 is hosting a get-together for all classes graduating in the 1970s on Saturday at Pahala Community Center. Also on Saturday, Class of 1959 meets at Old Sasaki Store (Market House vacation rental).

      For more information on Sunday’s event, call Margaret Ann Cabudol at 928-8164 or James Yamaki at 969-6828.

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KILAUEA 1916: A CENTENNIAL Celebration of KMC & HVNP opens tomorrow. The show explores the unique partnership between Kilauea Military Camp and the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park that began in 1916.
      Performances take place at Kilauea Theater Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. over the next two weekends. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
      For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.

VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS are Saturday in Volcano Village. The Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m.; 10K, 7:45 a.m.; 5K, 8 a.m.; and Keiki Runs, 10 a.m.

      A Zero-Mile Instant Gratification event benefiting Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park begins at 11 a.m. Every participant who steps, rolls or crawls across the finish line receives a commemorative medal.

      All events start and finish at Cooper Center on Wright Road. Food and entertainment follows.

      Late registration and packet pick-up is tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village and race day from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at Cooper Center.
      For more information and to register, see volcanorainforestruns.com.

TAKE A WALK INTO THE PAST, Saturday at 10 a.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants on the easy walk with a ranger to Volcano House learn about its role in shaping early park history.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

NA KUMU HULA KEIKILANI CURNAN and Liana Aveiro with Halau Waiau perform hula kahiko Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Loke Kamanu and `ohana present Na Mea Hula at 11 a.m.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

      For more information, call 967-8222.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM ANDKAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.